music and DVD reviews
by Katrina Clayton
Primus Blame It on The Fish, subtitled An Abstract Look at the 2003 Primus Tour De Fromage DVD
This DVD is not a typical concert film. “Blame It On the Fish” took years in the making. Excellent drum interlude! I don’t think it would matter to Primus if there were an empty stadium but that is impossible with a heavy underground cult scene knowing the way these guys grind out. They have the “why do it if you have heard it somewhere else?” attitude about creating and motivating the production of their music. Or it might be the huge ego as noted in the interview on Music Link. I would too if I changed the face of rock. I have never heard a person say they love Tool but don’t like Primus. Have you ever been to the Love Room? Or have you ever seen a redneck low-rider show? Maybe a demolition derby? I think Primus inspired the participants at these events. Some of the bands major influences are Pink Floyd (think Nigel), Stanley Kubrick and Folk America. The Kingston Trio perhaps. A keen “Rush” in time seven years behind. They fly out the double bass rolls like there is no tomorrow. Very good existentialists. Their music vacuums your mind in and makes it play bumper cars. The main musical vehicle is the bass and Leslie Edward Claypool (that little bugger) is the world’s best bassist. He was named after his grandpa by the way. Gravity goes backward with Primus.
Onward with the standup bass. It is like a tungsten light. Fishbowl casserole. There is brilliance in the madness. Sometimes animals should not act like people. With all the costumes you might wonder if they are in the witness protection program. Fantastic use of the fish eye lens. If this is your first introduction to Primus first of all what rock have you been hiding under and secondly you might ask yourself what the hell is going on? That’s ok to wonder but don’t strain your brain too much. Just laugh for Kubrick’s sake. And twist those long whiskers of yours while you take a time warp zone to high school’s crazy days and nights. The 2003 Primus: Tour de Fromage, “Blame It On the Fish” presents a bizarre (go figure) view of the band’s triumphant return. The DVD includes live performance footage but under the bands production management, you will not find any full songs. This is the craziest infomercial ever! For all of us insomniacs put this on in the middle of the night instead of watching the mind numbing plastic talking head trying to rape your wallet by manipulating you into thinking “how did you ever live without this can opener that with the press of a button turns into an spoon so you can eat your soup right out of the can?” Nah, forget the soup. I am hungry for some Frizzle Fry’s! We will go Sailing the Seas of Cheese to some candid behind the scenes shots and psycho-delic imagery. Watching this video will make the most sober person feel like they were doing drugs. Live performances include: Mr. Krinkle, Jerry was a racecar driver, Southbound Pachyderm, Deanza Jig, Over the Electric Grapevine, Hello Skinny, Nature Boy, Bob, Mary the Ice Cube, Pilcher’s Squad, American Life and Mr. Knowitall.
Primus began with the original name as Primate in El Sobrante, California during the mid-1980s with singer and bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth. Drummer Perm Parker was added for the recording of Primate’s demo tape. Another group called The Primates threatened legal action unless they changed their name. Claypool supposedly selected Primus as the closest thing to Primate in the dictionary, yet he has been known to claim that Primus was selected because it was the closest word rhyming with anus. Primus is Latin for “the first”. Les Claypool has been the only constant member. They have had two guitar players. Larry LaLonde has held onto the role for over sixteen years. Primus has had several different drummers as well. Tim Alexander and Bryan “Brain” Mantia are the only drummers to have recorded with the band for album release. Mantia was one of many drummers Claypool auditioned for the original line-up of Primus. With Mantia aboard, Primus was asked in 1996 to compose the theme song to South Park. The show’s creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are obviously big fans. Before Alexander came aboard, Mantia bowed out due to a foot injury. Other members included Todd Huth, Jay Lane, Robbie Bean, and Tim Wright. The labels Primus is on include Interscope Records, and Prawn Song Records that is a parody of Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song. Primus’ first song created is “Too Many Puppies.” Played in a church nonetheless. Members thought the band would never go anywhere because the music was too bizarre. Their music has proven difficult to define but Funk Metal is a good genre if you want to classify their style. Les once described the sound as “psychedelic polka.” These talented members took music to a whole other level. Because the band has gotten tired of it, the band’s catchphrase is no longer “Primus sucks!” Still at concerts, fans can be heard chanting, “Primus sucks!” until the band takes the stage. It was a tradition that dated back to their first album. Both Primus’ first greatest hits CD They Can’t All Be Zingers: The Best of Primus and their third DVD Blame It on The Fish, subtitled An Abstract Look at the 2003 Primus Tour De Fromage was released October 17, 2006. Blame It On The Fish is directed by Matthew J. Powers, director of Never Been Done, a documentary about Jon Comer. November 2006 commenced Primus: The Beat A Dead Horse Tour 2006. For fifteen American dollars (tax not included) you can get this wonderful DVD for your music collection. It includes a feature film at 70 minutes and an accompanying over 90 minutes of bonus material. In addition to dozens of additional scenes, the extras include a 30-minute mockumentary about the band set in the year 2065 and interviews with the 102 year old Les Claypool. {primusville.com} -KC
The Anna Cabrini Chronicles directed, written, produced and animated by: Tawd B. Dorenfeld DVD
If “The Anna Cabrini Chronicles” was made in Alfred Hitchcock’s days, he would have been inspired. Due to the psychological and visual nature of the film, it is not rated. Seriously intense. The editing alone tells us about the mind state of the characters. This is one of the most disturbing thrillers I have seen. You go on a journey where compassion is not compassionate. Where what is supposed to be truth is a lie and you loose trust in existence itself. You become the larvae of a cocooned monster with a back aching to gain wings. Stephen King and his ghost writers would enjoy watching this movie. David Lynch might enjoy it even better. An overachiever “Brooke Caldner” feels like an underachiever does to mitigating uncontrollable circumstances. Such a pure angel unable to deal with her own emotions, she gets burned by “compassion” shutting her down even more. This movie puts Girl Interrupted to shame. WARNING: Only, shall I repeat, ONLY if you have a strong mind with self control and are not even considering suicide, will you be able to make it through this movie alive. A wonderful flick for film buffs, editors, cinematographers, gaffers, animators and storytellers. You might scream out for a loved one’s comfort. You might understand what wild animals trapped in tiny cages feel like. Society puts pressure on such taboos as this. But, “Suicide is a waste. At least at the moment of death we all become waste,” The Anna Cabrini Chronicles. This film has four chapters delving into four main characters internal conflicts and their surroundings. Lots of dementia and blood, black and white to color, film to video editing and seriously sick animation! The best part is the editing. If you have ever wondered how just one persons intervention can alter another’s destiny or self induced fate? You will see. {polymorphproductions.com} -KC
Say Anything …is a Real Boy
The crazy tick-tock anxiety beginning with a rebellious hot water compound gets you revved for a release of the day’s frustrations–listen to it! Take some time out of your repetitious dressed in a monkey suit job to enjoy life with this double disk deluxe album with damn good lyrics. Do it for yourself. Don’t be modest or afraid to yell out a “Hell Yeah!” You might feel like you have swum yourself into double, cappuccino that is! If you like Social D, Dashboard Confessional, Nada Surf, Cake and Harvey Danger buy this and you will not be disappointed. It has a song for your every mood.
{sayanythingmusic.com} -KC
The Exploding Hearts Shattered
These kids should have done the score for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off but the movie was made before they became a band. This album has lots of metallic guitar hooks. The band put out their first demo album at the end of 2001. After you buy the cd make sure you watch their last recorded show at “Bottom of the Hill” San Francisco, CA. This is some great party music. These guys are classic in the Punk-Pop genre. Some of their songs scream surfer punk rock like “Your Shadow.” The Exploding Hearts started getting huge and were basically heroes in San Francisco. They were touring the nation and were so close to hitting mainstream. On their way back home one night after a gig, they got in a horrific accident. All three of the members died. The only survivor in the car was their producer. Exploding-heart breaking. Support their families. Invest a few bucks in this last cd. {explodinghearts.com} -KC
Marina V. Simple Magic
Mucho mellow from Moscow. Good bedtime music. Chill beats. Marina has a super sexy voice and body. I prefer when she sings in Russian mostly because I don’t understand what she is saying. The English lyrics make it seem like she has had a few heartbreaks. I don’t know why with that super sexy voice and body. If you like Jewell’s older albums you will most likely find this compelling. She started writing songs when she was ten and came to study in the USA when she was 15 years old. She now lives in Los Angeles. She is currently on tour in the Western USA and in April she will be performing in London. {marinav.com} -KC
Simon Flick Reactive Soul
Heavily inspired by the rest of the world, Simon Flick is a rising notable artist. Keep ears out for his concert coming to your town. He is currently based in San Diego, CA but this infused music may lead him down a wonderful road. Enjoy his soulful voice in many genres including folk-jazz, pop-rock, alternative, R&B and country! Wow! This is a must have for your cd collection, such a wonderful groove for music lovers. You will finish the cd pondering not only yourself but the world you exist in. Simon seems like a modest person you might find yourself engaged in conversation with at a coffee shop with never knowing how potentially famous he is truly. This is the third album. {flickworld.com} -KC
Microphone Mike OverdriveM
So funny! For you Beastie Boys and Two Live Crew fanatics, do not second guess buying this album. I promise (and I do not do that very often) you will laugh your ass off. At least crack a smile for those of you with no sense of humor. After you leave the check out line, start planning a Pimp and Ho party to sound off your new disk. This is an ill album fo sho’! Helpful hint: put some other cd’s in the mix and keep it on shuffle so the same beat won’t drive you nuts. But damn it is funny. {microphonemike.com} -KC