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UGLY KID JOE
(UNITED STATES)
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AMERICA'S LEAST WANTED
(1992)
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LABEL:
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GENRE:
HARD ROCK
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TAGS:
Happy
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"Ugly Kid Joe's "America's Least Wanted" is an album that will hook fans of powerful Heavy, effective Hard Rock and sunny Fusion."
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4/5
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It's not often that a band's debut EP is an international success. But that's exactly what happened with "As Ugly As They Wanna Be", the debut offering from California's Ugly Kid Joe, driven by the huge success of the irresistible "Everything About You". So it's no surprise to find the quintet back on the scene a year later with their first full-length album, signed to major label Mercury. In the meantime, Roger Lahr has left the ship and is replaced by Dave Fortman, to form an even more unstoppable pair of guitars with Klaus Eichstadt.
Those who enjoyed "As Ugly As They Wanna Be" can rest assured that they'll love "America's Least Wanted", which lives up to its colorful cover, both provocative and disillusioned, but always illuminated by the sunshine of the American Southwest and carried by the vocals of Whitfield Crane. Varying his performances according to the track, sometimes aggressive, often snide, with a few Vince Neil intonations in his tone, the frontman is without question the master of the house, without his mates being relegated to the rank of mere stooges.
It's worth noting that, underneath their airs of surfers who don't take themselves too seriously, the Americans of Ugly Kid Joe throw 13 tracks at us (including covers of "Everything About You" and "Madman", already present on the previous Ep), ranging from heavy, fat riffs ("So Damn Cool") to electro-acoustic with simulated naivety and real catchiness ("Busy Bee", "Cats In The Cradle" and "Mr. Recordman") or a throbbing fusion groove worthy of the Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Come Tomorrow", "Same Side"). Sometimes based on an alternation of tempo between verse and chorus, like the scathing "Goddamn Devil" on which Rob Halford comes in to play luxury backing vocalist, often slipping in a few humorous breaks ("Neighbor") or rousing accelerations ("Panhandlin' Prince"), not forgetting the rapped passage on "Everything About You", most of the tracks have a certain originality that confirms that a song can be effective without being simplistic.
"America's Least Wanted" immediately establishes Ugly Kid Joe as a band with a strong identity and exciting potential. To have such a good time while demonstrating such qualities of composition and execution is not given to everyone. A must-have at any price! - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Neighbor - 4:46
02. Goddamn Devil - 4:54
03. Come Tomorrow - 4:55
04. Panhandlin' Prince - 5:42
05. Busy Bee - 4:10
06. Don't Go - 4:32
07. So Damn Cool - 4:26
08. Same Side - 4:50
09. Cat's In The Cradle - 4:02
10. I'll Keep Tryin' - 4:59
11. Everything About You - 4:20
12. Madman ['92 Remix] - 3:37
13. Mr. Recordman - 4:06
LINEUP:
Cordell Crockett: Basse
Dave Fortman: Guitares
Klaus Eichstadt: Guitares
Mark Davies: Batterie
Whitfield Crane: Chant
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.6/5 (7 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH UGLY KID JOE
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