AMG EXPERT REVIEW
Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle (4 1/2 stars)

When Mr. Bungle's debut album
was released in the summer of 1991, the band was wrongly given
the title of "Mike Patton's side project." In reality, Patton (listed as
"Vlad Drac" on the album) was in Mr. Bungle before joining Faith
No More. While there are a few similarities to FNM (airy
keyboards, crunchy guitar riffs, Patton's unmistakable vocals, etc.),
they are really two completely different bands. Although Faith No
More's music can be quite daring, their songs are rooted in
conventional song structures, whereas Mr. Bungle's music is a bit
more eccentric. Their debut would turn out to be not as focused and
fully realized as their next album (1995's Disco Volante), but the
groundwork would be laid for their future triumph. The musical
ideas are all over the place on such tracks as the John
Travolta/Patrick Swayze tribute "Quote Unquote" (originally titled
"Travolta," andthen quickly renamed when the lawyers came
around), the rubbery funk and ska of "Carousel," and the
uncomfortable anger of "My Ass Is On Fire." The group's unique
sense of humor sometimes works well ("Egg"), while floundering at
other times (the one-dimensional "The Girls of Porn"). The
outlandish John Zorn co-produced the record with the band,
encouraging Mr. Bungle to indulge in all of their demented
fantasies. It's a good thing he did.

-- Greg Prato, All-Music Guide