Brown Album

Untitled

For other uses, see The Brown Album.

The Brown Album is an album by the alternative rock band Primus. It was released on July 8, 1997.

Straying from their previous mold, this album can certainly be construed as their most unique recording. Production value on this record differs greatly from previous efforts, including different mixing techniques and the use of 'clipping' (on the drums especially) in some tracks. It is the first official album featuring Bryan "Brain" Mantia on drums.

Some "old-school" Primus followers showed a dislike of this album, due to the departure of drummer Tim Alexander, and the new introduction of Bryan Mantia. Mantia's drumming style is considerably more straight groove-oriented than Alexander's polyrhythmic, fast, and finessy style. The emphasis is seemingly placed more on the overall song structure than the writing of any one part, leaving an open jam-rock style of playing, incorporated with jazz influences, inside shorter song forms. Claypool's vocal style takes quite a turn on this album as well; opting for doubling his vocal melodies or playing in lower registers than he is usually known for. LaLonde's playing comes off considerably more rounded and versatile. Playing more as a key part to the song's overall structure, he veers off into uncharted territory by tackling many new styles and tones.

With less technical production, the Brown Album achieves a feel of darkness and despair. There is also the re-occurring theme of the dirtiness and dishonesty dealt with in American Life. Much of the imagery centers on the 1800s.

Tom Waits, a regular contributor on earlier albums, claims this as his favorite work by Primus, as much of Waits' own work is made up of stories of dark, seedy characters.

Track listing

1. "The Return of Sathington Willoughby" – 5:04 (Claypool)
2. "Fisticuffs" – 4:25 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
3. "Golden Boy" – 3:05 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
4. "Over the Falls" – 2:42 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
5. "Shake Hands With Beef" – 4:02 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
6. "Camelback Cinema" – 4:00 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
7. "Hats Off" – 1:57 (Claypool)
8. "Puddin' Taine" – 3:38 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
9. "Bob's Party Time Lounge" – 4:43 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
10. "Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread" – 3:30 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
11. "Restin' Bones" – 4:29 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
12. "Coddingtown" – 2:52 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
13. "Kalamazoo" – 3:31 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
14. "The Chastising of Renegade" – 5:04 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)
15. "Arnie" – 3:54 (Claypool/LaLonde/Mantia)

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1997	The Billboard 200	#21