With Primus' Les Claypool on bass (slip slap slap-ing the shit out of those strings), The Police's Stewart Copland (who lays down some tight pockets), and Phish's Trey Anastasio (who, at what was undoubtably an oxy-ed out low point, hits a home run), this is the power trio to end all power trios. Each member is undoubtably a master of their instrument, and with this one-off side project, they really stretch out quite a bit.

What immediately makes the album stick out is the lovely, lush, colorful production. Claypool and Anastasio's past studio albums tend to stick to what they can do live--both have masterpieces under their belts, but "The Grand Pecking Order" is very much a departure. Full of overdubs, rich textures (thanks largely in part to The Matterhorn, Anastasio's custom guitar with--get this--a fuckin' theremin made out of fuckin' antlers attached to the side), and silly voices, the album is light enough for constant listening but complex enough to listen to constantly. That's right, I fucking went there.

Anyways, even if you're one of those snobs who won't touch jam bands with a ten-foot-pole, I implore you to give this a listen. Or I'll poke you with my ten-foot-pole.