THE BROWN ALBUM

The Brown Album was called this because it was supposed to be Primus' version of The White Album by The Beatles or The Black Album by Metallica, it was going to be a milestone, according to Claypool. Later, when asked how the album was going to sound, Brian "Brain" Mantia, the new drummer that replaced Tim Alexander, said that it was named The Brown Album because the mixes sounded like a "muffled turd". I tend to believe the last explanation as this album was intentionally mixed to sound muddier, less bright. They succeeded in that endeavor. Unfortunately, the songs sound more forced and tired. The humor and the basic sound is still there, it just seems like the heart was not in this album.

Out of the Primus albums, this is probably my least favorite. Of course, there are some great tracks like "Shake Hands With Beef", "Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread", "Golden Boy" and such, but there are a lot more mediocre, flat sounding tracks that just don't have the spark and spunk of the previous Primus. This album is not the one to listen to if you are hearing Primus the first time, you are better off getting "Frizzle Fry", "Sailing the Seas of Cheese" or "Tales from the Punchbowl". Some of the tracks from The Brown Album will grow on you, but most of them lack the amount of life needed to grow anymore from the murky muck of this album. But it's okay, Les Claypool is still one of my heroes.