The Real Thing by Faith No More (CD, Jun-1989, Reprise)

Track listing
1. From Out Of Nowhere
2. Epic
3. Falling To Pieces
4. Surprise! You're Dead!
5. Zombie Eaters
6. Real Thing, The
7. Underwater Love
8. Morning After, The
9. Woodpecker From Mars
10. War Pigs
11. Edge Of The World


Details
Playing time: 55 min.
Producer: Faith No More, Matt Wallace
Distributor: WEA
Recording type: Studio
Recording mode: Stereo
SPAR Code: AAD


Album notes
Faith No More: Michael Patton (vocals); Jim Martin (guitar); Roddy Bottum (keyboards); Bill Gould (bass); Mike Bordin (drums).
Engineers: Matt Wallace, Jim "Watts" Vereecke, Craig Doubet.
Up until Faith No More's third release, 1989's THE REAL THING, the San Francisco quintet was considered too eccentric for rock's mainstream. Unlike other bands of the era, FNM refused to be limited to just one musical style--the group was indeed heavy, but it also touched upon many other styles (alternative, rap, Middle Eastern, punk, funk, jazz, etc.). But prior to the writing and recording of the album, the band parted ways with its longtime singer, Chuck Mosely, and hired newcomer Mike Patton.
Unlike his predecessor, Patton was a very talented and versatile vocalist who could easily adapt to any of the different musical styles his new bandmates threw at him. While it took a few months for sales to crest, THE REAL THING went on to become the group's much sought-after commercial breakthrough. The rap-metal anthem "Epic" was a surprise Top-10 smash (pushing the album to multi-platinum status), while such other tracks as "From Out of Nowhere," "Falling to Pieces," "Zombie Eaters," and "Underwater Love" were just as exceptional. Although the band had been waiting years for mainstream success, FNM decided to challenge its newly acquired pop audience with its next release.

This album was the first Faith No More album to feature Mike Patton as the frontman - his deep and incredible voice together with the musical talent of Jim Martin, Roddy Bottom, Bill Gould and Mike Bordin made for the first of several incredible albums!
There is not a track amongst the 11 featured on this CD, that I do not like. Epic became the standout track from this album receiving heavy air play, and will always be known on MTV as that video with the flopping fish out of water at the end! The negative part about this being there are so many other superb songs on this album that often get overlooked!
The title track - the Real Thing - starts off slow, with lyrics almost at a whisper, then comes alive with Pattons strong vocals almost rapping their way through the chorus. Indeed Faith No More is one of the first bands to be credited with the fusion of Metal and rap.
Falling to Pieces is also a personal favorite that I will never tire of, and look out for probably one of the best versions of War Pigs - the Classic Black Sabbath track! The Morning After is a rich and powerful track and From Out of Nowhere just rocks!! Zombie Eaters is another song that takes Patton from soft melodic singing to just plain loud!!
This album is another personal all time favorite...in fact this guide has just reminded me just how much I love it and need to upload it to my shuffle!!

If you are going to buy only one Faith No More album this is it! Often credited as the start of the whole rap metal movement. But this is much more than that. There is a wonderfull cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs that would make Ozzy proud. Jim Martin had an awesome guitar tone on this recording with brilliant noodlings and riffs. The drums are tight and the bass licks are great. This is a musicians kind of band and also very rockin' for the average listener.

With the smashing of the piano at the end of the Epic video, how can one go wrong purchasing this album? Perhaps Faith No More's greatest work, we can dwell on the intricate lyrics while still just banging our heads to James Gould's heavy bass guitar riffs. Thoroghly upbeat, the album finales with a remake of the old Black Sabbath classic, War Pigs. Even if you don't know who Faith No More is, you have to have this album if you are any type of alternative music fan.

A great album....why? Well back in the late 90's you had Night Ranger and Vanilla Ice churning out total crap which you could hear plastered all over pop radio and MTV. Enter Faith No More! You had pre-gangsta rap power lyrics that were toughtful and funny at the same time, thunkin' ass bass lines and guitar progressions that could have only been born of the groin. Put those ingrediants together back in 1989, and you had somthing new and tasty for us listeners. When "Epic" hit MTV and pop radio, you could feel the power, which is what people need from their music. Anyway, buy this album because 90% of the songs have the umph, power, and originality that is contained in that 1st single.