Puddle of Mudd
Life On Display
Geffen
Somehow, Nirvana clones Puddle of Mudd managed to find overnight success with their debut album, Come Clean. Now, slightly over two years later, the band returns with a record that deserves to send them back into obscurity as quickly as they left it.
Life On Display is so bad, it is almost unbearable to listen to its entirety. From the chugging opener, “Away From Me,” to closing track, “Time Flies,” it’s a constant stream of bland grunge lite and modern rock by numbers with virtually none of the hooks that at least gave Come Clean some semblance of appeal. Tracks like “Heel Over Head” and “Bottom” expose vocalist and songwriter Wes Scantlin’s lyrical limitations. On the latter, he repeatedly shrieks “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” The likes of “Sydney” and “Freak of the World” merely reveal his limitations full stop.
“Banal,” “generic” and “vapid” are the words that most succinctly sum up this mediocre excuse for an album. And while Puddle of Mudd must feel flattered to be compared to Nirvana, such lame efforts as “Sydney” will undoubtedly make Kurt Cobain turn in his grave.
Puddle of Mudd: http://www.puddleofmudd.com/
