Customer Reviews

Of Fungi and Foe

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

although saying not perfect is only my personal opinion. the fact remains that this album really shines claypool as a divine creator. its something all primus/claypool fans know already but even though on some of the tracks on this album i believe he is trying a bit to hard to expand his musical creativity, on the tracks it shines on a level as only claypool could.

ive always described claypool as the pluto of bass (the most out there). there are no doubts there are bass players who are as technically good, but none venture out as far on the creative level as this man.

the album really excentuates this straight from the start with mushroom men. a light percussion track show casing claypools talents on his 1 string bass. but its the next 2 tracks that are the peak of this collection of songs.

amanitas is classic claypool eccentric funk and red state girl is one of hes most suttle gems where hes double bass skills just ooze in a continual gel of soulful incredibility.

it doesnt get 5 stars though for me because i find the tracks about george martin, errol and the tracks kazoo and ol rasco to similar and simply tracks claypool tried to showcase hes eccentrically bizareness and doesnt pull it off because they sound just a little to sluggish. my opinion only. ive never thought claypool suited slower compositions.

but overall its one of claypools most varied album and he deserves the credit for making this quite a diverse album and the best tracks on the album are definately up there as some of hes solo best

With the exception of Highball with the Devil, this is my favorite Les Claypool album to date. Purple Onion and Whales and Woe had me so upset with Les's decline in musical genius that I feared I'd never buy another album by him. Let's not even go near Colonel Claypool's Bucket....
This album is consistent throughout. There are stand out tracks as others have mention. Certainly my favorite is Bite Out of Life. Its wind, energetic, makes me want to jump around. Other tracks are less energetic but there is a creepy, oozy awesomeness that plays all through this album. It could be the soundtrack to a Jeff Vandermeer book. Highly textured, rich, but definitely an acquired taste. But hey, my wife actually liked it, and that's saying something. Good job Les (I say that cuz I know he'll read this).

For years Les has been one of those artists that I have admired. Anyone willing to not only showcase that brand of weird, but also perfect it, is at least worthy of some of my attention. Of Fungi and Foe is the CD that finally lifted Les to "my favorite artist" level. This is, simply put, amazing.

I will be honest, the first time I listened to it I wasn't that into it. Of course I was making dinner with my wife and two year old daughter so I wasn't really able to truly grip it for what it was. But upon really being able to listen I once again was able to peak into the mind of one of this generation's true standouts.

Make no doubt about it, Les Claypool is not for everybody. I would even venture to say that he's barely for anybody, just a small slice of society. Far too many people write it off as just weird. Far too many people write it off as "not music". But there is a beauty in oddity, and Les has mastered it.

I see this CD as being the moment when Les passed from being just a "rockstar" to being an actual artist. Because this is art at it's finest, and weirdest.

Definitely check out track two, Amanitas. That little bassline Les kicks the song off hasn't left my head for about a month. I know I will miss it when it finally does.

It came in atimely maner and was in good condition. I bought it for my brother inlaw for xmas and he like it alot. I put it in a frame and the only thing that was wrong with itwas one of the coners of the album cover was bent a little but nothing to bad.

I first heard Les Claypool in the film "Pig Hunt." With the music video for "Booneville Stomp," I was hooked. The more I listen to this music, the better I like it!

this is the most creative album Les has ever made. the songs really sound like a group effort. Although it does remind me of early Residents a lot. But this of course is a good thing.

isn't it reassuring every time les claypool puts out an album (in whatever incarnation). you're guaranteed something interesting, hillarious, funky and original. of fungi and foe may not be up there as far as les' previous "solo" albums but its definately got its place.
les seems to have morphed into some type of swamp monster for the time being - this album is muddy! if the brown album had a brown sound then this album is black! i have visions of les and band performing these songs in some muddy dank swamp, covered in mud and reeds whilst an audience of mud crabs and various other swamp creatures dance and sing along...
like i said, this album may not be les' best but NO ONE sounds like les. bring it

Absolutely great album! Not like Primus at all (I love Primus too). There is a heavy Residents influence ;) and I love it. Very very experimental, can't stop listening to it. The track with Eugene Hutz is amazing as the rest are but my personal faves are Red State Girl and Booneville Stomp. Whoever wants to dwell in the past should stick to their old Primus / Les Claypool albums :) hehe.

I really like this album. It's not a solid 5 but at least a 4+. I guess this is just going to be one of those divisive albums. It really feels like the "Fancy" DVD part 2. The cover art traces straight back to it.

What surprises me about the reviews is how everyone seem to feel the need to justify their opinion. "I am also a long time Primus fan, I've seem them in concert, I play bass." Yeah? well me too...and so what? I think this is a good album. If you liked "Fancy" I think you are more -likely- to like this, but still, Those were mostly revisions of earlier songs. However, I don't feel these songs are any less full of the typical Claypool wit and charm.

I get the feeling that people longing for the good 'ol Primus days will gravitate towards "Bite Out of life" as it has the most reminiscent uptempo quality. also, unfortunately, have the most trouble with the rest of it. Most of the songs are more mid to slow tempo. I like to hear Les tear it up but that hasn't stopped me from listening to it from start to end over again.

My favorite songs are:

Mushroom Men
Amanitas
Booneville Stomp
Bite Out Of Life
Primed by 29

The one track that I have misgivings about is Red State Girl. It will date itself just by the mention of Sarah Palin. Elvis Costello fans might remember Peace In Our Time that references Reagan and (then) presidential contender John Glenn. Anyone? Les is so good at populating his own oddball universe that he didn't really need her by name.

Claypool? Self-Indulgent? Hasn't he always been? The Flying Frog Brigade covered Pink Floyd's entire "Animals" album. He should change his name from Les to Max, after the lead character from "Where the Wild Things are." Clearly, some fans would rather eat him alive than let him make up his own mind.

Seriously, aren't we better off that he followed his own vision at all? I guess it's true: You Can't Tell Errol Anything

I look forward to the next release.

I hope Les Claypool and I live a long time. Music like this makes me laugh out loud as well as be completely mind blown in all senses of the word. This albums is "fantastic" as those musicians from the 70's would say. This is a work of sonic art that only someone so ahead of their time can create. It's like being in the future. Songs of certain potent strains of the so called hemp plant as well as jingles about ever facet of life, from light to dark! An artwork in every sense of the word, and with only the skill which Les Claypool has!

Some standout tracks:

Mushroom Men=drums on here are wonderful, the music sounds like the track name.

Red State Girl=Songs about republican women and the men who want to meet them, absolutely brilliant and made me laugh out loud a couple of times

Primed by 29=A song about getting older and becoming a learned man, by the time you're 29 years of age you are pretty much primed. This is a great track and probably the best on the album.

I would also recommend getting this album in CD form for playback quality reasons. Les is too good for lossy compression in my humble opinion. There's simply too many instrumentals going on here for you not to get the cd.