What's the sound in my headphones today?

jackhammer · 06-05-2009, 04:18 PM

Mr. Bungle-California (1999)

You know I do have musical gaps. I think it is only right to have not heard every damn album on the planet and always be surprised to hear something that you know you should have but never quite got around to it. Things get in the way; internet porn, children, work-the usual crap. I have always sought out and devoured as much music as I possibly can. Whether this is because of the need to constantly evolve or because I become easily bored or the fact we should taste as much as we possibly can from life, who knows?

What I do know is that being unemployed (no matter how hard I try to fill my day) does give you free hours and as I have constantly worked for years it is a strange beast. What other way to fill it then with amassing even more music than ever?

I know the history of Mr. Bungle. I am a Faith No More fan. It was one of my earliest gigs in my teens so it was about time I checked out Mike Patton's solo band. Reading up a little, the album is one of their most accessible? It certainly seems that way. Despite forays into many genres and sounds I personally find it comforatable on the ear. It certainly helps if you like a little bit of Metal in your life as a few tracks veer off into monolithic riffs.

A few tracks also veer off into psychotic lounge music but never to the detriment of the song. Patton, despite his experimentation does love a great tune and this album is testament to that. If you loved FNM and want to hear what came after then give this a blast. I cannot wait to delve into their back catalogue further if this brilliant album is anything to go by.

sidewinder · 06-05-2009, 05:49 PM

One of my favorite tracks on the album.

I must offer up a few corrections though. Mr. Bungle was Mike Patton's high school band, which he was in before Faith No More. It's how he was discovered and offered the FNM gig. And that sort of covers the other correction, it's not his solo band, it was a band like any other, comprised of several musicians.

Anyway, it is indeed more accessible than their first two. When I first heard it, I thought it was a bit too tame, but I guess anything melodic after Disco Volante would seem that way. You can truly say that each of their albums is very different from the last. When Disco Volante came out I said WTF? So it's more accessible than the other two, but still not that accessible to the average person. The more I got to know it, the more I realize it's just as crazy and abstract as the rest of their stuff. Great album and I'm glad I caught the tour before it was too late.

jackhammer · 06-05-2009, 05:57 PM

U can indeed offer corrections! The 90's were a blur of new jobs, babies nappies and England failing at football for me to remember all details correctly!

**Janszoon** · 06-05-2009, 06:12 PM

I have to say, even though I think of California as Bungle's pop album, I think it's actually less accessible than their self-titled album. And I mean that in the best way possible, California is one of my favorite albums by any of Patton's many bands. I think as you go through the three Bungle albums, Jackhammer, you'll find that Disco Volante is by far the most experimental and inaccessible while the self-titled, though very kooky, is actually quite accessible to an old metal fan like yourself.

Gavin B. · 06-06-2009, 03:14 AM

Been listening to a lot of old Shriekback. I love the song above. It's totally hypnotic.

jackhammer · 06-18-2009, 01:49 PM

The Hunches-Yes.No.Shut It. (2005)

Sometimes don't you just get tired of a nice polished sound? Of songs? That have structure and chord progressions? Don't you just want an album played by a bunch of scumbags who can't play very well and have a sound that seems as though it was recorded on one mic onto a tape recorder?

Yeah me too tonight and this fits the bill. Sure it sounds like The Stooges. Who cares when you just want a nice scuzzy abrasive fix of Garage Rock? This has got bags of attitude amongst it trebly noisy guitar noise. Lovely.

Not from this album but best quality one on yt. Still kick ass though.

**Janszoon** · 06-28-2009, 07:39 AM

Holy shit, I'm loving the Hunches! Any chance I could get a hook up there?

Kamikazi Kat · 06-28-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Mr. Bungle-California (1999)

Great review, the only problem I have with it is you seem to refer to Mr. Bungle as more of Patton's project, where in truth it was really much more Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn's project. The 2 wrote most of the songs and had most of the influence on the band, although california was mostly Patton's contributions though. He put in more for this album then he did for the other 2.

jackhammer · 06-30-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamikazi Kat

Great review, the only problem I have with it is you seem to refer to Mr. Bungle as more of Patton's project, where in truth it was really much more Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn's project. The 2 wrote most of the songs and had most of the influence on the band, although california was mostly Patton's contributions though. He put in more for this album then he did for the other 2.

Corrections already noted on previous posts.

Janszoon. I will sort an up for the Hunches album. It really is something.

**Janszoon** · 06-30-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Corrections already noted on previous posts.

Janszoon. I will sort an up for the Hunches album. It really is something.

Thanks man!

06-05-2009, 04:18 PM	#101 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Mr. Bungle-California (1999) You know I do have musical gaps. I think it is only right to have not heard every damn album on the planet and always be surprised to hear something that you know you should have but never quite got around to it. Things get in the way; internet porn, children, work-the usual crap. I have always sought out and devoured as much music as I possibly can. Whether this is because of the need to constantly evolve or because I become easily bored or the fact we should taste as much as we possibly can from life, who knows? What I do know is that being unemployed (no matter how hard I try to fill my day) does give you free hours and as I have constantly worked for years it is a strange beast. What other way to fill it then with amassing even more music than ever? I know the history of Mr. Bungle. I am a Faith No More fan. It was one of my earliest gigs in my teens so it was about time I checked out Mike Patton's solo band. Reading up a little, the album is one of their most accessible? It certainly seems that way. Despite forays into many genres and sounds I personally find it comforatable on the ear. It certainly helps if you like a little bit of Metal in your life as a few tracks veer off into monolithic riffs. A few tracks also veer off into psychotic lounge music but never to the detriment of the song. Patton, despite his experimentation does love a great tune and this album is testament to that. If you loved FNM and want to hear what came after then give this a blast. I cannot wait to delve into their back catalogue further if this brilliant album is anything to go by. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-05-2009, 05:49 PM	#102 (permalink)
sidewinder Engorged Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,536	One of my favorite tracks on the album. I must offer up a few corrections though. Mr. Bungle was Mike Patton's high school band, which he was in before Faith No More. It's how he was discovered and offered the FNM gig. And that sort of covers the other correction, it's not his solo band, it was a band like any other, comprised of several musicians. Anyway, it is indeed more accessible than their first two. When I first heard it, I thought it was a bit too tame, but I guess anything melodic after Disco Volante would seem that way. You can truly say that each of their albums is very different from the last. When Disco Volante came out I said WTF? So it's more accessible than the other two, but still not that accessible to the average person. The more I got to know it, the more I realize it's just as crazy and abstract as the rest of their stuff. Great album and I'm glad I caught the tour before it was too late. __________________ last.fm \| my collection on RYM \| vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

06-05-2009, 05:57 PM	#103 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	U can indeed offer corrections! The 90's were a blur of new jobs, babies nappies and England failing at football for me to remember all details correctly! __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-05-2009, 06:12 PM	#104 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I have to say, even though I think of California as Bungle's pop album, I think it's actually less accessible than their self-titled album. And I mean that in the best way possible, California is one of my favorite albums by any of Patton's many bands. I think as you go through the three Bungle albums, Jackhammer, you'll find that Disco Volante is by far the most experimental and inaccessible while the self-titled, though very kooky, is actually quite accessible to an old metal fan like yourself. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

06-06-2009, 03:14 AM	#105 (permalink)
Gavin B. Model Worker Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,248	Been listening to a lot of old Shriekback. I love the song above. It's totally hypnotic. __________________ There are two types of music: the first type is the blues and the second type is all the other stuff. Townes Van Zandt

06-18-2009, 01:49 PM	#106 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	The Hunches-Yes.No.Shut It. (2005) Sometimes don't you just get tired of a nice polished sound? Of songs? That have structure and chord progressions? Don't you just want an album played by a bunch of scumbags who can't play very well and have a sound that seems as though it was recorded on one mic onto a tape recorder? Yeah me too tonight and this fits the bill. Sure it sounds like The Stooges. Who cares when you just want a nice scuzzy abrasive fix of Garage Rock? This has got bags of attitude amongst it trebly noisy guitar noise. Lovely. Not from this album but best quality one on yt. Still kick ass though. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-28-2009, 07:39 AM	#107 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Holy shit, I'm loving the Hunches! Any chance I could get a hook up there? __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm