FAITH NO MORE — The Real Thing (review)

FAITH NO MORE — The Real Thing album cover Album · 1989 · Funk Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Negoba
Blowing Open the Music World

During my senior year of high school (89-90), a friend of mine had the poster to this album on his wall in the fall of 89. He'd gotten it as a promotion and none of us actually heard the album. But I spent enough time staring at the poster to finally check it out and didn't quite know what to think. When "Epic" broke the following summer, my main thought was "Oh those guys." But when "Falling to Pieces" was showing the band to have some staying power, everyone started paying more attention. Everyone was tiring of glam metal, and even Metallica had seemed to push themselves as far as they could possibly go with Justice. Everyone was looking for a new sound.

Faith No More actually did a triple bill with Soundgarden and Voivod before any of the bands broke, and Patton absolutely dominate the show. Despite Cornell's now legendary status as a singer, and Patton's not nearly as pleasant voice, it was clear who the master was. Patton was also one of the most insane stage presences.

The Real Thing features many many high points, with my favorite being "Zombie Eaters" which has quiet parts, irregular time signatures, and my all time favorite reverse gallop riff. The span of this album is enormous, though the follow-up album is able to explore further and sustain the energy better. But by then we knew about this Patton guy and the music world had already changed, in part at his hands. But in 89-90 he was the harbinger of a musical earthquake of Epic proportions.

Essential Album.
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