BUMBLEFOOT — Uncool (review)

Album · 2002 · Progressive Metal

5/5 · 2014-01-03
siLLy puPPy

This album was released twice with different tracks so it has led to some serious confusion when referring to it and rating it since both versions are titled UNCOOL.

The first version was released in 2000 in France only. It has an orange cover with some dude on the ground. It has 17 tracks. The tracks that were omitted on the 2nd version were included on the compilation Forgotten Anthology. This is the version I know and love well.

The second version was released in 2002 everywhere else. It has a picture of a lounge lizard Bumblefoot at the mic having drinks thrown at him. It has 13 tracks. Some of the tracks are the same as on the first and some were re-recorded. This version includes 2 tracks not on the French version. The track order is completely different for those that are the same. Let me explain the differences....

2000 French release (I'm rating this version on this site since it came out first and is my preferred choice)

1 Intro..... Not on 2nd version. Bass heavy loop with a spoken-word Bumblefoot sets the mood for the album. Lounge lizards unite!

2 Go..... Re-recorded on 2nd version. How to describe this? Abruptly changes from lounge setting to a electro-punk sound maybe? Not sure how to describe this other than that it rocks when it rocks and scratches when it scratches. Very unique

3 T Jonez..... On both versions. Sounds like a Tom Jones and White Zombie duet. A hit on college radio in France

4 My World Is You..... On both versions. A continuation of the intro with sappy romantic spoken words.

5 Crunch..... Not on 2nd version. Starts out as a rockabilly country song that morphs into avant-garde metal.

6 I Hate Me More Than I Love You..... On both versions. Kind of electro-poppy with some metal choruses and hip-hop guest spots.

7 Kiss The Ring..... On both versions. Another unique sound that is kinda funk, kinda rock, kinda hip hop but then again not

8 Delilah..... On both versions. An obvious tribute to Tom Jones – Bumblefoot style

9 Dominated..... Re-recorded on 2nd version. Same sounds as Kiss The Ring

10 R2..... Not on 2nd version. An instrumental that reminds me of the Swingle Singers with a Latin band, a flautist and a virtuoso guitarist. Very cool, I mean uncool. Also on the 911 album

11 Ronald's Comin' Back Now..... On both versions. A Latin flavored rocker

12 Maricona..... Not on 2nd version. Slowed down beefy bass, piano and accordion. Guess kind of a chanson? Until it totally turns into something else of course

13 Mine..... Not on 2nd version. Aggressive punk feel with some kind of strange car alarm thing going on. Even includes a children's chorus briefly. Best guitar solo on the album. Hilarious and uncool!

14 Heart Attack..... Not on 2nd version. Classical orchestration only. Philosophical lyrics

15 Girl Like You..... Not on 2nd version. An over-the-top ballad with duel parts. One lovey dovey, the other not so much! Cool guitar. Another Frankenstein of musicality

16 Finale..... Not on 2nd version. An outro which turns into...

17 We Don't Care..... Not on 2nd version. Basically a hard-core punk song

This version is awesome from beginning to end. Bumblefoot incorporates so many styles and genres but focuses on the lost hits of the 60s as his influence. The combination of the cheesy pop of yesteryear and the modern metal approach complete with stunning solos is very original and surprisingly good. Just when you think you have the gist of what's going on the next song will throw you off completely. Once again Bumblefoot puts more creativity into one album than one can believe. Comparisons with Mr Bungle are fair due to the large amount of influences but this doesn't sound anything like Mr B or anything else for that matter

International release

1 BBF Takes the Mic..... Only on this version. Different version of intro from French version

2 Go..... Re-recorded version. Basically the same but less effective for me

3 T Jonez..... Same as first version.

4 My World Is You..... Same as first version.

5 Dominated..... Re-recorded version. Also prefer the French version

6 Kiss The Ring..... Same as first version.

7 What's New Pussycat?..... Only on this version. A cover by Burt Bacharach. Not bad

8 I Hate You More Than I Love You..... Same as first version.

9 Delialah..... Same as first version.

10 Ronald's Comin' Back Now..... Same as first version.

11 BBF Says Goodnight..... Same as first version only titled “Finale” there

12 Can't Take My Eyes Off You..... Only on this version. A cover of the Frankie Valli hit. Better than “Pussycat”

13 Hidden Track..... Not on first version. Basically a repeated loop with extremely slow developments. Has a Tom Jonesy lounge feel that lasts for slightly over 30 minutes. Obviously included to test the sanity of the listener or to give nightmares to those who may have fallen asleep.

I'm not sure why Bumblefoot felt a need to re-release this album. I like the first so much better.The songs flow together perfeclty and I think that the fact that the songs are all over the place stylistically is exactly what the title refers to. How uncool it is to spit in the face of the record companies to make an album where all the rules are broken. The newer version isn't a bad album but doesn't work for me since I know the first version so well. The addition of the two new songs doesn't do much for me and the hidden track is, well, just plain irritating.

5 stars for the fantastic 2000 French version (which i'm rating here because it was the first version) but I would give 3.5 stars for the 2002 re-release.