The live version of "Tommy the Cat" is performed with "The Awakening" in the middle. The original song was by
The Reddings from their 1980 album The Awakening, and had previously been covered by Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel on their album Highball with the Devil.
Cover art
The cover art features a clay figure sculpted by Claypool, along with Japanese
katakana characters to the far right, reading out "ネセソトナニツキノハ", or "Nesesotonanitsukinoha".
In his review for
Allmusic,
Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes the EP as "another small treasure for fans." He notes that "the band hasn't chosen any surprising covers" but "makes up for it with great performances" and "startling arrangements that are often unpredictable", concluding that "it doesn't disappoint."[1] For
Pitchfork Media, Susan Moll notes that "while Brian [sic] "Brain" Mantia's heavy-hitting drums were the focus of
The Brown Album, Rhinoplasty marks a return to the vintage Primus sound, with Claypool's bass front and center, where it belongs." She also opines that "the band's version of "Making Plans For Nigel" (from
Miscellaneous Debris) is legendary, but their take on "Scissor Man" is more deranged than
Andy Partridge on a bad day."[2]