ANIMALS SHOULD NOT TRY TO ACT LIKE PEOPLE

There are already extensive articles around that expertly document the DVD portion of this title so I shall leave the issue in their capable hands. My primary interest is the 5 song EP of brand new Primus goodness. This is actually the album that introduced me to Primus-land via my taste in anything that at- all sounds like King Crimson. It should be no surprise then that such glorious prog gods are an excellent touch point to the dark, murky, and narcotic places that this band is going to.

For the fans of the band (Primus): First and foremost this mini-album is a reunion of the classic Claypool/LaLonde/Tim Herb Alexander line-up which have been apart since Brown Album. As much as I dig Brain I don't think he would carry the music into the mouth of the underworld as skillfully as Herb does here.

Secondly, just because it is Herb on board doesn't mean that you should be looking for Too Many Puppies mk 2. Have these trippy cats ever repeated themself on later albums? Ever? This is the band in their most prog oriented mood yet. Three of the five songs melt part way through and descend into a hazzy distorted jam-soups, while the shorter two alternate from quirky and urgent (Pilcher's Squad) to tortured and loony (Mary the Ice Cube).

It would be remiss of me if I didn't mention that 2 of these songs are re-built in brilliant fashion on the live Hallucino-Genetics Live 2004 DVD (get it now kids, seriously). No matter how you dissect these songs they stand as some of the trio's best musical performances and displays of technical excess. Do not expect anything as playfully iconic as Jerry Was A Racecar Driver or My Name Is Mud and the two of you will get along just fine. This album is more Southbound Pachyderm than John the Fisherman and as a long-haired prog-loving fella I think that is just swell.

For prog fans in general: Short but mighty set of 5 brand new tracks. As everyone who reviews Primus says, if you are unfamiliar with Primus the vocals may turn you off. But then again they may not. These 3 guys play some very dark, woozy, and sneering rock that borrows both from the twisted end of 70s progressive rock (King Crimson - Red) as well as from more contemporary distorted guitar styles (Tool shredded howls come to mind).

Not essential for non-fans but it could be your gateway into a brilliantly silly land called Primus. It was for me.