Ubiquitous (album)

Following the release of Welcome to Galvania in 2019, which marked Puddle of Mudd's first album of original material in a decade,^[2] and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns hindering the band's touring, Scantlin began preliminary work on new music during the lockdowns. Scantlin collaborated closely with producer Cameron Webb. During this period, Scantlin also reunited musically with former bandmates Doug Ardito and Christian Stone, revisiting a collection of unreleased tracks and archival material written across the previous ten years.^[3] According to Scantlin, many of these earlier compositions had been “stored” and later revised and re-recorded in a professional studio setting for the album.^[4]

Cameron Webb produced the majority of the album's tracks, but there were also collaborations with Colin Brittain contributing to select tracks, notably the genre-crossing single “Cash & Cobain.” In interviews,^[5] Scantlin emphasized the diversity of material included on the record, acknowledging that some tracks had evolved from past sessions dating as far back as the early 2010s, while others were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic when he focused intensively on songwriting and self-recording using tools like GarageBand.^[6]

The album's final track "Poke Out My Eyes" is a 2023 re-recorded version of track number five from their independently released EP Stuck that was released in August 1994 as part of the band's first-ever commercial release.

Ubiquitous continues the band's established post-grunge sound, incorporating a mix of heavy guitar-driven arrangements and introspective lyricism. The album blends melodic hooks with grittier tones, reflecting themes of addiction, failed relationships, self-reflection, and perseverance. While rooted in the band’s signature 1990s-influenced hard rock style, the album also features experiments with genre-crossovers.^[7]

The lead single, “My Baby” was released ahead of the album and showcases a clear grunge influence reminiscent of Nirvana, particularly in its verse structure.^[8] The second single, “Cash & Cobain” co-written with producer Colin Brittain, blends multiple genres into a hybrid track that references both Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain in theme and sonic texture. The song was described by frontman Wes Scantlin as a genre-spanning piece that attempts to fuse various musical influences into a cohesive whole.^[9]

The album’s title Ubiquitous, was inspired by a term Scantlin encountered during a sermon by televangelist Joel Osteen. After researching the word’s meaning—“present everywhere”—he found it reflective of the album’s eclectic origins and stylistic breadth. Thematically, Ubiquitous draws from Scantlin's personal struggles and recovery journey, with lyrical references to addiction, introspection, and perseverance, though the album was not explicitly framed as a concept piece.^[10]

To coincide with the announcement of the album, the lead single, "My Baby" was released on July 11, 2023 across all music streaming and digital platforms.^[11] The album's second single, “Cash & Cobain,” was released in conjunction with the full album on September 8, 2023, followed by an official music video that premiered on the band's YouTube channel on February 24, 2024.^[12]

Despite significant promotional efforts, including interviews and a scheduled U.S. tour, the album cycle was marred by the abrupt cancellation of multiple concert dates.^[13] A notable controversy erupted when The Machine Shop venue in Flint, Michigan publicly criticized Scantlin for the cancellations, attributing the disruption solely to his actions. In response, Scantlin issued a public statement asserting that the shows had been booked without his consent by a former management team and announced his intention to reevaluate and restructure his career moving forward.^[14][15]

Elsewhere on the album, tracks such as "Candy" and "Running Out of Time" take on more somber, piano-driven tones, while songs like "Poke Out My Eyes" push into heavier, rawer territory. The record also ventures briefly into country rock aesthetics, most notably on "Butterface". Overall, Ubiquitous is characterized by a stripped-down, back-to-basics approach, with production that emphasizes Scantlin's vocals and songwriting amid a blend of both nostalgic and experimental arrangements.^[16]

Ubiquitous received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Reviewer Pete Crigler of Daily Vault offered a similarly negative assessment, calling the record "instantly forgettable" and criticizing both Scantlin’s vocal performance and the lyrical content. Crigler singled out songs like "Butterface" and "Cash & Cobain" as particularly weak, questioning their relevance and tone.^[17]

Greg Kennelty from Metal Injection responded to the album release, publishing a review with the headline "I Guess Puddle of Mudd Is a Bad Country Band Now?"^[18]

In contrast, CrypticRock, praised the album for its stripped-down, straightforward rock style, noting that it showcased singer Wes Scantlin's songwriting maturity and offered a blend of grunge-era nostalgia with modern polish. Tracks like "Candy", "Running Out of Time", and "Complication" were highlighted as standouts, and gave the album a rating for 4 out of 5 stars.^[19]

Ubiquitous failed to appear on any major music charts, making it the first Puddle of Mudd album since their 1997 independent release Abrasive to not chart.^[20]