Primus
The Brown Album (Interscope)
by Tim Walker
The wonderfully odd trio, Primus are back with their fifth album of off-kilter ditties and rubber band melodies. The Brown Album marks the third (not second) incarnation of Primus (the first had Todd Huth on guitar) with the addition of “Brain” who replaces the truly fantastic Tim “Herb” Alexander. The question is, “Will hardcore Primus fans be disappointed by the change in the percussion department?” The answer is no. The drumming on The Brown Album is a lot more “Phil Rudd” and a lot less “Neil Peart.” This has an interesting effect an the band’s overall sound – it’s actually pretty smooth sounding and accessible (no kidding!). Primus will lose some fans as a result of the switch, but they will certainly gain more back than they ever had.