Largely motivated by a hatred for, and desire to outdo the Red Hot Chili Peppers—the Eureka, California based band Mr. Bungle had an influential, artistically competitive career ahead of them when they formed in 1985.  Although they formed as a death metal act, Mr. Bungle quickly evolved into an impossibly complex and inaccessible Jazz Fusion group, and created the now cult status albums Mr. Bungle, and Disco Volante.  But with their third and final studio album Mr. Bungle departed from the unpredictability of their previous work, giving way to California—their only album that could be even remotely considered accessible.  However, California is not a shameful sellout by a once great band—it is without a doubt Mr. Bungle’s finest studio effort.

California’s greatest strength lies in its ability to combine the bands insane creativity, with a sense of melody.  This sense of melody prevents the album’s songs from meandering into structural abstraction, making them much more accessible to an average listener.  For example, the album’s closing track Goodbye Sober Day, even though it cycles through many diverse genres, maintains several recurring themes, and verses that the listener can grasp to–both for a sense of progression, and to keep from getting musical vertigo due to the track’s frequent genre swaps.  The melodic tendencies of this album do not only make it a more accessible album though, they also make the album much more memorable–drawing audiences back for repeat listenings.  In fact, many of California’s songs, while developed skillfully, capture the listener’s attention primarily because of how ingeniously catchy their choruses are.  Pink Cigarette portrays a man’s depression after being left by his girlfriend, even though this piece is structurally simple–shockingly so compared to Mr. Bungle’s other work–it remains one of Mr. Bungle’s most famous tracks, yielding the only music video of their career, because it includes one of the catchiest melodies in the band’s entire catalog.

Ultimately, it is hard to not enjoy at least a couple of California’s tracks because they incorporate nearly every prominent genre of music, so there’s bound to be at least a few passages that include your personal favorites.  Mr. Bungle’s California is nothing short of genius.  California’s often bizarre style will yield not all of its intricacies upon one listening; however, spending time soaking in all of its fine details, and returning to it time and time again will be an incredibly thought provoking experience that is enjoyable all the while.