Listening to a Les Claypool album is like getting high without the drugs. The former bass player for Primus (who scored a hit with “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver”) has a playing, performing and singing style that can charitably be called “weird”. After a three year absence, Claypool is back with “Of Fungi & Foe”, the most high-profile in a quiet week for new releases.
(and see, this is what I don’t get. Take Kelly Clarkson and The-Dream, for example. Why not release them a week apart so both albums have a chance to debut at #1 and fans have a reason to return to record stores? I don’t get it. But, yeah. I said that already.)
Also new and exciting this week…
Gabriella Cilmi “Lessons to Be Learned”-This Australian singer was profiled a couple of months back by our own Jason Matos and is now finally getting a Stateside release for her new album.
Marianne Faithfull: “Easy Come, Easy Go: 18 Songs for Music Lovers”-One of the most striking female voices in music returns with a covers album. I’m not sure what material is being featured here, but her dark, dramatic voice can make anything interesting, so this might be worth checking out.
Ray J. “For the Love of Ray J.: The Soundtrack”-After becoming addicted to “I Love New York”, I’ve managed to stay away from most of VH-1’s Celebreality shows. Brandy’s annoying little brother now has one of those shows, which is even more reason to change the dial. Not sure what this “soundtrack” features, but hopefully it’s a reminder that the dude sang before he became a porno actor/media whore.
Superdrag “Industry Giants”- Superdrag made their initial impression back in ’96 with the song “Sucked Out”, which got an assload of MTV play and was a reasonably-sized hit on the alternative charts. After taking a break in 2003, they are back with “Industry Giants”, an album that features all the original members.
