Faith No More seamlessly blended metal, hip-hop, alternative rock and funk, creating some of the most groundbreaking albums of the 80’s and 90’s.
The band dissolved in 1998, but they’ve since reunited, and are set to release Sol Invictus, their first album in 18 years.
I’ve been a diehard fan ever since I heard their 1989 breakthrough album, The Real Thing. To say I’m enthusiastic about hearing new material is an understatement.
But let’s look back before looking ahead: so whether you’re a newbie looking for a jumping on point, or a casual fan needing a refresher, here’s my list of 10 essential Faith No More tracks, from their biggest hits to deep album cuts.
Gee that looks like fun!
We Care A Lot set the template for the Faith No More sound: irreverent lyrics and a balance between bludgeoning guitar and a funk driven rhythm section.
Faith No More’s pre-breakup release Album of the Year was a mixed bag, but lead track Collision is a juggernaut of a tune, with Mike Patton’s mighty bellow riding a dinosaur stomping riff.
Collision is Faith No More at their heaviest and most unrelenting: both cathartic and punishing.
Malpractice perfectly illustrates Mike Patton’s gift for demented lyrics and whisper-to-a-scream vocal acrobatics.
Gentle Art is one of the band’s most muscular songs, and a spotlight on Patton’s absurdist cinematic lyrical ability.
Don’t look at me I’m ugly in the morning!
It’s Faith No More’s most rhythmically violent track to date, finishing with blood-curdling vocals and a whiplash inducing band performance.
It’s always funny until someone gets hurt…And then it’s just hilarious!
Ricochet is the catchiest tune you’ll ever hear about Schadenfreude and one of the best songs by Faith No More period.
Everything’s Ruined has chill-inducing grandeur, and shows off Patton’s impressive six-octave range.
Epic is one of the first notable fusions of hip-hop and metal. It’s also a strong showcase of the band’s talents: Patton’s mix of rapping and strident vocals, Bottum’s haunting keyboards, Billy Gould’s seismic bass slapping and Mike Bordin’s pounding drums mesh perfectly.
However, the MVP goes to former guitarist Jim Martin thanks to his killer riff and widescreen solo.
Epic’s massive success has unfairly overshadowed the rest of the band’s output, but its cultural impact is undeniable.
Faith No More are known for their left-of-center covers, but their take on The Commodore’s Easy is surprisingly reverent. The band plays it straight to sublime effect.
Mike Patton channels his inner Lionel Richie with respectful panache.
Fans expecting an Epic Part 2 were left scratching their heads on the band’s 1992 album Angel Dust. The band jettisoned rap-rock, hell-bent on subverting rock conventions with mad scientist intensity. Producer Matt Wallace’s opulent production was also an about face to the Grunge aesthetic popular at the time.
Midlife Crisis fuses a dread-inducing verse and triumphant chorus with thrilling results.
So that concludes my list of best Faith No More tracks.
Think something should have been here that wasn’t? Agree with my list?