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Ugly Kid Joe - Motel California Audio CD

A fair review of the Ugly Kid Joe "Motel California" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Ugly Kid Joe reviews here, or go back to the Ugly Kid Joe tabs.

Ugly Kid Joe Band: Ugly Kid Joe
Title: Motel California
Rating:
Release Date: 2000-02-22
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: It's A Lie 2: Dialogue 3: Sandwich 4: Rage Against The Answering Machine 5: Would You Like To Be There 6: Little Red Man 7: Bicycle Wheels 8: Father 9: Undertow 10: Shine 11: Strange 12: 12 Cents

Worth a listen
They were more-or-less one of the very last bands of the pop-metal genre to enjoy any success, with their heyday coinciding with the grunge/alt. While Ugly Kid Joe enjoyed success in the early 90s with there "As Ugly as they Wanna Be," (1991) EP and their "America's Least Wanted" (1992) album, the group was more-or-less a lash in the pan. movement.

1995's "Menace to Sobriety" failed to chart and the band was dropped from the Mercury roster. The band signed with Castle and in 1996 gave it one more try with "Motel California. "

Had "Motel California" been released just three years later, it could have been a hit. It is an exciting and entertaining hybrid of rock and rap, or what would later be termed "nu-metal. " "Motel California" sounds akin to Kid Rock's breakthrough smash "Devil Without a Cause,"(1998). Only "Motel California" is more lighthearted in nature and is more rock than rap.

This album just came out at the wrong time. Released three years earlier or three years later, with some promotion, it could have been a hit.

While, "Motel California" isn't a lost classic, it's definitely an enjoyable album that deserved more recognition than it got.
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good sound for this band
ugly kid joe followed the alternative bandwagon with this cd. what a amazing cd!! the songs really do rock. crane doesn't scream much in this cd which is good. songs like little red man, strange, shine, and father really stand out on this cd. maybe they thought if they added a grungy flavor to there sound they might get noticed by people. there 15 minutes of fame was pretty much over. they should reform sometime to make a new album. motel california is such a good chunk of heavy rock that it's so enjoyable to listen to. this cd sounds nothing like there older stuff. any fan of alternative rock, or rock music needs to check out this cd. no one should ignore this cd at all. a really good ugly kid joe cd.


ukj's finest hour - a must own
According to the amazon sites it's now shifted 300 000 in america and 55 000 in the UK, clearly UKJ hit the world when they ventured out of santa barbara. This is a real stepping stone for the ugly kid californians, unfortunately it was to be the last, the promo was little, but the sales were pretty good (except america).

From start to finish, the whole 12 songs are diverse. Unlike the previosu 3, Motel takes a good few listens to breathe and encompass. . . . . Something ukj have always done throughout their 4 releases they pack a cocktail of unusual and highly infectious rock sounds. . . Motel is hard to sum up as a whole, there's trippy songs like sandwich and bicycle wheels, agressive punchy titles like it's a lie and then laidback cool, dark californian rock numbers like undertow and would you like to be there. . . whatever you do, whatever you buy, you need this album.


stinky!
Clearly coming to an end and running out of ideas musically the band have all but dried up and there's not enough left in them to make one good song. Yikes, this is easily the most disastrous of the albums released by an otherwise fine band. This one would have been better left unmade. The lyrics are especially trashy and the cheap hardcore metal is cringeworthy. Its all a bit embarresing really. The worst song would have to be `Sandwich' and the best, which is still pretty dire, would be `It's A Lie'. Oh, and I have to mention `Rage Against the Answering Machine' which is plain horrible. No wonder not a single song from this album made it to the `Greatest Hits' collection.

Look to the earlier albums where the true colours of Ugly Kid Joe shine brightest. This doesn't do them justice.


More of the Same
The songs appear derivitive, and somehow dated. The band that brought us such singles as "I Hate Everything About You" and a terrific remake of "Cat's in the Cradle" falls flat on this effort. As a fan of "party rock", I am somewhat biased. I recommend track 4.


You can see a complete list of all Ugly Kid Joe discography, or go back to the Ugly Kid Joe tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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