The Real Thing (Faith No More album)

Infobox Album
Name = The Real Thing
Type = studio
Artist = Faith No More


Released = June 20, 1989
Recorded = December 1988 – January 1989 Studio D in Sausalito, California
Genre = Funk rock, rap rock, alternative metal
Length = 55:03
Label = Slash
Producer = Matt Wallace
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Arq60tr89klkx link]
*Review-Christgau|B-|artist=449
Last album = "Introduce Yourself"
(1987)
This album = "The Real Thing"
(1989)
Next album = ""
(1990)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = The un-cropped vinyl cover

Music samples

Listen
filename= FNM Epic Sample.ogg
title="Epic"
description=30 second sample from Faith No More's "Epic".
format=Ogg

"The Real Thing" is the third album by Faith No More, released in 1989. It was their first record with Mike Patton and became their breakthrough. On this album, Faith No More advanced their sound range combining heavy metal, Progressive metal, hip hop, funk, jazz, and soul. The music recording was complete by the time Patton (the singer for experimental/thrash/funk band Mr. Bungle) came on board. Patton wrote the lyrics and recorded them over the already finished music.cite web |url=http://negele.org/db/index.php3?band=2&year=1992&month=6&id=980 |title=Faith No More: Angel Dust in the wind |accessdate=2008-06-15 |author=Jem Aswad |date=June 1992 |work=Issue 25 |publisher=Reflex Magazine]

Most known for its tracks "Falling to Pieces," and "Epic," whose video featured a fish flopping about on the ground, the album's "Falling to Pieces" also became popular (its video was a favorite of MTV's "Beavis and Butthead"). The video for "Epic" was subject to controversy because of the perceived treatment of the fish, which appears to be dying—it was in fact slow motion footage; the fish was returned to its tank alive. [http://www.fnm.com/faq/#15 Q15] on the fnm.com FAQ, retrieved february 22, 2008] Reportedly, keyboardist Roddy Bottum stole the goldfish from Icelandic singer Björk at a party she was throwing. He returned it to her after the shoot, which lasted mere seconds. Mike Patton claimed during the band's "Live at the Wireless" performance for Australian radio station Triple J, in 1990, that the title track was "Written after my girlfriend left me for Sebastian Bach."

"The Real Thing" is Faith No More's best selling album, selling 2 million copies in the US alone and around 4 million worldwide. Singles released were "Epic", "From out of Nowhere", "Falling to Pieces" and "Edge of the World" of this album. "Epic" also ranked #30 in VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs in May 2006.

The album also features "War Pigs," a cover of the anti-war protest song by Black Sabbath, as well as "Edge of the World," a jazzy piano ballad about a paedophile. "Surprise! You're Dead!" also had a video that never saw much airplay on TV.

"Epic" is featured in the video games "Rock Band, Burnout Paradise, and Singstar".

Track listing

tracklist
collapsed= |headline=
music_credits=yes
all_lyrics=Mike Patton, except "The Real Thing" by Patton & Gould and "War Pigs" by Butler, Iommi, Osbourne & Ward
title1=From out of Nowhere |music1=Gould, Bottum |length1=3:21
title2=Epic |music2=Gould, Martin, Bottum, Bordin |length2=4:51
title3=Falling to Pieces |music3=Gould, Bottum, Martin |length3=5:17
title4=Surprise! You're Dead! |music4=Martin |length4=2:25
title5=Zombie Eaters |music5=Martin, Gould, Bordin, Bottum |length5=6:00
title6=The Real Thing |music6=Gould, Bottum |length6=8:12
title7=Underwater Love |music7=Gould, Bottum |length7=3:36
title8=The Morning After |music8=Gould, Bottum, Martin |length8=3:40
title9=Woodpecker from Mars |music9=Martin, Bordin |length9=5:41
title10=War Pigs |music10=Butler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward |length10=7:42
title11=Edge of the World |music11=Gould, Bottum, Bordin |length11=4:10
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note10=Non-vinyl track.
note11=Track 6 on cassette, ending Side 1. Non-vinyl track.

ongs

urprise! You're Dead!

"Surprise! You're Dead!" is the fourth song on the album. Unlike the rest of the album, the song carries a distinct thrash metal influence in its sound, as it was written solely by Jim Martincite web |url=http://negele.org/db/index.php3?band=2&year=1990&id=1537 |title=The Real Thing Bass Guitar Transcription Book |accessdate=2008-09-14 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=] in his days as a guitarist in Agents of Misfortune (along with Metallica songs such as "For Whom the Bell Tolls" with Cliff Burton). [cite web |url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8600360414571121543 |title=Cliff Burton in 1974 playing with his FIRST band! |accessdate=2008-09-14]

Jim Martin's later recorded it in 1997 on his solo release "Milk and Blood". The song was later included on the soundtrack for "" in 1990 and Faith No More's compilation albums "Epic and Other Hits" in 2005 and "The Works" in 2008.

The song also has a black & white music video directed by Billy Gould, but wasn't released officially until the release of Video Croissant. It is speculated whether this had to do with the violent subject matter, although it is most likely because the record label only allowed so many official singles. The video is compiled from footage shot during a South American tour in 1990.

Zombie Eaters

"Zombie Eaters" is the fifth song on the album. The lyrics can be interpreted as being about either a baby's perception of the world around him or a needy, dependent relationship. The song remains one of the more popular tracks on "The Real Thing" and can be found on the band's 2008 compilation album "The Works" as well as multiple live releases.

The band Ill Niño has covered this song with Chino Moreno as a guest, it appears on the band's EP "The Under Cover Sessions".

Woodpecker from Mars

"Woodpecker from Mars" is the instrumental ninth track on the album, except for cassette editions; on which it is the tenth and final track. It was recorded prior to the hiring of Mike Patton. It was later released in 1992 as a live bonus disc on limited edition French pressings of Angel Dust. It shares its title with a 1956 Woody Woodpecker cartoon.

Musically it sounds similar to a heavier version of pre-Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd songs, such as "Interstellar Overdrive", "Astronomy Domine", "A Saucerful of Secrets" and in that context, the title probably refers to mythology, the Woodpecker being the bird of the Roman God Mars.

Edge of the World

"Edge of the World" appears on the CD and cassette versions of the album. The song is a piano driven ballad that incorporates heavy influences from jazz and lounge music. It was also released on the band's compilation album "The Platinum Collection" in 2006.Billy Gould described the song in these word:It was also released as a promo single in Brazil on CD and 12" vinyl with two tracks; the album version and the of the song.

Accolades

ingles

Year end

Footnotes