Review by MartinDavey87 for Ugly Kid Joe - As Ugly As They Wanna Be (1991)

Released in 1991, ‘As Ugly As They Wanna Be’ is the debut EP by funk rockers Ugly Kid Joe. Featuring just six tracks and clocking in at 26 minutes, it’s a brief, yet enjoyable CD, highlighting the bands energetic, riff-laden 90’s alternative style.

The first four tracks are all solid rockers, featuring great guitar riffs and some pretty charismatic vocals by frontman Whitfield Crane. The band would get early mainstream recognition with the song ‘Everything About You’, which no doubt helped elevate their name. And tracks like ‘Madman’, ‘Too Bad’ and ‘Whiplash Liquor’ all demonstrate a band who were ready in fill in that gap between rock, metal and grunge that the early 90’s desperately needed. 

The last two tracks, a Black Sabbath cover, and a humorous 26-second track, titled Heavy Metal’ don’t really add anything to the EP, but by this point, if you’re not already hooked from the previous four tracks, then there’s no hope for you at all.