Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Extreme, Filter, Perry Farrell, Porno For Pyros, U2

Last year I remember a news story about Perry Farrell and Satellite Party. He ran into this amazing guy and guitarist named Nuno Bettencourt. Somehow Perry was oblivious to the fact that this was the Nuno from none other than Extreme. So without poking anymore fun at Perry with his drug-addled past we'll move on and think of this as a new band with nary a connection to Jane's Addiction, Porno For Pyros or god-forbid Extreme. 

Ultra Payloaded starts off very strong with a great single called "Wish Upon A Dog Star". It has a slightly Eastern influence to it but ultimately ends up being a fun driving track that really doesn't take much to get into. And sadly, it's all downhill from here. When you name a song "Celebrate" you must have reason to do so. Not just saying "I just want to celebrate" over and over and over. "Hard Life Easy" appears to be a loungy track on the surface but then we get that Extreme funk flowing in ruining the party. "Kinky" is absolute crap. 

On "The Solutionists" Satellite Party takes some help from Thievery Corporation and get the second best track on Ultra Payloaded. It's too bad it comes of sounding like a remix and not an original. "Awesome": read note about "Celebrate" but add some strings and a lot of fromage. There is a nod to Farrell's past (Jane's Addiction) with "Insanity Rains". And "Milky Ave" takes a chance on the mellow and almost scores. If there was a little more diversity "Ultra Payloaded Satellite Party" would have had much more potential. I'd like to know how Farrell manage to convince the Doors party to use Jim's "Woman In The Window" and build upon it. It's too strange and it sounds forced. 

I can't help but feel that Ultra Payloaded was rushed. There are some great ideas on the album and yes, Nuno's guitar playing is decent but ultimately half-baked ideas don't cut it. One thing you can say about Farrell's reach on Satellite Party, he isn't trying to recreate his heyday. It's one of those albums that you might just like, given half a chance. I need to emphasize "might".