Motel California | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 22, 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1996 | |||
Genre | Rock, hard rock, heavy metal | |||
Length | 39:30 | |||
Label | Evilution[1] | |||
Ugly Kid Joe chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rock Hard | 5/10[4] |
Motel California is the third album by the American rock band Ugly Kid Joe, and released on October 22, 1996.[5][6] Motel California was the last full-length studio album until 2015. The group disbanded in January 1997 and reformed in 13 years later in January 2010. The album received lukewarm reviews and was a commercial failure.
The title is a parody of the Eagles' album, Hotel California. The song "Rage Against the Answering Machine" is a pun on the name of the Los Angeles rock band Rage Against the Machine.
Production
The album was recorded with the Butcher Bros. in Philadelphia.[7]
Critical reception
AllMusic wrote that Ugly Kid Joe "return to their roots, bashing out grungy metal in their garage and recording it for posterity ... Motel California works a lot better than it should, sounding fiercer and more committed."[2]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "It's a Lie" | 3:01 |
2. | "Dialogue" | 2:27 |
3. | "Sandwich" | 2:46 |
4. | "Rage Against the Answering Machine" | 1:40 |
5. | "Would You Like to Be There" | 3:18 |
6. | "Little Red Man" | 4:02 |
7. | "Bicycle Wheels" | 2:01 |
8. | "Father" | 3:31 |
9. | "Undertow" | 4:31 |
10. | "Shine" | 2:51 |
11. | "Strange" | 4:22 |
12. | "12 Cents" | 4:54 |
Lineup
- Whitfield Crane – vocals
- Dave Fortman – guitars
- Klaus Eichstadt – guitars
- Cordell Crockett – bass
- Shannon Larkin – drums
- Lemmy Kilmister – guest backing vocals on "Little Red Man"
Charts
Chart (1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 129 |
UK Albums (OCC) | 128 |
References
- ^ "Ugly Kid Joe". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Motel California - Ugly Kid Joe | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 334.
- ^ "UGLY KID JOE - Motel California". ROCK HARD Heavy-Metal-Magazin.
- ^ "Ugly Kid Joe | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Ugly Kid Joe's Klaus Eichstadt". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016.
- ^ "Studio Action". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 21, 1996 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ugly Kid Joe ARIA Chart history 1988 to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.