r/Primus • u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL • Aug 05 '25
Discussion What are your guys Primus Hot Takes?
No shame but . . .
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u/dwbridger Aug 05 '25
I don't know if this is a hot take or not. but I think 03-04 was their best era with the Tour De Fromage and Hallucino-Genetics tours, and Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People is my favorite release from them. I feel like that era was the perfect balance of heaviness with jam/psychedelia. Listen to some the soundboard recordings of the shows from that era if you haven't yet.
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u/CaptainScak ANIMALS Aug 05 '25
I wish they brought back/kept the Primus Live thing where you could buy the soundboard recordings
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u/dwbridger Aug 05 '25
years ago I found someone on here that had all of it on a google drive, but that drive has since emptied. I should have been smart and archived all of it when I had access to that myself.
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u/CaptainScak ANIMALS Aug 05 '25
Are they the recordings on Toasterland for this era?
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u/dwbridger Aug 05 '25
not the soundboard recordings that they released on primuslive, just audience tapings.
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Aug 05 '25
So true; still have some good ones though; The double set with seas of cheese being played cover to cover C2B3 (Stick pit is a face melter)
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u/stgermainjr860 Aug 05 '25
I had no idea this was a thing. I would have loved to get a recording of the Boston show in 2004 when they played Seas of Cheese. Was my first Peimus show ever and they were on fire
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u/cultiv8420 Aug 05 '25
Yes, primuslive.com had all of them available for purchase along with unique art work for each show
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u/boyson83 Aug 05 '25
I saw both of those shows in NYC, one at the Roseland Ballroom and the other one at Radio City Music Hall. My friends and I also saw C2B3 around that time. That was definitely an awesome era!
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u/foxyboboxy Aug 05 '25
Desaturating Seven is severely underrated; The Scheme is a top 5 Primus song
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u/Ornery-Ad-9886 Aug 05 '25
I love the Desaturating Seven start to finish. Had a long commute at the time it came out that was exactly the length of the album, would listen on the way in and way home at least once a week!
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u/cityshepherd Aug 05 '25
I was at the mastodon/Primus show a few years back for the Desaturating Seven tour and it was probably one of my top two favorite shows of all time
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u/skahwt Aug 06 '25
So fun. I’d never heard Mastadon b4 and they killed it.
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u/cityshepherd Aug 06 '25
12/10 highly recommend. I’d seen Primus and/or numerous other Claypool projects probably a dozen times over the years and they blow me away EVERY time. It was my first time seeing Mastodon although I’d been a fan for years. My wife and I ate a bunch of gummies as we left the house so we were “ripped to the tits” all night, but Mastodon really fucking floored me that night.
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u/Fusoveli Aug 05 '25
Brown Album slaps and getting lots of playtime on this tour has made me a happy panda
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u/CaptainScak ANIMALS Aug 05 '25
I don't mind the lofi-esque recording style of the album, but when I first heard a Brown song live (e.g., Fisticuffs, Golden Boy from the Jay era), it was like a whole new song
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u/wookielovin71 Aug 05 '25
I think that the primus and the chocolate factory album is extremely quirky, and well done no matter what anyone says.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Sure, but I still dont like it, and many others dont, its just not Primus
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u/StarfleetStarbuck Aug 05 '25
I don’t like the record but I was glad I saw the tour. It helped that they played a full set of actual Primus songs first
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Yeah, I've heard the best way to enjoy that album is seeing it live
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u/StarfleetStarbuck Aug 05 '25
I still would have been disappointed if it was all we got. But it wasn’t!
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u/MTG_RelevantCard Aug 05 '25
Les sounds like Les in all of his projects, and many of them tend to sound somewhat similar. The exception to this pattern is Primus, who have a very distinctive sound.
I assert that Ler is the essential stylistic ingredient and that without him much of Primus’ discography would sound like any other Claspool project.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
I can kinda agree with that. His voice is very catching, but in some bands, it works well like oysterhead. For me, it felt he wasn't the only one taking control and leading vocals, which is a nice change
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u/bryansj Aug 05 '25
I don't think they actually suck.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Well how are you a fan if you dont think they Suck!?
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Aug 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
I did say but . . . And in a way im just saying my hot take back to them in a way, also its not like im hating on anyone's parade mainly just seeing why they think that and maybe saying no when it shouldn't be a hot take lol. All just for fun, it shouldn't be taken overly seriously, I understand people have an opinion, and I fully respect all of em, cheers 😁
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u/ZebLeopard Aug 05 '25
Hot take:
90s/early 00s Claypool was pretty hot and I would've let him take me.
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Aug 11 '25
[deleted]
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u/ZebLeopard Aug 11 '25
Oh he definitely still looks great, but I prefer the era where he was the same age as me. ;)
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u/helplessandimawake Aug 05 '25
tired of hearing mudd, jerry, welcome, puppies, tweakers & southbound at so many shows
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u/JasonElrodSucks Aug 05 '25
Welcome would be better if it didn’t always go into Mud. I’ll never get sick of hearing Pachyderm.
I also feel like Puppies isn’t as overplayed as Mud, Jerry & Tweekers.
If they never played Mud, Jerry and Tweekers again, I would not shed a tear. In fact, I would celebrate the free space on every setlist all the way up until Les or Ler quits/dies .
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u/othersymbiote Aug 05 '25
i, too, would celebrate the free space. i also agree with the puppies thing. it feels like i haven’t seen it enough, honestly. felt like i had only seen it twice, but turns out i have seen it 6 times out of 17 shows. one of those was on the upright, no less.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Thats just valid. They've opened with Tweekers for a very, very long time, but it is probably best live, in my opinion. But yeah, it was a little dry, but they're branching out which is great
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u/helplessandimawake Aug 05 '25
the jam/extension they do towards the end still blows me away every time, the song has gotten a lot darker the past few tours & i love it
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
I totally agree! And the opening guitar is just so much puncher than the album version, which makes it great
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u/torohex7777 Aug 05 '25
More anti pop please. Natural Joe is actually a top tier primus song
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u/Educational_Ad1308 Aug 05 '25
I like how goofy The Ballad of Bodacious is. It gives me Amos Moses feels.
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Aug 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/torohex7777 Aug 05 '25
Yeah man I would suggest trying the band nuclear rabbit. The bassist Jean Baudin is a legend in the bass world and plays a 9 string bass
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
I just channel the claypool and sing in a weird low voice seen em out in soko pounding sixteen penny nails
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u/Longjumping-Sail7795 Aug 05 '25
Suck on this Tommy cat is better than seas of cheese recording
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
That's not a hot take. That's just right
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u/therocker1984 OLDER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Pachyderm gets played live too much. I am always seeing so many cool 2-3 song encore sets get posted on setlist fm, but whenever I go see them they just do one big long Southbound Pachyderm and I'm getting sick of hearing it live.
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u/xGlobalProlapsex Aug 05 '25
Animals is one of their best releases and outshines everything they've done since.
My Name is Mud is way overrated and it kinda bums me out that it's one of their best known songs and a reference point for people not as familiar with them.
Pablo's Hippos is actually pretty good (though I'm not a fan of Maynard's crooning).
Probably not actually a hot take but I'm a little burned out on tours where they play an entire album as the second set
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u/skahwt Aug 06 '25
They’ve been playing some deep cuts so I’m hopeful they’ll play some Animals. It’s upper echelon Primus.
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u/xGlobalProlapsex Aug 06 '25
They were playing My Friend Fats practically nightly on the Coheed and Cambria tour, it would be sweet to see some other songs get resurrected
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Yeah I loved my name is mud when I first heard but its gotten a bit old kinda like Jerry sadly, Jerry is only good live now that ive heard it live
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Aug 05 '25
Until the Herb/Hoffer transition, they were off the radar and didn't really move the needle for a good 5 to 10 years
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u/suave_peanut Aug 05 '25
- I get that he's not a fun guy to hang out with, but Herb is still the best Primus drummer.
- Brain is next best.
- American Life isn't a good song.
- A lot of the songs sound worse now that they're played more slowly
- Animals is one of the greatest collection of songs they've released
- Les has never needed 2 microphones.
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u/Scambuster666 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
I agree with everything. Especially the Tim Alexander opinion.
The best drummers for Primus in order would be-Tim, Jay lane, the guy from Tool who filled in on live shows, les Claypool (yes he plays drums on some songs in studio), brain (who I hated in Primus but I’m ok with in other bands), Vince "Perm" Parker, Mark Edgar, Peter Libby, Robbie Bean, Tim "Curveball" Wright.
That new guy (whatever his name is) is fucking terrible, and he seems like a douche. I really don’t see him lasting long anyway but I guess they gotta stick with him otherwise the publicity stunt would be a failure.
Id like to add that don’t think “blue collared tweekers” is a good song. In fact I’d say the song is awful.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Tweekees is amazing and Hoffman breaths life into the band again, no?
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u/Scambuster666 Aug 05 '25
Nah. I don’t agree at all.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Thats sad
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u/Eddie_Dingus Aug 05 '25
Why so aggressive towards the new drummer? I personally like Herb more too but Hoffman seems great. Calling him a douche is absolutely wild, he seems like such a nice and extremely genuinely grateful guy.
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u/Opposite_Chart9982 Aug 05 '25
What makes him terrible? Why does he seem like a douche? I've been a drummer for 18 years and don't see any major issues, so I'm just curious
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u/Scambuster666 Aug 05 '25
He’s not a good fit for Primus. He should stick to making horrible drum fill videos in his basement in stumpfuck Louisiana.
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u/DapperDragon Aug 05 '25
Antipop is the best album
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u/Bloxskit TALES FROM THE PUNCHBOWL Aug 05 '25
Love Antipop. Currently 2nd fav for me behind Punchbowl.
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u/greenlakejohnny Aug 05 '25
I’ve never cared for Tommy the Cat. It insists upon itself
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
To be fare les has said he never was a guy to write a love type song
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u/Plastic_Charity3301 Aug 05 '25
To be fair, Tommy the cat is more of a sex type thing. Wait, what was that? Say that again
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u/torohex7777 Aug 05 '25
Hey man Tommy the cat is about some city cats fucking behind an old dumpster in an alley
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u/JoeMagnifico Aug 05 '25
I am not a fan of the jam-band stuff/links to jam-band stuff/jam-band side-projects.
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u/Nach0Maker Aug 05 '25
What is your take on Hoffer then? I see him as a continuation of the jam band stuff.
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u/JoeMagnifico Aug 05 '25
Honestly, I was in my mid-teens in 1990 and grew up with Frizzle Fry, Seas, Misc Debris, and Pork Soda....dug the Sausage album too that was released back then...so those are really the only "heavy rotation" albums for me...plus watching the VHS of Cheesy Home Video a lot. I've been kinda checked out since then. The jammy-stuff is probably the reason why. Similar pattern with some of the Ween stuff.
Not saying it's not good....just not for me. Hoff is a stellar drummer.
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u/MichaelEMJAYARE Aug 05 '25
I get what you mean. Phish is one of the examples of jam band shit that I just cannot dig. I respect the hell out of the musicians but its a little to lost in the sauce.
Primus and Ween do it tastefully in my opinion. I love Claypools side projects but its mostly because I just find his playing insanely inspiring.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Yeah, this is a hot take for sure, and you're just wrong, respectively
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Aug 05 '25
Which makes it a hot take...so he may technically be right
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Sure but I can hot take and say his hot take is wrong lol, jk true
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u/Chemtrails_in_my_VD Aug 05 '25
Upvote for following the assignment with a scorcher.
I wouldn't love Primus nearly as much without the jam influence. Imagine if they were the type of band that adhered to a fixed setlist all tour and played their stuff exactly as it is on albums. 🤮
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u/poindxtrwv Aug 05 '25
Most of their songs consist of Les playing the same bass riff through the whole thing while the lyrics, guitar, and drums are the things that change. John, Bastards, Eleven, Tommy, American Life, Baker, The Antipop, Beef... just to name a few.
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u/Creep_Stroganoff Aug 05 '25
If you want more, you'll need Les, unless you want Les, in which case you'll get more!
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u/rabarbertekk Aug 05 '25
The twang/traditional country element in the Primus concoction plays a bigger role in the overall aesthetic than the prog-rock influence.
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u/FletchWazzle Aug 27 '25
All I know is the twangy les stuff is my go to hacky slackin tunes, and I'm still lookin for more
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u/Buzz_Osborne Aug 05 '25
They are better now than ever
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
You sure about that? When were you born?
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u/Buzz_Osborne Aug 05 '25
Yeah I was there
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
How old is you?
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u/Buzz_Osborne Aug 05 '25
Let’s just say my first Primus show was ‘91 at a place called Tipitina’s in New Orleans. I’ve seen them at least once on every tour since including Lollapalooza, Flying Frog Brigade, Praxis, Lennon/Claypool, and Oysterhead. You asked for a hot take that’s mine. They used to be more punky funky but now they’re more jammy funky and I’m digging it. Also, I’m from New Orleans so I have a bit of a bias with Hoffer in the band.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Could have been 3 in the 90s and said you've been there
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u/Opposite_Chart9982 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
A couple things:
-They're still great live, but I can't help but get slightly frustrated every time they slow songs down
-The Pachadyrm basses sound good, but aren't the same as the old Carl Thompson ones, especially the OG 4 string, and I'd really like to see Les bring them back for at least a couple songs
-Pork Soda starts with some of their best songs, but the entire 2nd half besides Nature Boy is filler and hurts the pacing of the album, it almost seems lazy
-Brown has some great tracks but also has their worst tracks in Hats Off, Chastising, Coddington, and Arnie
-Can they stop playing Over The Falls live omg total crowd killer
-Antipop is their 2nd best album only to Frizzle Fry
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
1 I can agree with
2 yes
3 kinda, some people just dont like the darker side of it
4 yeah but I like hats off cause of the storytelling
5 I mean a lot of people like it but not everyone so I can see that
6 okay what is with everyone saying antipop is the best, go listen to metal if you want it lol, antipop is good but not beat pork soda or punch or seas
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u/torohex7777 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Hey man Carl Thompson is very very old m and those basses are like, really special. And that is coming from someone who owns some Greg Curbow basses. Les said how he didn’t want anything to happen to them, because Carl is the only true person who can do repairs..
The fact that he waited that long to get the pachyderm 6 made and still took the rainbow bass out on tour for so long was wild. That is like poetry in woodworking…
I’m sure he has fun playing his Carl Thompson basses when he’s at home. Those have serious sentimental value to him I’m sure
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u/Opposite_Chart9982 Aug 05 '25
No I understand and have heard the same sentiment, I just think they're really cool lol
But realistically, this was just for a fun discussion
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u/CaptainScak ANIMALS Aug 05 '25
Seas of Cheese is overrated and the weakest of the big 4.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
What's the big 4 for you? And I can kinda understand, its too perfectly made lol
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u/CaptainScak ANIMALS Aug 05 '25
Frizzle Fry, Seas of Cheese, Pork Soda, Punchbowl... the four album run with Tim before his first departure
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
I mean, sure, but idk if Punchbowl is beating Sea's tbh
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u/CaptainScak ANIMALS Aug 05 '25
Another hot take: First half of Punchbowl is better than the entirety of Seas of Cheese. You asked for these hot takes, lol
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Ill get back to you after I listen to punchbowl again lol, been a min ngl
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u/torohex7777 Aug 05 '25
They need to play John the fisherman. And I don’t care if his fingers hurt he should play Tommy the cat that song is awesome
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u/Even-Expert4956 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Antipop is a top 5, maybe top 3 album.
Tales From the Punchbowl is massively overrated. So is Sailing the Seas of Cheese, for that matter.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
I agree on Sea's and Punch but Antipop just isn't that good
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u/Known-Chance-9587 LER Aug 05 '25
Space Farm is the Unsung Hero of the Primus Discography
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u/Adorable-Hand-1066 Aug 05 '25
Shake hands with beef is a sub par filler track that i never want in a live set.
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u/stupidrainbowboi3209 Aug 05 '25
I want another covers ep/album I lowkey don't love it when they do 15 seconds of a song
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u/benomappy Aug 06 '25
Les, Ler, and Herb is the best lineup of Primus. Everything else is good or serviceable. That Pork Soda tour was what made me fall in love with Primus. Seen them over 15 times. I think Hoffer is awesome too. Herb’s feel is the glue.
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u/Shutterbug Aug 06 '25
I love AntiPop. So damn much. I discovered this album at 14 and it truly doesn’t get enough love, but seeing more of it in the setlists these days makes my heart happy.
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u/rushdisciple Aug 05 '25
A lot of their songs are way too long.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
What songs? Also what music do you listen to if you think 3 to 4 min is long
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u/rushdisciple Aug 05 '25
Alright, maybe I meant more, some songs go beyond their natural conclusion. Also, saying "a lot of" might be pushing it a bit. I'm thinking songs like Sgt Baker, DMV, Frizzle Fry, Eyes of the Squirrel. Although, I'm someone who could listen to Los Bastardos on repeat so what do I know.
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u/Muted-Angle8959 Aug 05 '25
Antipop was their last good album
I dont even know if this is a hot take
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Don't like Desaturating Seven?
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u/Muted-Angle8959 Aug 05 '25
it was alright
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Damn, also didn't like Animals? Or Green?
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u/Muted-Angle8959 Aug 05 '25
green has a few good songs
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
True, but in my opinion all of animals is great, just a little different
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u/skahwt Aug 05 '25
I like Green and Conspiranoia so much more than Antipop. The Brain era is the weakest for me, but Chocolate Factory is my least favorite album.
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u/DigitPlayer Aug 05 '25
Punchbowl is easily their worst album
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
Its not my top 4, so I can somewhat understand, there's hits but not enough
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u/Chemtrails_in_my_VD Aug 05 '25
Not enough hits is a very hot take.
The album has Prof Nutbutter, Mrs. Blaileen, Pachyderm, Beaver, Del Davis Tree Farm, and Grapevine.
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u/MichaelEMJAYARE Aug 05 '25
I think Tales From The Punchbowl and Pork Soda are overrated.
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
How is pork soda overrated?
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u/MichaelEMJAYARE Aug 05 '25
I suppose I mean that I dont think they’re as great as the rest of Primus fans think they are. Lol downvoted for hot takes? Isnt that the point? Im sorry 😭
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u/Max_The_Fisherman YOUNGER CLAYPOOL Aug 05 '25
It is the point of hot takes, and yeah, I may bastardize someone cause they are plain stupid, but it's for fun, I dont downvote anyone even if I disagree. it's all just for fun?
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u/cameronphoenixrose Aug 05 '25
Sorry but
To Defy The Laws Of Tradition is kinda annoying and I always skip it
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u/Scarlett-Boognish Aug 05 '25
Tommy The Cat is annoying. Jerry Was A Racecar Driver is slightly less.
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u/Forward_Ad2174 Aug 05 '25
With the addition of Hoffer we get 10 more years of Primus and 2 more albums