Mike Patton

Those who only know Patton as "that guy from Faith No More" (or even via his work in the more experimental bands Mr. Bungle and Fantomas) are in for a surprise upon hearing his solo albums. Adult Themes for Voice (1996) was recorded entirely a cappella using only a four-track and a microphone (no effects), but you'd never guess it given the range of hisses, gurgles, explosions, and Industrial-grade noise blasts on hand. Pranzo Oltranzista (1997) was inspired by the Italian Futurist Cookbook, and alternates sections of eerie suspense with jarring noise outbursts; it supports the Futurist credo that "art, in fact, can be nothing but violence, cruelty, and injustice." Relatively more conventional are his contributions to the Tzadik label's Great Jewish Music tribute series, highlighted by his spastic, over-the-top version of T-Rex's "Chariot Choogle." He actually sings on that one, too.