Mind Noise Network
Ugly Kid Joe -
Uglier Than They Used Ta Be
by Aimée Thomson - 29 September 2015
After taking a lengthy break, Ugly Kid Joe returned from their slumber to bring back the carnage in 2012 with their EP, Stairway To Hell. Since then, the band have supported the likes of Guns 'N' Roses and Alice Cooper. Earlier this year UKJ started a Crowd Funder with talks of a new album set to be released in October, which has been christened with the title Uglier Than They Used Ta Be.
In the past, the band have been known for their humours lyrics and classic rock attitude. 1992’s America’s Least Wanted caught a lot of attention globally, selling platinum in the US, and entering the top 20 in many continents.
A lot of comeback albums can prove to be a flop, especially if you’ve grown out of the ‘don’t give a damn’ attitude and image. But dare I say it, Ugly Kid Joe have grown up gracefully, now mixing their classic rock humour with their powerful songwriting skills. The album infuses old school rock, with some elements of punk and even a hint of funk. Everything that shaped their music into a massive middle finger at the mainstream still remains.
The album starts with fairly mellow tracks Hell Ain’t Hard To Find and Let The Record Play, a song which is lead mostly by its intense bass line. As far as an opener for the album goes, to me these tracks don’t reflect what is to come. Bad Seed, track number three, is where the album really kicks off. What’s special about this particular album, is that even having listened through all eleven tracks at least five times, I could listen to it another twenty, and still experience the pure rock ‘n’ roll, head bang so hard you fall off your chair feeling.
Taking the party rock vibe down for the next track, Mirror Of The Man is a hard hitting acoustic based song which features some powerful words. Of all the tracks, this one is my favourite. With a heavy minor intro and some beautiful guitar work, it’s hard not to love.
Mirror Of The Man flows into next track She’s Already Gone, which starts with a deceptive acoustic intro, before blasting into melodic guitar lines and even more in depth lyrics. The vocals on this track compliment the instrumentation, and showcase just how good the songwriting arrangements on the album are.
Nothing Ever Changes is another acoustic track, but whole worlds away from Mirror Of The Man. Throughout the track the rhythm guitar is finger picked, while between the verses the lead takes on some breathtaking solos, especially at the end of the track before the music fades out.
The next three tracks on the album were recorded with Phil Campbell of Motörhead. As if the arrangements couldn’t get any better, My Old Man and Under The Bottom are oozing with clever riffs and vocal harmonies. UKJ have also cleverly thrown in a Motörhead cover, Ace Of Spades with Phil Campbell. Any classic rock anthem is hard to pull off, but the band have done it so well, enforcing it with their unique attitude and heavy rock vocals.
Closing the album is another acoustic number Enemy and a cover of Papa Was A Rolling Stone featuring Dallas Frasca, a perfect choice to end such an album with. This particular track features some of the album's best vocal work, especially with the harmonies, and contrast between male and female vocals. Overall, the release is worth checking out. Uglier Than They Used Ta Be is one of the best come back albums I have heard and I’m excited to see where such an album takes them.
Aimée's recommended tracks: Mirror Of The Man, My Old Man, Papa Was A Rolling Stone
For fans of: Skidrow, White Snake and Firehouse
Can you see these guys in the UK?: They've just finished a UK tour, but they'll be back soon enough. Undoubtedly with some festival dates next Summer.
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