For the new songs, the band once again worked with producer Mark Dodson, who was already responsible for UGLY KID JOE's multiplatinum debut album "America's Least Wanted" in 1992, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. "Rad Wings Of Destiny" gets released as CD digi, vinyl and limited fan box. In November, UGLY KID JOE will return to Europe to present the new songs live to their fans.
The band musically combines rock, hard rock, heavy metal and funk. They became internationally known to a wider audience through the hit singles "Everything About You" and "Cats in the Cradle".
The name UGLY KID JOE is an allusion to the glam metal band "Pretty Boy Floyd", which was quite successful in the 80s. They came up with the name because a joint gig with that band was planned, but „Pretty Boy Floyd“ cancelled it. Actually, they only wanted to adopt the name for this one gig to emphasise the difference between the two bands, but then kept it.
That Ain’t Livin’ is the opening track and it’s a smoking hot rocker! The vocals also sound a bit as smoked, but I like the tempo and the sound of this track, just as the catchy chorus! This is indeed single material! Listen also to the excellent guitar play!
Not Lie The Other reminds me of another song, but can’t put a band’s name on it. It’s a nice rock’n roll track with a catchy chorus and hot guitar play. I also adore the vocals here.
Everything’s Changing is maybe a ballad. We’ll see if the DJ’s will use it. Imagine: a piano, an acoustic guitar, a bas and an electric guitar that doesn’t sound too loud and a drummer who knows how to play it softly. I also hear some backings that give the song a sweet touch. This is clearly single material!
Kill The Pain mixes an acoustic touch with some electric guitars. I hear a slice of a retro touch. Just as the previous song this is single material. I really adore the changes in the tempo and the fire within this song. The backings also give this song a nice sweet touch. I really cherrish the melancholic touch! It's really a WOW song!
Lola is according to me the most covered song from The Kinks. I don’t hear much difference with the original and does respect it a lot! It will be for sure a nice one to perform on stage!
Dead Friends is a blues rock smacker that goes well with Whitfield Crane’s voice and brings in good friends that died way too early (just listen to the lyrics: Lemmy, Jimy ...). I also cherish the retro sound!
Up In The City reminds me a bit of Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and is indeed a great song! Crane’s voice sounds a bit softer here and the global sounds can be placed in the 70’s rock era.
Drinkin’ And Drivin’ goes into the old school country & western style (banjo included). The message of the song is perfect for an anti-drinking and driving campaign! The chorus sounds sweet and catchy! Again one hell of e great song!
Failure brings in a smoking hot rock sound and a touch of Mott The Hoople! I’m sure it will be also a hit on stage! One thing is for sure: this song isn’t a failure! According to my wife it has also a touch of the very first years of Foo Fighters.
Long Road is the last one: it’s a (Matthew) sweet and soft song with an acoustic touch. It’s a fun song and sounds like looking back at the long road called life (at least if you live long). The sound is also very catchy!
At first I wasn’t sure If I would review it, but the more I listened to it the more I started to like it and later on turned into love! Even my 8 year old daughter asked me at some point to put a song in her playlist and that means a lot as it would be the first male fronted track in her playlist! It's a keeper for my playlist!
