Review Summary: Primus open up a punchbowl full of new tales, and while some truly impress, some fall a bit flat.
Primus has kept riding. The wave of the mainstream has kept them going, with "Pork Soda" being a superb record. Being so superb, Primus is only expected to release something great, possibly greater. It was weird hearing Primus's weird and bizarre music flying through the airwaves, however their aesthetic is able to impress. However, they have decided to MOSTLY leave behind the frightening sounds of Pork Soda, and reverting back to the mostly wonky sounds. However, it seems Primus has made a slight misstep in their next release "Tales from the Punchbowl,".
This album once again has Primus changing their sound. Pork Soda was dark, but Tales from the Punchbowl attempts to revert back to the sound of Seas of Cheese. The album also sounds significantly lighter, with smackin' bass rhythms and yodeling vocals. The bass doesn't get a heavy sound like Frizzle Fry, or the prog-y twang of Seas of Cheese. However, it has a mixture of funk and metal, with catchy funk melodies in "Mrs. Blaileen," or the fret-slams like in "Hellbound 7 1/2". The vocals continue with the wails and yodels that Les has already used before, with the country hees in "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver", or the high pitched shrieks in "On The Tweek Again,". Les is still as sharp as ever, vocal wise and bass wise. Larry also offers some new tricks. From his solos in "Professor Nutbutter's House Of Treats," and "Mrs. Blaileen," or older feel such as in "Glass Sandwich". Tim Alexander is near at his prime here also, with jazz influences, he dances across the kit with nothing holding him back here. It's a shame this was his last Primus record until recently.
The performances aren't the main flaw that cripples the record, it's the songwriting. The first half is very strong, however it fails in the second half. The album opens up strongly, with the best song on here, "Professor Nutbutter's House of Treats,". The seven minute epic is a glorious track, with rampaging and wild metal rhythms. The performances are superb, and set up the album magnificently. "Mrs. Blaileen," is a dark song, about a boy who is taunted at school by his peers and teacher to the point he physically harms them, which recalls the themes of Pork Soda. The song is filled with dark prog, and fades into radio hit "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver,". The song is a twangy country song about a woman and a beaver, and their experiences together. "Southbound Pachyderm," is a song that starts with a low bass intro and explodes into brilliance. After the strange filler "Space Farm", the album begins to fail a bit.
It isn't that the songs are bad necessarily, it's that they're a lot weaker. "Year of the Parrot," is a forgettable track that just drags on much too long. "Hellbound 7 1/2" is a recall to the weirder themes they've explored, with repetitive bass, shrieking guitars and a steady drum beat. The song doesn't explore much else and feels very repetitive. "Glass Sandwich" is easily one of the most boring and dreadful songs Primus has done. It doesn't go anywhere for the full 5 minutes, and drags and drags and drags. However, the album begins to pick up from there. "Del Davis Tree Farm" is a joyful song that has some fun, jazzy moments. "De Anza Jig" is one of the most fun songs Primus has released, with the banjo and slow-dance rhythm as Les sings about the past times. "On The Tweek Again," is also a fine song, but begins to recall the weaker themes of the records songwriting. However, the album ends strongly with "Over The Electric Grapevine," as it is one of the best songs Primus has released. However, most of the songs on the second end just tend to drag and don't offer, and recall Frizzle Fry's main issue of sounding like jams instead. They all crash into each other and become boring and forgettable, and you'll end up remembering the first half of the record more than the second. These songs are not bad particularly, it's just that they're definitely weaker then previous releases, and weaker than the first serving of the record. The performances are unique and good as always, but it lacks a focus and a songwriting gleam that somewhat ruins the tracks purpose. However, Primus has definitely kept their wonky aesthetic and heavy servings, however they don't gleam quite as much as they could of, leaving some of the record in a mess.
Tales From The Punchbowl is not a bad record. It really isn't. It has some excellent tunes and some fun performances, but the second half is in a cluster that is destroys some identity. There's a lot of groove and fun in the songs that worked well for Seas of Cheese, with the weirdness and prog all there. However, even when there are good tunes and great performances, the second half becomes forgettable that don't carry on. The songs are not bad, however they lack a focus and become boring and forgettable. With all that in mind however, Tales from the Punchbowl has it's appeal and it is a gem. It has the jams, the performances, the mostly awesome tracks. However, it is weaker then the previous releases and doesn't live up to them all the way. With all that said, Tales of the Punchbowl is still an excellent record, that while having some weak points, is still an enjoyable whirl of a record.
Favorite Track: Professor Nutbutter's House Of Treats
Least Favorite Track: Glass Sandwich
