@ablaze for quite a while but can't remember ever creating a post myself. So it is about time! You can check out his latest entry and details HERE
What inspired me is the Mr. Bungle concert I attended last week in the big city. If you have never heard of this band, worry not as they are rather experimental and obscure.
WARNING: Weirdness ahead!
I discovered Mr. Bungle in the 90s through a strange room mate who thought my heavy and progressive tastes in music might lead to an enjoyment of the self-titled album, especially since I loved Faith No More. He was right. The album was the weirdest tantrum of clown horror and manic rompings through so many styles, I couldn't help but tag along with Mike Patton as he threw fits of insanity throughout the whole album. I have seen it reviewed as "the strangest thing to ever happen on vinyl" and I happily agree.
This song is simply entitled Egg and it has always stood out for me as dynamic, funny and so strangely different from anything I have ever heard. OOOOOhhhhhh an egg comes out of a chicken. OOOOOhhhhhhh a chicken comes out of an egg! The conundrum takes shape in this horn-filled circus of a song. If you don't like this one, better skip the rest and leave a funny comment as it doesn't get any more normal with the other 2.
I was already a fan by the time the second album was released in 1995. While I was expecting some more weirdness, I was surprised to find a different style or intent than the debut album with all the eccentricity. This album seemed to have more of a lounge theme to it with some soft crooning interrupted by violent transitions and departures.
Platypus is the name of this strange composition and you may notice the loungy slant to the strangeness.
There were another few years between albums when singer and team captain Mike Patton spent more time with Faith No More and other side projects creating albums and touring. When California came out near the end of the decade, I was curious to see where they might have gone from clown comic horror and psychedelic lounge blasphemy. I was not disappointed with the west coast surf theme to this equally odd compilation of tunes.
Sweet Charity is the opening track on the album and you are about as prepared as I was for it.
This is technically the 4th tune but imagine my surprise at discovering a new Mr. Bungle album 20 years after the last one! Give it a listen if you want to hear another complete style departure from the other albums. This one is actually a re-recording of a demo they put together when teenagers and is a total thrash album. Almost nothing like the others and the band is an allstar band including members of Slayer and Anthrax!
So, you are welcome for introducing you to Mr. Bungle or reminding you. That, or apologies for unleashing this insanity on your eardrums.
