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.


Indeed Music for Musicians...   July 16, 2004
 7 out of 10 found this review helpful

I can't name one band to compare Primus to, either in terms of sound or talent. Indeed, I think Primus, together, make up one of the most talented groups ever. Les Claypool is my favorite bassist, and just one listen and you will know why. He creates amazingly hard basslines and seems to play them with ease. He often plays his instrument like it were a lead guitar. The only bassist I can compare him to is Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I think Les might even have him beat. Tim, the drummer, is probably one of the better drummers out there, making great beats to accompany Les's crazy bass playing. He uses a double pedal, but not like most; instead of rapid fire pounding on the pedal like most, he'll put it to a more rhythmatic use. Larry aka Ler isn't the best guitarist in the world but he's still super talented, and he is, however, probably one of the most unique guitarists. In most rock bands, the guitars usually play the same thing as the bass and overpower them, but instead, Ler will let Les and Tim groove while he's playing an oddball riff in the background or just playing a constant solo I'd be hard-pressed to remember. Together, they make up Primus. And this is one of the finest efforts.

As I said earlier, NO ONE sounds like Primus, so to a listener who doesn't play an instrument, it will probably just be too weird to stand. And indeed it is quite bizarre, but it's also amazing. But I'll say it again: if you don't play an instrument, you should probably stay clear of Primus. You won't enjoy them very much.

However, if you do play an insturment, jusg beginning or professional, and you've never heard Primus, you're in for a treat. Primus has some of the best arrangements, solos (on bass and guitar), double bass drumming, and great socially conscience yet humor filled lyrics I've ever heard. "Here Come the Bastards" starts with a catchy bass riff and then goes into a slow-paced jam with the whole band. "Sgt. Baker" will immediately grab your attention once it kicks in. The catchy chord-filled bass line and strong lyrics of "American Life" will surely entertain an inspiring bassist. "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" is probably the most ascessible on the album and it's also one of the best. But the truly amazing track on this album is the funky "Tommy the Cat" which tales the tale of a flirtatious alley cat told through the voices of Les Claypool and Tom Waits. The guitar solo is crazy, but the 8 second bass solo is insane. Les combines every technique I know of into that small time to make a jaw-dropping break in the tune. "Those Damned Blue Collared Tweakers" is another catchy one with a great riff. These are only the highlights.

So if you're looking for a super talented band, definetly consider Primus. Les Claypool is simply unbelievable and Ler and Tim deliver as well. Primus sucks (that means they rock)!


Pretty Good   October 2, 2000
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

After buying several Primus albums, I bought this one. Well, first of all, I really like the storytelling. Each song is a sort of story. "Jerry Was A Racecar Driver" tells the story of a (you guessed it) racecar driver. "American Life" is a somber tale of poverty in life. My favorite is "Tommy The Cat," about a cool cat who talks about getting the hottest chick (or should I say 'cat') in town. But Primus' strength isn't only in storytelling. They are also very good at playing. Les Claypool's quirky bass playing, Larry LaLonde's haunting guitar playing, and Tim Alexander's rapid-fire drumming are a perfect combination. These guys are good. That's what made me a Primus fan. My only gripe with this CD is the production. There is NO bass in the sound! This isn't something you'd want to put in your car stereo and jack up the volume. Even now, whenever I listen to it, I feel like two needles are stabbing me in the ears. The sound is really thin. But fortunately, Primus fattened their sound later. In all, I recommend you buy this album.


Not a trendy new atrocity...   November 17, 2003
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This CD is one of Primus's best. The album is packed from beginning to end with quirky but excellent music. The opening, Seas of Cheese, is a nice introduction, it leads you into the rest of the album. The next two tracks, "Here Come the Bastards" and "Sgt. Baker," put a real pow into the CD- both great songs that I could listen to over and over. After that comes "American Life," which adds another dimension to the album; it strays from the mood of the previous tracks, and, of course, is another outstanding song. Next comes one of the most recognizable and popular Primus songs, "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver." It's a perfect blend of music- starts out with a relatively soft bass, then builds up until they go into full-rocking out mode with heavy guitar. "Eleven," "Is It Luck?" and "Grandad's Little Diddy" are wonderful Primus songs, but I'm skipping them to save space. "Tommy the Cat" features, who else, but Tom Waits. This song takes a few listens, as do most Primus songs, but once you get into it, it becomes one of the highlights of the album. "Sathington Waltz" is like the song "Wounded Knee" from the album Pork Soda. Just seems to be randomly thrown in there just for fun. It's not bad, but I tend to skip it. Ah, "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers." One of the favorites of Primus fans. It's one of the best tracks on the album, featuring a guitar solo and bass guitar solo. This one never seems to get old, you can listen to it over and over. "Fish On" is another classic on the album. And finally, "Los Bastardos" is basically just a continuation of "Here Come the Bastards" with a few extras.
With Les Claypool's quirky bass licks and nasal voice, Larry Lalonde's complex and flawless guitar riffs, and Tim Alexander's thundering and almost effortless drumming, you make up an album that never gets boring. This CD is much more than its money's worth- you'll get hours and hours of enjoyment from it. This is in no way a let down. Reccommended highly.


Musicians Without Parallel   March 14, 2004
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

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)