So this is a very big deal. No, this is not a repeat; I know this is the second time I have reviewed this record, but this time it’s different! After having been unavailable in the U.S. since at least 1990 and unavailable anywhere else since 1995, Faith No More’s landmark indie debut is finally being released, complete with bonus tracks and remastered sound, something the record has long needed. I still have my Australian import CD that I paid 18 bucks for back in high school, so for diehard FNM fans like myself, this is a Godsend and a bargain!
Everything sounds crisper here, including the original, definitive version of “We Care A Lot,” the song that in some ways launched the band. I feel on this disc that Chuck Mosley sings better than he did on Introduce Yourself. Chuck was never the greatest singer, but he’s got more emotion, anger, and feeling here than he did elsewhere and it’s great to hear it brought to the forefront.
The sound on this edition is so good you can even hear the gibberish at the beginning of Jim Martin’s acoustic guitar interlude. Some of my favorite early FNM songs like “Greed” and “Mark Bowen” sound a helluva lot better with the new mix.
There’s also a plethora of bonus tracks, including new mixes of “We Care A Lot,” “Pills For Breakfast,” and longtime fan favorite “As the Worm Turns.” These mixes don’t really do anything for me, but it’s nice that they’re here. There are also plenty of original demos, which really go to show how down and dirty the band originally were and also show that when it was crunch time, Mosley could actually sing. The album’s original intro also shows up for the first time, though I think it was ultimately wise to cut it because then their debut would’ve had three instrumentals, and that’s just way too much for any band. Meanwhile, the bonus live tracks from the era end up being a really great way to round out the package.
This much anticipated release is an amazing way to mark a belated anniversary and to celebrate the Chuck Mosley years, a time in the band’s history that often gets overlooked.
