Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!

"Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!" is a song by Chumbawamba. Released in 1995, it served as the lead single from the group's seventh studio album, Swingin' with Raymond. It was later featured on the group's 1999 compilation, Uneasy Listening. The song criticizes the homes featured in celebrity gossip magazines such as Hello. Upon its release, the song attained modest chart success in the United Kingdom, where it became their fourth chart entry, spending one week in the top 100. It was generally well-received by critics, who praised its humorous lyrics and composition.

"Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!"
Single by Chumbawamba
from the album Swingin' with Raymond
Released1995
RecordedWoodland Studios, UK
GenrePop, rock, punk
Length2:23
LabelOne Little Indian (UK, 1995)
Songwriter(s)Chumbawamba
Producer(s)Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba singles chronology
"Homophobia"
(1994)		 "Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!"
(1995)		 "Just Look at Me Now"
(1996)

Lyrics

Ugh! Your Ugly Houses! is often thought to be about suburban neighbourhoods, but is actually about the homes of certain rich celebrities.[1] In AllMusic's review of Uneasy Listening, music critic Alex Ogg summarized the song as "a sideswipe at the non-taste of the celebrities featured in Hello magazine."[2]

Release

The song was first included on the group's 1996 album Swingin' with Raymond. It was again featured on their 1999 compilation Uneasy Listening.[3]

Critical reception

AllMusic's Chris Nickson regarded the song as a highlight of Swingin' with Raymond, praising "the interjection of 'In an English Country Garden' [...] that gets trampled by buzzing punk guitar and beats."[4] Music critic Robert Christgau praised the song as "funny."[5]

Commercial performance

The song was a modest hit in the UK, reaching number 84 on their Singles Chart on the chart dated 21 October 1995, becoming the group's fourth entry on that chart.[6]

Track listing

Adapted from Discogs.

  1. Ugh! Your Ugly Houses! - 2:23
  2. Mannequin - 2:30 (originally written by Wire)
  3. This Girl - 3:43
  4. Hunchback of Notre Dame - 2:13
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References
  1. Uneasy Listening CD booklet liner notes.
  2. Ogg, Alex. "Review: Uneasy Listening". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  3. "Song overview". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  4. Nickson, Chris. ""Swingin' with Raymond" review". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. Christgau, Robert. "Chumbawamba: Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. "Chumbawamba Chart History". Official Charts. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
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