Mondo Cane
April 16, 2010 10:38 AM   Subscribe

"If you like orchestral music and have a heart in your fucking chest, you will like this record." Mike Patton, former front man of Faith No More, frequent John Zorn collaborator, founding member of Mr. Bungle, is releasing an album covering old Italian pop songs in May, called Mondo Cane. A live performance can be streamed from Youtube.

Concert highlights: Deep Deep Down, and the unconventional Urlo Negro.

An interview with Patton about the album.
posted by Rory Marinich (42 comments total) 46 users marked this as a favorite
 
hahaha awesome
posted by Juicy Avenger at 10:42 AM on April 16, 2010


Oh man, this is outstanding.
posted by naju at 10:44 AM on April 16, 2010


I love love love Mike Patton! Best lead vocalist ever. This is good, thanks!
posted by peep at 10:48 AM on April 16, 2010


oh HELL yes
posted by threetoed at 10:59 AM on April 16, 2010


Mike Patton is exceptionally talented. Faith No More is actually my least favourite of all of his bands/projects (and I still fucking love 'em).
posted by slimepuppy at 11:02 AM on April 16, 2010


Mike Patton is a very self-assured individual.
posted by Kirk Grim at 11:03 AM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


When the moon's in the sky, like a big pizza pie, that's Amore ...

If YT videos are the same thing that can be found on one cove of corsairs, the video is of Mike Patton performing with the Metropole Orchestra. The entire show which was being streamed at fabchannel.com, who eventually restricted the stream to only part of the show.

Playlist:
01. Il Cielo In Una Stanza
02. Che Notte
03. Ore D' Amore
04. 20 Km Al Giorno
05. Quello Che Conta
06. Urlo Negro
07. Legata Ad Un Granello Di Sabbia
08. Deep Down
09. Pinne, Fucile Ed Occhiali
10. Scalinatella
11. L'uomo Che Non Sapeva Amare
12. Ma L'amore, No
13. Canzone
14. Ti Offro Da Bere
15. Dio Come Ti Amo
16. Storia D'amore
17. Lontano, Lontano
18. O Venezia
19. Yeaaah
20. Senza Fine
21. Una Sigaretta
22. Sole Malato

The tracklist for the Mondo Cane album is:
01 – Il Cielo In Una Stanza
02 – Che Notte!
03 – Ore D’Amore
04 – Deep Down
05 – Quello Che Conta
06 – Urlo Negro
07 – Scalinatella
08 – L’Uomo Che Non Sapeva Amare
09 – 20 KM AI Giorno
10 – Ti Offro Da Bere
11 – Senza Fine
posted by filthy light thief at 11:10 AM on April 16, 2010


Faith No More is actually my least favourite of all of his bands/projects

I couldn't get into Peeping Tom's album, and their live Coachella show felt awkward.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:12 AM on April 16, 2010


No Prisencolinensinainciusol?
posted by emelenjr at 11:13 AM on April 16, 2010 [3 favorites]


I preferred this when it was "Hot! Hot! Hot!"
posted by Joe Beese at 11:20 AM on April 16, 2010


I'm surprised there isn't "More" from the film Mondo Cane.
posted by Sticherbeast at 11:24 AM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
posted by Damn That Television at 11:27 AM on April 16, 2010


Faith No More is actually my least favourite of all of his bands/projects


hmm, you probably didn't get a chance to hear Adult Themes For Voice ..... I'm a huge Patton fan but man, that shit is all but unlistenable. Its like the audio equivalent to Naked Lunch.
posted by mannequito at 11:38 AM on April 16, 2010


"If you like orchestral music and have a heart in your fucking chest, you will like this record."

If you like music with guitars in it, you'll love this...

If you like songs with a woman singing, check this out...

If you like sounds coming out of your speakers, I guarantee you're gonna dig this...

(Some of my favorite music was written for orchestra. It is nothing remotely like any of this.)
posted by straight at 11:39 AM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm a cautious but enthusiastic Patton fan. I like most, but--as mannequito noted--not all of his projects. Some of my favorite and least favorite recordings of his have been with Zorn, and I have been a fan since his FNM days. So, I'll look forward to sampling from this and then deciding whether to jump. Unfortunately, can't preview any of it here but the text.
posted by beelzbubba at 11:51 AM on April 16, 2010


One of my all-time favorite Mike Patton things is the cover he did with Faith No More of the Bee Gees' "I Started a Joke".
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:03 PM on April 16, 2010 [2 favorites]


i may not be loving this, but it's very hard not to love mike patton.
posted by peterkins at 12:04 PM on April 16, 2010


Also, don't forget that Patton scored the soundtrack to Crank 2, which was one of the best movies to come out last year. Seriously.
posted by Dmenet at 12:11 PM on April 16, 2010


Mike Patton covering Serge Gainsbourg (audio only). Definitely one of my favourite Mike Patton tracks.
posted by threetoed at 12:20 PM on April 16, 2010


The contrast between Patton's wide-eyed emoting and the rest of the orchestra's comatose staring is creepy.
posted by IjonTichy at 12:32 PM on April 16, 2010


i always secretly hope patton dons a disguise, tries out for american idol, and wins.
posted by Mach5 at 12:34 PM on April 16, 2010 [3 favorites]


For anyone who missed it, Tomahawk's album of original Native American songs, Anonymous, was pretty impressive.
posted by oraknabo at 12:35 PM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm the only one who doesn't like Patton's voice, right? I mean, I remember when that first FNM record was all the rage. I thought the songs were a bit overwrought AND MASTERED AT 11 SUCH THAT IT HAD ALL THE DYNAMICS OF A BRICK. And that voice!

I'm sure he's a fine fellow and all, but I never really got the attraction.

Plus, I loves me my honk and squeak as much as the next hard-bop fan, but I cannot stand Zorn. So guess who isn't running to visit those links?

No accounting for taste, and all that.
posted by clvrmnky at 12:46 PM on April 16, 2010


I love the idea of an actual orchestra becoming part of pop music. We've seen horn sections, string sections, and chamber orchestras, but none of those re-energize "orchestral" music in the way an orchestra can. Hard to see this clearly, and I realize we're getting guitars as a bonus, but is there a double-reed section?
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:53 PM on April 16, 2010


I liked Adult Themes back during my weird-for-the-sake-of-weird days. I'll have to go revisit that.

It's too bad he and Diamanda Galas don't get along, 'cause a duet album by them would be uh, hmm- what the hell would that be? What -couldn't- it be?

Maybe I'll go throw on Sono l'Antichristo over Merry Go Bye-Bye and report back.
posted by Casimir at 12:54 PM on April 16, 2010


clvrmnky, Patton didn't join FNM until their second album. So you may be referring to Chuck Mosley. Though I don't recall "Introduce Yourself" ever being all the rage.

I personally have dug nearly everything Patton's done, though I do find the Fantomas albums rather inaccessible and I have never heard Adult Themes for Voice.

It's great that Mondo Cane is finally getting a record release. The video of his performance with the Metropole Orchestra was awesome, and I've been dying to listen to it in my car.
posted by BishopFistwick at 1:26 PM on April 16, 2010


It's too bad Demetrio Stratos didn't make this album, because that would have been bad fucking ass. (Dig Cantare la Voce!)
posted by kenko at 1:32 PM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm the only one who doesn't like Patton's voice, right? I mean, I remember when that first FNM record was all the rage.

Yea, if you do mean the first one, that was Chuck Mosley, who was way uninteresting. Patton joined for the second, but didn't have a real effect on the band until Angel Dust, which I thought had way more dynamic range than most rock. But, I'm also biased, as Patton is one of my favourite singers. Great range and uses his voice in some really unique ways, and never misses the key even slightly.
Things like Peeping Tom and Lovage use his voice to spectacular effect, and Tomahawk and Mr Bungle let him have some real fun (as this, clearly).
posted by opsin at 2:28 PM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


You, sir, made my night.
posted by Betty Tyranny at 2:36 PM on April 16, 2010


Imagine my cognitive dissonance as an Italian (growing up playing in rock bands, frequently covering FNM thanks to our singer who had a voice similar to Patton's) when discovering this gem.

OTOH, *every* single italian over 60 I showed this, including people very picky about their music, fell absolutely in love at the first note, praising Patton's voice and interpretation (well, this was the music of their 20s, I guess nostalgia plays a part).

Also, MeFi, give it up for Roy (Rosario) Paci, the trumpet player.
posted by _dario at 2:53 PM on April 16, 2010 [2 favorites]


Also, let's not forget, Patton provides the voices to some of the zombies infected in Left 4 Dead. We're also currently celebrating Suspended Animation month.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:27 PM on April 16, 2010 [1 favorite]


I wonder if Patton decided to look like a sleaze specifically for this project, or if it's normal for him.
posted by kenko at 3:31 PM on April 16, 2010


Also, let's not forget, Patton provides the voices to some of the zombies infected in Left 4 Dead.

Also the Anger Sphere in Portal, and the comedic stylings of The Darkness in, well, The Darkness.

Thanks for this. A couple weeks ago I dug up King for a Day and thought, you know, I could really go for a Mike Patton lounge music album. This isn't that, but it's plenty awesome.
posted by Errant at 3:54 PM on April 16, 2010


Errant, you might also like this.
posted by kenko at 3:59 PM on April 16, 2010


This is awesome thanks. So is Mike.

I bought a lot of cassette tapes at The Works record store in Eureka. Mike rang me up many times.

Thanks for all the entertainment Bud.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:52 PM on April 16, 2010


Back when Tomahawk was doing their first tour, I talked to Mike Patton after their first live show (it was at The Glass House in Pomona, CA). I was nervous as hell trying to talk to him, but he was very nice.

My friends and I eventually decided it would be fun to see the last 2 shows of the tour in his native San Francisco at a small club. At the time, I was trying to put together a music blog/review/rant site that never ended up taking off. Nevertheless, Mike Patton gave me his personal e-mail address for an interview.

So then, instead of running through my list of amusing Mike Patton stories over the years, I'll just past in that interview from 2001 since it's never actually been published...

Mitcz : Which of your many projects/collaborations are you the most proud of?
Patton : That is one of those impossible questions that is not fair to the many musicians I have worked with. Let me put it this way, there is not anything that I am not proud of.

Mitcz : What's your personal favorite FNM album?
Patton : *See answer above.

Mitcz : What's the deal with the "Out of Nowhere" video -- was the label trying to push FNM off as a "Living Colour"-style band or was that whole video a big joke?
Patton : Living Color style band? Huh? All videos are a big joke.

Mitcz : Mike, the world wants to know - just what IS it? (referencing FNM's "Epic")
Patton : Did you lose sleep coming up with these questions? "It" is whatever you want it to be.

Mitcz : I've heard it said that John Zorn taught you everything you know, any truth to this?
Patton : Not true. I've never heard of the guy.

Mitcz : Linked to the question above, where did you learn what you know? (vocally, musically, etc.)
Patton : I listen to lot's of different types music.

Mitcz : Who influenced you growing up and what are some of the bands/artists that you listen to now-a-days?
Patton : It is hard to pinpoint influences. I listen to everything from Sigur Ros to the Locust to Sammy to Sade.

Mitcz : Any comments on the upcoming Peeping Tom project?
Patton : It is going to be very interesting. Dan the Automator is a very talented guy.

Mitcz : Throughout the years, despite FNM's popularity both in the earlier days of We Care a Lot and The Real Thing, not to mention the critically-acclaimed Angel Dust - and all throughout the rest of your career w/FNM and your multitude of collaborations, solo projects, side-projects and what-not, you've slipped beyond a majority of the press. To my knowledge, there's been very little talk of you on MTV throughout the number of years (aside from Headbanger's Ball and a Live N' Loud performance), Rolling Stone has never put you or a project you were involved with on their cover, and FNM has only been on SNL twice (once again to my knowledge). Yet, a lot of newer artists drop your name and that of various FNM members all the time. It's given you the distinction of being one of the most underrated artists of our time. Are you at all upset about this, or do you prefer the close-knit following of die-hard fans that you have now to the endless droves of the pop-loving mainstream?
Patton : You know, this is the kind of music industry garbage I hate. Underrated? By who? By what standards? I could give a rat's ass. This is not a contest. Charts don't mean a thing to me. I have never been professionally happier in all my life, that is all that matters. Things are going great! I would not trade it for anything. I do not spend time thinking about other bands. I concern myself with MY craft. If people like what I do that is certainly great, but if they don't, I'm fine with that too.

Mitcz : How do you feel overall about your accomplishments in life -- and what drives you to wake up every morning and continue on?
Patton : I don't spend any time reflecting on my "accomplishments". I am driven by the next great meal.

Mitcz : (we ask everyone this) You're stuck on a deserted island for a month with 1 person (alive or dead) and 1 item (let's suppose you could find food and water pretty easily on this island), what would they be and why?
Patton : It would be Michael Jackson and a sampler. We could make beautiful music.

I thought he might've gotten a little irked by that remark about being underrated, so I sent him a quick apology. Here then is that brief exchange...

In a message dated 12/10/01 7:20:56 PM, Mitcz writes:
I was just worried you may have taken it in a different light than it was meant -- and for that I apologize.

No apology necessary, I fully understand where you are coming from. Thanks!
-MP
posted by revmitcz at 6:39 PM on April 16, 2010 [2 favorites]


Whereas I just do not like Patton's voice at all but thought Adult Themes For Voice was very funny.
posted by stinkycheese at 6:48 PM on April 16, 2010


Why is the orchestra just sitting there most of the time? They look so bored. Give them something to do!
posted by speicus at 11:08 PM on April 16, 2010


Mike Patton and Gino Paoli, two great tastes that taste great together! I love his italian accent.
I hope he does more covers in the future. I'd love some Tenco or some De Andrè.
posted by darkripper at 6:18 AM on April 17, 2010


Awesome!
I'm still waiting for the day Patton releases something that doesn't entertain me! I don't see that happening.
posted by harold_dumbacher at 1:01 AM on April 18, 2010


Mike Patton is an asshole. Telling the crowd to stage dive into an orchestra pit was a bad idea.

Yes, I am still bitter. Asshole.
posted by bh at 6:23 AM on April 18, 2010


i remember long ago reading that "epic" is about sex. that's what "it" is.
posted by andywolf at 10:51 AM on April 19, 2010


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