The Grand Pecking Order (studio album) by Oysterhead

From spigelwii 12/14/2023 11:51

Surely an album recorded by a supergroup comprised of ubiquitous scene legend Les Claypool and jam/guitar virtuoso Trey Anastasio (and for some awesome reason, the incredible Stewart Copeland) would be worthy of more attention on this site...and yet here we are. Listen people, if I have to begin a campaign, I will.

Coming in one by one, each musician makes their presence known immediately upon entrance on Little Faces, the creepy opening track. Trey and Les trade verses and choruses vocally, and the listener is forced to reckon with the inescapable suggestion: What if Trey and Stew were in Primus instead/also? The music here is distinctly Primus-y, with a few exceptions here and there known to have been written by Trey outside of the context of the band.

This is by no means a bad thing, because the virtuosity of Copeland and Anastasio really give the compositions some extra creative pop and layering. Copelands drums go off like gunshots and drive the songs in a way that Lane's playing never does, and even Anastasio's most LaLonde-esque riffing (Oz, Shadow of a Man) is significantly more melodic, making for a more pleasant experience. Les Claypool is, of course, Les Mother Fucking Claypool. His bass is squeakier than a cheese curd, and it's just a wonder to behold.

Seriously, though, check this out! The playing is awesome, the songs are pleasantly evil sounding, yet maintain a silliness that mercifully never dips into self-parody (except the title track, which is a stupid, stupid song NOT IN A GOOD WAY). The album is largely excellent all the way through, but the crowning jewel here is Pseudo Suicide, a ferocious Copeland showpiece that is rivaled only by The Police's Next to You in requisite drumming fury. Play it for a drummer in your life.

Truly, The Grand Pecking Order is an album by musicians for musicians. This type of thing may not appeal to everyone, but combined musicianship on this level is rarely captured (contained?) on record in a way where the quality of the songs is able to keep pace with the quality of the playing.

Sounds more like primus than either phish or the police. Much darker playing by Trey than you often get in his solo non phish work. Copeland is the star of the record to me outshining the younger musicians

From Mdemauri 06/18/2014 18:32

Decent and interesting album. If you are a fan of Anatasio, Claypool or Copeland; check it out!