a parade of R. Crumb oddballs who wander the streets in military formation. It's precisely the type of weirdness that Primus have been peddling for years – progressive-rock instrumentals camouflaged in the tattered rags of punk and the absurdist narratives of a junior Zappa. But in the past, bassist and vocalist Les Claypool and his cronies strove for rhythm patterns that constantly knocked listeners off-balance. This time, they want everybody marching along – how else to explain the rudimentary slap-bass stomp of "Shake Hands With Beef" or the country/fox trot "Puddin' Taine"?

This more accessible cadence does have its benefits. Unlike 1993's relentless Pork Soda, Brown Album moves away from Primus' pet herky-jerky shifts of meter long enough to establish serious, straightforward grooves. "Bob's Party Time Lounge" is a sassy soul-revue sendup that grows more intense with each refrain; "Camelback Cinema" turns on an insistent chanting reminiscent of vintage David Bowie; and "The Chastizing of Renegade" is built on an agitated guitar-and-bass lock that makes Rush sound simple. But even these bright spots are more accomplished than inspired: Happily nonsensical, they're hammering exercises that use the trio's technically flawless execution to cover up its increasingly obvious soul deficit. (RS 766)

TOM MOON