Puddle Of Mudd
Famous

THE REVIEW

The time has come for the fifth studio release by the American band Puddle Of Mudd, led by the blonde singer Wes Scantlin.

 The new work arrives six years after the worldwide success of "Come Clean" (do you remember "Blurry" and "She Hates Me?") and four years after the last "Life On Display." Despite some audiences and critics accusing them of offering an anachronistic and overly derivative musical discourse, the Mudds continue the conversation that began with their independent debut "Stuck" in 1994, released during the grunge era.

 The Cobain-esque shadows still stretch over the band's sonic fabric today; exhaustive in this sense are the two singles extracted so far from "Famous", namely the title track and "Psycho", as well as the rough "I'm So Sure". For the rest, the band moves rather nimbly between various territories while maintaining an appreciable underlying consistency: ranging from the tear-jerking ballad, see "It Was Faith" and "We Don't Have To Look Back Now", to typical American rock from FM such as "Livin' On Borrowed Time" and "Moonshine". Pleasant and fitting is the punk-flavor of "Merry-Go-Round", but forgettable is the new single "Radiate", which in its attempt to be a second "Blurry" ends up boring.

 It's a shame for an underlying radio-friendliness that's really too pronounced; with more rawness and better craftsmanship in constructing the pieces rather than just searching for the perfect chorus at any cost, Puddle Of Mudd could also win over those who see them as a faded photocopy of any grunge band.

 However, "Famous" remains a pleasant album, well-played and melodically impeccable. Great for a road trip, but to be avoided for those who seek innovation and originality in music.

 Certainly, if Puddle Of Mudd want to continue (or rather, restart) to amaze, they must offer something much more. 

 Key tracks: Livin' On Borrowed Time, Psycho, Merry-Go-Round