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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Sailing The Seas Of Cheese

Primus

1991

Sailing The Seas Of Cheese
Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

Sailing the Seas of Cheese is the second studio album and major label debut by the American rock band Primus. It was released on May 14, 1991, through Interscope Records. It spawned three singles: "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver", "Tommy the Cat", and "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers". The album has been described as funk metal. Similar to its predecessor Frizzle Fry, founding guitarist Todd Huth received writing credits on the songs "Tommy The Cat" and "Sgt. Baker". The album's lead single "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" is known for its intricate bassline that Les Claypool played on a six-string bass using the tapping technique. It also contains a sample from the movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 in which the character Chop Top exclaims "Dog will hunt!" The track "Los Bastardos" contains samples from the BBC television series The Young Ones including Vyvyan shouting, "Shut up, you bastards!", Vyvyan's mother saying, "He is a bastard isn't he?", as well as Rick saying, "You just called me a bastard, didn't you?" and "Mike, you bastard!" The single "Tommy The Cat" is also characterised by its highly complex bassline that mixes strumming and slapping; there is not a clear consensus on exactly what notes are being played, and as a result, numerous different interpretations exist on the Internet. The song features spoken word by Tom Waits providing the voice of the titular character; in live performances Claypool does these parts himself. Another examples of the album's musical complexity is the song "Eleven", which is named after its unusual time signature of 11/8. The song and album title "Seas of Cheese" would later be referenced in the song "DMV" on their next album Pork Soda, as well as the song "Dirty Drowning Man" on 1999's Antipop.

Wikipedia

Rating

3

Votes

75

Genres

  • Metal

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Reviews

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May 21 2024
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5

There's a level of camp which, even late, produces no cringe. Here it's birthed by relentless funk baselines and no sense of seriousness. Glancing nautical punk is as satisfying as always, a genre to raid ships for notes without making them the Point. Band stays pretty tight, harmonic language and vocals are reasonably varied, what's not to like in this slightly-not-music?

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Aug 01 2024
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5

I have never listened to Primus before which is strange because they’ve been recommended to me quite a bit. This album is absolutely unclassifiable but has a distinct and unique sound. I enjoyed every track.

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Aug 14 2024
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5

Practically criminal that this album isn't on the original lists!

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May 21 2024
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4

Primus - You either love it or loathe it. I definitely love these weirdos!. They can rock, are very skilled and creative musicians, and have the ability to be clever and funny without becoming cheesy. One could challenge my sense of humor, but I'll take Primus over any of those pretentious poser-bands out there (you know who you are, you damn posing tweekers!).

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Jul 09 2024
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3

As a bassist I've always been told I should love, admire, respect Primus and Les Claypool. However, the vocals are just too much like The Goon Show by Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers et al: very silly or occasionally weak like early Chili Peppers vocals before Kiedis found his strong voice. However, the bass playing is virtuoso. The music is swamp blues, funk and sometimes avant-garde jazz bringing to mind - unfortunately for me - Trout Mask Replica. Ultimately it's worth at least one listen to hear the bass being used so well and with so much innovation.

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Aug 05 2024
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1

The user generated album list has been far more enlightening and thought provoking than I had imagined. This album is the perfect example. My initial reaction is that this is absolutely awful, and it is impossible to see how anyone could possibly like it. But lots and lots of people do, and someone clearly thinks it's brilliant. Knowing that of all the albums that have ever been recorded, this has been picked by a person who has spent the last 3+ years doing the same thing I have somehow makes it harder to dismiss the album just as 'bad'. Instead it makes me think about how different people appreciate music. What could it be about this album that people respect or enjoy, and why don't I like it? The musicianship seems to be good, the songs complex and the bass slaps, so perhaps musicians would appreciate it on a technical level. I have no musical talent, so just don't hear the technical things in songs that musical people might do. Also, while it's not my humour it is going for funny, and must hit with some people. Overall, though, I think the crux of the issue is that I tend to respond to records that make me feel something, or have something to say about society, the world, or the human condition that I can relate to. This is pure fantasy escapism, which just isn't my thing, but is loved my many others. Overall, although I hated it, I'm glad I've heard it. Thanks for the selector for the pick. May I never hear a Primus album ever again. Rating: 1 Playlist track: Jerry Was a Race Car Driver Date listened: 04/08/24

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May 21 2024
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4

Man, this brings me back to junior high.

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May 21 2024
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4

Primus has that awesome Bass-Sound. I didn't know any of the songs on this album, but it was a good one

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May 21 2024
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4

Early Primus is a good bit of fun, in small doses. 4/5.

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Aug 25 2024
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4

I would have personally gone with Frizzle Fry, but this is a good choice too.

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Sep 05 2024
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4

I have always enjoyed this album. It's a standout in an era full of standout music, and there's nothing else like it on the planet. Funky and metallic, mildly crass and gleefully weird, with true technical mastery and off the rails creativity. I also think it's an incredibly well balanced album. The songs are perfectly placed so that the hard rocking parts complement the more virtuosic parts, punctuated just enough with the silly bits, each element flowing effortlessly into the next. It's been a good 30 years since the last time I listened to this all the way through, but I'm happy to report it has aged really well. Thanks for sharing it! Fave Songs : Jerry Was a Race Car Driver, Tommy the Cat, Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers, American Life, Fish On (Fisherman Chronicles, Chapter II), Here Come the Bastards, Sgt. Baker, Is It Luck?

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May 21 2024
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3

Heard to a lot of this around when it came out, courtesy of bass-playing college friends. Primus always came off a little too stunt-act for me, though with that Zappa complication of doing it all with extremely competent musicianship. Maybe a little more tolerable to me as their lyrical shtick had more of Beefheart's madcap zany energy than Zappa's aggressive absurdist sneer (the rather serious American Life coming in as something of a non-sequitur amidst it all). The vocals don't do much of anything for me though, and now, as then, I find it overall a little exhausting.

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May 21 2024
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3

I like Primus, but something about the production is a little dated and Muddy for me, so having to be honest here a bit.

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Jun 03 2024
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3

Nearly all of the big Primus hits on this one, and a great run-through of what to expect from Les Claypool and his delightfully weird band. Does run a bit long for the melodic content (or lack thereof) it has to share, but the off-the-walls orchestration in the bass contains enough novelty horsepower to make this a fun listen regardless.

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Jul 15 2024
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3

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Is it luck?

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May 21 2024
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2

Too moved in the desire to be intense, not entirely bad, however very average.

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May 21 2024
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2

Sort of goofy industrial faux-rage bass noodly fun time. I can see how someone could get WAY into this, and I could even imagine a world where I got WAY into this, but I don't think I'm in that world right now.

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Jul 30 2024
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2

Funk metal. No me ha gustado. Un 2.

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May 27 2024
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1

This is not a good album. It was short. The album name was humorous. It started off alright then it progressively got worse. So many of these user chosen albums have just been straight trash.

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Jul 18 2024
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1

Seems like a comedy parody that I don't get

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