Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver ORIGINAL VIDEO: • Primus - Jerry Was A R... Patreon: www.patreon.com/criticalreactions Twitter: critreactions
As a guitarist I can tell you that Larry Lalonde was absolutely playing in key (most of the time) and it was not just a bunch of random noise. He loves tri-tones, diminished/augmented harmony and is heavily influenced by guys like frank zappa, robert fripp, jazz players....so there's a lot of that in his playing. In fact some of those lines he played are not unlike what you'd hear from a jazz sax player. Also going out of key over a static chord is a great way to build tension, especially when you go up chromatically.
To give people a sense of Larry's type of playing, in the song DMV the solo he did; he played it with his shoe and exploded the solo on the record. For those who don't know, exploding is taking a recording and playing it backwards; when the rest of the song is playing forward.
I could sit here and list the prominent jazz bassists that I'm familiar with but I doubt that would prove anything to you. Exposure is not a guarantee -- even within genre.
@@CriticalReactions ok ok. No doubt that you're familiar with other genres especially jazz, that's cool but Les Claypool is a name to be heard of. But ok. Now you also know him and I urge you to hear some other primus stuff. Have a nice day
Primus is like Salt and Vinegar Chips. The first time you have one its bizarre and over bearing but for some reason you'll find yourself going back to it until its one of your favorite flavors.
@Brant Hall I said the FIRST TIME YOU TRY THEM. If you use your brain you might be able to extrapolate the first time you have it you actually are a child. Reading comprehension much? I guess I can add stupidity to your anger issues. Good luck with both!
Larry "Ler" Lalounde is extremely underrated guitarist. One of Joe satrianis students, like Steve Vi. The guitar was supposed to kinda sound off, if you will. Primus is extremely talented and I'd suggest check out another song, like John the Fisherman. Primus is an acquired taste but they do grow on you. Also each one of their albums has a completely different sound and vibe but will always sound like Primus.
And for the record, that chaotic approach to melody and harmony is very much a part of Primus' unique sound; all three members are masterclass musicians, and the idea is to make music that *shouldn't* work but *does*. It's basically the punk mentality as applied to avant garde/art-rock.
No one can tell you that you are wrong about not liking a song. This song was on Tony Hawk pro skater on the N64 and it is was only after being forced to listen to it 1000 times did I start to enjoy it. It then took seeing Primus live to really fall in love with them. Something is just so weird about them.
I hated primus, saw them live randomly just because I had a hankering for some mushrooms, they were touring the primus and the chocolate factory album, I figured it would be interesting, needless to say, they didn’t touch that album and I got 3 hours of classic primus, 6 years later and they are my favorite band of all time. I’ve seen them all over the country since.
Primes makes sense to me when you realize that everything is played against the bass and vocals. I’m don’t know enough about music theories explain what I mean except to say that the drums and guitar are accessories. The lead percussion is played by the bass. So the drummer plays in a a strange place in the song I think the drummer locks in with the vocals a lot of the time. Kind of how a marching band plays with the what would be the vocal melody. The bass is covering the lead and rhythm, so the guitar has to find its place with texture, feel, under the lead and waaaaay under the rhythm. Just my non musician thoughts on how Primus works. Plus it’s funny! I think they are outstanding musicians that are playing around. It’s like a chef that eats bone marrow, foie gras, calf brains, sheep’s eyeballs. They can make anything they want but they go off in different directions for fun. That my Primus/Chef allegory.
I'm actually surprised you couldn't get into this considering the range of stuff you tend to enjoy. I get the feeling that the raw atonality of the guitar put you off but there's definitely musicality there that's worth a second listen to really hear for added context it might interest you to know that these are the guys who wrote the South Park theme
Well, pretty much nobody likes Primus at first. But it's some weird hypnosis when you start to know the band better, they really are an amazing band. Well worth getting into.
omg...thats soo true....i had some of their songs on my random playlist for a couple of years, but would always skip forward whenever I saw their name. The only reason I actually managed to hear one of their songs was when Tommy the Cat came on while driving and I couldn't skip forward, because I was driving. And now they one of my favorite. What a fool I was.
Seconded. If you are a composer, you're likely to either love them or hate them, but almost sure to have a reaction. You either get it or you don't, unfortunately. Maybe Mr Bungle will help our boy Bryan "see the light". :)
@@azeliaspank Anything Mike Patton touches is gold... Started with Faith No More, then Fantômas, then Mr Bungle and the rest... Fantômas was a eye opener.
Primus is amazing. Part of what's so good about them is that there's just nothing out there even remotely like them. They are totally their own thing and that's so rare. No one tried to blatantly rip them off (or at least couldn't manage it). Also, the thing about not going back and listening to them again is that that is a huge mistake. They are a _very_ acquired taste and so it takes time and repeated listens for many people to really get what they're going for. Also also, this is a less than ideal first song for them. I love it because I get them and love what they're going for. They have a lot of other great songs to check out though that _may_ be better to get into them. I would try...To Defy The Laws of Tradition, John The Fisherman, Tommy The Cat, My Name Is Mud. Lacquer Head, Too Many Puppies and DMV. I would try listening to a lot of their best and most well known songs and see if they start to click. If not, you may find yourself saying "Primus Sucks" without any knowing winks.
They're not Primus' most popular songs but I think 'South Bound Pachyderm' or 'Fish On' may be more up your ally. They have a more conventional feel to them while still being musically engaging
Thanks for the reaction dude! Primus are definitely weird and that's why we love them, haha! The musicians I know that also really love Primus are bassists for the most part, but not everyone is a fan of the band's sound even when respecting the hell out of Les Claypool's bass chops. The weirdness can make any of their songs a hard sell. The great thing about Primus and all of Les Claypool's projects though, is that they're never weird in the same way twice. I bet if you had heard Southbound Pachyderm or Wynona's Big Brown Beaver or Conspiranoia (was it out yet?) first you would've been a bit more engaged with the composition as a whole. Better yet, if you are interested in seeing the bass player in a different context, try Oysterhead, a band he formed with the guitarist from Phish and drummer from The Police, maybe the song Pseudo Suicide or Rubberneck Lions. You could also check out The Claypool Lennon Delirium (with Sean Lennon), Duo De Twang (a sort of bluegrass band with Bryan Kehoe), or anything he did with Buckethead or Bernie Worrell. He's a really unique bass player that has done projects all over the musical map.
Sooo I gave this track a second listen ~18 months later. My musical horizons had been greatly expanded in that time and I figured I should give some of the songs that I was a bit harsh on a second go and see if they were as I remembered them or if I had matured to a point of understanding their intents better. I did end up with a more favorable analysis of this track during that second listen, if you're interested. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qaU4fpbLEFM.html I'll be sure to check out more from them, especially their more approachable music, and see what I think of all that.
The bass and the guitar work are both brilliant as well as the drums . Very imaginative abstract original and complicated . Might not be everyone's taste . But I'm drawn to unique and even " weird " music . And this stuff kicks ass .
They're goofy weird, fun to listen to randomly but I'm not going to sit and eat a whole album. In for Architects // Hereafter (Live Arte Concert, Hellfest)
Maybe you should. I always liked rap and death metal, but never enough to listen to a full album of either genre. When I did, though; I realized a lot about music I never thought I would. I don't think I need to explain further, but knowing RU-vid comment sections I probably do.
HAHAHA, note to self include song recommendation with the band recommendation. Thanks for giving them a listen. Primus is crazy. Probably should have included a warning with that, but thought they were worth a listen for Claypool for sure.
The power of guitarist Larry Lalonde's playing is the fact that he KNOWS how to play slightly out of key. It's sort of his signature. You think this is wild wait until you hear "Winona's big brown beaver"! He's also a former student of Joe Satriani.
Primus is really well known for doing the Southpark intro song. These guys were there when the whole numetal movement started in the 90s. They're super weird but they kinda made music history
Nothing you said was wrong. Primus is unique. Claypool’s mastery of the bass is pretty clear. His mastery of vocals is debatable. I do believe he is usually going for humor rather than high art. I respect that it didn’t do it for you and you said so. I didn’t take to them right away, and they don’t make many of my playlists because their songs don’t fit many themes. There are times, though, that I really need to hear me some Primus.
There is nothing better than watching judgey music know-it-alls listen to Primus for the first time with a look of a kid having to down their Brussels sprouts. It’s a shame mid-90s Pitchfork isn’t hiring.
Always gives me flashbacks of the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on PlayStation. Loved them ever since I discovered them back in 92. Glad I finally got to see the original lineup.
Was relieved to see so many people coming to Ler's defense. You can't hear 2 bars of the lead guitar and write off the playing. The bass holds down the fort, the lead adds a lot of color, longer phrases and interesting progressions. It all links together beautifully.
The odd, weird and chaotic guitar and drums make them special and unique in my opinion. They don't want to be "normal" and sound like everyone else. That's why I love, respect and appreciation them so much. ❤ ✌
The thing about Primus is that underlying all the music, which honestly was a revelation to me as a kid, is the sense of humor with it all. They have never taken themselves too seriously despite the technical brilliance. They intentionally make you feel a little strange with everything from the obvious, like bass as the tonal lead, to the strangely jazz influenced guitar licks and seemingly random but very intentional disonance. I got into them in middle school when a buddy gave me a copy of the CD Sailing The Seas of Cheese. From there I started to listen to more than just punk and metal and it led me to a deep love of jazz. Call it strange but I have a vinyl copy of Dizzy Gillespie: Afro that I listen to regularly while working at home (not to mention my love of New Orleans I got when visiting to hear some good jazz live) because of Les and Larry putting out this album. Never know how a piece of music will influence you.
The fact you spent several minutes trying to explain your thoughts on Primus. Meant, mission accomplished. Look at Primus as modern art, not everyone is a fan, but it is interesting.
Primus' cohesion is like, really counter-intuitive when first encounter it. Most of their songs are very different but most are pretty chaotic, in very very different degrees. After listening to more of their music you start to get how everybody fits together though (I highly recommend John the Fisherman or Groundhog's day for a second listen)
People either get it, or they don't. Larry Lalonde is an amazing guitar player, Les Claypool is one of the greatest bass players on the planet, & Tim Alexander is an unbelievable drummer. I think the problem here, is that Primus isn't immediately gratifying. It grows on you.
Good sir, I give you Les Claypool, finest bassist in the land. Definitely have a look at Tommy the Cat, Mr Krinkle, Winona's Big Brown Beaver, and indeed anything at all off the Sailing the Seas of Cheese album.
Les Claypool states in the song “Antipop” he’ll run against the grain until the day he’ll drop! PRIMUS is supposed to sound like this. It makes them unique and not sound like anything else out there.
Start with the album frizzle fry, it's a little more accessible to the new Primus listener, and it's more just straight-up rock and roll. But it's full of great tunes. If that album doesn't help you understand them more, and bring you better appreciation of them, then you're right. They're probably not for you.
I read an article once about the making of Pork Soda (the album after the one this song is on), where the writer was hanging out in the studio. He saw the guitarist record a solo for a song, and described it as playing in every key except the one the song was written in. This was intentional. He used to have Joe Satriani as a teacher, and started off in death metal bands. He knows exactly what he's doing, and knows it's going to sound bizarre.
Yep. First time hearing (and seeing) the genius of Primus can discombobulate the mind. Which happened to our host. I'm sure by now he's advanced and evolved.
You should really spend some time to get used to their unique style, and if it grows on you, you will realize how genius this music is, especially their album "Frizzle Fry", a fusion of rock and Jazz, and then you will realize why you got requests. I suggest "Winona's Big Brown Beaver"
Listen the rumble of the car's engine at the begging of the video. It seems to me the drums and base are emulating that rumble. Here's a clear example of a 442 engine: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VSSkegtDbXQ.html
lmao Primus is weird as fuck, but Les Claypool is arguably one of the best bass players of all time and there's some tasty stuff out there if you can get past their oddness. My suggestion is the live version 'Tommy the Cat' from Bonaroo 2011! Don't give up after one song
In case anyone did not know, Les Claypool, the genius/bassist behind Primus also wrote and performed the intro song for South Park. Les Claypool is a god damned genius.
This reaction its totally understandable. Les Claypool (bassists and leader of the band) is one of the most respected musicians in rock. He works with everyone. From Metallica to Tom Waits. But Primus is just an acquire taste.
it's hard to find a tonal center in this song, which is one the reasons why it is cool. also I don't think the 32nd notes on the kickdrums are out of context at all. They are trills that lead into the heavy downbeats. It's certainly chaotic but I'm surprised you didn't like it. The first time I heard this song, it sounded so alien and unlike anything else I'd ever heard - i had to hear more. This song is from Primus' 2nd studio album, I'd recommend listening to their first studio album since it is a lot more cohesive in it's structure and more tightly composed rather than a big dissonant goofy jam feel like this song and many of the songs on this album. Check out John the Fisherman, Too Many Puppies, Groundhog Day, Frizzle Fry or Mr Knowitall. In fact, listen to the whole album, it's full of bangers. Also I think Herb (the drummer) is insanely underrated. Everyone goes on about the bass, but the drums are just as impressive I think, and the guitar is more of a background role in this band, but plenty of cool dissonance and textural effects as you said.
Fun fact, The bassist (Les Claypool) was the singer for the opening to South Park. The band is well known for the funk but, also for how goofy and catchy the music is.
Primus is one of those bands that you may like in a cool out of body way, it sits there and makes you reflect. It's just so weird, that it causes you to go to these other places in your mind.
@Critical Reactions Dude, at your age and not knowing Primus or Les Claypool. You have a bass behind you that I can only assume you can play. It's like me not knowing who Jaco was. I have to call BS. I'm still a fan of yours, and best wishes. Oh, this song came out almost 30 years ago!
Hats off to you for your honesty. I love this song, you clearly don't, but neither of us should pretend otherwise. I generally love chaos, but there's different flavours of even that. Meshuggah being very syncopated, polyrhythmic, precise, dissonant, constantly trying to throw you of a sense of time with the guitar riffs, but operating within a 4/4 framework given by the drums. UnExpect is a multitude of genres and styles combined and layered - sometimes more or less elegantly - on top of each other with so much sound, rhythm and melody blasting forward, but also contrasting with slower and quieter and softer little moments from time to time... And then there's Primus, whatever that is. I don't have words for Primus, as I've only been discovering them recently, but almost all of the stuff you listed here (guitar playing notes in weird rhythm groupings and being all over the place, the core bass riff idea being somewhat repetitive etc) that you don't get or like, I really dig and on some level get. It's bizarre, but works for me, whatever this kind of chaos is! Greetings from Czech Republic!
I gave this song a second chance recently and was more receptive to what they were doing. It's still not my cup of tea but I have a greater appreciation for them now. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qaU4fpbLEFM.html
That bass he's playing is a one of a kind. It's by Carl Thompson runs about 15k for something like it. He doesn't make copies of the basses he makes for clients
Listen to Tommy the Cat and Is It Luck? Larry Lalonde has maybe a total of 6 songs with "traditional" parts. He took lessons from Vai or Satriani. Can't recall. Primus also throws keys to the wind.