Receiving its first ever double vinyl release, comes Mr. Bungle's 'California', as part of Rhino Records' 'Rocktober release schedule. Originally released in 1999, Mike Patton and co confounded expectations once more, with what is arguably their most accessible release.
Rhino Records 'Rocktober' campaign is in full swing. Showcasing a selection of titles from classic rock artists including Yes, Dream Theatre, and more, Mr. Bungle's 1990's discography has been given the colour vinyl treatment, from their self-titled 1991 debut, to final release of their original tenure 'California' in 1999, via 1995's 'Disco Volante'.
Coming at the end of their first incarnation, 'California' was, in places, the most mainstream of the avant-garde act's original output. Taking cues from the likes of Burt Bacharach, and The Beach Boys, its tunefulness was undeniable, however the unpredictability was still there, with the album's original ten cuts taking in everything from doo wop to metal to exotica and off-kilter experimentation.
Though less of a challenging listen than their previous releases that doesn't mean it was an easy ride for the band who created it. "It was by far, the most complex record to make", guitarist Trey Spruance told eonmusic in 2021, "Each part is a skyscraper of parts; everything has to be planned in an orderly way in order to pull it off, and still have the collaborative spirit being the primary focus".
Not that you'd know from genteel opener 'Sweet Charity', which eases the listener into a false sense of comfort, before being utterly pummelled with the breakneck cacophony that is 'None of Them Knew They Were Robots'.
However, unlike the abrasive chaos of their earlier releases, 'California' thrives on its contrasts. Songs like 'Sweet Charity' and 'Retrovertigo' shimmer with lush melodies and nostalgic melancholy, while 'The Air-Conditioned Nightmare' and 'None of Them Knew...' swing violently between tranquil exotica and frenetic metal assault.
Patton’s vocal versatility anchors the musical madness; crooning tenderly one moment, shrieking or yodelling the next, while each musician adds to the dense layers with technical precision.
'California' remains Mr. Bungle’s most accessible yet sophisticated work, a record that balances humour with heartbreak, chaos with control. It’s both a parody and a love letter, wrapped in dazzling musicianship and surreal beauty, and more than twenty-five years later it still sounds ahead of its time.
"To me this is the magic of Mr. Bungle", said bassist Trevor Dunn in a chat with eonmusic in 2021, "we never discussed the direction of what we were going to do next, we just started writing individually and then bringing ideas to each other, but with ‘California’, I just decided I wanted to write like a melancholy radio hit, and that was the best I could do at that point. Then it just so happened that the stuff that Trey and Mike were working on was also melodic pop songs, for lack of a better description".
This reissues comes as a stunning double LP set in lush transparent red vinyl, with bonus track 'Gnosteraces'.
'California' is available now, instore at independent record stores.
Coming at the end of their first incarnation, 'California' was, in places, the most mainstream of the avant-garde act's original output. Taking cues from the likes of Burt Bacharach, and The Beach Boys, its tunefulness was undeniable, however the unpredictability was still there, with the album's original ten cuts taking in everything from doo wop to metal to exotica and off-kilter experimentation.
Though less of a challenging listen than their previous releases that doesn't mean it was an easy ride for the band who created it. "It was by far, the most complex record to make", guitarist Trey Spruance told eonmusic in 2021, "Each part is a skyscraper of parts; everything has to be planned in an orderly way in order to pull it off, and still have the collaborative spirit being the primary focus".
Not that you'd know from genteel opener 'Sweet Charity', which eases the listener into a false sense of comfort, before being utterly pummelled with the breakneck cacophony that is 'None of Them Knew They Were Robots'.
However, unlike the abrasive chaos of their earlier releases, 'California' thrives on its contrasts. Songs like 'Sweet Charity' and 'Retrovertigo' shimmer with lush melodies and nostalgic melancholy, while 'The Air-Conditioned Nightmare' and 'None of Them Knew...' swing violently between tranquil exotica and frenetic metal assault.
Patton’s vocal versatility anchors the musical madness; crooning tenderly one moment, shrieking or yodelling the next, while each musician adds to the dense layers with technical precision.
'California' remains Mr. Bungle’s most accessible yet sophisticated work, a record that balances humour with heartbreak, chaos with control. It’s both a parody and a love letter, wrapped in dazzling musicianship and surreal beauty, and more than twenty-five years later it still sounds ahead of its time.
"To me this is the magic of Mr. Bungle", said bassist Trevor Dunn in a chat with eonmusic in 2021, "we never discussed the direction of what we were going to do next, we just started writing individually and then bringing ideas to each other, but with ‘California’, I just decided I wanted to write like a melancholy radio hit, and that was the best I could do at that point. Then it just so happened that the stuff that Trey and Mike were working on was also melodic pop songs, for lack of a better description".
This reissues comes as a stunning double LP set in lush transparent red vinyl, with bonus track 'Gnosteraces'.
'California' is available now, instore at independent record stores.