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Track Listings
| 1. Sweet Charity |
| 2. None Of Them Knew They Were Robots |
| 3. Retrovertigo |
| 4. The Air-Conditioned Nightmare |
| 5. Ars Moriendi |
| 6. Pink Cigarette |
| 7. Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy |
| 8. The Holy Filament |
| 9. Vanity Fair |
| 10. Goodbye Sober Day |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Nobody ever accused Mr. Bungle of being suckers for a good melody. The syncopated blasts of cartoonish noise that fill 1991's Mr. Bungle and 1995's Disco Volante are one part speed metal and one part Speedy Gonzalez. Initially, the band served as a more aggressive outlet for singer Mike Patton, widely known for his work in Faith No More. But with Faith No More no more, Patton and Mr. Bungle decided to sweeten the Bungle batter with a little songcraft. California boasts harmonies (yes, harmonies!) that would make the Brothers Wilson proud. Opening with a chorus of seagulls and crashing waves that gives way to slide guitar, strings, and Patton singing (not screaming), the poppy yet symphonic "Sweet Charity" announces that this is not your bike messenger's Mr. Bungle album. Songs like the easy strummin' "Retrovertigo", the sultry Scott Walker-esque "Pink Cigarette", and the orchestral "Vanity Fair" make California 1999's golden-hair surprise. --Bill Crandall
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is basically Mr. Bungle's finest album to date. The only way to describe it is as a homage to American music over the
20th century. An enormous amount of styles are blended seamlesly
together, lounge music, easy listening, Hawaian music, techno,
surf, rap, jazz and the list goes on. Unlike the two previous albums, the distorted electric guitar work of Trey Spruance is blended in to the pieces rather than being accentuated by it's nature. The effect of this is that, while Spruance may be playing what would sound like heavy rock riffs alone, the overall mood of the songs remain after he begins to play (e.g. None of them knew they were robots). As a result, the album will sound a lot less heavy than it actually is (I'd imagine some of these songs would sound quite differet live). Coherance is the key to this albums power, where it was the lack of which which hampered 'Disco Volante'. The degree of complexity on some of the instrumental arrangements is simply staggering and making this sound simple and texturally beutifull is an immense achievment in itself.
Although this album may sound less experimental than 'Disco Volante' the experimental nature of the band actually has not disappeared from Bungle's music, it is just the case that the band have learned to use this aspect to enhance the songs rather than including it for the sake of including it. Mike Patton displays some of his finest writing, which he may find difficult to better
in the future. The rest of the band are at least, if not more, involved with Dunn and Spruance playing a very large part. The lyrics are complex and thought-provoking, definately the finest the band has produced. Most of all however, the band still show a sense of humour, which has matured significantly since the messy
debut. If you are new to Mr. Bungle, then I would say that this is ceratainly the best place to start. It is interesting to note that while this is one of the most important rock albums of the last decade, it seems woefully neglected. If it is possible for music to be 'postmodernist' then this is it. A postmodernist classic, and there isn't many of them!
20th century. An enormous amount of styles are blended seamlesly
together, lounge music, easy listening, Hawaian music, techno,
surf, rap, jazz and the list goes on. Unlike the two previous albums, the distorted electric guitar work of Trey Spruance is blended in to the pieces rather than being accentuated by it's nature. The effect of this is that, while Spruance may be playing what would sound like heavy rock riffs alone, the overall mood of the songs remain after he begins to play (e.g. None of them knew they were robots). As a result, the album will sound a lot less heavy than it actually is (I'd imagine some of these songs would sound quite differet live). Coherance is the key to this albums power, where it was the lack of which which hampered 'Disco Volante'. The degree of complexity on some of the instrumental arrangements is simply staggering and making this sound simple and texturally beutifull is an immense achievment in itself.
Although this album may sound less experimental than 'Disco Volante' the experimental nature of the band actually has not disappeared from Bungle's music, it is just the case that the band have learned to use this aspect to enhance the songs rather than including it for the sake of including it. Mike Patton displays some of his finest writing, which he may find difficult to better
in the future. The rest of the band are at least, if not more, involved with Dunn and Spruance playing a very large part. The lyrics are complex and thought-provoking, definately the finest the band has produced. Most of all however, the band still show a sense of humour, which has matured significantly since the messy
debut. If you are new to Mr. Bungle, then I would say that this is ceratainly the best place to start. It is interesting to note that while this is one of the most important rock albums of the last decade, it seems woefully neglected. If it is possible for music to be 'postmodernist' then this is it. A postmodernist classic, and there isn't many of them!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Bungle are of course no more now, but their legacy was three completely diverse pieces of work. From the ska-punk-metal crossover of the first album, to the bizarre death metal-clubland mess of Disco Volante, to this glorious exploration of the dark side of sun-kissed west-coast 50's and 60's teen culture. All the influences are here: the Beach Boys on "Air-conditioned Nightmare"; Chris Isaac on "Pink Cigarette"; 50's rockabilly on "None Of Them Knew They Were Robots"; Hawaiian pedal-steel and Phil Spector-esque production on "Sweet Charity"; Doo-wop on "Vanity Faire"...and yet all with Bungle's superb knack for giving them a new and surreal twist. As always, Patton's vocals are immaculate. And there are two genuinely brilliant pieces: the fusion of Greek-style ceremony and lyre with metal on "Ars Moriendi", and a fantastic power-pop ballad in "Retrovertigo", genuinely touching and presented with absolute respect to the form. Bungle went out on a massive high, and it's a great shame that they never worked together again, because, as this record demonstrates, they had so much individual and diverse innovative and creative talent, which somehow worked perfectly as a whole. Magnificent.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Mr. Bungle came a long way from their self titled first album to create this work of what I can only describe as genius. The mixture of styles, although about as varied as you can get, compliment each other wonderfully to create a beautiful album.
The highlights include 'The Air-Conditioned Nightmare', Beach Boys style surf rock twisted into something that somehow manages to be dark and upbeat at the same time, 'Pink Cigarette', a ballad about as black as they come, and the very funky 'Gollum II (the bionic vapour boy)'.
I first heard Mike Patton in Faith No More, but I feel this album surpasses their later work with ease. If you're a Mike Patton fan, you'll love this. If you're not, you will be by track three.
The highlights include 'The Air-Conditioned Nightmare', Beach Boys style surf rock twisted into something that somehow manages to be dark and upbeat at the same time, 'Pink Cigarette', a ballad about as black as they come, and the very funky 'Gollum II (the bionic vapour boy)'.
I first heard Mike Patton in Faith No More, but I feel this album surpasses their later work with ease. If you're a Mike Patton fan, you'll love this. If you're not, you will be by track three.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Perfection
Mr Bungle can be a challenging listen. Their self-titled debut was a chaotic mixture of funk-metal, ska, jazz and toilet humour. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Arthur Askey's Legs
Amazing record!
Of course, you have to be the kind of person who can listen to music for what it is without the need to 'get' it until it can be enjoyed fully. Read more
Published 8 months ago by theone&only
What an album
Great album that arrived wrapped in mint condition and considering where it was shipped came in a timely manner. 10/10
Published 14 months ago by DanV3185
mr. bungle's most cohesive album
Although most of this album is not as unique-sounding as the band's previous album, disco volante, the synthesis of different styles (ranging from boogie woogie to surf to death... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2005
Good, but not essential
The only stand-out songs are Pink Cigarette (Song that would make the soundtrack to a David Lynch movie) and Retrovertigo, with Mike Patton singing faultlessly. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2003 by Mr. A. Aziz
awesome
Another Mr Bungle album, another different, but equally warped sound. This is definitely a band of ever changing styles that all keep one thing in common, great, original music. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2003 by "flyingtrout"
A bit unlike Faith No More crossed with every other band.
Perfect mix of beauty and weirdness. Sublime off-kilter songs. First 5 songs are amazing: swing, rockabilly, surf and hebrew death metal. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2002
Not bad, extremely weird so hit and miss, but mostly hit
Each song sounds different, capturing different atmospheres and styles. This won't immediately grab you, however. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2002
The Sensitive Side Of Mr Bungle
This album is lacking the weird Mr Bungle feel... apart from 'Ars Moriendi' 'Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy' and 'Goodbye Sober Day' this album could have easily been written by... Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2001 by Simon Brown
Possibly the single most perfect album in recorded history
Harmonies, melodies, deranged doo-wop and Balinese ketchak chants. Really, what more could anyone possibly want from an album?
Published on 29 Jun 2001
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