Compiled in preparation for
Faith No More's 2009 reunion tour,
Rhino slapped together
The Very Best Definitive Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection, yet another
Faith No More greatest-hits collection that doesn't quite hit the mark. This time, the material is divvied between two discs: a disc of their 18 best tracks and a second disc of B-sides and rarities. The main problem here is that the set doesn't seem aimed at any particular audience. The B-sides are targeted to hardcore fans who surely own the songs on the first disc already, and any newcomers will probably be scared away by the severity of the rarities. If you are indeed new to the
Faith No More world, your best bet is to pick up the band's first two albums with
Mike Patton, (
The Real Thing and
Angel Dust) for a starting point. For those newcomers looking for a loose chronological history of the group, with songs by the first vocalist
Chuck Mosley and a spattering of covers (which are usually great), the
Platinum Collection,
This Is It: The Best of Faith No More, and
Who Cares a Lot: Greatest Hits provide a slightly better overview at a more affordable price. ~ Jason Lymangrover
