Tomahawk

MIKE PATTON | CHAPTER ELEVEN

After some shenanigans with Mr Bungle and them breaking up pretty recently prior to this album, his two biggest bands had been shut down. There’s really nothing you can expect from Mike at any point and this little nifty album is no exception.

Going from genre to genre, all based under the rock umbrella or some offshoot of it, like your typical Faith No More album was certainly not something I expected. But this is no FNM record, this is something a bit harsher and noisier, and maybe groovier. This album is so tightly performed that even a nun’s nether regions couldn’t compete (sorry). The bass and guitar take a lead here, offering some of of the most precise yet creative rock music heard from Patton yet. In the standard barrier of rock, many ideas here are taking something that could be simple and just bringing them to the absolute max. There isn’t many moments of relaxation or ease here, possibly the nonchalant Point and Click or Cul De Sac, but even the latter, a wholesome country number, is perverted by distortion.

The first six tracks on the record are honestly absolute perfection. Each just being a cup of different flavors and styles. You’ve got Flashback and 101 North which could be in some sort of spy or cop film (same could be said about much of this record. it just hits that vibe), Point and Click, a very haunting and delicate song, God Hates A Coward, the energetic and frantic lone single from the LP, Pop 1, an ode to the Grammy’s and hip hop with some noisey rap verses from Mike himself, and Sweet Smell Of Success which goes from creepy but beautiful verses to a nostalgic chorus and a warm bridge. These are the highlights of the record, but it doesn’t suddenly stop being good after those, it just gets a little inconsistent with a song or two I’m not big on. The rest of the tracks are great though, like Sir, Yes Sir, Cul De Sac, Malocchio, Laredo and Narcosis. All varied and fun cuts.

And honestly, if my only real complaint is that I’m not fond of two tracks out of thirteen (Jockstrap kinda just sounds a little corny on my ears, and Honeymoon is sort of a nothing song) then I’d estimate this is a great record. I love when Patton blends his schizophrenic vocal performances, absurd ideas and bizarre lyricism into more convenient structures or styles as that’s more fun to listen to than thirty minutes of bizarre noises. I do appreciate the more zany and avant garde records, I just am yet to find a record like that in his catalogue that I’d return to. We’ll see, though. Still tons more to listen to!

Favorite Tracks: Flashback, 101 North, Point and Click, God Hates A Coward, Pop 1, Sweet Smell Of Success, Sir, Yes Sir, Cul De Sac, Malocchio, Laredo, Narcosis

Okay Tracks: Honeymoon

Least Favorite Tracks: Jockstrap