The Patton Parade
I'm back! Patton isn't! Frankly, not much really happened between the release of We Care a Lot and Introduce Yourself, besides a move from Mordam Records to Los Angeles label Slash Records popular for the punk rock of the early 80s.
Faith No More - Introduce Yourself
This was really Faith No More's breakthrough effort. They wouldn't be topping the charts yet, but this was the album that made them recognizable. If you asked somebody following music in the 80s, they would probably know who Faith No More were even if they hadn't achieved such great success with their next release. And this is definitely a more accomplished record than We Care a Lot.
If I had to describe this album with just one word, it would be contradictory. Nothing about this album really fits together. And often times these songs combine multiple genres of the 80s into one. Probably the biggest unifying theme in this album is funk metal. Every album features funk in one way or another, usually with the rhythm section of Billy Gould on bass and Mike Bordin on drums. Besides being funk metal, the album always has a new wave or glam metal feel , sometimes both at the same time.
All of the members of the band have improved stylistically since their debut. As mentioned above Gould and Bordin have got the funky rhythms down to a science, as demonstrated on songs like the revamped version of "We Care a Lot", and the stumbling rhythm of "R N' R". Bottum's keys add a distinct flavor to many of the songs, simmering in the background of each and every song, and Martin's guitar licks often set the tone for the song, whether epic, hardcore, or downright silly.
I suppose now is the best time to talk more in depth about Chuck Mosley, due to be replaced by Patton by the next record. Within the Faith No More fanbase, there tends to be a line clearly dividing older fans from newer fans. In many cases that line can be represented by whether they prefer Patton's vocals or Mosley's. In terms of mechanics, Patton definitely has an edge. However, many fans appreciate Mosley more for his shouted rallies, usually accompanied by the rest of the band, and his spoken word parts, which added a lot of sentimental value to a lot of the band's early songs. His singing voice was definitely tainted a bit with his Californian accent, but that could be seen as a novelty as well. Really, it's up to the individual to decide which they prefer, and I won't clutter that up with any preconceived notions of my own.
Anyways, in conclusion, Introduce Yourself was a sophomore effort which solidified Faith No More's impact on the music industry. Now the band was truly building on a solid foundation. The record was not an epitome, but it clearly demonstrated a band with potential. That potential would be capitalized on with their next record.