You get Primus!
I realized recently that I have not been providing the metal that I promised for this blog lately, so here we go.
I tell you a story of two disparate genres. Two boon companions torn asunder by a world that does not understand them. Two devoted subcultures of music destined to form into one. I am, of course, referring to metal and funk.
Funk: Sweet licks from guitars with chorus and wah effects and smooth drum beats that take advantage of the hi-hat pedal (pianos as well, if you're so inclined). Slap 'dat bass and get on up like a sex machine. Note how repetitive the music in that song is. If you think that's bad, try listening to Parliament (the baby of George Clinton, who now has a copyright on "Bow wow wow yipeeo yipeeyay bow wow yipeeo yipeeyay"). Funk has been a very influential style and when it's good, it's great and has fantastic staying power.
Metal: The heavy stuff. Harder than rock. Fast, distorted guitars with long, fast solos. (distorted) Bass of both fast and slow styles. Fast drum beats (probably the only place where you'll find double bass drums being used). Add keyboards to taste. Oh, and abrasive vocals. Metal is the manliest of musical styles.
Music being what it is, these two styles have fused in a few bands of note to some interesting effects. Recently, I have had a hard time not listening to Primus, love child that Les Claypool had with his bass. Claypool himself used to play thrash metal, so he's very accustomed to the no holds barred, balls-out playing style that accompanies a metal band. He even auditioned for Metallica after renowned bassist Cliff Burton died. In Primus, Claypool finds a very cool fusion of alternative rock, metal, and funk. Primus songs are rife with fast slapping bass riffs that denote a level of technical skill beyond any other bassist I've ever heard. Listen to this guy. As far as songwriting goes, Claypool is essentially the Frank Zappa of bass, so expect really weird lyrics and off-the wall musical style that goes from classical to thrash-y to experimental, but is always funky. Oh yeah, there are two other guys in the band (who are both great), but the driving force behind the band is good ol' Les who has done a few side projects and solo tracks.
For beginning Primus listeners, I would not recommend going straight for an entire album due to the odd and inconsistent nature of the songwriting. Try out the hits, and if you like them, check out the albums (e.g. Anti-Pop and Pork Soda). My personal endorsements go out to:
- Tommy the Cat
- John the Fisherman [featured on Guitar Hero 2]
- Wynona's Big Brown Beaver [it's about a rodent]
- Jerry Was a Racecar Driver [featured on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Rock Band 3]
- Electric Uncle Sam
- Mr. Knowitall
- Nature Boy
For all of the oddness of Primus' fusion of genres, they aren't the only funk metal band out there. Unfortunately, many of the others are bad. I can certainly recommend Rage Against the Machine, but it feels like a cop-out because these guys span hip-hop/rap, funk, metal, punk, and maybe even industrial. They do have their specifically funky songs, though. Faith No More is another genre-spanning band that is more specifically funk-oriented and cares a lot about killer bees. Then, of course, there's Maximum the Hormone. The full version of that song is actually pretty decent.
I can give a tentative recommendation to The Infectious Grooves, who some may call more of a hardcore punk/funk (hardcore pfunk?) band than funk metal. Infectious Grooves includes the only consistent member of Suicidal Tendencies, "Cyco" Mike Muir as well as Suicidal Tendencies and Metallica bassist, Robert Trujillo.
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