Primus has been making music for nearly 20 years. Hard to believe, as my first exposure to them back in high school seems like just yesterday. Even though they hadn't played together on a stage in nearly 7 years when they reunited in 2003, Primus still remains a driving force in the world of metal that isn't wrapped up in terms like 'new school', 'nu-metal', or 'grindcore'. Primus has done it their own way, and brought a style that is so uniquely their own, that others would be foolish to try copying it.With that, they have now released their first retrospective, They Can't All Be Zingers. The title, however, is incredibly misleading. What you have here are some of the best songs ever recorded by this three-piece band comprised of Tim Alexander, Larry LaLonde, and the unforgettable bass playing of Les Claypool. Even though all three had, since their informal split, continued on in other various projects, nothing quite matches neither the musical superiority, nor the cohesiveness, of Primus.
Many fan favorites are encompassed in this release, all of which one would expect to see on a 'best-of' such as this. "Jerry Was A Racecar Driver", "DMV", "Mr. Krinkle", and the unforgettable "My Name Is Mud" are just a few of the bright spots to this release. Also included are goodies like, "Those Damn Blue Collar Tweekers", "Over The Electric Grapevine", and "Too Many Puppies".
It seems that if Primus had anything to do with the songs contained herein, they made sure to include not only songs that were live staples during the band's tenure, but also lesser-known songs that one might not expect on a collection that, for other bands, all too easily contains 'the hits', rather than a list that might include fan and band favorites.
Musically, Primus is one of the best trio's of musicians around. Fans of the band already know that, though, which is why this album will probably be a must-have for any fan of the band over their successful career.
