Primus's albums have always had the feel of an adolescent's guilty pleasure in a way. Sure you can take it seriously - the musicianship is outstanding and their melodies masterfully twist among pop, funk and grunge. But that's only part of their style; there's a silly side that's part musical humor, part Saturday morning cartoon, and a sense that there could be more quirks around any corner. I imagine that if Phish had a heavy King Crimson influence they'd sound a little like this. There's incredible bass work, subtle nuances in the guitar playing that you don't notice right away, and lyrics that suggest a strange mix of Roger Waters and Frank Zappa.

If the title and cover of this album alone don't seem cartoonish enough, take a listen to the lumbering bassoon introducing the first track. Les Claypool talks and screams through "Is It Luck?" like a hopped-up WB cartoon. "Tommy the Cat" is crazy funk with Tom Waits, of all people, lending a distorted voice to the narrative. As with any Primus album there are times when they go a little too far off the edge ("Granddad's Little Ditty" comes to mind), although I probably shouldn't complain when it's compared to such later offerings as "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver." Regardless: for most Primus fans this album still stands as their strongest. For those merely curious it's the ideal one to start with. If you don't like Seas of Cheese, chances are you won't like the others.

This is one of my favorite albums.

Not because it's weird, not because the bass-playing is good, and not because it has clay models swimming in a bowl of cheese dip on the cover... though that last one does contribute...

Nay, it is simply because the album makes me smile. Who can hold back a grin when the lyrics to Jerry Was a Race Car Driver are sung in flawless redneck dialect? And the journey you are taken on into the life of a macho cat (Tommy the Cat) is epic and unforgettable. You may even feel inspired to hike up to a lake of our own Northwest and fish when you hear Fish On.

If you are suffering the symptoms of clinical depression, please call and order Sailing the Seas of Cheese today. Seriously.

This album was quite possibly the greatest purchase I ever made, as for a mere eleven dollars I obtained some of the most masterful, unique, downright insane music ever written. Primus' best-known quality is the bass work of Les Claypool, and it is everything it has been hyped up to be and more. The absolutely unreal solos and riffs he play are worth the price of admission alone. However, there is a lot more to Primus than simply Les' playing. Claypool's singing is equal parts kooky vocalizing and speedy talking, but it mingles so well with the overall feeling of Primus that a normal singer is umimaginable in his place. Larry LaLonde's guitar weaves in and out of Les' bass lines deftly, accentuating the atmosphere with near-continuous soloing in many cases. To round out the whole package is Tim Alexander's spot-on drumming, which fits the puzzle exactly. Every Primus album is a work of art, but Sailing the Seas of Cheese remains their best work, featuring them at their most catchy and most unique. Below are my opinions on each song:

Seas of Cheese - A fun, unique intro that gives the listener a good idea of where things are going; funny lyrics. (8/10)

Here Come the Bastards - A march-like song that introduces the crazy sounds of Primus. Nice, catchy main riff, and strange, minimalistic vocals. Slightly repetitive, but good overall. (8/10)

Sgt. Baker - One of my personal favorites, as it is the first song to feature a really kickin' bass line, not to mention really unusual and inventive vocals. It had me singing "Right! Left!" for days. (9.5/10)

American Life - A bit more sober and serious than the last two songs, this track nevertheless has a great bass line, and the lyrics are a thought-provoking social criticism about our country. (8.5/10)

Jerry Was a Race Car Driver - Well-known Primus single that features a really crazy-cool bass part, and actually goes into a fairly heavy riff, which is good mosh pit material. Good lyrics round out this song, making it one of the better tracks on the album, not to mention their career. (10/10)

Eleven - Kinda catchy and cool, even though this song has been dubbed as "filler" anything this good can't possibly be called such a name. I especially like the "Ay ay ay". (8.5/10)

Is It Luck? - Really crazy fast bass part and funny lyrics, not to mention Claypool sounding like a total maniac. However, the song is a bit repetitive and tends to wear on the listener after a while. (8/10)

Grandad's Little Ditty - Even though this is just a stupid little interlude, it once again fits in well with the overall atmosphere and has kinda funny lyrics. (6.5/10)

Tommy the Cat - The master track of the album, this song has it all: wierd, high speed lyrics, a catchy chorus, some really cool guitar solos, and by far the most insane piece of bass music ever conceived, which is Les' solo. Those eight seconds of madness are both ridiculous and awe-inspiring, as Claypool wrangles some truly strange noise out of his instrument. This song goes down in history as Primus' best, and possibly one of the greatest songs ever written. (11/10)

Sathington Waltz - Another little interlude of sorts, this song is instrumental but features some cool playing. (7.5/10)

Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers - The third absolutely fantastic song on the cd, this song has cool singing, and great work from all three primates. Another definitive Primus song. (10/10)

Fish On (Fisherman Chronicles, Chapter II) - A longer, more chill song that has some amusing singing and lyrics and more fantastic playing from Les. Not one of my favorites, and it does tend to drag on a little too much, but overall still a very worthy track. (8.5/10)

Los Bastardos - Not the best note to end the album on, and definitely the low point of Sailing the Seas of Cheese. Still, it is amusing, and it certainly doesn't do anything to mar the greatness of the rest of the cd. (5/10)

When I first heard Primus, I was shocked by the originality of it. I'm very interested in punk and 80's hardcore, and I was shocked by how chaotic these guys were without having to play at breakneck speed. Yet, beneath all of the chaos lies great talent and in some cases great meaning to the songs.

People tend to view Primus as a talented comedy band, which is fine, but there's more to them than that. Primus gets beneath the skin of the average American redneck, and exploits them (like I feel they should be). Many people tend to ignore the political messages of the songs.

Then again, there are some songs that are clearly jokes (Tommy the Cat), and some songs that are clearly serious (Eleven). The variety of the lyrics are very refreshing.

Now, the music is just amazing. I love bands who experiment, and although Les Cleypool is clearly an amazing bass player, what makes Primus really click for me is Larry LaLonde's guitar playing. He can produce great ambient sounds. Not everyone will notice it, but if it was taken away from the music, Primus wouldn't be nearly the same.

Basically, if you want something refreshing, buy this album.

The one thing that amazes me more than Les Claypool's bass playing is how much of a dedicated fan base that Primus has! And as I am now a growing fan of Primus, I must say this is great stuff. An incredible mix of funk and punk mixed with Les Claypool's almost inhuman bassplaying.

Right from the opening track, you get the overal impression of the album. And that impression can be expressed in one word: wacky. But for Primus to be anything other than wacky would be uncharacteristic of them. So hmmmmmmm...........

Most of the songs are either slow or fast but never lacking in weirdness or funky basslines. As has become a staple for most Primus albums. However, it still remains fresh after repeated listenings. His lyrics are normally humorous, but this also do inpart to Les's over-the-top almost Elmer Fudd like voice. Is this bad thing? Hell no! It hightens great songs like Tommy the Cat and my personal favorite, Jerry Was A Race Car Driver.

I think the only problem I have with this CD is that it does not have universal appeal. With Primus, you normally get two camps: those who get it and those who don't. But you don't have to like primus to realize the that these guys have TALENT! I say check them out. Just rememeber to put your sanity on hold for the time being. You'll enjoy it more.