Listening to their songs, you almost automatically detect influences in their music from early punk works.
And I mean, EARLY.
The late 70's-mid 80's experimental hardcore punk sound. Personally, I certainly feel like they were heavily impacted by MDC, and The Melvins.
Honestly, I think that's what I love the most about their sound.
Their songs are so raw, so experimental, so untamed. They are never bound by the average rules of musical melody. They play what they want, and they don't really give a shit about anybody who can't understand or appreciate them.
Which, I suppose, really does kind of coincide with their message.
Since their beginnings in 1991, they kind of just gave off this vibe to their fans of self acceptance, and even self comfortability. They had no problem with-- in fact, they promoted-- searching the deep, weird, bizarre depths of themselves.
And their music reflected it.
I'm honestly shocked that I had never heard of or been told of them before I did/was.
I actually own two of their albums: an older, more organic one (Pork Soda, 1992) and a newer, more recent one (Primus and the Chocolate Factory, 2014, an album in tribute to the wondrous talent of Gene Wilder). These records have, truthfully, completely broadened my understanding of and outlook on punk rock, as well as inspired me in a very big way.
"Oh, welcome to this world of fools, of pink champagne and swimming pools.
All you have to lose is your virginity.
Perhaps we'll have some fun tonight, so stick around and take a bite of life.
We don't need feebleness in this proximity.
Don't judge the boy by what you hear. The words are heard beyond the ear.
The heart and mind are focus for this conversation.
But be abound in mystery, for that so much you do to me.
For there are those who drown in adulation.
If I had a time for each time that I heard them preach,
Well I'd have wicked thoughts upon my brain.
Welcome to this world."
--Welcome to This World, from the album Pork Soda
"When I need relief, I spell it THC. Perhaps you know vaguely what I mean.
I sit back and smoke away huge chunks of memory
As I slowly inflict upon myself a full lobotomy.
Call it pointless.
--DMV, from the album Pork Soda
"I pull the blinds,
Then I take my clothes off;
Dance around the house like nature boy.
My genitalia and pectoral muscles aren't quite what I would like them to be,
But you don't see me.
No one can see me.
I pull the blinds,
For the sun glares off my tele and I find it quite so irritating.
I have my videos-- loads of Ren and Stimpy,
Bottom-- a bit of pornography.
But you don't see me.
Nobody sees me."
--Nature Boy, from the album Pork Soda
"I write between the lines.
I deal with fantasy.
I report the facts.
Give them to me, please.
When I write, words flow
Like coins from a candy box.
Get out of my way--
I've got something to say.
Why don't I trample on your lawn today?
I'll take skies of blue, turn over old skies of gray.
I write between the lines.
I deal with fantasy.
I am the pressman.
Acknowledge me.
You build with a fountain pen.
You create with a memory stain.
You are the pressman.
Stand up straight, boy."
--The Pressman, from the album Pork Soda
"Hey, ho, Mr. Krinkle,
Have you heard the brand new sound?
It's a cross between Jimi Hendrix, Bocephus, Cher, and James Brown.
It's called "Heavy Hometown," New Wave, cold-filtered, low-calorie, dry.
C'mon, Mr. Krinkle, tell me why."
--Mr. Krinkle, from the album Pork Soda
THEY. HAD. NO. FEAR.
No fear to be themselves, no fear of society's disapproval, no fear of experimentation, of playing music literally based upon nothing but sheer self acceptance and honesty.
I suppose that's why I respect that so much.
Hats off to Primus, ladies and gentlemen.
Thanks for reading,
UNWANTED NOISE
p.s. stay tuned for Green Day
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