Les has been involved in many projects under many names, but 2006's Of Whales and Woe was the first album released under his own name.  That would seem to make sense, seeing as how he functioned much more as a "solo artist" on this record, performing the bulk of the instrumental tracks.  He's the primary drummer and guitarist on the album as well, using supplementary players (including his own children) mainly for things like horns, sitar and percussion.

The one track that seems to do the others one better, is, uh, "One Better."

Click here to watch the video for "One Better" on YouTube.  The CD version is much longer, with even more slappariffic jamming goodness.

This is part of a week-long series on the many projects of Les Claypool.

As a bass player of modest ability (and by "modest" I mean "pfft, as if"), I am, of course, Les Claypool's bitch.  Ask pretty much anyone who the best rock bassists are and were, and his name will show up in the top three in an awful lot of lists.

From his work with Primus to his various other bands to his work as a solo artist and author, he's got a skill set to die for and the catalog to back it up.  So all this week I am heaping much praise upon he who is known as Colonel Claypool.