REVIEW: The Claypool Lennon Delirium – The Great Parrot-Ox & The Golden Egg of Empathy

 For their third collaborative album, The Claypool Lennon Delirium goes all out.  Out now on ATO Records is The Great Parrot-Ox & The Golden Egg of Empathy, an elaborate concept album featuring an original 24-page comic book written by Les and Sean with fantastic art by Rich Ragsdale.  The 2LP set is pressed onto green vinyl and housed in a sturdy, canvas-like tip-on gatefold jacket that features gold foil-printed cover art.    

The 14 new songs show Les Clapool and Sean Lennon at their weirdest and most psychedelic as they spin timely tales of morality and warn against the perils of A.I and...paperclips?!  Led by the first single, “WAP (What  A Predicament)” with its chugging, insistent bass-led groove, the album follows along with the storyline of the comic book so you can listen and read along for an immersive listening experience.  Other standout tracks include the reggae-like rhythm of the soul-searching single, “Meat Machines” and the percussion-heavy “Troll Bait” with its chanted vocals.   “Heart Of Chrome” gives voice to the voice inside the head of Artificial Intelligence alongside some swirling, mellow psych-rock complete with strange synths and Lennon’s melodic guitar solo.  The best song on the album is the quasi title track “The Golden Egg of Empathy” which is highlighted by a rubbery bass line and lead vocals from off-kilter pop star Willow. 

Once again, The Claypool Lennon Delirium gives us another great collaboration with their new album, The Great Parrot-Ox & The Golden Egg of Empathy and this time, with an added bonus of a comic book to go with it.  Also, be sure to see them on tour with Primus and The Frog Brigade on the Claypool Gold ’26 tour this Spring and Summer!

For more info: https://www.theclaypoollennondelirium.com/

Stream The Great Parrot-Ox & The Golden Egg of Empathy here: