Puddle Of Mudd 'Life On Display' album

Any listener to rock radio is familiar with the name Puddle Of Mudd by now, but many don't appreciate the sheer scale of success the band's debut album, 2001's Come Clean, achieved: over 5 million copies sold and spawning no less than 4 radio hits ("Blurry", "Control", "Drift And Die", "She Hates Me"). The ubiquitous "Blurry" became the most played track on Modern Rock Radio for 2002 and earned the ASCAP award for most played song of the year.

Come Clean sold 116,000 copies in its first week of release - a record for a new rock act. Puddle Of Mudd's songs have become a benchmark in contemporary guitar rock.

Fame came organically to Puddle Of Mudd, building from the band's relentless touring, opening for The Deftones, Staind and Godsmack. Puddle's reputation as live performers translated to a strong following of fans and national attention from radio stations which ignited the spark that led to their enormously successful debut. Frontman Wesley Scantlin first became aware of that tipping point in a very public way: "Those moments where you get recognized, y'know? Not being able to walk through a pool hall without stopping at every table and signing autographs - that's when you know you've made some sort of dent."

It's this kind of attention which inspired the title of Puddle Of Mudd's sophomore collection, Life On Display (released November 25). This long awaited follow-up (produced by Come Clean's John Kurzweg, Michael ?Elvis' Baskette and the band) retains the quartet's no-nonsense anti-formula, and brings a more defined and occasionally dark edge to the songs.

"We wanted to make a great rock record that has nothing else coming in to play, like rap or electronics," deadpans Paul, "It's not punk, it's not rap-rock, it's rock. It's not retro rock, we're not playing through all these old amps and sounding like we're in the ?70s - it's modern, new rock, and there's not much of that going on right now."

"We wanted it to sound like we sound live," he continues, "So many people say we're heavier and a whole other band live - we tried to capture what we actually sound like in a rehearsal room. We kept it simple: four takes of everything and minimal overdubs. It's just a bigger sound - not in terms of being polished in sheen, it's rawer."

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Tracklisting

Puddle Of Mudd - Life On Display