Background and history
Songwriting and inception
Parts of "Uh Oh' were written as far back as 2013 and performed at select tour dates, [5] as an intro to their 2001 song She Hates Me, but largely remained unfinished until around late 2017 to early 2018. [6]
Arrests, erratic behavior, addiction struggles
The title "Uh Oh" and lyrics "(I Fucked it Up Again)" that immediately follows portrays lyrical content reflect on Scantlin's struggle with substance abuse, repeated legal troubles, and a widely publicized pattern of erratic behavior throughout the 2010s. [7] [8] [9] Scantlin described the song as a satirical reflection on his behavior and poor decisions during his years of addiction, calling it a humorous and self-aware account that presents a "cartoon version" of himself at rock bottom. [10] Written to make light of many legal incidents that found Scantlin in trouble with the law for many years between 2011 and 2017, such as being arrested multiple times for incidents involving drug possession, [11] public intoxication, [12] domestic violence, [13] causing a JetBlue flight to make an emergency landing due to a drunken altercation after a flight attendent refused to serve him more alcohol, [14] vandalism charges, getting raided by the bomb squad to dismantle a homemade bomb Scantlin attached to his vehicle to deter potential car thieves, [15] assaulting fans during concerts by throwing microphones and other objects into the crowds, multiple standoffs with law enforcement officers where SWAT units had to intervene, [16] [17] and his infamous incident where he made global headlines by getting arrested for impulsively jumping onto the baggage carousel at Denver International Airport and joy-riding it into a restricted area inside the airport's terminal as if it were a carnival ride at an amusement park shortly before the band was set to perform a concert in the Denver area, [18] which led to Scantlin being bailed out by a local fan and resulted in him being hours late to the show. [19] [20]
Divorce, foreclosure, recording session, high speed police chase
Scantlin faced financial and personal setbacks, which included owing the IRS $60,000 in back taxes, [21] a divorce in which his ex-wife was to receive $2,500 per month in alimony with the drama continuing post-divorce after he stole her car from her driveway, returning it to her damaged only after shed filed a police report stating he took it without consent, then later was charged with domestic violence after the two were involved in a physical altercation. [22]
On July 6, 2015 the band announced they were at Grandmaster Studio in California to start work on their new album, which they stated would be released in late 2015 to early 2016. [23] However, work on the new album came to halt after Scantlin was arrested on July 27, 2015, for leading police on a 100mph high speed chase that resulted in Scantlin crashing his car and receiving an additional charge for a DWI, which would be his first of two within one month. [24] [25]
On-stage meltdowns, further arrests, incarceration
Scantlin's legal trouble, erratic behavior, financial struggles, and on-stage meltdowns continued throughout the remainder of 2015 to late 2017, [26] including charges for vandalizing a neighbor’s patio with a buzz saw and sledgehammer during a property dispute, [27] not showing up for concerts, [28] losing his home in foreclosure, [29] disastrous live performances, randomly walking off stage not coming back out after only performing 2 or 3 songs live, abruptly ending the show, [30] passing out on stage and finishing concerts lying flat on his back unable to move from being heavily under the influence, [31] having his band walk-off stage during the middle of show because Scantin's intoxicated state, and being arrested on gun charges for attempting to sneak a BB gun into an airport. [32] [33]
Following his arrest on gun charges, [34] Scantlin was sentenced to three months in prison and agreed to enter rehab once he finished his incarceration. [35] [36] Scantlin later went on to describe that while serving his sentence and after 20 days in solitary confinement, is when he finished the lyrics for "Uh Oh", [37] and used the time to reflect on how he would revive his career and earn back the trust of his fans whom he stated that he abbandoned throughout the years while struggling with his addiction. [38]
Rehab, newfound sobriety, return to studio
After a successful bid for sobriety in early 2018, [39] Scantlin and the band entered the studio with producer Cameron Webb to begin the process of recording new music. After signing a new record deal with Pavement Entertainment, recording sessions began in the summer of 2018. In a December 2018 interview with Blabbermouth, Scantlin announced that "Puddle of Mudd will be back and releasing a new badass record in 2019." [40] Offering insight into the recording process for "Uh Oh", although not released at that time, Scantlin stated it was one of the first songs completed in the album's recording sessions. A final update posted on the band's official social media profiles on May 23, 2019 announcing "Puddle of Mudd New Release Coming VERY Soon." [41]
On July 12, 2019 the band officially announced their seventh full-length album, Welcome to Galvania , would be released on September 13, 2019. [42] [43] Along with the revelation of the new album, it was also announced that the lead single "Uh Oh" has officially been released and is available to download and stream on all major digital music retailers and streaming services, and has been sent to rock radio. [44]
The singles released marked the band's first new release in five years, the last being their 2014 non-album single "Piece of the Action". It was also the band's first release of original material for a new album in over ten years, [45] their last album Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate a decade earlier in 2009. [46]
Composition and content
Musically, "Uh Oh" blends alternative rock and post-grunge elements with hard rock influences. The track features distorted guitar riffs, a strong rhythm section, and an anthemic chorus. The song recaptures the band's signature early 2000s-era sound, but with updated production. Lyrically, it balances themes of self-destruction with comedic irony and self-deprecation. [47] Throughout the song, lead singer Wes Scantlin pokes fun at his own troubled reputation, [48] with lines that exaggerate the consequences of impulsive behavior, criminal mischief, and partying. Despite its light-hearted delivery, the song is rooted in genuine personal experience. [49]
The single was released digitally on July 12, 2019, via Pavement Entertainment, coinciding with the new album's announcement. An official music video directed by Reuben Armstrong was released a month later on August 15, 2019. As part of the promotion, the band performed "Uh Oh" during radio appearances and acoustic sessions including SiriusXM Octane in November 2019. [50]
"Uh Oh" was the opening track on Welcome to Galvania , which was released on September 13, 2019. [51]
Following the song's release, it was accompanied by statements from the band and label noting Scantlin's sobriety and the band's renewed focus. [52] "Uh Oh" was highlighted in various press outlets as symbolic of Scantlin’s attempt to rebuild his career and return to music following years of negative press. [53] [54]
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Uh Oh" received generally favorable reviews, with critics noting its return to Puddle of Mudd's signature early 2000s post-grunge sound and its candid lyrical content. [55]
Loudwire described the track as "a catchy new song that loosely addresses Scantlin's troubles," and noted its significance as the band's first single in nearly a decade, praising the track's sense of humor and self-awareness. The site also reviewed the single's accompanying music video, which portrayed singer Wes Scantlin in a series of tongue-in-cheek run-ins with law enforcement, further complementing the track’s self-deprecating reflection of the chaos that existed in Scantlin's life that inspired the song's inception. In December 2019 when Loudwire revealed their list of the "50 Best Rock Albums of 2019", the article stated the album's lead single "Uh Oh" was viewed not only as a return to form but also as a key element in the band’s broader comeback narrative but the use of self-deprecating humor that’s worked for them in the past with song's like She Hates Me and Psycho, "Uh Oh" has an incredibly catchy backing and is one of the reasons why Welcome to Galvania made that list. [56]
The Indy Review referred to the song as "the band's catchiest single in years," commending its blend of "bare-bones honesty" and a "fresh dose of dark humor." Screamer Magazine highlighted that "Uh Oh" carried humorous overtones that contributed to Welcome to Galvania's introspective themes, while stating that it's "one song guaranteed to give you goosebumps." [57] [58]
Pete Crigler from Daily Vault Reviews offered a more critical review of the song, saying:
Scantlin’s vocals sound heavily processed because his original sound is long gone, erased in a booze and cocaine-fueled haze. He's trying for a comeback, but now that he's on his own, without any help from his famous friends, he's struggling. "Uh Oh" essentially repeats the same lyrics without bringing anything to the table in any sense of musicality at all. [59]
Overall, the reception emphasized the song's ability to bridge the past and present in the Puddle of Mudd discography. [60]
Music video
The official music video for "Uh Oh" premiered on the Puddle of Mudd YouTube channel on August 15, 2019. [66] It was produced by Blake Scantlin, son of the band's lead singer Wes Scantlin and was directed by Reuben Armstrong. [67] [68]
Directed with a humorous tone, the video stars Wes Scantlin playing multiple roles, including a prisoner and a mischievous outlaw figure. [69] The narrative includes scenes of police chases, mugshots, and courtroom chaos, serving as a parody of Scantlin's own past legal troubles. [70] The video matches the song’s tone, balancing humor with a sense of redemption.
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