I miss UKJ
Such an underrated band, blended into the alternative/hard rock scene and just vanished. I loved UKJ, and this album in particular. There isn't a song on this album that I wouldn't recommend to anybody. Though if I only had to pick two. . . . They would be God and Milkman's Son.
Excellent
This album is a unique mix between grunge and metal. Ugly Kid Joe at their best. Enough comments. Buy it!!!.
Underrated Album
After purchasing it at a heavily reduced price, I finally started listening to it and now often find myself returning to it. Ugly Kid Joe's 1995 Album, "Menace To Sobriety", is an underrated little album by a band unfairly remembered only for "Neighbor" and "Cats In The Cradle". Standout tracks include the growling instrumental "Intro", "God", the punchy "Clover", "Suckerpath" and closer "Slower Than Nowhere". Three and a half stars.
Also recommended if you enjoy this album:
Scatterbrain - "Here Comes Trouble" (1990)
Stephen Pearcy - "Social Intercourse" (2002).
Menace to being taken seriously
When you name your band as a joking swipe at Pretty Boy Floyd you can't hope to be taken too seriously. The frailty of the vehicle this band built comes crashing down around their ears on this disc. And they weren't. Which is a pity as lead single Milkmans Son had some mental teeth. Not plenty but some. And the muscular riffs kick in straight away on both the instrumental intro and the second track God, which is a nice statement of intent.
Sparks of the humour of this band abound still, such as Jesus Rode A Harley. But this was the mid 90's and UKJ's sense of humour wasn't to be tolerated unfortunately, though darlings of the time Ministry were allowed to have a hit with Jesus Built My Hotrod. . . . Elsewhere we get bulked up guitars with more getting down to business than the debut, an increase in gear changes throughout the album as well and a rougher vocal delivery by Whitfield Crane. And the drumming is at times quite insistent as well to lay a serious rock foundation.
This album failed in it's mission - to bridge early hit laden UKJ with a more mature, heavier UKJ with more staying power. The band worked their hardest mind you, even refusing to bemoan the fact that MTV had utterly dropped bands such as UKJ in search of the next shoegazing flannel wearing heroin horror story when magazines asked them about this trend. So at least they stood up to be counted. For me, a record caught in the crossfire of a subgenre battle for supremacy and somehow tainted due to the fact that UKJ were on the losing team. .
One of the BEST Ugly Kid Joe CD's out there
Heavy and melodic. This is just a great, great, CD. I recommend this to anyone who likes good music.
You can see a complete list of all Ugly Kid Joe discography, or go back to the Ugly Kid Joe tabs
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