Faith No More has put out seven studio albums. Five in the Mike Patton era. I don’t know the exact number of songs they have recorded, but it’s a lot. I do know this: I have listened to every Faith No More song they have ever put out.
There aren’t really any songs that I dislike. But there are some that I prefer over others. When I think about my ten favorite bands of all time, (another list for another time) FNM would easily make my list. Today I’m going to hit you with my top ten favorite songs by the band.
Let me say this straight off. You will not see songs like Epic or We Car A lot. Like I said, I don’t make lists and list songs just because certain publications say the popular/trendiest songs are the best. That’s not how I roll. I like what I like and sometimes it’s a hit and sometimes it’s a deep track. But as always, I will not argue with someone that has Epic as their number one. If it moved them in some way, then I’m all about it.
- From Out Of Nowhere – The Real Thing – This has been right there at 1 or 2 for a while but when I saw them on their reunion tour a few years ago, this song fired the crowd up more than any other song in the set. Roddy Bottum’s keyboards are the glue that hold it all together here.
- Midlife Crisis – Angel Dust – This and From Out Of Nowhere are interchangeable number ones for me depending on the day. This feels like the bridge song between the Real Thing sound and the new sound of FNM. Plus, it just flat out crushes. One of my all time fave Patton vocal performances.
- The Real Thing – The Real Thing – At 8:13 this is the longest song on the album and I enjoy every second of it. It has edge, and introspective feel and Mike Bordin’s hypnotic drum rhythm.
- Separation Anxiety – Sol Invictus – On my first listen through on the last FNM record, I got to track four. This song. I stopped the album and was like, whoa, whoa, whoa.. what the hell?? I don’t remember the exact number but it must’ve been a dozen times before I went on to the next song (Cone Of Shame). I’ve been hooked ever since.
- Mouth To Mouth – Album of the Year – I don’t know if I’m even saying the words right when I try to keep up with Patton’s cadence on this song, but I spew them out with authority and act like I know what I’m doing. Just go listen. And give it a try.
- Land of Sunshine – Angel Dust – This is the first song on Angel Dust. Every time I put that album on I intend to go straight to Midlife Crisis and then this song starts. It really was the perfect album opener. It flows into a song that just missed the top ten, Caffeine. I could and will do a completely separate feature on Angel Dust at some point. It’s seriously one of the greatest albums ever recorded IMO.
- Ricochet – King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime – This has one of my lines in it: It’s always funny until someone gets hurt, and then it’s just hilarious.
- Last Cup Of Sorrow – Album of the Year – This is that dark Mike Patton that so many of us love. He lays down dark lyrics over an even darker sort of whisper/growl. Then. Those chorus vocals. Is there a guy with a better arsenal of tools, vocally? Jon Hudson’s guitar tone here is something special. It’s so mean.
- Kindergarten – Angel Dust – On the cassette, (I know, I know) this was the first song on the second side. Outside of Falling to Pieces, this is my favorite Billy Gould track.
- Falling To Pieces – The Real Thing – This one gets left off of the “Best Of” compilations and every set list that I’ve been able to see. But this one shouldn’t be forgotten. I love Jim Martin’s intensity on this track. And like song 9 on this list, Billy’s bass guitar rips through this entire song.
Well there you have it. My top ten Faith No More songs. Now I will tell you, the first six are set in stone. After that it changes depending on mood. On a different day, Midnight Cowboy or Ashes To Ashes would’ve made the list.
Let’s just hope that the band will put out more songs in the future and add to the pool of songs.
Go to their Spotify Page and give these songs (and others) a listen: FAITH NO MORE ON SPOTIFY
You have a different take on their songs? Let me know about it on the Twitter links below.
-Tommy Marz
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