Ugly (Life of Agony album)

Ugly
Studio album by Life of Agony
Released	October 10, 1995
Recorded	System Two, Brooklyn, NY
Genre	Alternative metal
Length	53:10
Label	Roadrunner
Producer	Steve Thompson
Life of Agony chronology
River Runs Red (1993) Ugly (1995) Soul Searching Sun (1997)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Ugly^[1] is the second album released by American alternative metal band Life of Agony. Ugly was a considerable shift in sound from the hardcore and groove metal sounds of their 1993 debut River Runs Red. Although it still featured the band's trademark and pulverizing riffs, ('I Regret', 'Damned If I Do', 'Fears') the gang vocals and pummelling double-kick drumming had been dropped, Caputo also opted for a cleaner vocal delivery - eschewing his previous baritone howl. Songs like 'Let's Pretend' and 'How It Would Be' display the album's more emotional turn and were written about Caputo's mother who had died when he was young. The opener, 'Seasons', was written about his relationship with his father. It was released in 1995 through Roadrunner Records (see 1995 in music). Sal Abruscato left the band after the album's tour in 1996, but later rejoined for their first reunion in 2002.

Reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic praised the album writing in his review "For listeners unaccustomed to blistering, noisy metal, Life of Agony will be agonizing. However, fans of the genre will find the band to be among the best of the mid-'90s, capable of spitting out razor-sharp riffs. What makes Ugly work is the band's grasp of sonic texture -- they can make even their quiet moments menacing."^[2] Critically, the album performed well, but did not repeat the sales of River Runs Red - this can most likely be attributed to the album's considerable change in sound.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Seasons"	Keith Caputo	Sal Abruscato, Caputo	5:41
2.	"I regret"	Alan Robert	Robert, Abruscato, Caputo	4:22
3.	"Lost at 22"	Robert	Robert, Abruscato	4:00
4.	"Other side of the river"	Robert	Robert, Joey Z.	4:06
5.	"Let's pretend"	Caputo	Caputo	4:02
6.	"Ugly"	Robert	Robert, Abruscato, Caputo	5:53
7.	"Drained"	Robert	Robert, Abruscato	4:11
8.	"How it would be"	Caputo	Caputo	4:36
9.	"Unstable"	Robert	Robert, Abruscato	4:32
10.	"Damned if I do"	Robert	Robert, Abruscato, Caputo	3:44
11.	"Fears"	Robert	Robert, Abruscato	2:41
12.	"Don't You (Forget About Me)"	Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff	Forsey, Schiff	6:11

European metal box edition bonus tracks[3]
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
13.	"Coffee break"	Caputo	Abruscato, Caputo	5:09
14.	"Redemption song" (Bob Marley cover)	Bob Marley	Marley	4:02

Personnel

Life of Agony

• Keith Caputo - vocals
• Sal Abruscato - drums & co.
• Alan Robert - bass guitar
• Joey Z. - lead & rhythm guitar

Additional musicians

• Ed Terry - Keyboard and Synthesizer (on "Unstable")

Technical Personnel

• Steve Thompson - production
• Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero - mixing
• Mike Marciano, Eddie Reed and Jay Ryan - engineering
• George Marino - mastering
• Alan Robert - Cover concept
• Anneli Adolfsson - Photography

References

1. Ugly, catalog number RR.8924-2, barcode 016861892425
2. http://www.allmusic.com/album/ugly-mw0000178349
3. Ugly, catalog number RR.8924-9, barcode 016861892494