Claypool's Frog Brigade, Les - Live Frogs Set 2

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Prawn Song
Catalog Number: PSR-0002-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 43:05:00

Most prog people have heard of Primus and its famous bass player, Les Claypool. Well, Primus may or may not ever make another album, but that doesn't keep Les from staying busy. Recently, he's been on the road with a new band named Frog Brigade (or, to be entirely accurate, Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade). The Brigade have been playing lots of club type gigs and have released two live albums from those appearances. For prog folks, the most interesting of the two is probably Set 2, which features Claypool's version of Pink Floyd's Animals album. The entire Animals album is here, from start to finish, which must be costing the boys of the Brigade a healthy chunk of royalties!

The performance here is decidedly Floydish, but different enough that the music gets a new spin. Still, often you'll swear that this is Floyd themselves performing. The biggest difference between this album and the original (beside this one's being live) is probably Claypool's roaring bass lines, which cut through the mix with much more power than the original. Also, while the guitar work is great, the style belongs more to the Brigade's own guitarists rather than to Dave Gilmour -- which isn't a criticism. I mean, if you can't put your own stamp on the music, why perform it all?

The recording is nearly studio quality, which is saying a lot for recordings from a club performance. The instruments have plenty of presence, and the mix is clean and well balanced. Claypool's vocals, which, along with his complex bass lines, are a Primus trademark, show more restraint here. He doesn't (usually) sound as whiney as he does with Primus. In fact, he and the other vocalists often sound quite a lot like Floyd's Roger Waters, though not enough to fool hardcore Pink Floyd fans. In any case, this is more than a competent tribute to Pink Floyd. It's a unique interpretation of a classic opus and one well worth adding to your CD shelf.

Tracklisting:
Pigs On The Wing 1 (1:59) / Dogs (16:11) / Pigs (Three Different Ones) (11:44) / Sheep (11:13) / Pigs On The Wing 2 (1:59)

Musicians:
Les Claypool - bass, vocals
Todd Huth - guitar, vocals
Eenor - guitar, vocals
Jeff Chimenti - keyboards, vocals
Jay Lane - drums, vocals
Skerik - saxophone

Discography:
Live Frogs Set 1 (2001)
Live Frogs Set 2 (2001) Purple Onion (2002)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: October 13th 2001
Reviewer: Clayton Walnum

Artist website: www.lesclaypool.com
Hits: 2376
Language: english