Break out the party hats and oversized novelty sunglasses, folks, because UGLY KID JOE is back with a new album and it’s going to be, like, totally awesome, dude! 🤟 I mean, who needs details when you’ve got a band that’s been around since the dawn of time (or at least since 1991) and has been teasing us with new music for what feels like an eternity? I’m pretty sure I’ve been waiting for this album since the Clinton administration. Anyway, guitarist and producer Dave Fortman sat down with The Joel Martin Mastery Podcast to spill the beans, and by “spill the beans,” I mean “ramble on incoherently about the album’s tracklist and production process.” 😴
According to Fortman, the new album (which may or may not have 10 or 12 tracks, who’s counting, really?) is going to be released in two chunks, because why not? It’s not like fans have been waiting patiently for a coherent release strategy or anything. I mean, what’s the hurry, right? It’s not like the band has been on hiatus for 15 years or anything (oh wait, they have). As Fortman himself said, “I think we’re… I forget. Damn, are we dropping 12 or 10 [tracks]?” Yeah, no kidding, Dave. I’m sure the fans are just thrilled to be kept in the dark about the album’s release plans.
As for the album’s production process, Fortman went into excruciating detail about how he and his bandmates worked tirelessly to craft an album that’s, in his words, “the best thing we’ve ever done.” Because, you know, every band says that about their new album, but this time it’s totally true, guys! 🙄 Fortman even went so far as to remix the entire album after getting sober, because apparently, that’s what you do when you’re a rockstar – you remix your album and add more “production things” to make it sound “amazing.” I’m not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that Fortman got sober or the fact that he managed to remix an entire album without losing his mind.
The Making of a Masterpiece (Apparently)
Fortman attributes the album’s greatness to the fact that he and vocalist Whitfield Crane co-wrote most of the songs, and that they didn’t let any subpar material see the light of day. Because, you know, nothing says “magnum opus” like a song that’s been rewritten 12 times and has more overdubs than a Michael Bay movie. As Fortman said, “We really went through, this time, and just worked it the right way… We did that exact process to almost – six or seven of these songs are that kind of process.” Wow, I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
But hey, at least the band is back to their metal roots, right? I mean, who needs palm mutes, anyway? According to Fortman, the new album is “back to metal” and features a bunch of heavy, chunky riffs that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning metalhead. Because, you know, that’s what UGLY KID JOE is all about – being heavy and chunky, not about, say, writing catchy pop-metal anthems or anything. As Fortman said, “It’s straight up… This is straight up metal. We gotta write a record full of chunks, man.” Chunks, man. That’s what it’s all about.
A Brief History of UGLY KID JOE (For Those Who Care)
For those who may have forgotten (i.e., everyone), UGLY KID JOE reformed in 2012 after a 15-year hiatus and has been touring extensively throughout Europe and the rest of the world. They released the EP “Stairway To Hell” in 2012 and the full-length “Uglier Than They Used Ta Be” in 2015. And, oh yeah, they completed their first U.S. tour in 27 years in the spring of 2023. Because, you know, 27 years is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to waiting for a band to tour again. I mean, who needs a consistent touring schedule, anyway?
In conclusion, UGLY KID JOE’s new album is going to be, like, totally awesome, dude! 🤟 It’s got 10 or 12 tracks, maybe, and it’s going to be released in two chunks, possibly. The band worked really hard on it, and it’s got lots of heavy, chunky riffs and “production things” that will surely blow your mind. Or not. I mean, who knows, really? But hey, at least they’re back to their metal roots, and that’s all that matters, right? 🤘 Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go listen to some of their old albums and try to get excited about this new one. Maybe. Possibly. If I feel like it. 🎸
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
