Customer Reviews

Live Frogs-Set 1

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What's terrifying to me is that this most excellent and generous live document isn't a band playing at the peak of its powers. Saw the band (minus Huth and Skerik ) perform live at "Gathering of The Vibes" 2001 with essentially the same setlist and it was one of the best and tightest performances I have ever seen. Nothing can really prepare a prog-rock dork for the sight of thousands of hippies dancing ecstatically to King Crimson.

The original material are mostly material from the _Highball For The Devil_ solo outing and some of his earlier work with Sausage. Its constantly exciting to hear how the band extends, rearranges and jams over these pieces to accommodate the keyboards and sax. You can tell that everyone involved is quite enthusiastic about the proceedings, as the energy level is high throughout. Guitarists Eenor and Huth rise to the occasion on "Girls For Single Men" and "Thela Hun Gingeet" while I believe "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is simply one of the best Pink Floyd covers I have ever heard - incredibly reverent with a slight funk twist. Wow. Mostly its great just to hear Col. Claypool's awe-inspiring bass, dripping and thwapping relentlessly over everything else, like some kind of demented alien Stanley Clarke hell bent on uniting the planet in one massive booty shake.

I'm listening to LIVE FROGS as I write this, and it's difficult to keep my focus. This is jamming with a severe and dark attitude, the kind of spiraling compositions that confirm the fact that you have to search hard to find good music. Claypool's Brigade takes you for a rollercoaster ride of eerie grooves, wet-slapping bass lines, and if you're not careful you may find yourself jumping and croaking at the moon. Thela Hun Ginjeet is just one several highlights (anyone who can successfully cover King Crimson demands to be taken seriously), but every tune earns the repeat function on your player. It's hard to pull off dark, comic, and complex at the same time--The Frog Brigade acheives it effortlessly, and even work in a kickin' saxophone. LIVE FROGS is one of those rare finds that you'll proudly display at the top of your CD rack.

The title says it all folks. I will do a song by song review, and note: this album gets a five, but i am grading the songs based on the others in the album; they all get 5/5 otherwise, but in the context, some are better than others:

Thela Hun Ginjeet- A King Crimson tune, the frogs do a great job of interpreting it on the stage. However, even though this song would be the highpoint of any other record, here its just one of many greats. 4/5

Riddles Are Abound Tonight- This song kicks. It just does. Les plays bass like a madman on this, and just doesn't stop. Eenor and Todd Huth battle it out on guitar, while Jay Lane and Jeff Chimeti hold the groove, and Skerik busts out a fantastic sax solo. 5/5, and well deserved.

Hendershot- Surf's up! Hendershot gives Eenor and Skerik time to stretch out, with extended solos and nice groove development. A fun listen indeed. 5/5

Shattering Song- This song is very iffy with me, as at times I am bored by it, and at other times I am completely blown away. Today is this song's lucky day, as I can't help but love it. 5/5

Running The Gauntlet- The solos in this song save what is quite a simple-structured piece of music. Jeff, Eenor, Todd, Skerik, and finally Les get to stretch out some solos, and although amusing, this song is actually a lower point. Still a very strong piece though. 4/5

Girls For Single Men- The only song that outclasses the bass playing on Riddles is this ripping version of Girls. Les and Skerik own this show, each having a ball on their respective instruments and plain old rocking. Eenor and Todd provide great guitar lines, while Jeff and Jay and Les do what they do best- groove reinforcement. This song is a slap in the face, as good as it gets. 5/5, 10/5 if I could.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond- The Fancy Band pulls this one off excellently, but to find its origins in a Les cover band, this is the place to look. Les has always been a Floydian fan, and couldn't help himself with covering a few Floyd tunes (see Set Two). Shine On is a great example of this band's flexibility, and ends the show on a perfect note. 5/5

Buy this if you don't have it, play it constanly, never tire of it, and keep on rocking.

this live set of les claypool's fearless flying frog brigade is extraordinary, an explosive first set right off the bat with Thela Hun Ginjeet and just doesnt quit the entire show, everyone playing at this show are in the peak of their playing, it just sounds amazing, not one single note is off, or wrongly played, absolutley one of my favorite cds i own, if i ever lost it, i would need a replacement, if youre a les claypool fan or just love straight up solid funky jams, get this cd, you wont be sorry

This debut album by Les Claypools Frog Brigade, which captures the band playing live just a couple of months after it was formed, is brilliant. The two cover versions that bookend the album  King Crimsons Thela Hun Ginjeet and Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond  are a great homage to the bands that inspired the Frog Brigade. These tracks are stretched out to accommodate some lengthy jamming, but still succeed in retaining whatever it was that made the original versions special.

Of the other five tracks on the album, the three that really shine are Riddles Are Abound Tonight, Hendershot and Girls For Single Men. Riddles Are Abound Tonight (title track of the debut album by one of Claypools other bands, Sausage) features some agile drumming by Jay Lane, and lots of Claypools strange nasal vocals. Hendershot (from the album Highball with the Devil by yet another of Claypools bands, Holy Mackerel) is a brilliantly catchy surf number with silly lyrics from Claypool, twang guitar from Eenor, and a blistering sax solo by Skerik introduced by Claypool saying: You know, I really cant get over the beauty of it all  the beauty that is...surf saxophone. Girls For Single Men (also from the Sausage album) is a superb manic number with an ominous mood.

Shattering Song and Running the Gauntlet are slightly less good. Shattering Song (from the Sausage album) features some technically impressive playing, but isnt particularly appealing, while Running the Gauntlet (from the Holy Mackerel album) is a bit too laid back  interspersed by lengthy solos and band introductions by Claypool, it must be fun to see performed live, but it doesnt come across well on record.

The companion volume to this album, Live Frogs Set 2 (a complete live rendition of Pink Floyds album Animals) is also highly recommended, as is the Frog Brigades first studio effort Purple Onion. But Live Frogs Set 1 still has the best selection of the Frog Brigade's music on it, and is a good place for newcomers to start.

Before I get into the review, I'd like to advise that if you have the chance to see Les Claypool's Frog Brigade live, take it. I caught a show of their's recently in New Jersey and it was probably the best live performance I've ever seen. His band is talented and tight as hell, and his saxophone player, Skerik, is one of the instrument's best young innovators. I'm usually more of a jazz/jam band type guy, but I took my friend who's into metal, progrock and hardcore, and we both agreed that the show was ridiculous.
Although the live album can't quite live up to the live show, it is also fantastic. Les is probably one of the best bass players ever, and, to me, his work in the Frog Brigade shows that off better than his work in Primus did. Plus his rhythm section is remarkably tight, and, as mentioned, Saxophonist Skerik always shines.
If you like Skerik's work on this album, check out a modern masterpiece, Stanton Moore's All Kooked Out, where Skerik shows off his jazz chops.

This cd is definitely better than pooping yourself! If you are a Primus, Phish, or Greatful Dead fan this cd has your name written all over it. Les is amazing as always, and it features original primus, and current sausage guitarist Todd Huth, who was also alluded to in the classic song "Fish On". Overall, the coolest thing I've heard for a long time, especially when the Doors are spontaneously covered. If given a choice between pooping yourself and buying this cd, by all means, buy the CD!

Have you ever just seen a cd in the store and just get this overwhelming feeling to buy it because it looks like it could be cool? This is what happened to me when i bought this cd. I knew Primus from their radio songs but didn't own any albums so i wasn't as familar with Les Claypool but i couldn't believe how great the songs are. I must say that all the songs are spectacular (especially the cover of King Crimson's Thela Hun Ginjeet) and if you love loose, jammy, impov-sounding music you must pick this one up, it is the surprise hit of the year!

Primusfans must buy! While every Primus-fool is waiting for the new album, Les Claypool starts playing with Oysterhead and this Flying Frog Brigade. People who don't know Primus will find this album difficult, but hey, who cares? This album rocks with Primusattitude! Good band, nice guitars and surprise surprise: a saxophone on some of the songs. All songs from side-band Sausage rule! Pink Floyds Shine on... is a bit hard to chew so what will part 2 sound like with only P.F.-songs??? No risk disk.

Les Claypool decides to venture out once again from the PRIMUS line-up to offer his fans a taste of what he loves to do best with his friends....JAM!