Sugar
File Under: Easy Listening

THE REVIEW

The second official album by Sugar is from 1994. No breaks for this band, up until 1995, their last year of existence. The sound, after the very angry EP "Beaster," has returned to commercial, realigning with the debut of "Copper Blue," actually softening further in intentions as much as in results, continuing their short but fast run towards emocore.

The initial "Gift", however, seems to betray what I have stated, boisterous as it is; "thankfully" the chorus, with those typical Bob Mould harmonies, brings everything back to more catchy levels. From there, there are pop-punk episodes that are not out of place but "aligned and covered," like "Your Favorite Thing," all in chorus and based on the beauty of the first (and only) riff, like "What You Want It To Be," paced with beautiful clean guitars and a groove that seems like Bowie's "Heroes." Or again like "Gee Angel," the funniest, most frenetic, and at the same time the most predictably pop-punk episode.

For this genre, there is a planned alternative not hardcore, but rather the guitar-driven and traditional pop, semi-acoustic of ballads and campfire-worthy songs, like "Panama City" and especially "Believe What You're Saying," worthy of "If I Can't Change Your Mind" from "Copper Blue."

Whether we like it or not, Bob Mould's (almost) total shift towards pop cannot be criticized outright, just because it doesn't please us. We can choose whether to buy, listen to the album, that's for sure. For those who chose/were chosen to listen to this album, possibly without knowing who the singer/author was (or, knowing his name, ignoring his history and career), there was nothing left but to appreciate the well-played songs by a band in great form. Enjoying an album with all decent tracks, but lacking strokes of genius, as well as chart-breaking singles.

Certainly, the poignant finale of the concluding "Explode And Make Up" and the sound of the initial "Gift" would have suggested far greater potential in this author... But we are talking about other times, other albums. And another band.