PEEPING TOM - PEEPING TOM published July 2006, Zero Magazine

Mike Patton might as well be Austin Powers. He is an international man of mystery if there ever was one. The man surpasses genre, singing, and music as a whole with every project he puts his hands on. The latest is Peeping Tom, Patton's vision of pop music resulting in a commanding mix of alt rock and r&b sprinkled with the best elements of gangsta rap.

The collaboration king ventures out with a laundry list of talent that includes The Roots' human beatbox Rahzel, Massive Attack, Dan the Automator and jazz-textured singer Norah Jones. Some may have been under the impression that Jones was going to be uncharacteristically cursing a blue streak on one of the tracks. Instead the song "Sucker" only really has one dirty word in it but god, is it worth it. Jones' clean and skilled vocals are transformed into sublime sleaziness.

Patton's vocals are renown for their flexibility and this project only reiterates that. Remaining constant are lyrics that will make you do a double take which is again one more thing I love about Mike Patton. "I know that assholes grow on trees/ but I'm here to trim the leaves." Whether it makes you think or just giggle, who cares? This is a good album for anyone, Patton fan or not.