Primus

Add Date: October 14 

Artist: Primus 

Album: Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble 

Label: ATO 

Genre: Rock, experimental 

Comments: Just in time for the Halloween season, Primus has returned to put out its first full-length studio album since 1999. Primus & the Chocolate Factory is a haunting, hazy, and hellish "re-imagining" of the sometimes already disturbing soundtrack from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Les Claypool says that the film "was very important to [him] as a kid and very influential to [him] musically."

For those listeners who are already familiar with Primus, the twisted sound of the album may not faze them. If this is your first time experience the group, heed this warning: Primus & the Chocolate Factory is not an album for the easily frightened. Exuding the atmosphere of a carnival crossed with Tim Burton's twisted nightmares, the album paints a terrifying caricature of the original film. The bass hooks on "Golden Ticket" are addictively funky, while Claypool's vocals throughout are an acquired taste. Indeed, after giving this album a listen, I see how nu-metal bands and vocalists were inspired by earlier Primus albums. While this may not be an album for everyone, it effortlessly captures the essence of Halloween. 

Recommended Tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7 

DNP: none