Charlie by Melt Banana

Charlie, Melt-Banana's fourth album, arrived in 1998 as the first release on the band's own A-Zap label, and it takes its name from the film Charlie, the one based on Flowers for Algernon. That's about the only gentle thing about it. Yasuko Onuki yelps and chatters at a speed that makes most hardcore singers sound sleepy, Agata's effects-drenched guitar squeals, sputters and dive-bombs, and Rika mm' keeps the bass lurching forward underneath.

Mike Patton and Mr. Bungle drop in on "Area 877 [Phoenix Mix]", with Patton barking the band's name at the top of the track, a shout Melt-Banana liked so much they sampled it into other songs such as "7.2 Seconds Flipping" and "Brick Again". "Stimulus for Revolting Virus" is the track that caught countdown ears, a jolt of pure static.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.