Conspiranoid is a three-track EP by the American rock band Primus, released on April 22, 2022.[2] Released on vinyl and CD,[3] this EP includes the band's longest song to date "Conspiranoia", clocking in at eleven minutes; it was released as a single on April 5, 2022, alongside a music video created by Cage Claypool, the son of Primus vocalist and bassist Les Claypool.[2] It is also Primus' last release with drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander before leaving the band for the third time in October 2024.[4]
| Conspiranoid | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | April 22, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2022 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock[1] | |||
| Length | 19:56 | |||
| Label | ATO | |||
| Primus chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Conspiranoid | ||||
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Background and production
editPrimus frontman Les Claypool revealed the inspiration for the EP in an interview with Consequence, saying that it "sprouted from a seed I had planted in my notebook a year or so ago—a few lines commenting on the mental state of the contemporary world." It was inspired by what Claypool perceived as a growing divide between people, caused by "disinformation, misinformation, warped information, and flat-out fairy tales being perpetuated by anyone with a slight hint of web design aptitude."[2]
Primus had initially intended to make the follow-up to The Desaturating Seven (2017), but were not interested in writing an album's worth of material, due to time constraints.[2] Instead they began writing a single, initially with the idea of creating a "long, winding, bastard of a song", twenty minutes in length. This song became "Conspiranoia", and with a length of eleven and a half minutes, it is the longest song Primus has ever recorded. In addition, the band finished an existing track "Follow the Fool" as well as the newly written "Erin on the Side of Caution", the latter of which was also based on writings from Claypool's notebook.[2][5]
Lyrical themes
editConspiranoid covers topics and themes related to misinformation and conspiracy theories, serving as a criticism and satire of American far-right conspiracy theories and the culture surrounding them.[6] The track "Conspiranoia" is worded as a cautionary tale and contains lyrical references to chemtrails, QAnon, flat earth, COVID-19 conspiracy theories, Donald Trump, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. The title of the EP is a portmanteau of the words "conspiracy" and "paranoid".
Track listing
editAll lyrics are written by Les Claypool with additional lyrics on "Conspiranoia" by Cage Claypool
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Conspiranoia" | Claypool | 11:39 |
| 2. | "Follow the Fool" | Claypool | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Erin on the Side of Caution" | LaLonde | 4:32 |
| Total length: | 19:56 | ||
Personnel
edit- Les Claypool – vocals, bass guitar
- Larry LaLonde – electric guitar
- Tim "Herb" Alexander – drums
References
edit- ^ Broerman, Michael (5 April 2022). "Primus Previews New EP With 11-Minute Opus, "Conspiranoia" [Video]". LiveForLiveMusic. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Primus announce new Conspiranoid EP, share Origins of "Conspiranoia": Exclusive". Consequence. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ Primus - Conspiranoid, 5 August 2022, retrieved 2022-12-26
- ^ "Drummer TIM 'HERB' ALEXANDER Quits PRIMUS Again". Blabbermouth.net. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Blabbermouth (2022-04-05). "Primus To Release 'Conspiranoid' EP; 'Conspiranoia' Track Now Available". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ DiVita, Joe (5 April 2022). "Primus Drop Nearly 12-Minute New Song That Pretty Much Mocks Qanon". Loudwire. Retrieved 2022-04-07.