Suck on This is a live album and first release by the American rock band Primus, released in 1989. At the time of recording, the featured lineup of
bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander had only been playing together for "about two months". This release, along with Jane's Addiction's self-titled live album, are seen as popularizing the then-underground alternative metal genre.
Background
The album was recorded live at the Berkeley Square in Berkeley, California on February 25 and March 5, 1989, on a TASCAM quarter-inch 8-track Portastudio and mixed on Hi-Fi VHS. For the 2002 reissue, these sections were omitted in favour of a paragraph written by Claypool detailing the history of the record, leaving only "special thanks" to Claypool's father.
| rev2 = The Daily Vault
| rev2Score = B+
| rev3 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev3score = 7/10
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Ned Raggett describes the album as "not only demonstrating Primus' undeniable live flair for art/prog rock/funk of its own devising, but capturing an already rabid fan base getting off on it big-time", with "its tempo-shifting riffing and Funkadelic-meets-Rush rhythm explosions benefiting from a fairly crisp recording." He notes that "Claypool's voice is sometimes searching for breath or a touch buried in the mix", but "anyone who likes the Zappa/Beefheart goofy voice approach Claypool is fond of will be perfectly happy with his nutty lip-flapping". guitar melodies by Todd Huth except "The Heckler" and "Pressman".
| title1 = John the Fisherman
| music1 = Claypool, Huth, Tim Alexander
| length1 = 3:53
| title2 = Groundhog's Day
| music2 = Claypool, Huth, Alexander
| length2 = 4:53
| title3 = The Heckler
| music3 = Claypool, Larry LaLonde, Alexander
| length3 = 3:35
| title4 = Pressman
| music4 = Claypool, LaLonde, Alexander
| length4 = 5:01
| title5 = Jellikit
| music5 = Claypool, Huth, Alexander
| length5 = 3:59
| title6 = Tommy the Cat
| music6 = Claypool, Huth, LaLonde, Alexander
| length6 = 5:27
| title7 = Pudding Time
| music7 = Claypool, Huth, Alexander
| length7 = 4:20
| title8 = Harold of the Rocks
| music8 = Claypool, Huth, Alexander
| length8 = 6:18
| title9 = Frizzle Fry
| music9 = Claypool, Huth, LaLonde, Alexander
| length9 = 5:45
| total_length = 41:11
Notes
- "John the Fisherman" contains an excerpt from the instrumental "YYZ" by Rush.
Personnel
Credits for Suck on This adapted from liner notes.