I got out there debut album this afternoon - having not listened to it for over a year - and it reminded me of just how genius some of Mr Bungle's/Mike Patton's stuff was. The best way to describe them is like Parliament/Funkadelic gone even crazier, heavier and diverse. They literally touch on every single musical genre out there I think - in the space of one goddamn song! They master all the screwed up, throwaway lines too.

Sometimes it goes over the top - I've always been put off by the three minutes silence that follows some songs or the 'taking a shit on the toilet' noises - but most of the time I just sit back in awe. The musicianship, and Patton's voice is really top-drawer.

Anyone else ever dared trying to 'get' this bunch of fukked up individuals? Probably the craziest shit I've ever listened to. I'd play their debut album on the train at night so many times, and it would scare the shit outta me.
[Edited 7/25/06 11:57am]

you really find it that much out there? maybe Disco Volante, but their other albums are listenable.
[Edited 7/25/06 12:11pm]

PunchDrunk said:

Did you have scary clown dreams?

the last time I bump this.....

lilgish said:

Yep. It's messed up clown music - that's the best way to describe it.

'Mr Bungle' and 'Disco Volante' are very 'out there' as far as fairly popular music goes. Patton's a crazy MF anyway, but Bungle is waaaay more absurd and abstract than FNM or even Fantomas, Tomahawk, etc.

I had their album (the first one. I don't know how many they actually put out) and I would always liten to it while really stoned in my room.

Yes, it does conjure up scary clown images, which meant that I must have been really trying to face my fears as I have a huge clown phobia.

I don't think I could handle it if I pulled it out these days though. I am fragile.

PunchDrunk said:

yea, I think Fantomas is pretty raw. Tomahawk is not.

minneapolisgenius said:

Some how, I doubt that.

lilgish said:

PunchDrunk said:

Bungle more abstract than Fantomas?? Have you listened to a Fantomas record? Outside of the covers album they did their stuff is much more "abstract" I think than Bungle. Put on "Delirium Cordia" sometime and then try to find something that abstract in the Bungle catalog!!

But then again, if the first Bungle record scares you that much then you probably never really made it to "Disco Volante", let alone the Fantomas stuff!!

I have all their albums, plus secret chiefs and mike patton solo works

"california" is their best and also most un-weird

next best is disco volante

the first one has great musicianship but is a bit immature


.
[Edited 7/26/06 5:40am]

a friend got me 'California' one year for my birthday

I thought, damn, that's some crazy music you got there

I did like the first few songs a lot though

thebige said:

what he said.