Customer Reviews

Mit Gas

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Tomahawk is not as extreme or experimental as the other bands on Ipecac Records and this album is not as difficult and jarring as other projects involving the ever brilliant and relentless Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, etc). Not to say this is MTV material or marketable to unrefined tastes, but this is simply the best album on Patton's Ipecac roster, and one of the best hard rock albums released so far in 2003.

A more accessible vehicle for Mike Patton's unique and bizarre vision, Tomahawk's "Mit Gas" is a great improvement from their 2001's self-titled debut. If "Tomahawk" was right up there with Faith No More's great but flawed "King for a Day..", "Mit Gas" comes closer to Patton's creative peaks, FNM's "Angel Dust" and Mr. Bungle's "California".

A perfect blend of weirdness, musicianship, melody and noise, "Mit Gas" is the sound of our post-modern, media-addicted times. There is no purity here, only inexhaustible creative impulses. One of the highlights is "You can't win", which sounds like rock-steady reggae made in hell, commanded by a possesed Patton in top form. On the other hand, "Desastre Natural" resembles Faith No More's quieter moments ("Take this Bottle", "Easy")entirely sung in Spanish; I don't know what Mike is on about here (and Spanish happens to be my first language) but it's brilliant and hilarious nonetheless.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Tomahawk's music is that it never sounds contrived, their weirdness is not carefully and strategically planned like their wealthier Nu-Metal descendants (Linkin Park. etc.) This is the sound of curious, adventurous minds; pros at the top of their game, doing what they do best.

If you like Patton you may as well just order it. Get it over with already. If your new to Patton, or on the fence about his musical ventures, this album kind of ties all of Pattons styles in to an almost mainstream, I said almost mainstream package. Yea I know that probably helps about as much as hearing "it's good", but he includes just about all of his vocal stylings. The bit where he makes sounds is there, in exceptable doses! But it's more like a back ground harmony that really does just fill in some blanks. Kinda cool and not forced. Musically this album is just awesome. The guitar and drums and are definately more pronounced compared to the last album. The first song sounds like a Tool song. He has lyrics in every song and he is singing in a more accessible Patton style! FYI I favor the Faith no more ablums 2,3,4, Tomahawk, Bungle albums 1 and 3 over the other styles he's done with Fantomas and Bungle #2. Anyways I like it and highly recommend it.

Tomahawk released its first album in 2001. If you ask me, it was the "Album Of The Year". The album's third song "Point and Click" happened to be the best song of the year. Well, they've ovbiously done it again, since this clearly includes the best stuff I've heard so far this year and "Captain Midnight" is by far the most amazing song in a while. It is hard to judge wether Mit Gas is really better than the debut album. It is quite not as rock-orientated as the first one. The Guy who sold me the album said it is better than the first one since it sounds less like Faith No More, but you can hear FNM especially on "Rape This Day". Not just for Faith No More fans, but for anyone willing to experience great music with open minds.

This album begins with the sound of birds singing, and as an intro it couldn't be more decieving. When the drums and bass of "Birdsong" finally kick in you realise this is the dark path Duane Denison and his deranged lieutenants Mike Patton, John Stainer and Kevin Rutmanis are taking you down. The sinister musical stylings continue throughout the track, with Patton singing "The way you look at me when you're hunted." ...Well what were you expecting? Epic?

The next track, and call to arms that is "Rape This Day", introduces the faster, more punk-rock side of Mit Gas. This is a welcome addition to the musical cannon of Tomahawk, and nicely contradicts the deranged country music of their self-titled debut. Look out for the video for this track, it's Patton's first since FNM! "You Can't Win" then comes along to show you that intelligent rock music does exist, and that it can be twice as catchy as whatever radio is playing at the moment. This track features the line "We are the police and now we're gonna start a riot." What is it with this band and the police? First their on stage uniforms and now their lyrics, I for one am beggining to get worried. "Capt. Midnight" begins with some drum and bass beats accompanying Mike Patton's beat box vocals, and this is the first sign of Patton's innovative genius on this record.

As with all Patton's projects, it's his vocals that ultimately steal the show. He is undoubtedly the finest vocalist of his generation and his vocals haven't been as seductively melodic in a long time, being more Faith No More than Fantomas. And on "When The Stars Begin To Fall" he hasn't put his voice to anything this 'pop' in a long time. This track has the album's best chorus, Mike Patton barking "Night crawler, tightrope walker. Should've been me, baby, don't look down, it should've been me." over a choppy riff courtesy of Denison. On a side note, the packaging this album comes in is truly beautiful, and is wholly representative of the pride the band and Ipecac Recordings have in this record.

If you're reading this then you probably already love Mike Patton and are gonna buy this album anyway, but if Tomahawk is new to you then hear this album any way you can. From the latin ballad "Deasastre Naturale" to the raging "Mayday", this is perfect.

Tomahawk's first album, released only two years ago, was a revelation. It proved that 21st century rock and roll could be forward thinking AND dangerous, while genuinely new. Of course one couldn't expect any less from this cast of characters. The album so successfully walked the fence between avant-garde and pop/rock that it seemed a follow up would have to give in to one side. In regards to Mike Patton's history, Mr. Bungle's second album plunged to the "left," while Fantomas' eased to the "right."

Well Mit Gas, Tomahawk's second, is right on the same steady track as its first. Though there is one significant difference. The first album did retain strong traces of its members' past: Duane Dennison's spaghetti-billy guitar skronks, John Stanier's stale-air snare attacks, Rutmanis' skank-dance bass lines, and Mike Patton's Balinese Ketjak monkey spazms, the cohesive sound a marriage of these traits. This time, these guys sound much more like a working group.

The sound really hasn't changed much, but the ensemble playing is much tighter, and the identity is a collective one. Less ideas are carried over from Helmet or The Jesus Lizard. The new sound is cleaner. The production is more polished and the songs more traditionally structured, with strong hooks. More emphasis is placed on electronics. No longer lingering in the bottom of the mix, some songs are built around programmed rhythm tracks. I personally was turned off by this at first, but it works. Of course these qualities don't necessarily make the music more accessible. Most songs ebb from passages that could fit in on modern rock radio right into fits of Merzbowian cacophony.

Thinking back, parts of the album remind me more of Faith No More's King For a Day... than Tomahawk's first. The bright production, Patton's sleazey Spanish interlude, and the hooky pop feeling of some of the songs are all similar to KFaD. Tomahawk pulls these off much more seamlessly though. Mit Gas is much more concise, dealing much more impact.

Overall, this is a promising direction for the band, and modern rock music in general. The album is very good, flawless even; more of a great thing, but also a big step forward. No one else is making music this intelligent, uncomprimising, and fully realized, without heavy reliance on influence, kitsch, retro, or gimmick. However, despite all Mit Gas' great strengths, I prefer the band's first. It just somehow feels more dangerous. It may be the rawness of its sound, or possibly its freshness of vision. Nonetheless, Mit Gas is essential.

First off, for those of you complaining this album is not like Mr. Bungle...it's not supposed to be. I love Bungle just as much as you, but you can't compare ANYTHING to it...you should all know that. And if you don't like this album, stop blaming everything on Patton, it IS a band. This album is one of the most original, hard-hitting rock albums I'll ever own. It blows me away every time I hear it. While this is a "rock" album, I've never heard anything that sounds like this in my life. Truly amazing. I hope these bad reviews don't prevent more albums from coming out. But then again, these guys don't give a crap what you think anyway.

Everything that seemed done in haste and lower quality on the self-titled first album has been improved and amplified on Mit Gas. Mike Patton is very accessable on this venture and even gives some throw-backs to King for a day era FNM. This is a great album, the band keeps getting better! Check out Captain Midnight... other bands could only dream of sounding this haunting.

This one requires many listens to appreciate. When I first got it, I didn't think it was as good as the debut Tomahawk album. Now, many listening experiences later, I think it's one of Patton's most outstanding albums. It really hasn't left my CD player since I bought it a couple months ago.
In conclusion, if you are a big Patton fan or you really liked the first Tomahawk Cd, you NEED this!! It rules. That is all, and good day.

I don't have much else to add on to the other 5 star reviews for this album. I've been a fan of Mike Patton for a while and this is the best album he's been a part of since Angel Dust. Don't get me wrong--I love Mr. Bungle and his other projects as much as this next fan, but this album just slays in such a brilliant and consistent way.

The real reason I'm writing is to just to get out there that this band is led by the great songwriter and guitarist, Duane Denison. Most people always seem to think Mike Patton is a genius, and while I think he's a smart guy, I think he's better at recognizing genius and surrounding himself with people that warrant that description; Hence, Duane Denison. In other words, this is NOT a Patton project, this is a Denison project. Sorry, I just think credit should be given where it's due. Want to hear more of Denison's skill? Pick up every Jesus Lizard album.

I'm amazed at what this guy can do. There is no musical genre he hasn't touched. This album is a definite shift from the excellent, but muddy sounding self-titled release. The band seemed more apt to experiment with different sounds on this release...and I really don't see this as an extension of FNM via the King for a Day era, maybe people say it because it's Patton's only semi-straightforward release since the FNM era...Anyway, if you want some good rock music from a excellent range of musicians, Mit Gas is the way to go. Patton fans will not be likely dissapointed...it may take awhile to sink in, but hey, that's Patton for you.