Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
1988
Album Summary
Life's Too Good is the debut studio album by Icelandic alternative rock group The Sugarcubes. It was released in April 1988 by One Little Indian in the UK and Europe and in May 1988 by Elektra Records in the US. The album was an unexpected success and brought international attention for the band, especially to lead singer Björk, who would launch a successful solo career in 1993. Consisting of veterans of Reykjavík's early 1980s rock culture, the band took elements of the post-punk sound that characterized the scene, intending to create a humorous take on pop music's optimism, which is reflected in the album's title. Despite never having intended to be taken seriously, and because of the success of their debut and their contractual obligations, the Sugarcubes went on to release two further studio albums.
WikipediaWow. Didn’t know what I was getting myself into. The album art sets the mood and they never back down. Once I found my bearings after motor crash I really loved this one. Similar feel to B52s but edgier, stronger delivery and more energy. Incredible lead female vocals on birthday, delicious demon, mama then great duet chemistry in sick for toys and delicious demon. Great rock/new wave instrumentals. No bad songs really.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The vocals were very unique and I liked the icelandic. Many different styles of song and ya, good stuff.
It's Icelandic B-52s with Björk at the helm. Not what I would call a good time. Best track: Birthday
Hello. It is Christmas time and I am sitting here by my TV. I've been watching it very much lately because I'm on holiday. You shouldn't let poets lie to you.
Loved this. I'm somewhat familiar with Bjork, but wasn't sure what to expect with this. I enjoyed Bjork's vocals more than the weird German-sounding fella, but I will definitely listen to this again and check out the other Sugar Cubes albums. 4 stars.
I'm back in. Life's Too Good is fun and varied. Energy and bjork's quirky singing bring it all together. OK, Dragon is a curveball, but overall, an enjoyable alt pop album.
Amazing album! About the time I was listening to Birthday I realized I was listening to something special. The female vocalist is on fire! Wailing, shrieking, crooning, growling... she sounds like a more-talented Blondie. Definitely at 80s sounding album btw. Looked them up, turns out this is Bjork! This is the best I've heard her. Great lyrics on this album. The include a song about god not existing, so they've got my approval. Definitely a 4.5. The only thing holding it down is the male "vocalist" who can't sing. Cut that fucker out and we've got a 5 star album. I downloaded this album it was so good though.
Bjork is so much better when with The Sugarcubes. They seem to keep her in line, and she sings in the correct places along with the tune. I prefer the style of music too.
Like a sub standard b-52s. Also byorks singing is fucking annoying. Neil young levels of annoying.
It's kind fo refreshing to hear Bjork without the overworked vocals that lead nowhere that characterise her solo work, only her standard phrasing is still only vaguely interesting. I'm pleased to say that while she's barely emotive, the rhythms are more than barely funky, and plenty playful. An exercise class in quirkiness rather than an elite level performance of it.
Fantastic. Really enjoyed revisiting this one. Innovative, full of energy. Bjork is a one-off and I love her!
I've never heard her sing before. Damn I was missing out. I can see why there was so much love for Birthday.
Really enjoyed this. Bjork is such a force here. Birthday is a real showpiece, just stunning.
I could not help but dance to every song on this album. It's upbeat and fun grooves, mixed with Bjork's sensational vocals, creates such an optimistic listening experience. I can't imagine listening to this and not feeling lighthearted and happy. Though "Cowboy" made me laugh and "Dragon" was a little scary, I enjoyed every moment of this album.
As much as I like Bjork's solo work, this indie pop is a better match for her fiery vocals. An absolute treasure.
A wonderful album! I saw them in Houston on their first American tour. I remember Bjork messing up a note while singing and making a face. Her voice was so singular. They had an unusual to me at the time stage set up with the drummer off to one side. I also saw Sigur Rós on their first American tour, and when I went to Iceland, people were impressed that I knew about them so early.
First track - had Bjork heard this before recording Big Time Sensually? Holy shit. Just glanced at the album notes and these guys are Icelandic. So yes, Bjork had definitely heard this before recording Big Time Sensuality. Second track is also strongly Bjorkish in vocal vibe. I mean, the music isn't, but the vocals sure are. Hah. Reading the notes more, the lead singer IS Bjork! What a journey of discovery! The album is great. Can really see the evolution of Bjork as a singer and artist. I wonder if the rest of the band have gone on to other stuff?
I bought this record ON CASSETTE as a young teen after reading a review in Thrasher magazine. At the time, I would never have predicted Björk would become a world-wide sensation. Instead, it was just a great college radio record from an obscure Icelandic band I read about in a magazine. None of their other records quite hit like this one for me and it still sounds fresh, sweet and a little creepy.
Birthday is an amazing song. This album helped spawn the career of the lead singer who wears a swan dress sometimes.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this unknown alternative rock band has such an identity in their music.
I had no idea Bjork was in a weird post-punk band before going solo. This album kinda rules.
Unexpected hit. Bjork's vocals really made the chaos shine. Sounds like a love child between the Cranberries and the B52s.
This is extremely up my alley, it's some weird upbeat alternative rock stuff with Bjork singing.
now this is my style. i can't get enough of björk's vocals. her voice is so expressive and pairs perfectly with the... for lack of better words, spunky, instrumentals. #1 Birthday #2 Motorcrash #3 Delicious Demon
Strange first exposure to Bjork but ok. I love post-punk, and the Sugarcubes do everything right to fill in the checkmarks. It's like if the B-52s went the alt rock route rather than synth-based New Wave route. Bjork's voice sometimes sounds like the Cranberries's lead except Icelandic which is close enough to Irish. Songs are impactful and weird, with my favorites being Birthday and Deus.
really not that bad. 4 is a bit of a stretch but 3 is too little. Will check them out more
The Sugar Cubes were too early. But considering Björk apparently had a record deal when she was all of 11 years old, maybe they were right on time. This is the album No Doubt wished they could have made. And like Gwen Stefani, Björk was too big of a personality to just front some band. Bigger things like swan suits and Spike Jonze videos awaited her. They key track here is "Birthday", a song I listened to so many times that I'm sure my Spotify algorithm exploded.
This album has a fun infectiousness. Bjork sounds right at home in front of a post punk band. Delicious Demon is a sleeper hit. That was so fun!
What a voice. Bjork is a revelation and the music and songs are great too. 3.75 🌟
-Pretty cool album. Good number of solid tracks. "Delicious Demon" is definitely my favorite -Pretty good. Not mind blowing, but just generally nice tracks with interesting stuff going on
I was about to write a review about how good this sounds by itself but how much it is elevated by the singers performance. Then I realized its Björk so yeah that's suddenly incredibly obvious. This a good one
Bjork heeft zo een toffe stem! Maakt me helemaal vrolijk! Graaf album!
Really enjoyed. Bizarre and fascinating, loved the mischievous feel and rhythms.
Enjoyed this one, different in a good cool edgy way. The Bjork vocals are great
Icelandic Post-Punk Pop, now there is a Genre! wonderful debut by the Sugar Cubes, super high octane post-punk pop and dare I say the introduction to the world of the force of nature that is Bjork! wonderful stuff from the band rightfully on the list. Favourites are "MotorCrash" "Birthday" and "Coldsweat" Rightfully on the list here!
I never thought that Björk was actually a member of a band, let alone a post-punk band! Ans she's on fire here, carrying an incredible vocal energy while staying in the post-punk territory. The instrumentals, while generic at some places, are great too. Love the drum beats on some tracks. Overall, with such volcanic vocals and cool instrumentals, this slightly exotic album is equivalent to a little walk in one of my favorite countries.
Albums like Life's Too Good are precious because they found great artists at their beginnings... and show all the promise that will be fulfilled lated. Just plain fun, and brilliant at the same time.
It has taken me a few days to write a review of this. That is partially procrastination, but there was also a desire to let the album sit for a day or two. This is an album of quite some density. I would have also said of some uniqueness, but the post-punk/goth/indie roots of this are unmistakable. In that regard, it does the job rather finely. Often the album charms in its quirkiness, but of course that word warns of the possiblity for irritation. For me, it avoided that, but I would not battle someone who found it properly flossed their punani. Along with that, I think it just narrowly misses the knock-out blow tthat would make it a full 5-starrer. Maybe another listen would bump it up, but maybe not. Still, great fun.
What a voice. Bjork is a revelation and the music and songs are great too. 3.75 🌟
Nice to see this on the list. I listened to all of Bjork's pre-solo projects a few years ago, and some of them just had novelty/curiosity appeal, but The Sugarcubes are good on their own terms! Nice mixture of post-punk and alt-rock. I remember their next two albums sound more poppy, so this is probably the one to get. Bjork's dynamic vocals are a strong presence - but I would recommend this even to people who aren't fans of her solo stuff. 4*
I was listening to this and thought, "huh, the lead singer is really doing their best Bjork impression." Cue me being surprised to learn that this was the band Bjork was in before she made it big! Listening to Bjork is an experience, and look, realistically not everyone's going to like that experience. I happen to enjoy it a lot. I think her vocals are unique, weird, and strong. So for me this album was totally enjoyable, but I can see why some people are turned off by it.
Very interesting album. As always, Bjork is perfect. On the drum side, it feels like Neil Peart playing in a post-punk band and it's really cool. Among the other musicians, I feel a strong desire to innovate. However, it looks like a young group whose best is yet to come, with songs just not yet fully developed or compositions not strong enough. It's hard to rate this album. I feel in a good mood: 4 stars.
I don’t even really fully understand why, but… I really like this album. I know I shouldn’t. It’s just so odd it’s appealing. And I enjoy the music. Birthday is one of my favorite songs. I don’t mean just on the album, I mean favorite songs. Bjork’s vocals bridge ethereal and gutteral and it works for me.
The Sugarcubes: great band with a one of a kind incredible lead singer and a sometimes secondary lead singer who wishes he was Frank Black. Rilo Kiley: great band with a one of a kind incredible lead singer and a sometimes secondary lead singer who wishes he was Elliott Smith.
Damn fine album. Post-punk meets 80s synth pop. Bjork catches a lot of slack, but like Yoko Ono, her skill is in her range and this album doesn't suffer as a result. This is a revisit-worthy album. 4/5.
Obviously Bjork. But also the drumming in this is really fun and exciting. The sense of humor of everyone in the band is notable throughout the album. Listening to the Icelandic lyrics is also fun, despite not understanding any of the words.
I really disliked when the guy sang/talked but wow I was really into bjork’s voice, never listened to her before. I can see how she was influenced by that early 80s new wave alt rock female vocal style, but she totally builds on and surpasses it. I don’t usually like this genre but bjonk makes it cool
I will become a cowboy 🤠 Cool album with Bjork and some early alt rock sounds
Love this. Björk's voice is so unique and the sugar cubes really rocked. Not heard any of these songs before (I think Hit is the only one of theirs I know). Good fun.
This is cool glimpse into early Bjork - you can really hear some of the same themes that she returns to for Human Behavior many years later.
Has this uncomfortable vibe of two strangers next to you on the bus talking out loud about the most specific pornographic stuff. Great album though
4.0 - Having been a Björk fan, I was eager to explore the Sugarcubes but I made the mistake of purchasing their other, more critically acclaimed "Here Today..." record. I hated Einar Benediktsson's obnoxious spoken contributions, shouting about dumb shit like lobster and shrimp. Too whacky. But on this debut record, Benediktsson's contributions are far less distracting. I can actually appreciate the warbly interplay of guitar and drums on "Birthday" where Björk breathily sings about a girl who "threads worms on a string" and "keeps spiders in her pocket." Björk's weirdness is front-and-center without that other wanker crowding her out.
Peel of the high gloss layers of 80's rock and you'll find Björk! A women I'd prostrate myself before and pledge my undying devotion if only she'd song sweetly in my ear.
Fun, Bjork before the extreme arty experimentation. Includes the wonderful Birthday and I really like the music and groove of Blue eyed pop even if it a complete ironic send-up.
I wonder what a mix of this would sound like if you removed Einar's shouty vocals?
Björk's singing just got my heart. This album is so strange, upbeat, so many different things going on, very good.
Odmah sam rekao da mi se album cover ne sviđa. Čitajući o albumu, općenito jer mi je glas bio nekako poznat, i gle vraga, Björk je na albumu, to je njen bend prije nego što je ošla u solo vode. Interesting, interesting indeed! Album nije imao baš neki najbolji opener, ali što je kasnije išlo - razvezale su se pertle i krenula je dobra glazba ispadati iz zvučnika (ignorirajući nekad muški glas jer većinom nema baš šta posebno za reći, a Björk je ukrala show, odlična.)
Bjork’s first band and that’s all I really know to be honest and from the first track (traitor) you can tell this thing is wired with male spoken word vocals backed by Bjork’s beautiful screaming. The rest of the of the album does mostly tone down after though. I think her singing is definitely not something that appeals to everyone that hears it but I’ve really enjoyed it, I also think that while she obviously goes in a more experimental pop direction Bjork’s music is quite grounded in the formalities of rock music so to hear her in a rock band was cool. If I had to call out specific best tracks on the album they would probably be: traitor, delicious demon, mama, coldsweat and deus! But honestly, I like all of the tracks especially when they get weird 4/5!
It's so jarring hearing Bjork singing in something that isn't hyperpop, but it still goes hard
Prefs: Traitor, Motorcrash, Birthday, Delicious Demon, Deus, Sick for Toys, F***ing in Rythm and Sorrow Moins pref: Take Some Petrol Darling
Never have managed to get into Bjork - but I really liked this, so maybe I'll give her another go too. Really liked Motorcrash, Delicious Demon and Coldsweat. Not so keen on Birthday - it's a bit shouty (which is fine, just not for me!)