10 Perfect Rock Albums From The LA Alternative Scene
This is what City of Angels sounds like, turned it up to eleven.
For almost one hundred years Los Angeles, California, has been the Mecca for young creatives to seek their fame and fortune. From the Golden Age of Cinema through to the music revival of the '60s, and beyond, it has been a place of creative innovation. Between the glamourised image of Hollywood and the sordid debauchery of the Sunset Strip, you can find just about every kind of rags-to-riches tale imaginable.
The '60s was a time for psychedelic free love; the '70s was the era of hard rock, and the '80s saw the rise of hair metal. During this time alternative rock acts bubbled beneath the surface of mainstream success. But, as the '90s loomed closer, alt-rock started to break into the mainstream. LA was home to numerous acts experimenting with ever more intriguing forms of music, blending: funk, punk, metal, rap, and grunge, into all manor of enjoyable sounds.
These albums represent the sweetest fruits of that labour. Ranging from the late '80s up to the early 2000s, these are ten of the best, rock records from one of America's most romanticised cities.
10. Faith No More: The Real Thing (1989)
Two early groups notable for pioneering the rap/metal/funk fusion were Red Hot Chili Peppers and Faith No More. Although they had originally been amicable, a feud broke-out after the release of FNM's third studio album.
Mike Patton's fusion of rap/rock vocals, and erratic body poppin' caused Anthony Kiedis to accuse him of ripping off the Chili Peppers' vibe - see the Epic video for details. But, despite some similarities in vocal inflection, FNM had their own thing going on. The adulation heaped on them by fans and critics alike, reflected their musical ability to craft uniquely impactful songs.
For the most part, their third album had been written and recorded prier to the hiring of Mike Patton, who'd been pulled in to replace Chuck Mosley. He had the challenge of writing lyrics to fit the parameters provided. No easy task, when you consider the musical intricacies of the record...
Alternative rock has never sounded so raucous. This album is front-loaded with absolute bangers. By the time you work your way through, From Out Of Nowhere, Epic, and Falling to Pieces, you'll be sold on Faith No More's unique ability to blend genres.