SOUNDTRACK: PRIMUS-Miscellaneous Debris (1992).
After the success of Sailing the Seas of Cheese, Primus created this five song EP of covers. Les had just gotten a new Carl Thompson “rainbow bass” and he used the EP as a way to try it out.
This EP is, interestingly, their most listener friendly release thus far. In part because they are playing more conventional songs (even if in an unconventional way). Although they are not the most obvious covers:
Peter Gabriel-“Intruder.” This is an earlier Peter Gabriel song (when he was still kind of weird). The Primus version is suitably spooky and weird, but it is a great version. It sounds a lot like the original, which is creepier than you might expect from Gabriel–but he was a weirdo before he became an adult contempo sweetheart.
XTC-“Making Plans for Nigel” One of XTC’s more popular songs, this version is faster than the original, but right on and quite fun.
The Residents-“Sinister Exaggerator” The Residents are quite weird (and may be the one band that is closest in spirit to Primus). This version is indeed pretty close to the original (although you can hear the lyrics better on the original!).
The Meters-“Tippi Toes” The Meters area n old school funk band. This is a song with no lyrics. The Primus version sounds more full than the original (which incorporates Tiptoe Thru the Tulips”) but it is quite faithful otherwise.
Pink Floyd-“Have a Cigar” This is clearly the most popular original on the disc. But Primus do a great job with it (Les is under the impression that Roger Waters didn’t like their version–but what do you expect?). They have a lot of fun with this song–keeping it close to the original (except for Ler’s guitar, mostly) and the twisted lyrics that say “who the hell’s this guy they call Bob Cock?”
So while this is a great introduction to Primus, it is not entirely representative of their sound. And yet, it sort of is as well. Hence the title.
[READ: January 6, 2015] “One Saturday Morning”
Tessa Hadley continues to impress me with her beautiful stories in which really nothing happens. It opens with a girl practicing her piano and ends with her and her brother looking at a bug. And in between something almost happens, but not quite.
Set in the 1960s, Carrie is a ten-year old girl practicing her piano. Her brother is outside playing cricket and her parents are out shopping for their party that evening. Carrie hates practicing the piano–the music just doesn’t speak o her. She also fears that her piano tutor is mad at her because of a childish letter she wrote and may have left at her tutor’s house.
While she is thinking about this, the doorbell rings. She doesn’t recognize the man right away but she quickly realizes that it his her parents’ old friend Dom. Dom is a big man, somewhat intimidating but affable. Carrie is intimidated by him though, especially since her parents aren’t around. He hasn’t been around since he moved a way a few years ago. But he says he is in town and wanted to visit friends. She assures him that her parents will be home shortly and invites him in. But rather than entertain him, she runs upstairs to hide. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 