WE DO THE MASHED POTATO AND THE FUNKY CHICKEN

Peeping Tom - Mike Patton's "Commercial" Endeavor

Posted over 2 years ago
Peeping Tom is a Mike Patton project by mail (well, more likely email or some sort of FTP/file swap set up). Think the Faith No More era Patton meets Ben Gibbard/Jenny Lewis Postal Service side project. This is probably the most accessible Mike Patton project since his days with Faith No More. Patton swapped files with such artists as Kool Keith, Rahzel, Nora Jones, Dan "The Automater", and Amon Tobin. The resulting tracks are compiled in the album ??Peeping Tom??.
At it's best, ??Peeping Tom?? can sound like a forgotten FNM track, at it's worst, it can have the feel of the oh so many artist team up tracks that are to numerous to name, and un-interesting enough to remember. It's a valid effort with a few good tracks, but not much over all payoff or energy to feel more than a group collaboration minus the cohesion.

Comments (7)

  1. Lizziegreeneyes says *Devil mine:* In Senor Patton's words: _"I don't listen to the radio, but if I did, this is what I'd want it to sound like," Patton says of the project. "This is my version of pop music. In a way, this is an exercise for me: taking all these things I've learned over the years and putting them into a pop format."_ Link to the rest of the "*+WIKI HERE+*":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peeping_Tom_%28album%29 I kinda dig that & it made me see the album in a completely different light. Sure there are a few tracks that aren't that memorable - but I think the album is more solid than I'm guessing you do. Then again, this is a man that floors me as an artist - that he has so many pots stirring always boggles the mind. I agree this isn't my favorite album to come from him in one of his many forms... but I think it's great as a *_concept album_*. & you GOTTA LOVE the album's design ;)
    Permalink posted 07/30/2007
  2. contrabandwidth says Madame greeneyes: Si, I read the press releases, and the intention behind the album, but it had me feeling like some of the last FNM stuff - phoned in (lemme explain that, because I mean it litteraly. The band never even really got together for ??Album of the Year?? and they just did it over ISDN lines (telephone/data transfer pre - high speed internet stuff) in each of their own studios. I did like the album, but it was a little soulless. None of the albums quite had the punch that ??Angel Dust?? did. I critique, cuz I luv. Messr. Patton laid the ground work for the Incubus' type bands today, and I respect that, but what happens when you sound kind of like a parody of your own style. I think there is no one who can match Patton vocally, but this album feels at least 10 years old in some respects to some of the more impressive stuff he has done with Bungle and Fantomas in the past couple of years. Listen to the ground he broke on ??California??, and tell me that ??Peeping Tom?? doesn't feel like a sacrifice of his talent. I appreciate your input, just doesn't move me the way I want it too. It's a nice effort though.
    Permalink posted 07/30/2007
  3. contrabandwidth says I don't know why the begining of my msg was cut off, but I just said that I read the press releases and Patton's "intentions" behind it, but it still feels a little soulless. It feels like later Faith No More albums. FNM was phoning it in, litterally, at the end (they recorded ??Album of the Year?? via ISDN lines going to their respective home studios, and never got together to lay down tacks together). It's cool technology allows this, but seems kind of weird for a band to work this way. And in case it wasn't clear, I meant ??Peeping Tom?? was a nice effort - incase that last sentence seems like I was trying to slight you.
    Permalink posted 07/30/2007
  4. Lizziegreeneyes says *I hear where you are coming from* +Not trying to sway you+, just wanted you to maybe see a different perspective on the album. If I sit it next to all his other works - no doubt it's not even close to ground-breaking. It's a fun album - but not a lfie-changing one & much of his work alters my perception of music. I guess I kinda think that was his whole intention with this album. It's not meant to be anything earth-shattering - just to be his ideal of what the radio should sound like - how he'd want it to be. Personally, I don't think it's a sacrifice for him (can see how you might though). I see it more as his parody of what radio has become... I can't even remember a time when the radio by in large rocked originality... sure I have WXPN (public radio) - but even they have gone the way of playing the same songs too many times in one day & not introducing me to all sorts of new music as they used to do even just a few years ago... I don't bother with radio these days. But I can hop in my car on a sunny day - with windows down & listen to Peeping Tom & sing along & smile. It's a hella lot lighter fare for him... but it's a change - change is good :) I'll always prefer him harder, darker & far more intense, brilliant & mindbending, but sometimes I want a little fluff - specially if it's fun fluff from one of my favorite artists.
    Permalink posted 07/30/2007
  5. contrabandwidth says Funny thing is they were playing ??Mojo?? on 99X in Atlanta last year ("alternative" radio). And maybe that biased me against it a little because they play a shit ton of the whiny white boy Alice In Chains rip offs that are just unbearable. Plus they sponsor the concerts of ground breaking artists they never play! They were "presenting" artists like the White Stripes like 3 years before they played them or they got some buzz via MTV or whatever. Anyway, their a lame station, so as much as I liked hearing someone familiar, they gave nothing as to who Mike Patton was. That's too bad about WXPN. I liked them a lot, but often thought they put too much push behind already established artists (say some one like Jackson Brown) and didn't push the little guys enough.
    Permalink posted 07/30/2007
  6. Lizziegreeneyes says That would definitely sway me away from it - radio stations got my boot to the arse a long time ago & though I still see shows sponsored by XPN - it's just as you say - they play the more established artists while sponsoring the artists in most need of airplay.
    Permalink posted 07/30/2007
  7. scotfree says Well, the mog world spins and spins. I was listening to this this morning and wondered if anyone had mentioned it. was in the middle of "Don't Even Trip" even as I clicked on your post! I actually thought this recording was much older from the first tracks heard. I guess in concept, it's successful. just not sure the concept is a worthwile goal. still, not a bad listen.
    Permalink posted 08/01/2007

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