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diversions
Oysterhead meshes
eclectic styles
By Greg Smith
On-line Forty-Niner
The formation of
super groups in music has been a phenomenon that has been
highly prevalent lately, especially in the independent and
punk music scenes. Now there is a super group that is truly
beyond merely super.
Oysterhead first formed at the annual SuperJam series in New
Orleans. The band features three of the most innovative and
well-known musicians of the last 20 years. The lineup reads
like a program for a future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Les Claypool, bass innovator from Primus, guitarist Trey Anastasio
(on hiatus from travelling jam band Phish) and Stewart Copeland,
drummer for a "little" '80s band called The Police.
After performing together at SuperJam, Copeland edited together
a short sample of the show and sent it out to Claypool and
Anastasio and the three heard something special. Oysterhead
decided to gather at Anastasio's Vermont studio for a month
to jam, write and record. What came out of these sessions
is "The Grand Pecking Order," Oysterhead's debut
CD from Elektra Records.
The scope of "The Grand Pecking Order" is what strikes
home on first listen. Songs have bits and pieces that are
decidedly Primus and Phish-esque, but the different parts
aren't what make this disc great: it's the sum of the parts.
One would think that three large frontman egos would be disastrous,
but the musicians obviously fed off each other to make something
different. Each member brought something different to the
table and the blend is both beautifully striking and at times
almost scary.
From Claypool's hardcore, driving funk to Anastasio's intricate
guitar stylings to Copeland's pop sensibility and composer's
ear, the three find a way to create beauty out of what may
have been chaos.
The best way to describe the sound of Oysterhead is as "new
psychedelic." There are obvious traces of classic '70s
psychedelica in the songs, but in a new context.
The variety of the songs make for a textured and absorbing
musical experience. Claypool and Anastasio's lyrics are strange
but well contained, much like the music itself. You can tell
that the members kept each other from going too far -- something
that could have easily happened.
"Shadow of a Man" tells the story of a boy virtually
destroyed by the Vietnam war over heartbreaking, building
rhythms and Claypool's twisted voice.
"Birthday Boy's" sounds like a twisted, manic interpretation
of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones mixed with some backwoods
acoustic guitar. Anastasio's subtle voice sings "I don't
mind / If you come around and drink my wine / Won't be the
first time."
The most enjoyable thing to hear on "The Grand Pecking
Order" is Claypool and Anastasio singing together. Their
voices come from completely opposite sides of the vocal spectrum.
Anastasio's well tuned, crisp voice is a perfect counterpoint
to Claypool's twisted nasal sound. It's like James Taylor
meets a circus ringmaster.
"The Grand Pecking Order" is a new taste for listeners.
Oysterhead's flavor is enough to fill a five-star restaurant,
albeit a five-star restaurant on the moon.
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Danny
Clinch
Oysterhead is, from left to right, Stewart Copeland
from The Police, Les Claypool from Primus and Trey Anastasio
from Phish.
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