PUDDLE OF MUDD
Striking That Familiar Chord
Eagle Rock Entertainment 2005
www.puddleofmudd.com

Sample it here

Read the Wes Scantlin interview

What’s the 4-1-1?
Puddle of Mudd performs their biggest hits at L.A.’s famous Key Club. Recorded in 5.1 surround sound.

Genre
Hard rock / alternative

The Good
Puddle of Mudd always delivers a great live show (I’ve seen them twice), and this performance is no different. Normally they’re in an opening slot, but with the Key Club show, Wes and company rifle through a fourteen song set list that keeps the energy, excitement, and enjoyment going for 90 minutes. Not only do you get the hits “Blurry”, Drift and Die”, “Spin You Around”, “Control”, “Away From Me”, and “She Hates Me”, but you also get lesser known, but just as encompassing songs like “Think”, “Bleed”, and “Basement”.

The bonus material included on the DVD is comprised of an acoustic studio session that took place days before the show. Even though Puddle of Mudd is predominantly acoustic anyway, to hear “Blurry”, “Think”, Drift and Die”, and “Away From Me” with absolutely no electric accompaniment is truly impressive. The songs taken on new forms and in some instance become better. There was talk of a Puddle of Mudd unplugged CD down the road, after hearing this I hope it becomes a reality.

The Bad
Although the DVD brags of insightful interviews with the band, they are very brief and not very interesting.

The Verdict
Striking That Familiar Chord only solidifies the fact that Puddle of Mudd has a knack for writing catchy, well-written acoustic based songs. They pull off each live track as if you were listening to the original recording.

Did You Know?
Puddle of Mudd has sold over 5 million copies of their debut album Come Clean.

Rating: out of 5

Related Reviews:
Puddle of Mudd - Life on Display

--George Dionne