A Colorful Concept Album
The Desaturating Seven by Primus is not your typical album. Not that Primus is known for having very typical albums, however, as 2014’s Primus and the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble was rather experimental too. However, here Primus got their inspiration for the album based on an Italian children’s book called The Rainbow Goblins. Though full of original music, and not following the story of the children’s book to a tee, much can be seen of the goblin influence, from both the lyrics of the songs on the album to even the creepy sounding music throughout. Primus has created a short but fascinating concept album — one that though is not an instant hit, will probably be remembered for time to come.
The first song off the album, “The Valley” details the story of the color eating goblins that the album is based upon. In a rather spooky haunted house like voice, the story of these goblins that would suck the color out of rainbows is told, and the listener is presented with the valley of the rainbow, the only area that had not yet been touched by the goblins and their color eating destruction. Then comes “The Seven,” a song that sounds much like a villain theme from a children’s cartoon. It tells the colors of the goblins called The Desaturating Seven, and how they plan to make the world dark and grey. This song, beyond the lyrics being helpful to the story at hand, is a catchy one, thanks to the memorable tune that the colors of the goblins are listed in. Feeling like a march, it’s a song off of an album lacking hits that remains memorable.
The third song off of the album “The Trek” is filled with images of hope. It details the treacherous journey at hand for the goblins as they search for the valley of the rainbow. The lyrics pertain to the story, talking about how long the days are and how the glory ahead is what’s keeping them going. However, the lyrics can relate to the listeners as well. “Trudging through life/ dodging in peril and strife/ filling those days/ with a lackadaisical malaise/ the adventure seems perilously long.” It’s another strange song, but the message of resolve remains clear. “The Scheme” is a short song, detailing how the goblins scheme and make plans, and doesn’t have too much to note about beyond that. Though the percussion throughout is pretty impressive. “The Dream” however is where the album begins its climax, as the psychedelic feel and sound along with the few lyrics begin to signal an end for the goblins. “When minds are dripping color/ and there’s liquid on the brain/ they laugh to one another/ and politely go insane.”
The album concludes with “The Storm” and “The Ends?” The beginning of “The Storms” sounds much like the beginning of a Pink Floyd song, and the song goes on to tell how nature united to destroy the goblins. The colors they wanted to create a flood, drowning the goblins, creating peace in the land once again. “The Ends?” then leaves the listener with a wary message, “every leery of fools who try to wrangle rainbows/ rainbow ends don’t touch the ground.” It seems like a message to prevent someone from making the mistake of the goblins, to not search for a reward out of gluttony, and to remember to remain grounded.
Though coming in short of a masterpiece, The Desaturating Seven is a solid album that does its intended job of telling a quirky story through its lyrics. Primus is on tour right now and will be touring the U.S.A. through the end of December.
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