Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of Natural History Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

In the years which allowed or forced the creation of the Museum’s 2nd album (2002-04), both the band and its host country had “matured” into their differing expressions of a “War on Terror.” With smoking ruin in the rear-view mirror, the band’s big green bus turned to the long road, gathering strength the vast stretches (coming from the West) of tree and stone and moving water that separate the cities. As with the first album, there was a changing of the drum-guard in the 11th hour, with the fateful arrival of Matthias Bossi. Matthias helped to compose a single of sorts for the record, ‘Phthisis,’ which alone was produced at an incredible recording-compound in the Hollywood hills by Scott Humphrey, adding overdubs on a guitar owned by Mötley Crüe. The wild terraces of lush overgrowth which rose steeply behind the walled compound offered a perfect counterpoint to the seething city below, and an ideal place between places for the slow and dizzying contemplation of natural history.

This first domestic vinyl release (at last!), on AVANT NIGHT and Joyful Noise Recordings, has been completely remastered by the Museum’s bassist and producer, Dan Rathbun, and is accompanied by the release of the 1st and 3rd of their classic albums. The new live line-up, which broke ground on the European tour of 2025 and tours the U.S. this spring/summer, completes the historical family circle with the drum throne being filled by Wes Anderson, who played with both Idiot Flesh and Charming Hostess.