"Brown Album" is the fifth studio album by American rock group Primus, released on July 8, 1997. It was the band's first album with new drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia, who replaced former drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander. The album marked a departure from the band's traditional sound, featuring an uncharacteristically heavy use of bass and drums in contrast to their usually prominent basslines.
The album's title is a play on The Beatles' famously known "White Album", while the music deviates significantly from their previous records, with a raw feel to it. Many of the songs have a very 'jammy' feel, similar to the band's more progressive work they would develop later on. The album spawned three singles: "Shake Hands with Beef", "Over the Falls" and "Bob's Party Time Lounge".
They used unconventional recording techniques for this album. For instance, all of the original album tracks were reportedly recorded direct to two-track analog. The idea was to help the band capture their live sound on tape, with Les Claypool stating, "We just play and what comes out comes out, which is kind of what we do live."
Overall, the "Brown Album" represents a pivotal point in the evolution of Primus's unique and explorative sound. Its experimental approach to rock music remains an influential testament to the band's willingness to push their musical boundaries.
