Low key

Review Score: (10/10)
Faith No More...a phrase that has become a by-word for irreverent excellence. But this only came about because of the brilliance of the albums that came before this. So is Album Of The Year a worthy addition to the phenomenal canon of Faith No More? The answer is an emphatic 'yes'. Starting off with the sickly twisted 'Collision', which, judging by the lyrics, appears to have been written as a tribute to the film 'Crash', AOTY never disappoints. The band appear to have mellowed out somewhat since KFAD (there are no equivalents of 'Cuckoo for Caca' here), but that is no bad thing at all, as it allows them to explore new areas. 'Stripsearch' and 'Last cup of Sorrow' are fine examples of the new FNM. But fret not, mosh freaks, the psycho vibe is brought to us in the form of 'Naked in front of the computer', a tale of a battle between a computer and its owner. And 'Got that feeling' nicely captures the mosh mood as well. The tone of the record is definitely more low-key than on previous albums, and this vibe is best captured on the twin peaks of genius known as 'Ashes to Ashes', and my personal favourite 'Paths of glory'. Words can't really describe how good these songs are. No one seems to agree with me on 'Paths', so it must be that I have found a song that I can call mine. And for this, I worship Faith No More. Note must be made of the video for 'last cup..', which is an inspired four minute remake of Hitchcocks classic 'vertigo', featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh. The keyboards are more prevalent than ever on any FNM album, and on 'Paths' and 'ashes' they totally build the atmosphere, as well as on 'last cup' and 'stripsearch'. One of the most touching moments of the whole album is found in the song 'Helpless', which I assume is a song relating to depression. Mike:'I even tried to get arrested today/But everyone looked the other way'. I could sit here and harp on for hours about how great the rest of the songs are, but I won't. That would be telling. So go and get it.

More Reviews:

• Collision!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Don't let the title fool you
• A sad goodbye to one of the greatest bands of all time
• Funny Title, But Not Very Adequate
• Good way to Go out
• So long to a FANTASTIC band!
• May Take A Few Listens
• FNM-Most under-rated band in the last 10 years
• A GOOD ALBUM WITH SOME SHABBILY WRITTEN SONGS
• Just When You Think It's Over... It Isn't!
• Album Of The Ear.
• Honestly, it probably WAS the best album of the year
• .....But sadly not of their career.
• Album of the Year?
• The last FNM album
• A Handfull of Great Songs . . .
• I didn't get it.
• A quality swansong
• Faith No More's Best Work
• Stripped to the bone
• The irony of it all
• head on into greatness
• GREAT RETURN TO FORM
• I miss this band...
• The title is not just an ironic joke.
• Album of the Years 1997-2001
• Simply the best
• Shouldn't be Overlooked
• Faith No More can get away with anything
• An inspiring finale
• Just Buy It!
• The End of The Best
• At least has has the SINGLE of the year
• What a Swan Song!
• Dasein's Plight: the existential cd
• Serious fun
• Compelling and unique
• The title says it all
• Orgastic!
• FNM are gods.
• What?
• Pathetic, plain and simple
• Patton is a lyrical genius!!!
• Amazing isn't quit the word!!
• Grows on you quick
• The best album of eternity
• FNM WILL LIVE ON THROUGH THEIR LOYAL FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• After another listen, the album has grown on me.
• I need to give this album more of a chance.
• faith no more returns
• Words can hardly do justice...
• The Return Of Faith No More...