Customer Reviews

Motel California

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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. 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. 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.

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). Clearly UKJ hit the world when they ventured out of santa barbara.

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.

well this not being the greatest album ugly kid joe produced and sadly it was their last because it didn't get a warm review from fans and critics which was a bit harsh because it's not a bad album just an average one...nothing like america's least wanted they went for a darkier sound with "motel califonia"
includes my favorites "it's a lie" "dialogue" "would you like to be there"great chorus
other highlights include "12 cents" a nice acoustic ditty to end an average album from the pretty boy floyd beaters

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. 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. 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.

"Motel California", the last album of Ugly Kid Joe, is much similar with its predecessor "Menace To Sobriety". UKJ sounds still funky, hard and melodic here but on the other hand a bit more cool than in the ones before it. "Motel California" has some rap influences. This record shows once again that UKJ is very adaptive band: For example, "It's a lie" is very aggressive and uplifting song but "Undertow" is very slow and melancholy. Ugly Kid Joe is a good example of a band which is melodic and hard in the same time. As its predecessor this record is very well-produced and sounds extremely sharp and strong. Those people who have listened to "America's Least wanted" only will find that UKJ sounds very modern and cool here. Because UKJ sounds so good here, it is very "ugly thing" that this is their last album. Anyway, UKJ has been and will be a very strong influence for many alternative rock/ new wave metal bands.

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). 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.

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.

This is by far UKJ's best work yet. I was astonished that they broke up after the release of this tight album. They need to regroup. I have said it before and I'm saying it again. Whit, call the others and get back together! If you don't have this CD already, buy it because it is their greatest work.

I bought this album (yes, I still call them that) when it first came out. Lost it along the way and couldn't find it anywhere but here. LOVE IT!!! I miss this band. They were alot of fun and loved seeing them live. Wish they were still around. :(

I love the songs on here. I sometimes skip songs on some albums but not this one. I love them all!

In '95 Ugly Kid Joe released Menace To Sobriety on Mercury Records and this album got praise from metal magazines... dubbed "Album Of The Year". Well Menace To Sobriety did well around the world except in the U.S. and immediately they were dropped from their record deal with Mercury Records. During this (late '95-early '96) time Ugly Kid Joe were not a happy bunch (I do not blame them) and disheartened by their lack of support from Mercury Records. Ugly Kid Joe went on their own and formed their own record label Evilution Records which is distributed by Castle Records. This to me was/is amazing and I'm glad that they formed their own record label (Evilution) under the awesome underrated Castle Records. I give Ugly Kid Joe the upmost respect as they gave an AWESOME EFFORT: MOTEL CALIFORNIA. As you can hear on this album its a no-holds barred we do what we want to do and that makes it fine music. Judging from some of the somewhat negative views of this album here on Amazon.com. I don't think some of the reviewers knew this and that is fine...its besides the point as Motel California is a fine album and UKJ's best!!They came out with this in Oct.'96 and showed a NEW/FRESH side to this band. Whit Crane to me is great/well liked singer since Ugly Kid Joe debuted in the early 90's. Shannon Larkin is an underrated drummer that played drums in to awesome band(s) before Ugly Kid Joe and was in a band(s) Wrathchild America and Souls At Zero (Wratchild America changed its name/style to Souls At Zero in '93). Anyhow this album weaves in a NEW/FRESH sound of continous guitars (nu-metal like...hate using that term) with little solos,fresh in your face style songs/lyrics (Its a Lie)while leaving the listener know that this is still Ugly Kid Joe. All songs on here are great,but the only one that is ok is the instrumental....Rage Against The Answering Machine (which I think the song is kind of interesting/funny as of course makes reference to Rage Against The Machine). That is Ugly Kid Joe's style....example the band's name Ugly Kid Joe is in reference to Pretty Boy Floyd(old band) and the title of the album I'm reviewing Motel California makes a reference to the band The Eagles as they had an album called Hotel California. UKJ just put a spin on things and tell the real reality!! Motel California overall is worth checking out and owning especially if you want to hear a NEW/FRESH version of UKJ. My favorites include Its a Lie (Amazon.com has the first song listed as Its a Life? and I don't know why...anyhow is called Its a Lie...GREAT SONG!!),Little Red Man, Father ,Undertow ,Shine, and Strange. But all are my favorites except song 4 (ok). Whit Crane and Shannon Larkin have formed a new band called Another Animal on Universal/Republic records and should be out this month (Feb. '07) or sometime soon. I heard one song called Find A Way on MYSPACE.com and check it out! Whit's voice sounds great and it sounds like a maturer Ugly Kid Joe. I am DEFINITELY GETTING ANOTHER ANIMAL as soon as it comes out!! Lastly, Motel California is the last mature/fresh/new of Ugly Kid Joe's albums...GET IT!!!!

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. 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. 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.