In the early 00 years, almost every single band was trying to emulate the sound of grunge. Take Creed for example; you would immediately recognize how Scott Stapp would try to replicate Eddie Vedder in With Arms Wide Open. Another example of those bands is
Puddle Of Mudd. And actually, that's a pretty good way of describing this band. Their music is as terrible and soulless as... well, a puddle of mud[d].
Puddle Of Mudd are notorious for being some of the biggest Nirvana and Alice In Chains fans in the world. It would appear Wes Scantlin wanted to sound like his idols that he either a) decided to steal Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley's vocal cords and had them implanted later for God knows why or b) alternatively, he decided to go to a doctor and the doctor would ask him "What do you want, sir?", to which Wes Scantin would reply "I want a vocal cord surgery! Make me sound like Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley!". Even his look is actually reminiscent of Kurt Cobain.
10 years after Alice In Chains & Nirvana crashed the rock landscape with their signature grunge LPs Dirt & Nevermind, Puddle Of Mudd had decided that instead of trying something original, they would rather rip-off their peers, which led to creating this abomination. Yes, my dear mates, that is the one & only
Life On Display.
Just a few seconds into the record, frontman Wes Scantlin claims that he is "drowning in a pool of misery". And that is when you know this is going to sound bad. The songs are as bad as either Limp Bizkit, Creed or Nickelback, but especially Limp Bizkit since everyone probably knows Fred Durst singed the band into Geffen Records. Just a few minutes into the record will make your mind go somewhere else and feel like you've been slapped into the face. The lyrics show the peak of Wes' banality and nonsense, unlike Come Clean, which actually was just alright and had some catchy hooks and meanings. Here are some of the horrible lyrics written by Wes Scantlin:
"So here I am, I don't wanna be by myself
And I think you're ***ing someone else
Now I'm gonna have to find a way to take the knife out of my back
And how could you leave me stranded in a closet full of bones"
- Away From Me
"How could I believe anything you've ever said?
I'm on the bottom of your shoes, a little piece, a piece of ***
I never wanna hear you sing, you sound just like a little kid
You're like a journey through the world going the wrong direction"
- Change My Mind
"Thrash, bash, kill myself, eat a bunch of trash
Thrash, bash, get some cash and spend it on some drugs
Explode into a million pieces so no one can find me"
- Cloud Nine
Some of those lyrics are simple proof how Wes Scantin is an amateur at anything he does - singing, songwriting, playing, you name it. The riffs are generic and the melodies are in no way memorable. Come Clean had a few standout moments such as the song which I am sure everyone has heard at least once - Blurry, and Control, but also having She Hates Me which sounded like a completely blatant rip-off of Lithium. The whole time I was listening to this, I wished it was finally over. There is no originality, soul, it's just a pedestrian "grunge" band that fans of Limp Bizkit, 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, Staind, Saliva, Creed or any band similar of those will most certainly enjoy.
Puddle Of Mudd live up to their name.
