Dec 29 2006
FNM: King for a Day…
King For a Day…Fool For a Lifetime
King for a Day…Fool for a Lifetime
Released: March 28, 1995
Best songs: Ricochet, The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, Just a Man
Jim Martin was fired from the band between the last album and this one. He didn’t like the direction the band was moving. Judging by the song that he had the most influence with on Angel Dust, which was Jizzlobber, he wanted the band to keep the heavy metal feel while the rest of the band was heading towards a more softer, melodic side with the harder rock songs getting more twisted. Trey Spruance from Mike Patton’s other band, Mr. Bungle joined the band, recorded this album with them, and then left before touring began. The band said he couldn’t commit to a long tour, but Trey has always said the band didn’t want him anymore. Dean Menta joined the band as their guitarist.
I expected this album to be like Angel Dust and it was not. I did not like it right away. I loved the first song I heard from the album, The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, but when I heard the entire album, I thought it was too slow over all. I put it away and ignored it for many months. I don’t remember what made me start listening to it again, but I ended up loving it. I still liked Angel Dust best, but there are some really good songs on the album and I love the lyrics.
The first song, Get Out, is a pretty standard rock song and doesn’t make much of an impression on me.
Song: Ricochet
The second song on the album has great lyrics: “And I’d rather be shot in the face, than hear what you’re going to say” and “It’s always funny until someone gets hurt, and then it’s just hilarious.” Violence and humor make a smashing combo.
The third song, Evidence, is a very pretty song since Mike Patton is actually singing instead of yelling or screaming on it. It’s a slow song that took me a while to like.
Song: The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
This was never released as a single, and I can tell why from the lyrics, but the awesome indie radio station that used to exist in Phoenix, KUKQ, used to just put their favorite song on an album on the radio instead of the “single” so this was the first song I ever heard from the album. I agreed with their choice, since it is awesome and I love the lyrics. There is much cussing, which the station never edited since it wasn’t like anyone was complaining to the FCC about an little indie AM radio station. It’s all about corporate whore-ism and my favorite line is, “I deserve a reward ’cause I’m the best fuck that you ever had.”
The next few songs on the album are okay, but not my favorites, Star A.D., Carahlo Voador and Digging The Grave. They are more along the generic rock song style. There are some songs in between those that are better. Cuckoo For Caca does have some funny lines, “Being good gets you stuff, being stuff gets you good, good stuff gets you being.” Ugly in the Morning does have the line that is screamed, “Don’t look at me I’m ugly in the morning.” Take This Bottle and King For a Day are pretty similar sounding slow songs. They are nice, but not outstanding.
Song: What a Day
More good lyrics! This song has a line from Hunter S. Thompson’s book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, “Kill the body and the head will die.” Yeah good references! I am also a fan of the chorus, “What a day, what a day. If you can look it in the face and hold you’re vomit.”
Song: Just A Man
It is the last song on the album and great singing from Mike Patton. I played this song the most when I was finally getting into the album. I used to play it while I was getting ready to go out. I’m sure my neighbors in my apartment loved me blaring it all the time.
Song: I Started a Joke
This was a b-side and another fabulous cover. It is a Bee Gees song! Faith No More loves the cheesy cover songs.
