.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
A**I
An onion that makes you laugh, not cry
This is quite possibly Claypool's finest effort both in terms of lyric and in terms of melody. After the opening track is done you are given one great track after another with only a few weak points.I say best in terms of melody because this album shows Claypool unleashed from the guitar-bass-drums constraints that came with Primus (not to say that Primus is bad; I actually love Primus but I love diversity of instruments more). In addition to Claypool's usual bass guitar, upright bass and whamola there are drums, marimbas, vibes, guitars, banjos, violins, violas, and cellos all making appearances. It's an absolutely engrossing album just for that sake alone because of all the different layers of instruments used.But even better than the instruments is the lyrical content. There is some mild profanity, but the topics of most songs are meant to make you think or to really notice the irony of a situation. The first example is track number 2, David Makalaster, written from the perspective of a news anchor who does his once-over-lightly on serious topics and then moves on, with the whole song pointing out that caring about what you hear in the news is not nearly as important or useful as actually doing something about what you hear in the news. Another excellent example is Ding Dang, a song meant to condemn hateful slurs and remarks--he uses some of them in the lyrics but always to prove his point, which is that society's problems are created by society and all those who insist on alienating those who are even only mildly different from the mainstream.If that sounds too serious for your taste, don't worry. You have track 3, Buzzards of Green Hill, a good jam tune where just the beat from the lyrics could work as a solid rhythm section. Then you have D's Diner, panegyric of one of Claypool's favorite restaurants, and the very final track Cosmic Highway which tells the story of a family's vacation in outer space from the perspective of the child.This album stands out among Claypool's work, and anyone who wants to claim Claypool fan-ship needs to get it, or at least listen to the tracks a few times.
J**R
A varied and layered onion with much to offer.
Every once in a while an album comes along that completely catches me off guard with how amazing it is, and a perfect example of that is Purple Onion by The Les Claypool Frog Brigade. The songs are playful, complex and both fun and brutal in what they talk about.To me this is this man at his ultimate best, vocally, lyrically and musically. There's also a feeling of movement through the album, with a sort of narrative taking you though the songs.I highly recommend checking it out, either on digital or vinyl, as both sound great. Over all, this is a 5/5 album in every way.
K**N
It's OK and has It's moments, but not for everyone.
For Les Claypool fans a must, it has that unique Claypool sound. Not my favorite, I'm a Flying Frog Brigade guy.
J**J
Outstanding...
You have to wonder at a world where a cd like Purple Onion is overlooked. While far from perfect, there are so many great songs that the cd easily earns five stars. Where to start? Well, how about "David Makalaster", the ten o'clock newscaster, who reminds us that "anarchy is back in style"? Or, perhaps, "Whamola" - which I like to think of as Les' cautionary tale about conformity, though the song is almost without lyrics! "Buzzards of Green Hill", "Long in the Tooth", "Ding Dang" and the closer "Cosmic Highway" are all outstanding tracks. The rest of the songs are...um...merely good. I don't always know what Les is getting at, but I'm up for going along for the ride.
J**S
If Primus are no more, Frog Brigade are worthy successors
Over this side of the pond, Les Claypool and/or Primus are pretty well ignored. In this land of musicians who can't play, rock music that doesn't rock and creation lacking any creativity, the likes of pushing-the-envelope music like Les and the Frog Brigade are written off as 'too complex' for the masses; for the Oasis drivelling minions.Les, as usual, is king of the hill and anyone with a true musical bone in their body can, and will appreiciate this collection of joyful toons. The sense of humour is abundant - it even sounds a little Mr Bungle-y. Awesome.Gotta love the Frog Brigade. Even if Primus are no more.
K**N
Shine on you crazy onion!!!
I love these guys, and this album. The original songs are good, but the final Pink Floyd cover song, "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" is fantastic
J**H
Les Claypool - Out of this world.
The disc and cover came in perfect condition. As always, Les Claypool does some amusing, & interesting materal. He comes close to filling the void of Frank Zappa.
O**R
Five Stars
Fast shipping, everything was boxed perfectly so there were no damages to the vinyl, highly recommend
M**I
Wie immer genial...!
Les Claypool ist der weise Narr des schrägen Jazz' und übertrifft auch mit diesem Album wiedermal alle Erwartungen, die der verwöhnte Hörer hegt...Ohne ihn wäre die Musikwelt um einiges ärmer!Besonders Titel 5 "Whamola" ist einfach genial!Der Ideenreichtum und die spielerische Leichtigkeit, mit der hier die Freude an Rhythmus und Klang präsentiert wird, sucht seinesgleichen.Kaum zu glauben, daß nur 3 Musiker am Werk sind, ab und zu hat man das Gefühl, ein ganzes Orchester zu hören.Unbedingt empfehlenswert!
L**N
Les Claypool sans Primus...
Claypool est un monstre!Créateur de PRIMUS , groupe majeur mais trop méconnu chez nous au début des 90's aux influences aussi diverses que Fishbones/Zappa/Police/Residents/Wheather Report/Metallica/ Peter Gabriel/ Red Hot Chilli Peppers/la fusion Funk-Metal et un humour absurde à la Tex Avery... Le tout construit autour de la voix nasillarde, dérangeante, marrante ou insupportable suivant les goûts, et surtout la BASSE hallucinante et omniprésente de LES CLAYPOOL!Ici, on a la voix, toujours aussi tordue, des trucs jazzy, des musiques de foire, des...on ne sait pas trop...et des lignes de basse simples, étranges, barrées et plutôt (trop) discrètes...Bref, un disque pour fan de LC, mais on est loin loin de la folie de Primus!
L**I
Geniale
Tutto il genio di Les Claypool accompagnato da musicisti fantastici. Album molto tecnico e divertente da non perdere assolutamente. Ottimo
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