CD Review

Having worked with Rahzel, Bjork, Amon Tobin and John Zorn in recent years, Mike Patton’s musical resume looks like Dangermouse’s iPod. The former Faith No More and Mr. Bungle’s wide range of vocal styles mixed with his oddball stage antics, along with his keen diversity in musical styles has earned him the title of "noise rock renaissance man."

With his latest project Peeping Tom, an album in the works since the mid 90’s, Patton enlists Tobin, Massive Attack, Rahzel, Kid Koala, Norah Jones and others in production and performing roles to create his version of a "pop album." Not unlike a Gorillaz album, there is plenty of catchy stuff to cling onto that grabs the casual listener upon first spin.

The catchy lead track "Five Seconds" combines Patton’s smooth lounge singer vocals mixed against his random spazoid lyrical freakouts. "Mojo" which featurs Rahzel and Dan the Automator brings back the trip-hop fury of Faith No More’s "Midlife Crisis" with its underlying swampy beat and fist pumping chorus. A murky bass appears throughout Peeping Tom providing the backdrop for a tribal effect that’s part creepy and part radio ready. As Patton twists his vocals in falsetto’s ("Don’t Even Trip") industrial grunts ("Getaway") and upbeat singalongs ("Caipirinha"), one has to wonder, just who the target audience is here. However, hearing Norah Jones whisper R rated ramblings on "Sucker" is worth the price of Peeping Tom alone, making this one well worth the peek.