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Brown Album

by Primus

Released: July 08, 1997

Funk metal, progressive rock, jazz rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

It was the band's first album with new drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia, who replaced former drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander. "Brown Album" is the fifth studio album by American rock group Primus, released on July 8, 1997. 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.

Inside the Recording

They used unconventional recording techniques for this album.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

For instance, all of the original album tracks…

For instance, all of the original album tracks were reportedly recorded direct to two-track analog.

The idea was to help the band capture…

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.

The album's title is a play on The…

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'…

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…

The album spawned three singles: "Shake Hands with Beef", "Over the Falls" and "Bob's Party Time Lounge".

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Primus - Brown Album

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Full background

The Complete Album Story

"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.