Cheese Lovers' Guide to Sailing

Under the personal supervision of Les Claypool, Primus' celebrated album Sailing The Seas Of Cheese has been newly mixed in stereo for the first time since its original release in 1991. This groundbreaking album, which debuted in May 1991, was Primus' second studio effort and their first on a major label. It features iconic singles such as "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver," "Tommy The Cat" (featuring a distinctive voice cameo by Tom Waits), and "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers."

The album opens with the creaky sounds of a ship setting sail, setting the stage for a journey through the funk-punk waters that Primus frequently navigates. Sailing The Seas Of Cheese showcases the band's unique sound: Les Claypool's distinctive fretless bass lines, Larry LaLonde's metal-infused guitar, and Tim Alexander's intricate, Bill Bruford-inspired drumming. The humor is sharp and acerbic, as evidenced in tracks like "Sgt. Baker," where the narrator ominously declares an intent to "rape your personality," and "American Life," which portrays a grim reality where people "reside in a cardboard box" while chasing their dreams.

The album also includes Tom Waits' memorable appearance on "Tommy The Cat," which tells a quirky tale of the feline character in a funky back-alley setting. Meanwhile, "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" narrates the story of a character who, after drinking "too many cold beers one night," ends up "wrapped around a telephone pole." The track "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers" adds to the album's eclectic and bizarre mix, solidifying its place as a prog-punk masterpiece.

– James Rotondi

product information: