Another greatest hits
K. Perks | wilkes-barre, pa United States | 07/14/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"didn't want to pay this much for 2 cds that i had every song but two of them, but i enjoyed the two i got. 'sweet emotion' i heard online before but did not own and 'new improved song' i never heard before...so it was nice to add to my collection. nice commentary on the inside from kerrang.... cover art is boring as is a lot of rhino releases. slap some art together and get a cd out quick! this is pretty much who cares a lot repackaged but if your a fan...get it."
Solid collection. But is it necessary??
Luke | Australia | 02/25/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Another Faith No More Best Of Collection will no doubt have loyal fans accusing record companies of a pointless cash grab and milking the legacy of one of Alternative rock's most innovative and compelling band's of the 80's and 90's. This is at least the third FNM Best Of collection released over the past 10-12 years and once again this new release features a very small collection of songs previously unavailable, compounding the frustrations of the die hard fans who wish to own all of the hidden treasures of the band (rarities/B-sides), though probably already own the majority of these tracks three times over.
On the plus side this collection coincides with Faith No More's triumphant return from the dead, through their recent reformation and reunion tours. With a new Best Of collection marketed as a new release in CD stores, FNM fans can take heart that this collection may just appeal to a new generation of rock fans not yet enamoured with the diverse, genre hopping excursions and experimentations of this great band.
Very Best Definitive Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection, complete with ridiculous title and irrelevant artwork, offers another slightly different interpretation of Faith No More's greatest songs. Of course, as with any Best Of release, the content will be open to debate amongst loyal fans. Thankfully for the uninitiated it does present a solid overview of Faith No More's distinguished career, even offering an appreciation of the fun though not exactly essential material of the Chuck Moseley era (We Care A Lot, R `n' r).
The Mike Patton era is the main focus of this compilation, and rightfully so. His creative vision and inspired vocal abilities opened new doors for FNM and took them to a new level of commercial and critical success and admiration.
1989's breakthrough album and crossover gem The Real Thing (the first release with Patton) is represented through obvious hits Epic and From Out Of Nowhere, though curiously the popular funk single Falling To Pieces is absent. This is somewhat compensated by the inclusion of the underrated, sprawling title track.
Arguably the band's best album, the dark, experimental but somehow coherent masterpiece, Angeldust, is heavily and appropriately featured, more so then previous collections. The underrated melodic gem Kindergarten is included as well as the darkly humorous and catchy Be Aggressive (complete with inspiring cheerleader chants), the stomping Land Of Sunshine, schizophrenic Caffeine, the brilliant Everything's Ruined (finally making a well deserved appearance on a FNM Best Of) and the big `hits' Midlife Crisis (one of their best), A Small Victory and Easy.
The highly debated post-Jim Martin phase of their career is reasonably represented. The underrated King For A day...Fool For A Lifetime features their immediate hard rock classic Digging The Grave, the laidback, jazzy, funk of Evidence and the much loved Ricochet. Ashes to Ashes and Stripsearch are the only tracks featured from the solid though uneven swansong, Album of the Year.
The second disc will be relevant for the die hard FNM fans. It features several rare, hard to find or unreleased B-Sides to accompany previously released B-side gems (Hippie Jam Song, I won't Forget You, The World Is Yours). Some of these tracks date back to the late 80's (Sweet Emotion, New Improved Song) while the remainder are taken from hard to find or unavailable singles from the King For A Day/Album Of The Year era.
As a new fan you could do worse then this Best Of collection. Despite some glaring omissions (Gentle Art of making Enemies, Last Cup of Sorrow, Falling to Pieces) and absent personal favourites (RV, King For A Day, Ugly In The Morning, Helpless), Faith No More's discography is generally well represented with great emphasis on the essential Angeldust album. The remaster gives a nice update of the older tracks and many of the tracks on disc two are essential listening for new and devoted fans. However, the Who cares A Lot? Best Of Collection from 1998 is hard to beat for the new fan.
"
This group is starting to rip off fans.
DPVW | Flint, Mi. | 09/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm sorry to say but this group is starting to rip off fan. I love this groups music But at this point I've had to buy every best of CD by them to get some new or unreleased songs. Which is now up to three and a box set."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
