Published on Sep 24, 2014
This close-to-definitive greatest hits collection from Faith No More, released after their 1998 breakup, does a good job of wrapping up their career. This is a two-disc collection, with the first disc collecting all of their hits from “Epic” and “Midlife Crisis” to latter day selections such as “Last Cup Of Sorrow” and “Ashes To Ashes.” The best thing about the ideas of disc one is digging up the 1995 B-side cover of the Bee Gees’ classic “I Started A Joke” and using it as a single and a very clever video featuring a pre “Sherlock” Martin Freeman to promote the record. All in all, disc one does a great job bringing all the highlights of Faith No More’s career together in a neat little package.
Disc two, however, could use some work. Meant to be a B-sides and oddities collection, the disc falls apart rather quickly. Things start off with “The World Is Yours,” from the Angel Dust sessions, which is one of those songs that ranks in the top twenty Faith No More songs in this humble writer and fan’s opinion. “Hippie Jam Song” is one of those throwaways that manages to stick in your head because of its fun quality. “Instrumental” is a great little track that had it had some vocals from Mike Patton would’ve made it a fantastic album inclusion. “I Won’t Forget You” has its moments, mostly from Patton, but it rightfully deserves its status as a B-side.
For the rest of the record, there’s a bunch of head scratchers, quick, totally unnecessary live versions of Purple’s “Highway Star” and the “Midnight Cowboy” theme and a demo recording of “Introduce Yourself” with seemingly recklessly drunk ‘vocals’ courtesy of Chuck Mosley.
Missing in action are notable B-sides such as “Another Body Murdered,” “The Cowboy Song,” “The Perfect Crime” and “Absolute Zero.” Even great covers such as G.G. Allin’s “I Wanna Fuck Myself,” the Dead Kennedys’ “Let’s Lynch The Landlord” and the immortal “Spanish Eyes” are nowhere to be found. The only such trace of great covers is a live version of “This Guy’s In Love With You” by Herb Alpert. So if you’re taking all of this into account, this record both succeeds and fails: on one hand, the greatest hits disc is flawless while the rarities disc could definitely use some work and upkeep.