Published on Jun 11, 1998
This is an epitaph for one of my favorite bands. I bought this
album in January 1990 in Des Moines, Iowa, on the way back from a
winter break trip to Kansas City during my sophomore year of
college. I remember the driver put this in and immediately started
to cringe.
“What is this? Man, you like some weird music, but this takes
the cake,” I was told. “What in the world is he singing about, you
came from nowhere? Everyone comes from somewhere!” my other friend
demanded.
Conceding that I do like interesting music and that everyone
does come from somewhere, I wasn’t sure what I had just bought. I
remember reading somewhere that Lars Ulrich (Metallica, in case
you’re slow today) liked this band and that was enough for me.
When “Epic” came on, a small smile came to each face. “He’s
rapping and it’s heavy metal,” critiqued the driver. “But what is
he singing about, ‘What is it?’ Damn man! He wrote the song.”
Shortly after “Epic” began, the tape was removed from the car
stereo and Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” came on.
Later that night, I remember sitting in my dorm room and
listening to Jim Martin (guitarist), Mike Patton (vocals), and Mike
Bordin (drums). And in that dorm room, in January of 1990, I became
a Faith No More fan.
However, now that Faith No More has disbanded after releasing
Album Of The Year, I still see their brightest moment of
their career in the form of their 1989 release
The Real Thing. Sure, “Epic” was their radio breakthrough
and got them national attention. However, their epitaph should also
include reference to their non-radio songs, which essentially
defines this band.
Personally, I listen to the fifth track “Zombie Eaters” a lot
more often than “Epic.” Starting with a sweet and drippy ode, the
speaker claims, “I’m omniscient.” Written from the perspective of a
baby, vocalist Michael Patton swerves his voice into a soft and
consoling voice when he sings: “You’re everything / that’s why I
cling to To you / When I emerge / my thoughts converge to you.”
Later he sings “Nobody understands / except the toys in my hands.”
The evolution continues and, after briefly dipping into a musically
calm section, the guitars intensify. This track is one of their
best songs.
Another milestone for this band is the track “Surprise! You’re
Dead” that immediately precedes “Zombie Eaters.” On top of being in
a non- 4/4 time signature (I’m thinking ?), this is an awesome
thrash metal song. On side two, you get “Underwater Love” which I
think was a video as well. The bass groove stands out on this track
as well as “The Morning After” in which dreadlocked drummer Mike
Bordin pounds his crisp Yamaha’s in a manic funk attack.
But, all in all, the highlight of this album are the last two
tracks, a scorching instrumental called “Woodpecker From Mars” that
magically slides its way into the best cover, hands down, of any
Black Sabbath song — “War Pigs.”. Better than Megadeth’s take at
“Paranoid” and certainly better than Sacred Reich’s stab at it on
their recent live disc
Still Ignorant.
Now that Faith No More have taken separate roads, this is the
album that should be remembered as their finest moments, not a
sub-par
Album Of The Year.