Tomahawk - Anonymous (Dig)
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Free Music Notes for Anonymous (Dig)
Free Music Review: Not the Tomahawk of the past, but fantastic nonetheless
Hit: 5 Stars
Listening to Anonymous without knowing what Mike Patton project it was, those familiar with previous installments in the Tomahawk catalog might be hard-pressed to pin the work specifically on them. Where the earlier two albums focused on abrasive metal, the thematic Native American nature might cause some to assume that Fantomas was responsible, but there are also nods to Patton projects of the distant past - Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. But sure enough, this is all Tomahawk, delivering an album of music inspired by Native American Indians that befits the band name. How listeners feel about it may depend on how adventurous they are.
The Fantomas comparisons begin immediately when Anonymous opens with "War Song," an atmospheric start to the album filled with wailing vocals and churning guitar. "Mescal Rite I" follows, lending more credence to the belief that this is a Fantomas product - all vocals are Indian chants. In fact, Patton fills many of the rest of the album's songs with Native American chants with English vocals taking the helm on only a few of the album's tracks. What's most surprising is that they're the album's least interesting songs. When freed from typical song structure, the band seem to flourish with this material. Guitarist Duane Denison and drummer John Stanier are to be applauded for providing such stunning backing for Patton - not only is it rock that is significantly Native American-inspired, it's not cliched or laughable as might be the result of many others' efforts. It's actually beautiful.
As the albums wears on, however, rather than sounding like Fantomas it becomes more obvious that it's more that the album doesn't sound like Tomahawk specifically. The project just doesn't bear the stamp of the previous outings, so those picking up Anonymous looking for more in the vein of the self-titled Tomahawk album or Mit Gas might be in for a surprise - or disappointment. Tomahawk has evolved, it seems. In fact, "Antelope Ceremony" bears some resemblance, vocally at least, to California-era Mr. Bungle, while "Omaha Dance" sounds like it could have fit on Faith No More's final album, Album Of The Year. Only "Sun Dance" seems to fit the mold for what a Tomahawk song "should" sound like.
That's not to say the album is a disappointment - only that it's very different. It might just be Patton's most unusual project, and that's saying a lot coming from the guy who routinely makes weird screams and gutteral sounds with his voice on outings with John Zorn. What makes it so unusual is that, while working within a basic rock format, Tomahawk manages to make something so foreign to most listeners sound so inviting. Anonymous winds up being one of Patton's most satisfying releases in recent memory and comes highly recommended for adventurous, open-minded listeners.
Free Music Review: Tomahawk, not Patton
Hit: 5 Stars
I read every single review of this album on amazon. Mostly, the milder complaints that I saw were "it wasn't what I expected" or it was "not like the other Tomahawk albums". I consider this complaint to be pointless. It's not even a complaint, it's an observation with a personal, annoyed agenda attached to it. Yea its different. Its REALLY different, but do you like it?
Second, the other complaint was not mild, it was forceful and it was always directed at Mike Patton: 'Patton should have stuck to Mr. Bungle' or 'Patton should have made this a different project (because its not like the other Tomahawk albums)'. One thing I found out, which maybe many of you have too is that Duane Denison (guitar player) is most responsible for turning Tomahawk into what it is now through "Anonymous". Denison was touring with Hank Williams III. Denison got curious about Native American Music. Denison did research for a year before coming up with transcriptions, and Stanier and Patton liked Denison's idea. That's how a band works.- MULTIPLE BRAINS INTERACTING AND CONTRIBUTING. Just because Patton is the guy we all know and remember does not mean he's the one calling the shots
Mike Patton has been and continues to be on the forefront of music's "celebrity doing what he/she's not supposed to do" section. You can't find that section in the CD store. Other immediate examples include Miles Davis and Bob Dylan. They both had a tradition in their sound and then changed it by going electric with Bitches Brew and Blonde on Blonde. Guess what? Tons of fans got mad at those two when they made albums that 'weren't like the other ones'. Grow up, get over it and listen with a curious and frightened ear.
And those of you who explored Tomahawk, but found nothing to complain about except Patton, you're worshipping him just as much as his adoring fans do because you can't stop writing about him. And you're not giving credit to the other two in the group for the album's sound.
If you're a fan of many genres, then you're already prepared to hear something different and simply respond to this album's sound. If you're a fan of heavy metal, but not much else, then I would NOT say skip this album. I'd say buy it now (or listen to the songs a few times each on myspace), because these musicians that you love want you to love something outside your genre. They're using their fan base to bring attention to a style outside what is normally published.
For what its worth:
1) I've Never Heard Anything Like This
2) I Love It
3) I'm Doing My Final Undergraduate Thesis On This Album As A Cultural Product
Free Music Review: nice concept
Hit: 5 Stars
Duane Denison is my favorite guitar player. his tonality, style, and talent continue to impress me. this album is about as experimental as i've heard him, which is very cool.
Mike Patton is my favorite vocalist/musician. i'm constantly having my mind tore open by his works. i like about 90% of his projects. following his career so long kind of molds you into an avid listener. his projects are a sort of timeline in the way that each release makes sense in the overall scope of his career. huh?! ok, what i'm getting at is that this is different. different and surprising. unexpected. not that i claim to forsee anything but when a new disc comes out, you're like "oh, okay. the next step". this one's kinda out of order or something, even with the concept's back story.
where's the review? i like this disc a lot. just like about every other cd some songs jump out at you and others grow on you. the premise is way cooler than i could've imagined, but i'm glad we all had a heads up on it. on some tracks, i kinda wish the blips and bloops were eliminated, it sometime distracts from the "authenticity" (not that i'm an authority on the whole native american thing).
John Stanier. why no one ever mentions him, i don't understand. on the other Tomahawk releases i feel he was mixed too low. this one's quite a bit better and he sounds like he's having a blast! i think he sounds more inspired than anyone else (which says a lot). Mike Patton does and always sing(s) with tons of conviction, which with the chanting stuff is pretty impressive, not being a native. and Duane Denison came up with the plan so of course he's feeling it, but John Stanier really pulls the tribal thing off! i'm used to his crazy tight snare stuff from Helmet, but this really shows his versatility.
bottom line, listen with an open mind. there's a lot more good on this album than weird (and most of the weird is good,too). it's funny that if you try and grow with musicians, you're a slobbering worshipper. if you cling to past albums, you have a closed mind. yes faith no more was cool. mr. bungle. the jesus lizard. helmet. now these folks are putting themselves on the line. i don't think they just throw anything out there knowing it will sell. major to indie. stadiums to bars. indie bands play to eat. buy the cd. see them live. if you like the music - buy it, if you don't - sell it and buy something else. everybody wins.
how can anyone review anything? i think this would work better if people asked questions and everyone answered them. does Patton sing? how long is the disc? is it boring?, etc.
Free Music Review: Surprised and delighted
Hit: 5 Stars
I must admit to being something of a Patton fanboi, there's not a lot of material he has released that I don't love. That's not to say I can't be critical of his work, for instance I thought Peeping Tom was pretty ordinary and doesn't stand up to repeated listening. And Maldoror? No thanks. I have a feeling this latest Tomahawk album will stand among his best work.
Pretentiousness is a charge too easily levelled at any work of art, which is stubbornly 'sidestream' (as opposed to mainstream). Some reviewers have suggested that Tomahawk are holding this selection of music up to ridicule. I don't agree, I think it's being presented with a straight face and with reverence. It's a well-paced album with new sounds and textures that come to the fore with every listen.
People make the mistake of thinking of a Patton project as a Patton-ONLY project. The band must have been glad to put their names to this. Patton is such an interesting musical figure, up there with Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart for originality and experimentation. If someone else other than Patton had done the vocals for this album, immediately those anti-fans he has would have no opinion on this album at all. However if I'm honest I need to acknowledge that if it wasn't a Patton project I would probably never have listened to it either; that's one reason I'm glad to be a fan of his work.
That's why Patton is a true artist in his field, he gets us talking and arguing, scratching our heads, marvelling or reviling. When was the last time a Red Hot Chili Peppers album generated any kind of debate? There's art and then there's a shortcut to a paycheck.
Keep up the quantity and the quality Mike.
Free Music Review: NOT BORING!!! unlike everything else.....
Hit: 5 Stars
I love music. I'm a musician myself, and I've been a record (CD, & tape) collector for essentially my whole life. Which is the problem - I am tired of music, specifically my favorite type of music, loosely defined as "pop" (as opposed to classical). Unfortunately, if you've heard a lot of music, most of what you hear is just slight variations on things you've heard a million times before (rock instruments, Beatles-style arrangements, blah blah blah). This is different. This is special.
I get what the other reviewers are saying, but I think the negative reviews come from people who want to hear slightly more familiar rock-and-roll (with a small contingent of people who want a more traditional interpretation of native-american music). I don't doubt that these people have good taste, I just think they are out of synch with what this record is doing.
Some find it silly and quaint - I disagree completely. I think the more traditional your approach to the music, the quainter it is; it becomes a museum exhibit - music that people USED TO play. The beauty of this record, for those who enjoy it, is the marriage of a deeply rooted traditional music with a modern stylistic approach. It reminds me of the Albanian influence in System of a Down, or the Celtic punk of Dropkick Murphys. It's my favorite record I've heard this year.