[rating=7.00]
The first release from Les Claypool’s Duo De Twang, Four Foot Shack, sounds like it was recorded in the titular setting, perhaps situated far from civilization. It’s a no-frills album featuring Claypool on bass and vocals with longtime pal Bryan Kehoe handling guitar duties. Together, they weirdly work through 15 tracks of selected Claypool classics and quirky covers. It’s not much of stretch for Claypool to play the part of demented troubadour, and this album is another comically twisted layer of his personality.
The title track sets an appropriately creepy atmosphere for the alternately dark and humorous material that follows. “D’s Diner” is always a delight, and other Claypool tunes like “Red State Girl”, “Buzzards of Green Hill” and “Rumble of the Diesel” sound meant for the naturally plucky stomp that accompanies this style of playing. Even so it’s the cover choices that make this album pop. The macabre content of songs like Alice in Chains’ “Man in the Box”, Jimmy Driftwood’s “Battle of New Orleans” and Stompin’ Tom Connors’ “The Bridge Came Tumblin’ Down” is perfect fodder for Claypool and Kehoe’s reverent mockery. While you’re chuckling at the whip-cracking faux-metal vocals in “Man in the Box”, it’s almost if you can hear the musicians laughing along with you.
Their ridiculous version of The Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” is destined to be a setbreak music classic, Jerry Reed’s “Amos Moses” takes on an absurd personality its creator could scarcely have imagined, and even the instrumental “Pipe Line” is infused with a certain inimitable cheekiness. There are a couple of Primus songs re-imagined here (“Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” and “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver”) but they’re by no means the main reason to visit Crazy Claypool’s open house at the Four Foot Shack. Claypool’s own strong songs, the brilliant cover interpretations, and the immediacy of the recording make this album a worthy listen when you want to make things weird.
