Customer Reviews

Purple Onion

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Look Frank Zappa has been dead for just about ten years. And, I for one, was mourning the loss of his sense of humor combined with razor sharp playing/ability. hence Primus/Les Claypool has really filled the gap nicely, and PURPLE ONION is fantastic.

This CD could have EASILY been part of the early 80's FZ lineup of releases (THEM OR US, SHIP ARRIVING TOO LATE..., YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS..etc) and it is very fresh like everything FZ did.

Be prepared to laugh, because Les C. believes that humor does have a place in music, and this release is great in the lost genre of great musicians that play flawlessly/amazingly with tongue firmly in cheek.

It's been three years since the mighty Primus was laid to rest. Three years of side project after side project from the leader and guru of Primus: Les Claypool. Of course this is the first studio effort from Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, and the first album to feature totally orignal material by Claypool since Primus' "Antipop". So, is this album any good? Well, I think that it is! I personally feel that it is one of Claypool's best albums(so far)! Musically it lies somewhere between the Frog Brigade's live material and Oysterhead(another Claypool side project who released their debut album last year). I'm not like most Primus fans who hate his recent material; calling it such names as "stupid hippie crap". Anyway I will describe each song:

PURPLE ONION-the first song starts off in an almost electronic manner with Les muttering some lyrics that are hard to understand. At first the song reminded me of "Wield The Spade" off of Oysterhead's "The Grand Pecking Order". Actually there is not much substance to this song, and it serves mainly as an introduction to the album.

DAVID MAKALASTER-this song inctroduces us to the character David Makalaster the "10 o'clock newscaster" who seems to be the "main character" of the album. This song is fairly "wacky" with some almost Frank Zappa-like music, and of course the weird(cartoony) lyrics of Claypool. This is one of the albums better songs(not the best)that sounds like a cross between Frank Zappa and Oysterhead.

BUZZARDS OF GREEN HILL-this song rocks!! it starts off with some light percussion and juice-harp with the guitar(played by Warren Haynes)playing some trippy little lines-then Les enters on the bass and the song begins to "funken" up! The lyrics are hilarious! This songs is a great little psychedelic-funk-hill billy-rock tune! One of the albums best tracks!

LONG IN THE TOOTH-this song sounds like it could have been off of Primus' album "Tales From The Punchbowl". I feel that this song was placed as an introduction to the next song:

WHAMOLA-this is the album's best track!... it starts off with some kickin' drums and some bass taps...then the song spirals into some of the strangest, most whacked-out music this side of the planet. Of course this song is named after the instrument of the same name as the song; a washtub bass like instrument played with a drum stick. Also you can't beat the lyrics that are only spoken very briefly: "I will do what Simon says, Of course I will do what Simon Says"...

DING DANG-this is another one of the album's best tracks! It is probably the tightest song on the album, and one with the most non-comical/serious lyrics. Some people may be turned off, however, because of some negative words that are used, but they are not used in a prejudiced manner(they are only used to stress a point). Seriously, though, this song rocks!!

BARRINGTON HALL-fans of the album "Frizzle Fry" by Primus will reconigze this song. The bass at the begining reminds me of "Fisticuffs" off of Primus' "The Brown Album"; the song is the most melodic and calming song on the album. The new percussionist Mike "Tree Frog" Dillion shines on this little number.

D'S DINER-this is a great funky little tune! The song features a sitarist(Gabby Lang) and three bass players(Les Claypool, Lonnie Marshall, and Norwood Fisher). The lyrics proove that Les can make anything sound fun and interesting! This is also a great "headphone" song...

LIGHTS IN THE SKY-this song is weird!... It is my second favorite off of the album so far("Whamola" being the first). This song reminds me of Peter Gabriel for some reason. It is very trippy...

UP ON THE ROOF-is another one of my favorites off of this album! It's probably one of the hardest songs on the album(which isn't very hard at all). The song features some great bass; it has a very Primus-y feel...

DAVID MAKALASTER II-this is mainly just a darker re-working of the song "David Makalaster"...that kind of loses it spark towards the end. (listen for Claypool's pig like call-that he also uses on Primus' "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver)

COSMIC HIGHWAY-the last and one of the best songs! As the title implies this a trippy, psychedelic, "drop out" song. It basicly sounds like a cross between Phish, Oysterhead, and Pink Floyd...

Well, those are my opinions on the songs. So, should you get this album? If you are a fan of Les Claypool(or Peter Gabriel, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd etc...)I would say go for it!
I hope this review helped! I'll see you guys at some Frog Brigade shows,eh!

Only in the last few years have I become a real fan of Les', it took me a while to realize the genius behind his innovative and anti-pop bass driven tunes. But now I am a true convert.

To those who think this is just another Primus album after listening to it, shame on you! The only thing this has in common is that Les writes, plays and sings on the album, but it's a totally different version of the man. We get to see his goofier and more eloquent side ("and whatever rhymes with eloquent").

Primus in the past did a lot more experimentation, jamming and psychedelia on their albums. Purple Onion is much more focused and carefully composed being there are more musicians and even a new instrument donated to Les by some inventive fans ("The Whamola is a wonderful thing" - Les at an album signing in San Francisco, Sept. 2004)

We are constantly reminded of Les' influences in all his music. On this album there is a lot of Zappa, Waits, Elfman and some Pink Floyd sounds, but what Les does is he manipulates them, scrambles them up, molds them and makes the sounds his own.

I highly recommend this album to lovers of really f'ed up music, and I mean that in a loving way.

This is by far one of the greatest CDs ive ever listened to. I am a huge fan of music and also a big fan of Les'. Ive heard Primus, Sausage, Holy Mackerel, Oysterhead, Live Frogs, and now this. This is definately among his greatest material. Every song is great, some lighthearted and humorous, some cartoony, and some dark and thought provoking. The bass is great, better than any other ... band today could ever dream of. Some of it is pretty technical, with lots of complex slapping, popping, plucking and strumming, and the way he uses that wierd effect in songs like "Whamola" is great. The guitar and drums are pretty wild, but the xylophone-like percussion gives the music a nice cartoony edge that i find both amusing and brilliant. Claypool's vocals have evolved a bit and sound great. This sounds totally different from other music, but at times, sounds vaugely like Pink Floyd which I am very fond of. This is a must for all Claypool fans!

P.S.- stompin' Tom says he hi he hi he hi ho

Where to start. Well let's start with the title track, "Purple Onion." This is a very brief, but very weird track. It just contains Les on vocals, bass, and percussion. It is extremely weird and it is a sign of what is to follow, very eclectic music. That is true with any Les Claypool album, especially Primus.

Then there is the song David Makalaster, having seen the Frog Brigade in concert a few times, I've heard this song before. It's a great song. The lyrics are rather good and of course the music is superb. Eenor's guitar playing is perfect on this song, and throughout the CD. Of course Les is great, he's never anything but. Mike Dillon is great on percussion, his use of the vibraphone is perfect. Jay Lane is awesome of drums as well.

Then there is the Frog Brigade show staple, Whamola. It is named after Les Claypool's one stringed bass. It is a "jam" song. Everybody shows off on this song. Skerik shows off his badass sax playing abilities, Eenor breaks out some incredible riffs on guitar, Mike Dillon plays a weird bongo looking thing that sounds like a monkey (I've seen him play this, it's weird), Fish Fisher of Fishbone comes in on this song and he is incredible on drums, and then of course there is the ridiculousness that is Les Claypool. The song is very upbeat and very hard core.

Then there is the song Cosmic Highway. This is my favorite song EVER. I saw this song performed in 2001 in DC. It blew my mind, and it did so again on September 24, 2002. This song is so amazing. Les is in top form on this song. He lays down a sick bass line that boggles the mind. Eenor rips out an amazing guitar riff. Mike Dillon excels on the vibraphone yet again. Skerik gets mean on the sax yet again, and Jay Lane lays down the perfect beat for this song on drums. The lyrics are very cool and the overall feel of the song is amazing. It's like nothing else I've heard.

I am a giant Primus fan and I like this CD as much as most of Primus' stuff. If you are a fan of Primus, or more importantly, Les Claypool; you should go out and purchase this CD. It's some of his best work to date. It's amazing how someone can transform their music from one thing into another, and still kick ass. That's Les Claypool for ya ladies and germs.

Dont get me wrong, I am a huge Les Claypool fan, its just this album doesnt offer anything special. Its good, but, a little all too familiar for the Primus fanbase. If your a devotee, its a must buy, but dont expect anything as mindblowing as Primus's Antipop, or Oysterhead's Grand pecking order.

Now that Les Claypool has split from Primus for a while now, this is the first real solo album he's established with a great band behind him. This album has 12 strong songs of all out les. With a great saxophonist, Skerik, the addition of Mike Dillion who plays several percussional instruments, including the vibraphone, the album has a great sound. The arrangements of the vibraphone, the many sounds and distortions of Skerik's saxes, as well as the innumerable aray of basses and instruments that Mr. Claypool plays in this album is incredible. In the track Whamola, Claypool uses an instrument that consists of a metal rod with a d-string and a knob on the top that changes the pitch. The use of this instrument as well as his several other instruments creates a distinguishing, original sound. The beauty of Purple Onion is that Primus and the fans from the live set both can appreciate this album. Reccomended to all.

Les Claypool is one of those individuals who does music for the sole purpose of doing music. It sounds to me like he digs to the core of music itself and tries to pull the creative, not to mention dark, musical forces that HAVE to be running through his head. These forces are transformed into something progressive, on its own level, that leave you with a band like Primus and a product like "Purple Onion." This CD is something that I'm certain not everyone will like, but I enjoyed it because it tickled the musical muses flowing through MY head and left me with a perspective on music that I had never before experienced. I hope that gives you a better encite into what Purple Onion is all about...

This is one Les Claypool's many side projects from Primus,this one callled "The Flying Frog Brigade".But this doesnt sound much like Primus.It is much less heavy than Primus,and alot more experimental and jammy.This is definately Claypool's work though,containing all the quirky sense of humour and story telling elements that he is associated with.And as with every band Les is involved with,the musicianship is excellent.
The best songs are "David Makalaster","Buzzards Of Green Hill","Whamola","Ding Dang","Lights In The Sky","Up On The Roof",and the best song on the album:"Cosmic Highway".I think a few of the songs couldve been effectively cut("David Makalaster II","Barrington Hall")but this is a great offering either way.
This album is highly reminiscent of Frank Zappa,and propably the next best thing nowadays...so I would suggest this album,if your familiar with Claypool's work,or are a fan of Zappa.
Pick this up,along with any Primus album.

amazingly i first heard this from a copy that i found at my public library! amazed as i was i immediately went home to play this,expecting more of the same from the great mind of les claypool.and man did he meet my expectations.in my opinion the best songs come in the first half,"purple onion" and "whamola" being my favs.i want to give this a perfect score but the second half isn't as memorable,in my opinion,even if the tunes are still very good.i've always loved claypool's music and still do.he is one of those artists who really do stand out.i couldn't help but think of the late great frank zappa while listening to this as the humor and different music are somewhat similar,but never in ripping him off.for those unfamiliar with claypools work i wouldn't necessarily start here.instead i suggest familiarizing yourself with "sailing the seas of cheese" and "pork soda" by primus first.if you don't get it with those two than you more than likely will not get it here either.musicians should really appreciate this though.with any hope it will inspire some to produce more music that is different than the rest,instead of recreating whatever is in at the moment.oh and case you didn't know,les is the best bassist in the business and deserves to be considered one of the all-time best along side cliff burton and geddy lee.thank god that les didn't fill cliff's spot.could you imagine what that would have sounded like though? who cares.put down that god-awful emo and pick up a copy of this...it may do you some good.