Purple Onion

Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Prawn Song
• ASIN: B00006IT6C
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,210 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
One year after erstwhile Primus leader Les Claypool reemerged as the leader of the jammy Les Claypool's Flying Frog Brigade, the bass wrangler throws another curve. With Purple Onion, Claypool reigns in much of the free-floating improvisation of FFB's initial releases in favor of something more akin to a proper Primus album, complete with bizarre comic voices, eccentric scenarios, and funky interludes. But this isn't a true Primus album, since there are absolutely no seafaring references on any of the 12 songs. In fact, many of the numbers are less songs than loosely connected chapters of a concept album somewhat akin to Alice Cooper's grim 1975 classic, Welcome to My Nightmare. But instead of Cooper's disturbed Steven, Claypool chronicles David Makalster, "a 10 o'clock newscaster" whose broadcasts of doom are worthy of Frank Zappa in his prime. Claypool here demonstrates that he has the daring to take Pink Floyd's excesses and fuse them with his own nerdy paranoia to create a singular album. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description
Eclectic 2002 album reminiscent of old Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits and Pink Floyd. Featuring guest artists Warren Hayes, Fish Fisher of Fishbone, Norwood Fisher and Lonnie Marshall. 12 tracks. Digipak.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good Performance for the Genre, August 13, 2003

By	K. L. Woomer (San Antonio Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Claypool with a hint of Zappaesque flavor = Genius, October 12, 2004

By	Jonathan Bowerbank "Filmmaker/student" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Claypool album so far..., September 25, 2002

By	"theinventionof5" (Kentwood, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews

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!