The Top 10 Songs by Faith No More
Faith No More didn’t revolutionize the rock landscape, but for much of its tenure, its members created some of the genre’s best mainstream songs while courting radio success. Along the way, Mike Patton and crew peppered other styles into their expanding repertoire, wedging lounge sounds, incoherent squeals, and even an angelic choir into songs that ran alongside pummeling rock tunes.
There is a kitschy guilty pleasure to pre-Patton songs such as “We Care a Lot,” but respectfully, they can’t compete. So with apologies to the Chuck Mosely era, here is our list for Faith No More’s best songs.
In order of release:
1. “Epic” (The Real Thing)
Despite being the group’s biggest hit, “Epic” makes the cut mostly due to Jim Martin’s — what else? — epic guitar work. Keyboardist Roddy Bottum’s pretty piano outro is memorized by rock fans around the globe.
2. “Surprise! You’re Dead!” (The Real Thing)
One of the group’s most metal creations, “Surprise! You’re Dead!” spends 2:28 ruled by Martin’s speed picking and palm-muted riffs. Patton’s vampiric lyrics further the song’s sinister tone.
3. “Woodpecker from Mars” (The Real Thing)
Though it’s the only instrumental from The Real Thing, “Woodpecker from Mars” stands out for having some of the album’s best melodies, which come via violin keyboard sounds and through an Eastern filter. Martin’s trademark thrash metal gets heads banging.
4. “Midlife Crisis” (Angel Dust)
Faith No More’s first single from Angel Dust marked the death of its slight hair-metal tendencies and gave birth to a darker, more experimental sound. The shadowy, high-contrast, choppy aesthetics for the “Midlife Crisis” video perfectly complement the song, which is highlighted by Bottum’s ambient synth lines and Patton’s vocal overdubs.
5. “Everything’s Ruined” (Angel Dust)
“Everything’s Ruined” is a microcosm of Faith No More’s golden-era synthesis. Bottum’s beautiful minor-key melody sets the tone for Martin’s chugging and perfected solo, Patton’s operatic vocals, bassist Billy Gould’s rhythmic thumping, and drummer Mike Bordin’s metronome-like beat keeping.
The song’s amusing video shows the band performing in front of a blue screen, employing a “made in 15 minutes” feel that sharply contrasts the cinematic nature of the video for the next song on this list.
6. “A Small Victory” (Angel Dust)
This epic rock piece is well accompanied by the WWI imagery and slick production of its video. But the real beauty in “A Small Victory” is its ability to maintain a staunch musical direction while incorporating Eastern instruments, chimes, sirens, and an industrial-sounding guitar breakdown.
7. “Get Out” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
“Get Out” begins King for a Day… with a ferocity that matches the album’s aggressive numbers and contrasts its forays into previously uncharted waters. The intermittent, tottering riff that begins the song builds steam, and the song crescendos as Patton screams, “I don’t speak that language anymore / my blood is not that color anymore / my blood don’t shine the same way anymore / I cannot deny it anymore.”
8. “Digging the Grave” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
The first single from King for a Day… was also one of the band’s best and purest rock efforts. No keyboards here; Bottum doubles up on guitar.
9. “Just a Man” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
Patton sings his ass off in “Just a Man,” the powerful, dramatic closer to King for a Day. In addition to his many overdubs, Patton steals the show with his spoken-word breakdown, expounding:
“Man was born to love, though often he has sought / like Icarus, to fly too high / and far too lonely than he ought / to kiss the sun of east and west / and hold the world at his behest / to hold the terrible power, to whom only gods are blessed / but me, I am just a man.” If that weren’t enough, an angelic choir backs Patton as the song reaches its apex.
10. “Stripsearch” (Album of the Year)
Faith No More’s final album was packed with great moments but short on complete songs; however, this one does justice to the group’s catalog, and it has an excellent video to boot. Hinged on dreamy/ominous keyboard sounds and grooving bass lines, “Stripsearch” is an outstanding offering from Album of the Year.
Runners-up:
“From Out of Nowhere” (The Real Thing)
“Edge of the World” (The Real Thing)
“Land of Sunshine” (Angel Dust)
“RV” (Angel Dust)
“Ricochet” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
“Evidence” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
“The Gentle Art of Making Enemies” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
“Star A.D.” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
“Cuckoo for Caca” (King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime)
“Collision” (Album of the Year)
“Naked in Front of the Computer” (Album of the Year)
“Ashes to Ashes” (Album of the Year)
Did we leave something out? You can’t believe that “We Care a Lot” didn’t make the list? Let us know below.
- Scott Morrow
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to Music Features on Monday, November 10th, 2008 by Scott Morrow.
Tags: Faith No More, Mike Patton
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November 11th, 2008 at 2:00 am
epic has to be one of their worst songs. And it’s sad that it was on vh1’s best one hit wonders. WTF? The only band left in my top 5 that i’ve never seen live.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Am I crazy or is Zombie Eaters NOT ON HERE. WTF!?
And why isn’t “cuckoo for caca” higher!
Otherwise, great list! :)
November 11th, 2008 at 10:55 am
So many songs left out here…..”Underwater Love”, “The Perfect Crime”, “The Morning After”, “The Cowboy Song”……..
November 11th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Oh yeah, and I would defend that FNM did revolutionize hard rock, not necessarily in album sales or critical love, but I would say that for, good or ill, FNM has been a major influence on contemporary heavy music from DEP to Disturbed (bleh)
And some would say that they were a nu metal pioneer, but I don’t like thinking about that too hard.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I don’t have a problem with the songs on your list, necessarily. I agree with some of the commenters on some omissions. “The Perfect Crime”, “Zombie Eaters”, and “The Cowboy Song”. Ultimately, a top 10 list is too little room to confine the greatness of Faith No More. I would try to make a mix CD version. It would go:
1. “Collision,”
2. “Epic,”
3. “Digging The Grave,”
4. “From Out Of Nowhere,”
5. “Midlife Crisis,”
6. “Falling To Pieces,” (The Real Thing)
7. “The Perfect Crime,” (Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey)
8. “Zombie Eaters,” (The Real Thing)
9. “Last Cup Of Sorrow,” (Album Of The Year)
10. “Everything’s Ruined,”
11. “Helpless,” (Album Of The Year)
12. “The Real Thing,” (The Real Thing)
13. “Stripsearch,”
14. “A Small Victory,”
15. “Just A Man,”
November 12th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Hey, I would have loved to include 20 more songs, but I think that I stretched it with all the runners-up. And dearest Keidra, please note that both lists are in order of release; “Cuckoo for Caca” is definitely one of my favorites. In fact, it was the name of my FNM cover band. Ha!
November 12th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
you should thank your friends for rocking out to FNM in your car last weekend… i want some credit.
yeti!
aaron
November 13th, 2008 at 8:21 am
You’ve got my jam on there: “Surprise! You’re Dead!”
November 13th, 2008 at 10:20 am
That’s a decent list. I think that anyone could make changes based on persoanl taste but pretty solid all around. I would have put “Cuckoo for CaCa” and “Smaller and Smaller” in my top 10.
Great to not see “We Care Alot” on that list.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am
No “Last Cup of Morrow”?
November 19th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Cool list, I’m happy people are still talking about this band, definitely one of my favourites of all time.
How about the rarities? With Patton they do a wicked version of an old FNM song called As the Worm Turns
They also do an awesome Al Green one called “Greenfields”.
AND most importantly who could forget their lounge version of Let’s Lynch the Landlord (Dead Kennedys) and their version of Easy?
Plus, Caffeine, Land of Sunshine and Smaller and Smaller have always been my favourites from Angel Dust, their best album.
Anyways, loved it all! Thanks!
November 19th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Just occured to me it might be fun to do a Top 10 list of non-FNM Mike Patton tracks. This is just off the top of my head, in no particular order: (one rule I thought of is only one track per album, to keep the diversity up)
1) Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz (Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante)
What can you say about this? Total classic insanity.
2) Sweet Charity (Mr Bungle - California)
Sweet sweet pop melodies and vocal dubs here, just a great
song, by any standard.
3) Seule (Kaada and Mike Patton)
Chillingly sad and lonesome song, a gem on a not so great
album.
4) Aquilas (Eyvind Kang - Athlantis)
Be patient, the end is worth it. Great vocals, chilling.
5) Flashback / God Hates a Coward (Tomahawk - s/t)
Can’t choose between these two tracks, two of my all time
favourite rockers, right up there with FNM.
6) Capt Midnight (Tomahawk - Mit Gas)
Again, right up there with FNM. I love the single shot of chorus,
leaves you wanting more instead of pounding it to death.
7) Sun Dance (Tomahawk - Anonymous)
Not sure if this album is popular or not, but it should be. A
masterpiece as far as I’m concerned. This is a stand-out track
because of Patton’s full on Native American chanting at the end
of it. Just amazing.
8) A Perfect Twist (vocal) (Mike Patton - A Perfect Place)
A great version of the main theme. Very cool sound.
9) Fire in the Hole (General Patton vs The X-Ecutioners)
Awesome tracks, with cool layered chanting vocals that never fail
to sound cool no matter how often I hear the song.
10) Godfather (Fantomas - The Director’s Cut)
Tough to choose this one over all the others, but the theme is
so classic that it never fails to impress other people who have
never heard the band before. It’s so well done.
Who am I kidding, I can’t stop at 10
11) When Good Dogs Do Bad Things (Dillenger Escape Plan with
Mike Patton)
This EP is INSANE, plain and simple. This track almost gives me
fits because of its intensity.
12) Mojo (Peeping Tom)
Not a great album, but I still like this single, and a couple of
more tracks, a lot.
13) Ford Mustang (Great Jewish Music - Serge Gainsboro)
Bit of a rare gem, from Tzadik’s series of releases. Cool and
funny.
14) Page 7 (Fantomas - Amenaza al Mundo)
A short one but the great vocals at the beginning always make
me laugh, and the ones at the end send a chill up my spine.
15) 04/02/05 Saturday National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
(USA)(Fantomas - Suspended Animation)
Tough to choose one off here, as there are so many cool
tracks, but I like this one for the crazy vocals and cool music.
16) Slowly Growing Deaf (Mr.Bungle - s/t)
Almost forgot this one! One of the first truly crazy albums I
ever got into, since I was into FNM’s From Out of Nowhere
album, I had to pick this one up. Needless to say, I didn’t know
what I was getting myself into. Loved thsi track immediately.
Anyways, I’m sure there’s more, but this is all I can manage right now. Any other suggestions?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:11 am
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