Peeping Tom
by Peeping Tom
  • Record Label: Ipecac
  • Release Date: May 30, 2006
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32

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  1. JoshC
    Sep 16, 2007
    0
    Few musicians since Frank Zappa have confused "performance" with "self-indulgence" quite like former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton. The noisy freakouts of Fantomas and Tomahawk are daring but all too often unbearably dissonant. The Beach-Boys-by-way-of-Black-Sabbath collage Mr. Bungle could be a delight, but was also a bit too goofy to be adored. As Patton's weirdo excursions Few musicians since Frank Zappa have confused "performance" with "self-indulgence" quite like former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton. The noisy freakouts of Fantomas and Tomahawk are daring but all too often unbearably dissonant. The Beach-Boys-by-way-of-Black-Sabbath collage Mr. Bungle could be a delight, but was also a bit too goofy to be adored. As Patton's weirdo excursions are the very paradigm of "great in small doses," he works best as a collaborator adding growls and shrieks to tracks by Björk, Dan The Automator, Massive Attack, and others. So hopes for the highly collaborative Peeping Tom project are high: the guest spots are numerous and impressive (Amon Tobin! Kool Keith!), or at the very least, intriguing (Norah Jones!), and the record has been billed as Mike Patton's most accessible album since the days of Faith No More. Could this be Patton's Apostrophe or Cruising With Ruben And The Jets to make up for his years of Lumpy Gravy-esque weirdness? Nope. Instead, Patton's "pop" album is a collection of infantile, forgettable stripper anthems. After years of the vocal acrobatics of Fantomas, I wonder if Mike Patton remembers what rock singers are supposed to do exactly. Schizo opener "Five Seconds" shimmies like Ween imitating Prince before spazzing out into a slam-dance chorus counting the one, two, three, four, "five seconds to live." If only the listener were so lucky. "Five Seconds" is supposed to sound bad-ass, but it just sounds hokey… Collapse
  2. IllmaticNaS
    Aug 17, 2006
    10
    An awesome, experimental album. But then again, it's Mike Patton, so that's a given. And great guests, too. Kool Keith and Dan the Automator. Awesome. This who album completely blows away anything in rock, trip hop, or punk released lately. I mean, just listen to the reheated, rehashed bull that's been coming out lately. Mike is refreshing burst of originality, as usual. An awesome, experimental album. But then again, it's Mike Patton, so that's a given. And great guests, too. Kool Keith and Dan the Automator. Awesome. This who album completely blows away anything in rock, trip hop, or punk released lately. I mean, just listen to the reheated, rehashed bull that's been coming out lately. Mike is refreshing burst of originality, as usual. And screw Entertainment!! LINKIN PARK? Are you serious? Has that critic even heard a Linkin Park album? Mike Patton never has and never will sound like Linkin Park, and this album is no different. The fact that you would even compare the two artist is ridiculous and offensive. Linkin Park rehashes the same old nu-metal. Mike doesn't.… Expand
  3. Marie-PierreP
    Aug 11, 2006
    10
    EXCELLENT!!!! Very original...very Mike Patton!
  4. FemierB
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    Class! I admit 1st listen was good but not great but gets better and better with every play. Album of the year for me. Patton is a genius and watched live at the Astoria just backed this all up. Nice work Mikey boy
  5. DarrenS
    Jul 28, 2006
    9
    Re the Observer review saying the album sounds like RHCP produced by Massive Attack. This is a pathetic comment, and I'd like to know if the reviewer has ever heard RHCP before as it really couldn't be further from reality. Have these people actually heard how terrible the new RHCP album is, re-hashed tracks from previous ablums in a middle-aged rock band way, much like REM.
  6. Ben
    Jun 30, 2006
    8
    It's more genius from Patton AND the collaborators, and if you can't handle it that is YOUR bad. OK not all songs grabbed me, but at least appreciate TALENT!!! It should be encouraged! MOFO is an excellent song!
  7. jasel
    Jun 27, 2006
    9
    Mike Patton blurs the line between genres while still managing to have that 'sound' that is instantly recognisable. This album is pretty damn good and I have the upmost respect for Mike regardless of my own personal likes/dislikes in terms of music. Bring it on.
  8. [Anonymous]
    Jun 12, 2006
    9
    Cewl!!!
  9. Hellstorm
    Jun 9, 2006
    7
    6 years in the making...first out of three peeping tom albums tobe released...patton shows us again that he's a talent to be reckoned with on this not so perfect but amazing album.
  10. mikes
    Jun 7, 2006
    4
    did not like peeping tom, i love mike patton and fantomas,tomahawk, but this album is wacky and the songwriting is poor, no consistency in the album, well maybe consistently bad but that's about it
  11. Systool
    Jun 6, 2006
    7
    A good Mike Patton album... We've been waiting this LP for a few years... and finally, it's here! I think Peeping Tom is a good Way to discover the work of Patton, because it contains some of his characteristics (mad vocals, crazy arrangements) but feels very accessible at the same Way...
  12. ChrisFartboner
    Jun 6, 2006
    9
    this album is w00tah
  13. kyle
    Jun 5, 2006
    10
    mike patton is one of those kind of guys who will piss off as many people with each release in equal parts to the amount of people who will rejoice. with his "silly" lyrics and production style, some will get it and love it and others will hate it. i think people need to loosen up and take music as music, and recognize that music can be intentionally funny and still be brilliant. people mike patton is one of those kind of guys who will piss off as many people with each release in equal parts to the amount of people who will rejoice. with his "silly" lyrics and production style, some will get it and love it and others will hate it. i think people need to loosen up and take music as music, and recognize that music can be intentionally funny and still be brilliant. people who can already do that have a name. they're called mike patton fans.… Expand
  14. AlecS
    Jun 4, 2006
    10
    Great, great stuff.
  15. Ken57A57
    Jun 3, 2006
    9
    Been a fan since the OU818 Demo days. This CD is superb.
  16. USMC
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    Real Vocals that last more than 10 seconds is always a treat! I love Tomahawk, but right when you get a taste of real harmony its right back to angry noise...which isn't all bad. Still miss his non-experimental voice. Supoib!
  17. zippyzee
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    Very good work here. Mike Patton fans should like this. Patton said "If I made a pop album it would sound like this". I love it, Patton is a God in my books.
  18. MikeS
    Jun 1, 2006
    10
    lovely lovely
  19. LooseChange
    Jun 1, 2006
    9
    Very good.
  20. BoP
    May 31, 2006
    10
    This may be the best album of the year, If people are willing enough to try something new, this could possibly save mainstream music.
  21. CoryB
    May 31, 2006
    3
    How can he release this crap. I guess the X-men did him a favor chop'n up his shit on the last album. p.s. i liked the vs. album
  22. EricS
    May 30, 2006
    10
    Lovely
  23. RobD
    May 30, 2006
    9
    Not as good as Tomahawk, but certainly enjoyable. Any fan of Mike Patton will appreciate it.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 22
  3. Negative: 3 out of 22
  1. AllMusic
    80
    It's quite possibly Patton's most accessible album since his Faith No More days.
    Read full review
  2. Billboard
    70
    Patton is either a musical genius or one lucky mad scientist. [3 Jun 2006]
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    50
    Once you get past the shock tactics, Peeping Tom is little more than a pile of dated Linkin Park-style sludge. [2 Jun 2006, p.83]
See all critic reviews »