Mike Patton seemingly has as many different voices as he has different project, and from Mr. Bungle and Faith No More to Tomahawk and Fantômas to Dead Cross and whatever else he has cooking, the vocal polyglot never ceases to amaze.
Knowing our fans and followers to be Patton diehards (as you should be), we asked you to pick his single greatest vocal performance, and while many of you threw your hands up in the air and responded that they're all good or that the appointed task was impossible, the rest of you hit social media with opinions, strident and deeply considered.
Below, are the top 5 vote-getters.
5. Faith No More - "The Real Thing"
The epic eight-minute title track off Faith No More's 1989 breakthrough album acts as a kind of battleground for Mike Patton to do his thing. For much of the song his vocals are buttery and sweet, almost lullaby-like before the band flips the script and gets aggro. It's a nice sampler platter for the uninitiated to see what Patton is capable of.
4. The Voice of 'The Darkness'
Patton is a maniac vocally, so what better role for him to portray in a video game than a demonic force that possesses the main character to go on an all-out rampage? Truly, diabolical first-person shooter game The Darkness seemed made for Patton — a schizophrenic showcase where he gave voice to twin tendrils that hover over the player's screen, alternately taunting the player and offering advice during the game.
3. Faith No More - "Jizzlobber"
Patton kicked his hardcore-punk playacting into overdrive on "Jizzlobber," an Angel Dust highlight scream-rapped from the perspective of a God-fearing man with a chronic masturbation problem. "I hid the dirty minutes under my dirty mattress and they are making me itch," he raves on the chorus, the speaker's prodigal Catholic schoolboy persona giving way to maniacal pervert. Forget the church choir at the end — Patton's the real voice of God.
2. Faith No More - "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies"
The best Patton performances typically kill by way of sucker punch — an abrupt tonal shift here, a dynamic lurch there, profanity-laced screeds throughout. With its absurd threats ("Happy birthday fucker/Blow that candle out/We're gonna kick you") and sweet-and-scoured vocal stylings, "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" stands as one of the most bruising bouts in the rocker's repertoire.
1. Dillinger Escape Plan - "When Good Dogs Do Bad Things"
Arguably the greatest triumphs of 2002's Irony Is a Dead Scene EP — Patton's one and only release with the Dillinger Escape Plan, which sees him out-spaz that spazcore greats — "When Good Dogs Do Bad Things" finds the sneering, crooning, babbling, roaring vocalist serving up a masterclass in caustic character study. If you've ever wondered about what your dog thinks about you ... don't.
