Puddle of Mudd - Re:(disc)overed Review
Back in 20002 Puddle of Mudd made quite a name for themselves on the back of huge hits such as 'Blurry' and 'She Hates Me.' However in the years that followed the band's popularity started to dwindle, but they ploughed on, releasing a further three albums "Life on Display" (2003), "Famous" (2007) and most recently "Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love and Hate" (2009). Earlier this year the band took to the mainstage of Download and are about to embark on a co-headline tour of these shores alongside Soil. With this in mind this is the perfect time to capitalise on the revitalised interest in them with a new album comprised entirely of covers "Re:(disc)overed".
Covers can be a great thing; they can give a chance for an artist to shed light on a forgotten gem, or to take a well known song and reinvent it in a completely new way, or simply they can just be good fun. On the other hand though they can end up sounding like the songs on "Re:(disc)overed". Featuring a track listing comprised entirely of classics such as Free's 'All Right Now' to Elton John's 'Rocket Man' listeners are bound to instantly recognise all the songs on offer. Many questions spring to mind when you listen to this album such as "Are Puddle of Mudd still around?", "Who decided this was a good idea?" and "I wonder what else is on my iPod?" to name but a few. The band do very little to put their own stamp on these songs as they all sound largely identical to the originals, the only thing lacking is what made them special in the first place. Puddle of Mudd sound like a pub covers band playing a half arsed set of guaranteed crowd pleasers.
The only thing that makes these songs stand out from the originals is singer Wes Scantlin's vocals and that isn't a good thing. Wes's weak nasaly vocals are cringe worthy and could never hope to touch many of the original powerful vocal performances delivered by the likes of ACDC's Bon Scott on 'TNT' or Mick Jagger's distinctive tones on 'Gimmee Shelter'. On their version on Tom Petty and Stevie Nick's 'Stop Dragging My Heart Around' Wes is accompanied by guest vocals from BC Jean (Who? Oh she wrote Beyonce's 'If I Were a Boy'?) who towers above Wes's weasel like screeching and puts him to shame. If I was you BC I'd stick working with Beyonce higher on the resume than Puddle of Mudd.
Following a return to many people's consciousness it would have been the perfect time to prove to people why Puddle Of Mudd were worth remembering, yet what they've delivered just feels lazy and to be honest a bit pointless. If you really want to hear these songs you'd be better off just getting the originals as this is an album that will leave even the most hardened Puddle of Mudd fans a little cold. Don't worry though on the plus side though the band will always have THAT chorus to 'She Hates Me' in their back catalogue.