Album Mini-review: Claypool Lennon Delirium — Monolith of Phobos
File next to: A Saucerful of Secrets-era Pink Floyd, Primus, Plastic Ono Band
Les Claypool‘s detractors point to his tendency toward being too clever by half, for making self-consciously “weird” music with wacky sounds, a kind of less creative, poor man’s Frank Zappa. Sean Lennon has moved in some odd musical directions, but has avoided critical brickbats by focusing on song craft. This collaborative album – supported by a current tour – builds on the strongest characteristics of both artists’ work, creating an album that’s both weird (and bass-heavy) enough for Claypool fans and straight-ahead enough to satisfy those who expect (at the very least) rocking melody from the son of one of pop music’s most imposing figures. The NYC-born Lennon has never sounded so British as on this disc. “Cricket and the Genie: Movement I, The Delirium” offers up an infectious and rubbery groove, with a fine dusting of psychedelia.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, will be published in December 2021 by HoZac Books.