Free Mars
| Free Mars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by Lusk | |
| Released | April 15, 1997 |
| Recorded | 1996, Contemporary Pimple Studios |
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, psych pop, experimental rock, shoegaze |
| Length | 66:13 |
| Label | Zoo / Volcano |
| Producer | Paul D'Amour, Chris Pitman |
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Free Mars is the only album by the experimental psychedelic rock project Lusk, released in 1997 in a Digipak-style case. The case and booklet list "The Hotel Family Affair" and "Black Sea Me" together as one track, but they are separate tracks on the disc itself. Despite this minor error, the album was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Recording Package. The album features an appearance by Tool drummer Danny Carey, as well as an assortment of artists and musicians from the Los Angeles scene.
Lusk included Paul D'Amour (formerly of Tool), Brad Laner, Chris Pitman (Guns N' Roses), and Failure member Greg Edwards (now in Autolux). (D'Amour, Edwards, and Pitman were also members of Replicants.)
A 7" vinyl single for "Backworlds" was also released, backed with "The Hotel Family Affair." The video for "Backworlds" got good reception on MTV. It premiered on 120 Minutes in September 1997, and was also the first video placed into heavy rotation on the channel after it received the most votes in four episodes of the short-lived video-rating series 12 Angry Viewers.
Track listing
- "Backworlds" – 4:49
- "Savvy Kangaroos" – 3:19
- "Gold" – 3:50
- "Free Mars" – 5:58
- "Doctor" – 6:08
- "Mindray" – 4:18
- "The Hotel Family Affair" – 4:28
- "Black Sea Me" – 4:12
- "Undergarden" – 4:21
- "Kill the King" – 5:31
- "My Good Fishwife" – 5:46 / "Blair's Spiders" (hidden track after 10:49) – 19:19
Personnel
- Chris Pitman – vocals, piano, chamberlin, harpsichord, organ, mellotron, guitar, bass, synthesizers
- Paul D'Amour – vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizers, percussion, bells and shakers
- Greg Edwards – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers
- Brad Laner – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers, noise, treatments
Additional personnel
- Dana Woolard – cello
- Gilden Tunador – backing vocals
- Korel Tunador – horns
- Joe Russo – cello
- Patti Hood – harp, concert harp, laughter
- Kellii Scott – drums
- Danny Carey – percussion
- Blair Blake