Riding on the enormous success of "Epic," replete with its closing piano and flopping fish, Faith No More decided to pillage Mr. Bungle's exorbitant little closet via Mike Patton as a conduit. Ergo, the smattering of heavy-riffed funkadelic rap fusion is at its arguable best here in Angel Dust, their fourth album, and second with Vice Chancellor Patton. The album opens with "Land Of Sunshine," a freakish carnival ride of a song with filthy bass and guitar lines and an array of Patton's progressive vocal croonings. "Crack Hitler" has a plunky funk rhythm with a scratchy turntable wah tone, some exemplary synth, and is just utterly fantastic. "Midlife Crisis," perhaps as well-known as "Epic," is an incredibly insidious number, featuring the best of Pattton's vocal theatrics and a medley of infectious beats. Hell, even a rendition of the theme for "Midnight Cowboy" is surprisingly rousing. "Caffeine," "Smaller And Smaller" and especially "Jizzlobber" are particularly heavy as well. "Be Aggressive" has some startling lyrical content in between the thumping notes ("You're the master and I'll take it on my knees" and "I swallow," among other lines) and is almost as odd a selection as is the musical content spanning the album -- which is of course why "Big" Jim Martin left afterwards. Despite his enormous guitar presence and prodigious talents, the vocal influence and direction by Patton served him his eventual walking papers. A shame, really, because Faith No More never quite recovered with subsequent sub-par albums. Get 'em while they're hot. A tautly conceived B.
2 comments:
although it may seem that mike patton doesnt stop and shows no signs of stopping. the music he creates doesnt seem all that noteworthy.
noteworthy in the sense of what? does he fill stadiums? does he have fifteen double platinum records on his wall? if that's noteworthy, then i guess not. but by doing his own thing uncompromisingly and starting his own label, ipecac, to allow lesser known bands to thrive, that's noteworthy. he practically pioneered hardcore/funk/rap fusion, something anthony kiedis hates him for. and he's the brainchild of mr. bungle, by far the most perversely taut chaotic band you'll ever hear this side of the penumbra. yeah, noteworthy.
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