Faith No More – The Real Thing (1989)

April 12, 2023

The Real Thing is one of those records that reveals itself to you more and more the longer you spend with it. It has been surely said a thousand times but Faith No More really were a special band, and whilst perhaps you could argue that the sound on this record is a little dated now, it is still a pleasure to return to and a highly recommended listen for anyone into rock and metal music.

The production is fantastic, infinitely clear with heavy, pounding drums and incredible bass playing. The guitars are a little hollow in the mix, but goddamn are the riffs amazing. The breathing room in the sound stage is plugged up by the keyboards, which are just as much as responsible for carrying these compositions forward as the guitar – they are not added as an afterthought or mood enhancing device as used by most bands.

Finally, there is Mike Patton. What can I say about Mike Patton? His vocal style is not as matured perhaps, as it would be in his multiple future outputs, but there is a youthful energy to the performance here.

All in all, rock solid.