menace to sobreity: The 1995 release by the californian wacked out rockers was a good success but quickly swept under the rug by the press. Kerrang magazine in the week it was released hailed it as possibly the 'album of the year', but later on in the year, after mercury had not re - newed their deal, ugly kid joe lost their handsome amount of mtv airplay. Last i heard the album had sold over 500 000 copies. The album is approached differently than Americas Least Wanted, for starters it's a lot darker and has overtones of some well fuelled party sessions up in those santa barbarian moutains. Cleverly titled ' intro ' is exactly what it is, about 2 minutes of growling slow riffs, i like it. Brings us onto ' god ', questioning religious beliefs against some amazing drum signatures and awesomely fluent riffs. As the album draws you in with the agression, it also winds you down, with songs like 'cloudy skies' and ' slower than nowhere '. You then have ' milkmans son' the single that was lifted off the album, it has a great great melody and sway chorus. This has got to be one of the finest rock/metal songs you'll ever hear, after 3 listens i was completely in awe of the bands musical vision. It's definitely heavy. And cuts out the ' cat's in the cradle ' market, but you'd be a fool not buy it.....i recommend indeed

Ugly Kid Joe made their name with goofy, jokey, lightweight metal/pop and scored a few catchy hits with the likes of "Neighbor," "Busy Bee," an ill-advised karaoke cover of Harry Chapin's "Cat's In The Cradle," and of course, what came to be their signature tune, "(I Hate)Everything About You." They gathered many fans but never seemed to raise themselves above being a somewhat pleasant novelty band. With "Menace To Sobriety," they showed signs that they wanted to take steps to be considered something a little more serious and substantial. Although their bratty humor is still plenty evident in tunes like "Milkman's Son" and "Jesus Rode A Harley," they show a surprising blistering intensity on "Clover" and the thoughtful "Tomorrow's World" which boded well for their future. This is by far their most varied and sharp-edged album and it's a shame they weren't able to hold together for more, being dropped by their label shortly after this was released. "Menace To Sobriety" is a fitting swan-song to the band and one the more under-rated discs of the late-90s.

The frailty of the vehicle this band built comes crashing down around their ears on this disc. When you name your band as a joking swipe at Pretty Boy Floyd you can't hope to be taken too seriously. 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 word for this album: tight and hard. By far, the heaviest of all UKJ albums. GGGarth did a great job producing this. Too bad the boys couldn't hold it together after "Motel California." They are missed.

This is just a great, great, CD. Heavy and melodic. I recommend this to anyone who likes good music.