Spurred by a lazy crossword clue in The Onion (36 down, four letters: “Faith No More’s only hit”), MetalSucks contributor Anso DF dedicates every single day in August to celebration and exploration of the San Francisco alt-metal greats. Here we prove that history’s greatest band landed more than one commercial hit (crossword answer: “Epic” natch), we revel in FNM’s embarrassing wealth of winning album tracks (themselves often fit for chart topping), and we dip into the staggering best of the b-sides (ditto). Along the way, we survey the context of FNM’s big break (amid similarly seminal acts Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, and Ween) to the post-Nevermind, panic-based recording industry in which the brilliantly versatile, fearless powerhouse band operated until their 1998 demise. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.

Song “Ricochet”

Written by Patton (L); Gould, Bordin, Patton (M)

Released 1995

Appears on King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime album

Produced by Andy Wallace

Guitars by Trey Spruance (Secret Chiefs 3, Mr. Bungle)

Key lyric “And I’d rather be shot in the face/Than hear what you’re gonna say”

Awesome song elevated to supra-awesomeness by Patton’s alternating of wide-open, cracky shouts and perfect pitched singing, sometimes in the same phrase (see 3:27). Impossible to fake. Studdd.

Single? Yes, King‘s second (preceded by “Digging The Grave” and followed by “Evidence”)

The climate “Ricochet” faced Modern Rock radio competition from such timeless greats as Better Than Ezra (“Good”), Live (“Lightning Crashes” barf), and Bush (“Comedown”).

Didja know? it’s been reported that “Ricochet” is shorthanded as “Nirvana” on setlists because it was written on the day of Kurt Cobain’s death.

-ADF

METALSUCKS’ 31 DAYS OF FAITH NO MORE

2 ”Ricochet”

1 ”Land Of Sunshine” (read)