Journey to Anywhere

AMG Review of Journey to Anywhere

Jon Azpiri
All Music Guide

It's easy to dismiss Ugly Duckling as just three white kids clowning around. Of course, the same could have been said about the Beastie Boys and they eventually turned into legitimate hip-hop artists. The trio has a scattershot comic approach, lampooning the excesses of modern hip-hop. In Journey to Anywhere, the trio attacks materialism in "A Little Samba," as well as hip-hop's obsession with sex in "Pickup Lines." Their antics could come off as pretentious if they weren't willing to poke fun at themselves, something that MCs Andy Cat and Dizzy Dustin are more than willing to do. While the MCs still have a lot to learn, the real star of the show is DJ Young Einstein, who seems to have a knack for cleverly cutting up old-school grooves. Although it's unlikely that this trio will ever reach the lofty heights of the Beasties, Ugly Duckling may someday prove to be good for more than just a few laughs.