Technic's Corner

TechnicLePanther · 12-11-2015, 04:46 PM

Alright, I will openly admit that I'm just done with the Music History. Too much, too straightforward, and too boring for me to write about. So, this journal will be just whatever the hell I want to talk about, no questions asked. Hopefully somebody gives enough of a **** to stop by.

TechnicLePanther · 12-11-2015, 04:49 PM

List of Future Projects:

Review EVERYTHING involving Mike Patton (besides live shows)
Vaporwave
Sufjan Stevens

Trollheart · 12-11-2015, 06:23 PM

Sounds like you took a leaf out of Batty's book. Can't blame you, though it's a pity: I was enjoying that. Still, I know what it is to undertake a huge project like that and then just have second thoughts. Hope this new one works out better for you.

Tristan_Geoff · 12-11-2015, 06:48 PM

I'll pay close attention, you had me with Patton and Vaporwave.

TechnicLePanther · 12-11-2015, 07:47 PM

The Patton Parade

So, I guess I'll begin my Mike Patton tirade. Starting off with his first band, and their first demo:

Mr. Bungle - The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny

A bit of background first, the band spawned from Eureka, California. More specifically, Eureka High School. The original lineup included long-time members Mike Patton (vocals), Trevor Dunn (Bass), Trey Spruance (Guitars), and Theo Lengyel (Saxophone and Keys). The band performed at their high school talent show in 1985 (ironically as Bister Mungle), and continued to perform and practice until recording their first demo during Easter 1986.

Certainly a fledgling album if there ever was one, this album represented a different sound than their later output, but also contained elements that would be expanded upon in the work that would follow. The different sound doesn't necessarily make this a bad album, however. Arguably Bungle's heaviest output to date, the album is composed almost entirely of early death metal. This will probably displease fans, but I would invite death metal fans to give this tape a listen.

Anyways, the band is obviously quite talented up to this point. Patton's vocals are a screaming tirade, and strangely unrepresentative of his later sound. Spruance's riffing is already clearly defined on this album, contrasted with his alternate classical picking style. Dunn's bass talent isn't often represented here, so it seems at this point that he is still developing his style. Watts' drumming is actually very on point, which makes a creative difference a likely reason for his quick departure.

There is one small track on this album that sounds quite a bit like the Bungle fans know and love. The track is titled "Evil Satan", and while only about three minutes long, it represents all of the band member's talent, and incorporates a groovier sound, in the vein of Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers of the time. At brief moments, the band's sound does shine through on other tracks, but very rarely. While overall I would consider it a pretty good album, when you hold it up to the band's later work, it doesn't quite hold up.

Patton-O-Meter Says:

The Batlord · 12-11-2015, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Sounds like you took a leaf out of Batty's book. Can't blame you, though it's a pity: I was enjoying that. Still, I know what it is to undertake a huge project like that and then just have second thoughts. Hope this new one works out better for you.

Don't know why more people haven't done it. I felt like a dweeb once I finally thought of not having the just one, umbrella journal. Makes you feel more free to just do what you want rather than stick to some formula or restrictive subject. Some people obviously like the idea of having a journal that announces to the world exactly what will be in it, but I just don't have the motivation to maintain multiple journals for specific ideas that just happen to interest you enough in the moment to create a separate journal for them.

TechnicLePanther · 12-12-2015, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Don't know why more people haven't done it. I felt like a dweeb once I finally thought of not having the just one, umbrella journal. Makes you feel more free to just do what you want rather than stick to some formula or restrictive subject. Some people obviously like the idea of having a journal that announces to the world exactly what will be in it, but I just don't have the motivation to maintain multiple journals for specific ideas that just happen to interest you enough in the moment to create a separate journal for them.

Exactly my thoughts.

Trollheart · 12-12-2015, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Don't know why more people haven't done it. I felt like a dweeb once I finally thought of not having the just one, umbrella journal. Makes you feel more free to just do what you want rather than stick to some formula or restrictive subject. Some people obviously like the idea of having a journal that announces to the world exactly what will be in it, but I just don't have the motivation to maintain multiple journals for specific ideas that just happen to interest you enough in the moment to create a separate journal for them.

Well you know how I am. If I come across a specific idea, chances are it may crop up once a month in my main journal if I leave it there, which is why if I have an idea to do something regularly (like The Theme Park) I tend to separate it out from my main journal so that it doesn't get swallowed up in all the other entries there.

Mind you, I've fallen behind on updating that for sure; will have to make a conscious effort to get back to it. I'm on it, I swear.

TechnicLePanther · 12-12-2015, 07:48 AM

The Patton Parade

So, after sending off their first demo, and receiving no reply, the band continued to tour. They were slowly building up a following in Northern California. At some point around the time of this recording, the band replaced drummer Jed Watts with Hans Wagner. The rest of the lineup went relatively unchanged, with the only exception being Luke Miller, a trumpeter who was added to accommodate the band's new sound.

Mr. Bungle - Bowel of Chiley

And new it was! The death metal of the band's past had now taken a backstage to a variety of ska-inspired tracks, which gives the music a sharp visual of 90s California. In that regard, the band were some big time innovators. Dunn developed a slap bass style that he would maintain throughout the band's career. Spruance's solos and riffs became increasingly erratic and unconventional. Patton's vocals became a shouted, rapping, maniacal stream of wild proportions.

This new album retains the low quality of the previous album, but obviously represents a more advanced and perhaps more popular band. Besides perhaps Primus, there was nothing like them around at the time. Because this is a demo tape, one of the songs off of the tape, Carousel, made it on to their first LP in a much less streamlined form. This one is still pretty heavy, but the newly found ska influences will appreciate fans of that scene as well as Bungle fans in general.

In all honesty, this is not a perfect tape, but as a measurement of the band's advancement as artists, it's really great.

Patton-O-Meter says:

TechnicLePanther · 12-13-2015, 06:27 PM

The Patton Parade

A year after releasing their previous album, the band released yet another demo.

Mr. Bungle - Goddammit I Love America!!

This new album featured an even more trimmed sound than their previous album, moving further away from metal. This one still retains the lo-fi sound of the other two demos, and capitalizes on it.

If you're a fan looking for different versions of songs, you can find them here. Carousel makes an appearance on this album, alongside the first appearance of "Egg". While here it appears in a very trimmed down version, in their first album, it is the longest track. Beyond that, it's mostly Bungle's patented sound. These early demos definitely tie in more to their reggae sound, in songs like "Goosebumps", but also expose the band's more experimental side, represented in this album with the closer, "Incoherence".

In general, this trimmed-down demo is much more successful than Bowel of Chiley, but not nearly as successful as their last demo. However, I would definitely recommend it to fans.

Patton-O-Meter says:

12-11-2015, 04:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	Technic's Corner Alright, I will openly admit that I'm just done with the Music History. Too much, too straightforward, and too boring for me to write about. So, this journal will be just whatever the hell I want to talk about, no questions asked. Hopefully somebody gives enough of a ** to stop by. __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM** - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.

12-11-2015, 04:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	List of Future Projects: Review EVERYTHING involving Mike Patton (besides live shows) Vaporwave Sufjan Stevens __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough. Last edited by TechnicLePanther; 12-11-2015 at 08:07 PM.

12-11-2015, 06:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Sounds like you took a leaf out of Batty's book. Can't blame you, though it's a pity: I was enjoying that. Still, I know what it is to undertake a huge project like that and then just have second thoughts. Hope this new one works out better for you. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-11-2015, 07:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	The Patton Parade So, I guess I'll begin my Mike Patton tirade. Starting off with his first band, and their first demo: Mr. Bungle - The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny A bit of background first, the band spawned from Eureka, California. More specifically, Eureka High School. The original lineup included long-time members Mike Patton (vocals), Trevor Dunn (Bass), Trey Spruance (Guitars), and Theo Lengyel (Saxophone and Keys). The band performed at their high school talent show in 1985 (ironically as Bister Mungle), and continued to perform and practice until recording their first demo during Easter 1986. Certainly a fledgling album if there ever was one, this album represented a different sound than their later output, but also contained elements that would be expanded upon in the work that would follow. The different sound doesn't necessarily make this a bad album, however. Arguably Bungle's heaviest output to date, the album is composed almost entirely of early death metal. This will probably displease fans, but I would invite death metal fans to give this tape a listen. Anyways, the band is obviously quite talented up to this point. Patton's vocals are a screaming tirade, and strangely unrepresentative of his later sound. Spruance's riffing is already clearly defined on this album, contrasted with his alternate classical picking style. Dunn's bass talent isn't often represented here, so it seems at this point that he is still developing his style. Watts' drumming is actually very on point, which makes a creative difference a likely reason for his quick departure. There is one small track on this album that sounds quite a bit like the Bungle fans know and love. The track is titled "Evil Satan", and while only about three minutes long, it represents all of the band member's talent, and incorporates a groovier sound, in the vein of Primus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers of the time. At brief moments, the band's sound does shine through on other tracks, but very rarely. While overall I would consider it a pretty good album, when you hold it up to the band's later work, it doesn't quite hold up. Patton-O-Meter Says: __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough. Last edited by TechnicLePanther; 12-12-2015 at 07:28 AM.

12-12-2015, 07:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	The Patton Parade So, after sending off their first demo, and receiving no reply, the band continued to tour. They were slowly building up a following in Northern California. At some point around the time of this recording, the band replaced drummer Jed Watts with Hans Wagner. The rest of the lineup went relatively unchanged, with the only exception being Luke Miller, a trumpeter who was added to accommodate the band's new sound. Mr. Bungle - Bowel of Chiley And new it was! The death metal of the band's past had now taken a backstage to a variety of ska-inspired tracks, which gives the music a sharp visual of 90s California. In that regard, the band were some big time innovators. Dunn developed a slap bass style that he would maintain throughout the band's career. Spruance's solos and riffs became increasingly erratic and unconventional. Patton's vocals became a shouted, rapping, maniacal stream of wild proportions. This new album retains the low quality of the previous album, but obviously represents a more advanced and perhaps more popular band. Besides perhaps Primus, there was nothing like them around at the time. Because this is a demo tape, one of the songs off of the tape, Carousel, made it on to their first LP in a much less streamlined form. This one is still pretty heavy, but the newly found ska influences will appreciate fans of that scene as well as Bungle fans in general. In all honesty, this is not a perfect tape, but as a measurement of the band's advancement as artists, it's really great. Patton-O-Meter says: __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.

12-13-2015, 06:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	The Patton Parade A year after releasing their previous album, the band released yet another demo. Mr. Bungle - Goddammit I Love America!! This new album featured an even more trimmed sound than their previous album, moving further away from metal. This one still retains the lo-fi sound of the other two demos, and capitalizes on it. If you're a fan looking for different versions of songs, you can find them here. Carousel makes an appearance on this album, alongside the first appearance of "Egg". While here it appears in a very trimmed down version, in their first album, it is the longest track. Beyond that, it's mostly Bungle's patented sound. These early demos definitely tie in more to their reggae sound, in songs like "Goosebumps", but also expose the band's more experimental side, represented in this album with the closer, "Incoherence". In general, this trimmed-down demo is much more successful than Bowel of Chiley, but not nearly as successful as their last demo. However, I would definitely recommend it to fans. Patton-O-Meter says: __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.