Peeping Tom (Peeping Tom album)

Untitled

Peeping Tom is an experimental collaboration album by Mike Patton. It was released May 30, 2006 on Patton's own record label, Ipecac Recordings. The set was pieced together by swapping song files through the mail with collaborators like Norah Jones, Kool Keith and Massive Attack, among others.

Description

"I don't listen to the radio, but if I did, this is what I'd want it to sound like," Patton says of the project. "This is my version of pop music. In a way, this is an exercise for me: taking all these things I've learned over the years and putting them into a pop format."

The first single from the self titled record is “Mojo”. It is accompanied by a music video featuring appearances by Danny DeVito, Mark Hoppus, Rachel Hunter as well as song collaborators Dan the Automator and Rahzel. The video was created by music video director Matt McDermitt.

Work on Peeping Tom began in 2000, but faced constant interruptions to accommodate Patton's recording or touring work with other bands and side projects including two feature film scores and a film acting debut in Firecracker. Over this six year period, enough material was written for a second and possible third album. In April 2005, Patton decided to scrap the Peeping Tom project, which was originally planned to be produced solely by Dan the Automator, stating "It's just turning into a lot of work, and it's too difficult to keep everyone up to speed." The project was later revived.

The album has multiple influences, including hip hop, alternative rock, trip hop, electro, ghettotech, soul music, G-Funk, ambient music, bossa nova, and experimental rock.

The band made their public debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on May 26, 2006. The group performed the song "Mojo," which, according to literal interpretation, is from the perspective of a drug addict. Alongside Patton, the other musicians involved were Rahzel, Dan The Automator, Rob Swift, Dub Trio and guest vocalist Imani Coppola.

For the week ending June 17, 2006, Peeping Tom was the top debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart, appearing at #103 with 10,000 units shipped. This is the highest-ever entry on this chart for the Ipecac Recordings label.

Track listing

1. "Five Seconds" (Featuring Odd Nosdam) – 4:20
2. "Mojo" (Featuring Rahzel and Dan The Automator) – 3:40
3. "Don't Even Trip" (Featuring Amon Tobin) – 5:46
4. "Getaway" (Featuring Kool Keith) – 3:22
5. "Your Neighborhood Spaceman" (Featuring Jel and Odd Nosdam) – 5:45
6. "Kill the DJ" (Featuring Massive Attack) – 4:09
7. "Caipirinha" (Featuring Bebel Gilberto) – 2:46
8. "Celebrity Death Match" (Featuring Kid Koala) – 3:42
9. "How U Feelin?" (Featuring Doseone) – 2:44
10. "Sucker" (Featuring Norah Jones) – 2:33
11. "We're Not Alone (Remix)" (Featuring Dub Trio) – 5:10

Chart positions

Year	Album	Chart (Billboard, North America)	Position
2006	Peeping Tom	Billboard 200	103
2006	Peeping Tom	Top Heatseekers	1
2006	Peeping Tom	Top Independent Albums	3

Date	Single	Chart (Billboard, North America)	Peak Position
9/9/06	Mojo	Modern Rock Tracks	40

Miscellanea

• The album, and the band, are said to be named after Michael Powell's 1960 film Peeping Tom which Patton has often mentioned liking.
• They were booed off the stage in Wantagh, NY on September 13, in Boston on September 16, in New York City on September 19, while opening for Classic Rock group The Who.
• Peeping Tom debuted #12 mainstream album ARIA charts & #1 ARIA urban album chart on June 7, 2006
• In Australia there is some controversy over the band name Peeping Tom, given that there is an already well established and internationally renowned heavy blues band based in Melbourne that uses the same name.

External links

• Ipecac Recordings
• Official MySpace
• Unofficial Mike Patton fansite
• Peeping Tom videos
• June 2006 Peeping Tom Interview