Volume 4: Songs In the Key of Love & Hate (Deluxe Version)

Puddle of Mudd play hard rock that’s clearly still channeling the angst-ridden grunge years of the early ‘90s. The album’s first single, “Spaceship,” “Hooky” and “Pitchin’ a Fit” rattle with a rage that recalls the combustion of Kurt Cobain’s Nirvana with less of Cobain’s sophistication for the elusive riddle, preferring to emphasize the muscular hard rock attack and sinister harmonies of Alice In Chains. “Keep It Together” is the somber ballad that escalates in frustration with the guitars building skyward. Singer Wes Scantlin isn’t much of an existential philosopher. He tows the hard-rock party line, looking for a good time and advocating that his ladies get naked with him. There’s a solid professionalism to the harmonies and attack (“Blood On the Table’). The band also intended to keep the album a more concise and manageable ten tracks, but also wanted to give hardcore fans the chance to hear more by offering an expanded edition with “acoustic” versions of “Spaceship” and “Stoned” among the highlights.