CD Title: The Grand Pecking Order

Elektra Records

By Adam Bowman

You take a Phish, a Primus, and some Police and you get an Oyster...head, that is.

This new-yet-not-really-new- fangled "supergroup" features Les Claypool, Trey Anastasio and Stuart Copeland as a jazz/rock/funk trio of children that have, in essence, been given the keys to their parents car. All three take turns driving (Claypool flexes his finger muscles on "Mr. Oysterhead", and Stuart puts together some excellent drumbeats throughout the album), but they seem to be weaving in and out of their lane. Of course, what's a ride without a little excitement? Besides, when you've got the purring motor that is Les' bass-work, you probably won't be noticing the oncoming traffic, anyways.

As is to be expected with the duo of Anastasio and Claypool, the lyrics are mostly vague. Not to say they don't get blunt on the topics of the army and the country in general with a few tracks, such as "Shadow Of A Man" and "Weild The Spade". Also, personal topics are touched upon with "Polka Dot Rose" and "Pseudo Suicide". Musically, though, it's everything you could expect from these three. "Radon Balloon" is solidly Phish, while that kooky Primus funk pops up on "Army's On Ecstasy" and the album's title track. If you dig Phish or Primus, and want to hear the bastard love child of both, grab yourself a copy of The Grand Pecking Order.

And does anyone else think Les Claypool could write the perfect Monty Python soundtrack!?