Faith No More - The Real Thing

Faith No More are virtually impossible to categorize; they blend metal and rap elements in a mix that becomes seamless on The Real Thing, whose hit single, "Epic," is a perfect combination of these disparate genres. Other high points are the thrashy "Surprise! You're Dead!," an excellent cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," the funk-layered-with-keyboards "Falling to Pieces," and the soft but spooky "Zombie Eaters." With the addition of vocalist Mike Patton, the band secured a highly talented frontman and skilled lyricist. The Real Thing is one of those rare albums that is impossible to quantify but astoundingly good. More accessible than the follow-up Angel Dust, it's also the first album new Faith No More listeners should get. --Genevieve Williams Amazon.com

 Top 5 record of all time
This is pure brilliance. The music itself is very moving for being a rock band, but the lyrics are truly amazing as well. This is descriptive writing at its best. I mean, Zombie Eaters is an unbelievable track, and when you break down the lyrics, it is simply a song through the eyes of a baby. Who does that? And it's not cheesy in the least bit. If you have ever taken any writing classes, and you remember the session on descriptive writing (in which you pick one item or subject, and then write a poem or essay describing it), then you will just appreciate this record. Perfection!!!

By the way, the song "The Real Thing" is one of the most amazing songs ever written. I don't speak in hyperbole here, but only the truth. F'n phenomenal! February 20, 2008

 Hints of Greatness to Come
I've heard that Faith No More wrote this album before Mike Patton joined the band, which would explain the difference in sound found here versus on later albums. But despite their later genius, that's not to say that this album is lacking. It still manages to create great atmospheres with hard rock, and is innovative and interesting to listen to.

Patton's vocals are different here than on later albums. A more nasal, whine adds a hint of condescension to the album, and it just wouldn't be the same without it.

Highlights: The title track "The Real Thing" really stands out as the best track on the album. No question. February 2, 2008

 The breakthrough to superstardom
Forget Nirvana and Pearl Jam et al. If you want to really hear what sort of stuff presaged the arrival of alternative styles of hard rock and heavy metal then wrap your ears around stuff like this album from weirdos extraordinaire Faith No More. Working within a band that on a number of personal levels didn't actually work as a unit FNM were hugely influential in making it all right to be `out there' while still largely operating with an form of hard music deemed acceptable and coherent enough to really strike a nerve with a huge number of people.

FNM had prior to this been a very underground tip but on this album they came out into the limelight and it's easy to see why. Taking the album as it comes, the thing starts off on the right track with the inventive musically From Out of Nowhere which twists and turns with all the fire and energy you want a hard rock record to have. Sliding into Epic which was the bands megahit the album really hits it's stride as the band meld weirdo metal with memorable riffs and lyrical hooks. Falling to Pieces continues the trend with frontman Mike Patton pouring every ounce of his being into the vocals, his acquired taste nasal whine touching numerous bases at once, gracing the listener with menace, pleading fragility, insanity and petulance at the same time.

The heaviest piece on the album is Surprise! Your Dead! Essentially thrash it's an audio prescription for a serious dose of sore neck syndrome from the brutal headbanging it encourages.

After that the album does sag somewhat in the middle with more anonymous numbers like Underwater Love and The Morning After doing some interesting mellow stuff but not really grabbing the listener by the ear. Things pick up with the arresting Woodpecker From Mars which is certainly one of the most interesting metal instrumentals your likely to hear, all swooping guitars and keyboards used to good effect as they soar all over the rhythm section.

The cover of the old Black Sabbath classic War Pigs raised some eyebrows at the time but with Pattons vocal stylings being basically that of a non-singer much like Ozzy Osbourne anyway and with both of them trading heavily on the `look how crazy I am' gimmick it's feels like a good fit. And this is a band that knew it's metal history - at least you figured Jim Martin on guitars and Mike Bordin on drums did.

By the time the album gets to the somewhat anti-climatic closer Edge of the World (a song I've listened to dozens of times over the years and still can't remember) the listener has been treated to one of the hard rock and metal worlds truly flawed gems, bouts of insomnia curing dullness book ended by bouts of brilliance, innovation and passion in the opening and closing sections of the record.

Taken as a whole this is an album highly deserving of your respect and your dollar. January 16, 2008

 on the road to greatness
about half this disc is good,the rest was not so good,with the change at vocals, faith no more would morph into an alltime great band in time. but new singer mike patton`s late entrance to this project would limit his input.integrating rap,funk,metal and softer pop this disc is worthy of your ear. November 8, 2007

 90's
I was looking for this cd in Brazil for a long time !!! Nice to got it here !!! September 5, 2007

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