Reviews (page 2 of 8)
This was fine even if it was uninspired for the most part. I liked one of their songs enough, and my bar has lowered since doing this experiment. So i will give it a small bump
Not bad, but unremarkable
This was fun, I knew it would be so saved it. Poppier Husker Du
Cool enough rock.
Great guitar sound. Very full but still catchy.
was nice
É um bom álbum divertido e energético de rock. Roseselsa Quietsea II.
As stereotypical as an American alt-rock group from the early '90s could sound, but it was overall enjoyable and decently written. There are definitely some keepers here. A couple of songs could have been shaved off by a minute or two, though. Favourite track: A Good Idea
Quintessential 90s alternative rock. Mould pivots from something more punk and heavy to something more melodic and radio friendly. Don’t miss out on the “Good Vibrations” nod.
buen rock
This album didn’t resonate with me.
Okayy
Sounded more like REM than REM does these days! Generic alt rock.
Had lots of great ingredients! Missed the mark though.
This was a pretty cool evolution for Bob Mould, especially going into the 90s. He had already made his mark in the 80s with Hüsker Dü, but this album definitely feels like a fresh new start for him. You can still hear traces of Hüsker Dü, but this album really leans toward early 90s alternative rock, along with a slight power pop feel. It really goes to show what a great musician Bob Mould was and how he had a knack for coming up with fresh new sounds that fit those different periods of time.
SO 90s!
As a fan of Hüsker Dü, I’m embarrassed to admit that I had no idea about any of Bob Mould’s other projects, so this was a nice surprise! Didn’t leave too much of an impression on me, but it was super solid, with some great standout tracks!
wow this is great. I've never even heard of these guys, which surprises me since I was kind of target demographic in the early 90s. 4/5.
So generic 90s alt rock that sounds like a parody from a movie trying to make generic 90s alt rock. These guys aren't bad, it's just that everyone else in the same ecosystem did it so much better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Both Bob Mould's voice and his career trajectory remind me a lot of Lou Reed. If he had managed even one hit single he would probably be held in the same regard. But Mould was far more talented than Reed. If I Can't Change Your Mind probably should have been that hit, similarly to Teenage Fanclub Star Sign or Pixies Here Comes Your Man. There was a lot of great music in the early 90s that was criminally ignored. 4 stars, but I wish I could give 4 1/2.
tout est semblable
i knew i've already listened to that voice before. some nice songs, but to be honest i'm not that fan of jangly guitar songs. and there's many songs here that are that way.
One of those albums that you didn’t realize was so rooted in a particular time until you listen to it so many years later. So if you want to feel like it’s the early 90’s, this one may be a perfect one to put on.
Remember my brother having this album, ok but would seek out again - nothing special
I can see (maybe) how those who are not familiar with Bob Mould might write this off as generic 90s grunge. But for those who listen to this in the Mould timeline from Hüsker Dü, followed by his softer ‘89 debut album Workbook, to three years later hitting hard on this sugar cylinder surely realize the depth that Bob provides. This album is just a continuation of what Husker was doing, only with a bit more harmony and pop layers. Can it be argued that with albums like Nevermind arriving a year prior, that this album doesn’t get as much traction as it did? Maybe. But overall it was a great listen when it came out and still holds up today.
I’m a little surprised I didn’t recognize any of this but maybe just didn’t get popular enough. After watching the video for If I can’t change your mind and the lead singer is one goofy dude. I got Buster vibes from Arrested Development hahaha. Also, this will be a random one but vocals in that song had a similar effect to Volbeat. I liked this but just missing that thing that would bump it up. 3.25
Pretty generic 90's rock deserves a pretty generic 3*. 3.25/5
2.5 Power Pop is ok in doses.
class, it's quite good!
Just an incredible album. Probably one of the all-time greatest "first album from a guy's new band after his legendary band's break-up" albums
Sounds like a lot of other 90s alt/grungey bands, but also like a crappier version of all of those.
fun one from the past
This blew, musically some of the songs were ok, the one britpop cut stood out like a sore thumb, vocals ruined any decent parts.
I didn’t know what this would be like before listening, and I feel like it’s the most average sounding rock album I’ve heard in a while.
Was aight
Wish this was a bit better. It was good, but “If I Can’t Change Your Mind” is one of my all time favorite songs and the rest of the album can’t keep up.
Really good album - I did think the mastering was missing something. It sounded a little tinny to me. Also, the drummer had a lot of unnecessary fills. Really random, so not needed on a lot of the songs.
Not bad, but missing some sauce to make it truly great.
Absolutely love this album!!!
Not sure this album deserves a spot on this list, as there are certainly better offerings from the 90s alt-rock genre. Howver, Bob Mould's voice is so emblematic of the 90s alt rock/pop sound, I'm willing to give it a pass here. It's a bit exhausting by the end, but the layers of guitar pull no punches.. would probably make for a killer listen while flying down the interstate
Not bad
I knew Husker Du growing up but didn't listen to them much, but just in the last couple years, I went back and listened to them more, as well as all of Bob Mould's solo albums. I appreciate his style a lot more, now, though I will admit that it is all similar enough that if someone doesn't like his voice or some of his ways of writing, there isn't much chance they will change their mind. However, I think Sugar is about as distilled to a grunge/alternative rock sound as he ever got, and I think it is about as good as a top recommendation for that sound from him, with Husker Du being more Noise Rock and some of his early solo stuff being a bit more folk rock.
This is a pretty good album for the most part. Good Idea is a fun song and the rest is okay to good.
Have I never heard this band? It's giving me Tragically Hip / The Long Winters / all the 90s alternative bands vibes. I kind of love this.
Another nice sounding rock album
2.5
Not a fan of this sort of American rock. The songs all sound so similar, don’t like the singing and there’s nothing original.
Très cliché
Found the album getting a bit repetitious towards the end
Never heard of this before. It's fairly basic melodic alternative rock from the 90s but the more I listened to it the more I liked it. They really pack out the sound to an almost noise rock/shoegaze crescendo at times and I don't mind it at all. Really dense production but without quite getting too muddy. Maybe it has become very easy to look back now and recognise that the 90s were entirely saturated by this whole subgenre but at the time it was a lot of fun, and we didn't have the variety we have now. I do miss new guitar music so it's nice to discover any that is new to me, even if it is 30+ years old and feels every bit of it. Took me reading a bit further to discover that this is the latter band of Bob Mould, frontman from Hüsker Dü, who are also a new discovery via the 1001 that I really enjoyed.
Yeah, sure. A very good album and a neat side of Bob Mould outside of Husker Du. That said, I'd rather we had New Day Rising or Zen Arcade over this.
Album i've never heard of before, i wasn't familiar with your game
idk went on for too long w sada3ny
Early 90s rock that occupies a strange space - not quite fast enough to be punk, not quite dour enough to be grunge. I'd call it post hardcore but it's a little too Dad-rock for that. Still it chugs along just fine. Meat and potatoes are nice sometimes.
Could've been a 4 if they played more with the harmony like they did on some tracks
Really liked it. Never knew it existed. Been really into the early 90s alternative stuff this project has thrown at me.
4.5
This is definitely one of those albums that if I heard it back in '92-93, I probably would have loved it and may have been even a five-star album at the time. But hearing it now you can tell that this is basically the arrow of what corporate alternative rock would turn to in the mid 90s. Granted it's been said that he was greatly inspired by Nirvana's *Nevermind*, but I can 100% tell that this album inspired Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters. In retrospect this really doesn't sound that much different than most a lot of the stuff that would come out between 93 and 95, which probably keeps me from rating it higher now then I probably would have then. But it is an incredible album either way you slice it. I'm going to have it just slightly below the four and a half mark but I can see this raising after further listens (8.85) ★★★★
Very typical alt-rock of its time. 3.5 stars
This is a really good album. I was always kind of lukewarm on Bob's stuff in Husker Du, but he sort of managed to finally incorporate Grant Hart's pop sensibilities into his music after Grant wasn't around anymore. There are some flaws here, but "I Can't Change Your Mind", "Helpless", "Changes", and "The Act We Act" are really good tunes. 4 stars.
Today’s chemistry lesson: Guy from Hüsker Dü + Nirvana Nevermind = a good album from a Hüsker Dü-related project finally. Quite bedazzling near the start with its sliding gliding shoegazy power pop metal riffs and only loses a little lustre in the last few tracks. Overall definitely a very fine blue. Buxton The Blue Cat would be proud. Maybe even up there with Deacon Blue.
Super boring. Monotone, uninspired, nothing really happens
Too heavy for me Had some good songs though
Wikipedia lists power pop as one of the genres of this album. That’s a pretty good name for this. It’s like a layer of pop over the top of alternate/grunge. It’s pretty unremarkable though. Not sure why it’s on the list.
Average Rock band from the 90’s. I don’t have any real criticisms or adoration so it’s a middle of the road review.
I always want to live Bob Mould’s music more than I actually do. Listening to this, I hear indelible strains of R.E.M. and Foo Fighters, but nothing really sticks out and it’s all over the place. It’s seminal but not strong enough to stand in its own.
I really disliked this. The guitar tone was grating. There were no breaks from that damn guitar constantly droning on and on. Drove me nuts. Other than that the songs were unremarkable.
This feels like someone has taken a large dash of REM, added in a splash of better quality Foo Fighters at their more interesting, and garnished it with a sliver of one-hit wonders, The Rembrandts. Overall, this made for a really easy listen (I managed two doses of this in a row) and while it’s not exactly a challenging listen, I can’t fault it for being catchy.
I liked the last band he was in, Husker Du, but these guys are even better. Not much to say except that every song rocks. A solid four star album
5/10
Absolutely underrated. Giving it 5 stars to balance out reviews.
If I wanted to listen to the music that plays in the "lesson" moment of a Scrubs episode I'd watch Scrubs. At least then the music only goes for a minute or so. Too alt-poppy for me.
I don't like this style of rock at all, vocals are irritating to me. Sounds like the sort of music that would be an NHL or Skateboarding video game.
Exciting, fun '90s alt-rocker, hard not to feel some good vibes from it
I’m listening to this and trying to figure out why it sounds exactly like the other album I just listened to, and low and behold, the previous album was by Husker Du which was the last band this vocalist was in. This is like being stuck in ground hog day. Minus one for incredibly bad timing.
dull repetitiveand boring
Enjoyed this, and never heard of this band before. The sound is very of it's time - early 90s, but sounded good.
More of what you’d probably expect from Bob Mould, with maybe a bit more 90s alt-rock vibe to it. Which I like!
As the kids say "mid" 90s alt rock. I never heard these songs before so they lack any nostalgic appeal. As a result, the sound is plainly generic. Could be a traveling cover band for the Barenaked ladies or counting Crows. I don't hate it, but there just isn't anything to grab on to. 2 rats.
Radio safe grunge. Nothing to write home about at all.
#407 It’s a fairly straight ahead alt rock album which I’m not sure is essential but enjoyable nonetheless. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die?❓ Fave track(s): A Good Idea Rating: 7/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A couple great tracks. However, this just makes me want to listen to Husker Dü.
No foo fighters without it. That’s not praise.
Ok as background music.
Very straightforward example of 90s alt rock. Not particularly unique but very representative.
Next to Van Halen Sugar seems harder and heavier.
More jangly and melodic than I expected. Solid indie pop. Bob Mould’s voice makes the songs stand out more from other songs of that time. Hoover Dam and the Slim stood out to me.
7/10 Buen album. Ruidoso pero sin ser molesto
trash
Grunge music would be so good if they had better singers :/ I love the guitars, the melodies on this album are really catchy, but the singer's voice is just annoying
I'm a total sucker for this kind of shit. Never really done a huge deep dive into Husker Du or really any of Bob Mould's projects, but I guess it's time.
Holy rock drums batman
Nothing exceptional about this album. Like the sound and vibe, but that's about it.
I was finding this fine but bland. Then I realized that Bob Mould is the same guy from Hüsker Dü, so... it checks out. I felt the same way about Hüsker Dü's album on this list.
Forgot what a gem this was
I know nothing and have never heard of Sugar, so this should be another interesting experience, hopefully. As far as American Alternative Rock/ Shoe Gaze bands go for the early 90's, "The Act We Act" proves it to be pretty generic so far. It's a sound I am partial to, for sure, but also one that I have heard performed a lot better than this track. "A Good Idea", while perfectly fine with it's consistent bass, drum rolls and alt rock vocals, I couldn't help but think 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Soundtrack Filler' the whole time. Depending on who you ask, that's probably a compliment haha. "Changes", while I feel like I've heard the high contrast guitar hook and the vocal delivery of the chorus in many other tracks before, I couldn't help but love it. However, another thought comes to mind with the author; it kind of feels like he listed the 1001 albums that *he knows of*, rather than it existing as a curated list. This is all perfectly fine; it's going to get a 3 from me (2 for being musically fine but uninspired, plus the 1 for personal nostalgia bait) but I'm not sure it falls into any of the categories of breaking ground or being truly unique that gives it a deserving place in the list. It's definitely good playlist filler, but it tries to be Nirvana/Green Day and, unsurprisingly, falls pretty short of it. Other tracks enjoyed regardless: "Helpless", "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (This is possibly the only track where I felt that they just did their own thing; was a lot better than the rest), and "Fortune Teller".
If you want one great album that captures the sound of early 90s indy rock this is it.
Really good
Rather samey 90s alt rock to moi…ok as background music. Couldn’t pick out any particular song.
Think I enjoyed this. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't attempting to crochet a wee Jimothy raccoon at the same time and had to restart several times because his little ears keep going wonky and I DON'T KNOW WHY. "If I Can't Change Your Mind" is a bop.
Unremarkable. Okay
Some nice 90’s alt rock, like it well enough, not head over heels for it though.
Amazing piece of work!!!
i had heard if i can't change your mind before, but other than that i had never heard of these guys before. pretty good album.
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
nothing special, very general
Maybe there’s something I’m missing about the context here. I can’t appreciate the quality of the songwriting but I can’t tell if it’s innovating this 90s lite/alt rock sound or just derivative of Pixies and Nirvana. I think I like it but I also sort of hate that I do? There’s like a 1% chance that if I dig into this Bob Mould guy it would become my whole personality. Otherwise I’m just left with the impression that if I hadn’t heard of this album or artist before it’s probably for a reason.
Thoughts before listening: I really enjoy Husker Du and Bob Mould in general. His music essentially is very well written pop punk/power pop. I don't know Sugar all that well, but back in the day when I signed up for BMG they were one of the albums I was sent after I forgot to cancel my monthly cd. I remember listening a few times and then sending it back cause I just didn't know who they were. Review: So this still sounds very much like the Bob Mould I know and enjoy, but it is slowed down a bit from Husker Du's typical pop punk. These aren't ballads and they are still very catchy little ear worms, its just not played at quite the same velocity I would expect...although the thick distorted guitars remain. I wasn't loving this at first, but the album soon sucked me in and its great. Some of the standout tracks here include "A Good Idea", "Helpless", "Hoover Dam", "If I Can't Change Your Mind", and "Fortune Teller". I just really like the Bob Mould sound, and this is a another strong album from him. 4-stars
Haven't heard of them. Well, it's just some 90s alt rock, isn't it. The album had its moments but it's hardly something I need to hear before I die 2/5
Dans les années 90, la question me revenait en boucle comme une antenne balancée par des gamins en quête de repères soniques : « C’est comment, Hüsker Dü ? » À chaque fois, je ne cherchais pas à couper les cheveux en quatre ni à réciter l'encyclopédie du rock indépendant américain. Je répondais immédiatement avec un aplomb catégorique : « Écoute Sugar ». Pourquoi ? Parce que Sugar, c’était tout simplement la même essence, c’était Hüsker Dü après un passage au compresseur hydraulique, débarrassé de sa poussière garage pour devenir une arme de destruction massive dotée de mélodies imparables. Pour bien comprendre ce que représentait ce groupe à l'époque, il faut remonter à la fin de l'année 1992. Je me rappelle avec une précision chirurgicale de leur passage marquant à Rennes, cette année-là. C'était lors d'une soirée aux Transmusicales, où le groupe se retrouvait coincé sur l'affiche entre les branleurs géniaux de Pavement et la messe de bruit blanc de Sonic Youth. L'attente était folle, la tension palpable dans la salle et puis Sugar a débarqué sur scène. Ce ne fut pas un concert ordinaire, ce fut une attaque en règle. Un set condensé, hargneux, d'une intensité terrifiante qui a duré moins de trente minutes. Trente minutes chrono pour ravager l'espace, balancer un mur de décibels d'une densité assourdissante et repartir sans laisser de survivants. Je me souviens encore de cette claque monstrueuse prise en pleine gueule, de ce souffle chaud qui t'assomme et te laisse pantois sur le carreau alors que les lumières de la salle se rallument à peine. C’est précisément cette énergie brute et sans concession que Bob Mould a réussi à capturer sur *Copper Blue*. Après la fin tumultueuse et chaotique de Hüsker Dü à la fin des années 80, puis une parenthèse solo plutôt introspective, sombre et acoustique, Mould avait besoin de réinvestir le champ du rock électrique avec une puissance décuplée. En s’entourant d’une section rythmique monstrueuse — David Barbe à la basse et Malcolm Travis à la batterie —, il a fondé Sugar et accouché d’un disque qui allait marquer au fer rouge l'année 1992. La force de *Copper Blue*, c’est son équilibre miraculeux entre le chaos des guitares saturées et une clarté mélodique presque insolente. Bob Mould a toujours eu ce don rare d’écrire des chansons aux crochets pop diaboliques tout en hurlant sa détresse à travers des amplificateurs poussés à leur limite extrême. Avec ce son de guitare massif, ample et tranchant comme un rasoir, porté par une batterie qui frappe avec la régularité d'un marteau-piqueur. Contrairement aux enregistrements parfois étouffés ou brouillons de l'époque hardcore, la production de *Copper Blue* offre une dimension gigantesque, une muraille de son impénétrable mais d'une lisibilité parfaite. L'album ne laisse aucun répit. Il enchaîne les pépites avec une urgence vitale, alternant entre hymnes survoltés et morceaux d'une noirceur sentimentale poignante. On y retrouve des clins d'œil appuyés aux maîtres de la pop britannique, passés au moulinet d’un rouleau compresseur punk-rock. La voix de Mould, reconnaissable entre mille avec son grain rocailleux, porte chaque refrain comme si sa vie en dépendait. C'est un disque qui t'attrape dès la première piste et ne le relâche qu'une fois la dernière note éteinte. Pourtant, malgré toutes ses qualités indiscutables, *Copper Blue* n'est pas le sommet absolu de la discographie du groupe à mes yeux. Trente ans après sa sortie, il demeure sans aucun doute un excellent album, la porte d’entrée idéale pour quiconque souhaite découvrir le génie de Bob Mould et comprendre l'héritage direct de Hüsker Dü. C'est un classique des années 90, un disque majeur qui a prouvé que l'on pouvait faire du rock lourd, rapide et mélodique sans jamais tomber dans les pièges du grunge commercial ou de la variété alternative. Mais mon cœur reste ancré ailleurs. Ma préférence absolue va irrémédiablement à *Beaster*, ce mini-album monstrueux enregistré durant les mêmes sessions mais sorti quelques mois plus tard. Là où *Copper Blue* conservait une forme de lumière, d'ouverture et d'accessibilité pop, *Beaster* allait plonger tête baissée dans une noirceur totale, une violence religieuse et cathartique qui dépassait tout ce que Mould avait entrepris auparavant. *Beaster*, c'est la face cachée et démoniaque de *Copper Blue*, un monolithe de haine, de culpabilité et de bruit pur. En réécoutant *Copper Blue* aujourd'hui, le plaisir reste intact, la décharge d'adrénaline est toujours immédiate et les souvenirs de cette soirée mythique à Rennes remontent à la surface avec une fraîcheur intacte. C'est un album majeur, solide, brillant de bout en bout, qui mérite amplement son statut de chef-d'œuvre du rock indépendant des années 90. Je lui attribue sans hésiter un gros 4 sur 5, car la perfection technique et l'impact de ses compos sont incontestables, même si, au jeu des préférences sentimentales et viscérales, *Beaster* gardera toujours une longueur d'avance dans mon panthéon personnel.
How had this album not come to my attention in 1992? That's great!
First impressions weren't great, but this album grew on me a bit by the end.
This is what this was made for - clearly a forgotten/missed gem from 90s rock. Great from start to finish
Bob Mould writes a good song. He really finds that sweet spot between melodic and raw, and there’s no doubt he can put together some fist-pumping sing along melodies. There’s many of these in this alt rock/power pop album. But otherwise it doesn’t standout in a huge way. Good listen with a few solid tracks and a few forgettable ones.
It's pretty fun
Ehh it sounds kinda forgettable to me.. nothing really stands out. Maybe it was different back when it was released..
Another decent album. It's quite a pleasant experience when I get a few good albums in a row, even more so when they've by artists I'm either not familiar with, or don't hold out much hope for. This really reminded me of R.E.M. when it first started out, but by the end it was a lot more grunge-based. I initially thought it was an incredibly short album, but it turns out that youtube had hidden several tracks from me for some reason (possibly copyright or licence) - I don't want to lose focus on the album, but fuck youtube, and the rest of big tech.
All hail Bob Mold. This guy should be a (more popular) icon. Yet somehow he is not, which befuddles me. I don't think I've ever listened to this album, and I was surprised just how many of the tracks I've previously heard. A superb rock album from the early 90s.
3.0 - Ok
This brings back memories but nothing ground breaking here
366/1001 Sugar - Copper Blue Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Back to albums I like, after two duds in a row! I'm relatively new to Sugar's music, but I started here and liked it a lot and this has confirmed it, this morning.
I’d like this album even more if I’d first listened to it 20 years ago. But even without the nostalgia lens I enjoyed this one.
This is the album Dave Grohl has been trying to make his whole life.
Copper Blue is a fairly generic '90s alternative rock album. I didn't hate it, but I can't say there's anything particularly noteworthy that sets Sugar's music apart from similar bands.
50/100. Dark lyrics paired with upbeat instrumentation. It's an alright power pop debut album. Not my kind of rock record. Its main focus is on frustration and loneliness. I think they sound like a combination of other popular bands from this era. This wouldn't be the first band I'd pick out if I wanted to listen to some alt rock with power pop. It feels like the whole album could be a theme song for any late 90s or 00's tv show. You can decide if that's a good thing or not.
Great album. Not quite as good as Husker Du - I miss the Grant Hart songs and influence, but anything that Bob does is worth spending some time listening to .
Solid album. A little shoe gazey
A pretty milquetoast 90s "alternative" album here. The engineer definitely captured some of the elements of the genre, unfortunately it all sounds the same, and pretty mushy at that. Not sure I needed to hear this one before the long sleep.
The production of the album is a little bit claustrophobic at times for me, there's a lot going on and not much room to breathe. I can't say that there isn't a rock-solid foundation to it, it's very satisfying alt rock. There's a lot of good there; the production just leaves a bit to be desired for me. Too much going on most of the time for it to be a really pleasant listen. The handful of parts that do leave a little room to breathe (e.g. "If I Can't Change Your Mind", "Fortune Teller") are my favorite bits, unsurprisingly. "A Good Idea" and "Hoover Dam" are other standouts. I could kinda tell before I knew that the vocalist was previously in Husker Du - there is a lot that reminds me of listening to their stuff. On further consideration, it's grown on me - I've listened to a bit more Sugar since and listened to this album again with good headphones. I think that brings it up a notch.
This is definitely early 90s rock! And I like early 90s rock.
Let's start a new session of the generator. Hoping for a good time with excellent music. This time I will try to enjoy more and pay less attention to the ratings. After all, it's all about the feelings at a curtain moment in time. Ok, The first two songs here are actually fire. Love the guitar sound and energy. The first song especially is a wonderful opener. Third song sounds like the combination of grange and britpop (somethingaboutthe Gallagheruesqe vocals), it's really lovely. In the song Hoover Dam, another highlight, the band sounds phenomenal, great heavy drums. 6 is another heavy song that I like a lote. 7 is the lightest and fastest so far. A bit of refreshment to the sound (maybe R.E.M Influences?), but not my favorite. Slick is another great track. And the closer as well , one of the best here. It was a very very solid comeback to the generator for me. A very good rock album. Most of the songs were enjoyable and more! It'll be a flat 4 for good luck.
Never heard of this but it felt so familiar - 90’s alt all the grungy sounds in all the right places. A little more poppy in places.
Definitely Bob Mould’s best output. You know what I remember? The green color of the CD packaging. It looked very cool
meeeh
Estuvo bueno, no sé que tiene, pero me gustaron todas. Parece que es lo único (es bastante igual) que hizo la banda así que no creo que vaya a terminar siendo fan de Sugar. Igualmente este disco probablemente lo escucharía.
A few really unique songs but generally a drone of grunge-pop. 2.5
Of course I’m familiar with Hüsker Dü and Bob Mould’s solo work — and like it well enough — and I’ve heard a few of these songs. But I had no idea this Sugar album was so good! At least 3.5 stars
Mid
3/5
Boring. It smells like a commercial attempt to follow Nirvana rules... without soul...
Quite the mood whiplash since I started listening to this right after finishing my last album, The Gershwin Songbook. But other than the initial shock of switching from 1950s jazz to 1990s alternative rock, it didn't really invoke much other emotions in one way or another. Just very middle of the road alternative rock.
Enjoyment: 7/10 Replayability: 6/10 Cohesion: 6/10 Flow/Pacing: 5/10 Artistic Merit: 5/10 Weighted Average: 6.1/10 Review: This album scratched my inner teen angst itch. Overall a decent album, that gives nostalgia without having known the tracks beforehand. Liked Song(s): A Good Idea, Hoover Dam, Fortune Teller Disliked Song(s): Slick Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No
Not particularly memorable. It’s 90s rock, no doubt. I liked man on the moon. It’s a good and familiar sound, but it’s not a super stand out. Maybe I just didn’t listen enough.
Casi no recordaba este disco, podría decirse que fue un one-hit wonder más o menos. Me he guardado The act we act, A good idea, Hoover dam y por supuesto If I can't change your mind. Rock noventero.
Not bad but not really my style
This is pretty great. Quite familiar with Hüsker Dü, less so with Sugar, though there are a few tracks here I recognise - and I think I had a ripped copy of File Under Easy Listening at one stage. Power-pop coming on something like a more radio-friendly Pixies. Perhaps ultimately this relative accessibility is what stops it from pushing through to being more game-changingly memorable?
At album 997 and feeling generous. Not too familiar with Sugar - people are beating up on this but I’m on the third listen so 5 stars.
Empezó sorprendente como una mezcla de nirvana, smashing y sonic youth, pero luego ya se volvió algo más 80s rock con algo del rock progresivo por ahí. Se siente dos cabezas creativas jalando para diferentes lados. Buena sorpresa.
feels like a pointless noise carpet leading to boredom nirvana
Bom, conferir mais alguns albúns.
Pretty middle of the road 90s rock. Sounds a bit like REM in places, some decent tracks (Helpless, If I Can't Change Your Mind). Not bad.
bob's last great guitar album
Nickelback vermomd
This album sounded like a quintessential 90's alt rock band. It felt a little too polished but it wasn't bad. It wasn't very good either. I'd rather listen to REM or Nirvana.
6/10
The Slim was my favorite song. I can see jamming that one again. It was hard to find a full album of this one and I had to piecemeal it together.
Another one I don't like. What a streak! 1.0
Du post grunge sans grande originalité
Plutôt sympa
Cetait plutôt sympa, j'ai bien aimé !
Not heard of this band to be fair but this album sounds very much of the time and seems desperate to fit in. It’s not as good as its contemporaries and I am not sure exactly why it’s on the list.
Light 4
I liked a few songs off this album without ever taking the time to try the whole album, but I should have. This album is just solid 90s alt. Loud fuzzy guitars, hidden in the mix vocals.
was not bad ok
Favorite track(s): Changes, Hoover Dam, If I Can't Change Your Mind
I remember hearing these songs on the alternative station in 92 and on MTVs 120 minutes. It wasn't really something I pursued listening to but was certainly part of the soundtrack of that era of my high school years. It's a decent enough album that gets an extra star for its nostalgia factor.
This was pretty Bandwagonesque… esque. I feel similarly about this record but prefer the melodic moments there to the more post-punk focus here. Just not something I’d reach for on my own. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Hoover Dam, If I Can’t Change Your Mind
Expectation: -> Something I like to eat, but listen to? After listening: -> I enjoyed this, despite it lacking much depth and complexity. A pretty straight forward upbeat rock set can still satisfy. Guessing they were a very energetic live show. Track ranking: Hoover If I Can Changes Moon Idea Slim Helpless Fortune Act Slick
Not really much to say. It fits right in with what I typically listen to. Good stuff.
3, ni fu, ni fa
I love that Mould influenced Nirvana, then Nevermind inspired this.
Meh. Never a big Bob Mould fan.
Fantastic album! Love the power pop.
I consider myself to be a fan of Bob Mould. I've enjoyed his work across Hüsker Dü, his solo output, and this particular group. Sugar was formed out of Mould building working relations with ex-Mercyland bassist David Barbe and ex-Human Sexual Response drummer Malcolm Travis. By that point, Mould had already released two solo records, eschewing the hardcore style of Hüsker Dü in favor of a more melodic folk sound. With Sugar's debut, Copper Blue, Mould managed to bridge the gap between the two. There is a balance struck between the thick, distorted guitars of punk and more accessible melodies on this record. Barbe and Travis form this tight rhythm section that builds each composition for such bright flurries of guitar riffs to go off, bolstered by decent production from Mould and Lou Giordano. There's an almost defiant brightness to these tunes, which serve as a nice contrast to the rather dark lyrics that Mould came up with. The opening track, "The Act We Act," centers on the harsher emotions we thinly veil behind facades. "A Good Idea" is about drowning a woman, with the man trying to justify those actions in his mind. "Hoover Dam" involves the protagonist contemplating suicide and wondering if they're going to hell. Even on the lighter tracks, we explore themes such as dissolved relationships on "If I Can't Change Your Mind" and isolation on "Man on the Moon". It can get rather grim in places, especially with "The Slim", where the lyrics and instrumental tone match for once, as we witness the death of a beloved one from AIDS while those haunting keyboards creep in the mix. It is a deeply profound centerpiece for this album. That said, I wouldn't say I was blown away by this record overall, given the output of other alternative rock bands around this time. Not to mention, I started feeling this album was overstaying its welcome a bit around "Slick". Still, I enjoyed Copper Blue as a delightfully decadent slice of that sound from an underrated singer-songwriter and company. It is cool to see Sugar reform towards the end of last year, as I appreciate what they offered.
If you look in the dictionary the definition of Alternative Rock, you'll find a picture of R.E.M. on it, maybe one of Beck and Radiohead too. You thought i would say Sugar, but I never heard of them before, but the sound is very much what I would imagine when you ask what alt rock sounds like. Pretty good album too.
Sugar? Yes please! Won't you come and put it down on me?
Jamais écouté avant. Que dire d'un album aussi neutre et générique ? Oui, l'énergie est là, les guitares fuzzy font plaisir à entendre et ça a pu m'arriver de taper du pied en rythme sur certains morceaux. Et pourtant, l'album fini, je n'en retiens rien : pas une mélodie marquante, pas un morceau emballant, pas une sonorité ou une émotion différente... Copper Blue n'est certainement pas un mauvais album, et sans doute l'enchaînement rock 1990's des derniers jours n'a-t-il pas joué en sa faveur, mais je dois bien avouer qu'il m'a laissé parfaitement indifférent, dans un genre auquel je suis pourtant sensible. C'est vraiment dommage, d'autant que je ne connaissais pas du tout et que je me réjouissais de le découvrir... Top : The Slim Flop : Slick
Overall Rating - 3.10/5 (6.20/10). It's decent early Alternative, where you can hear more of the punk roots. Solid album, but nothing special.
ummmm why? seriously, why? tgere were much better grunge adjacent bands that also maybe helped pave the way for three doors down. take this off this list please. lol.
Donc ceci a été fait par un ancien de Hüsker Dü ? C'est pas étonnant, on reconnaît ces guitares au son très flou, presque shoegaze avant l'heure. Par contre, tous les aspects punk de son ancien groupe sont totalement absents. Il reste donc une sorte d'album de rock alternatif au son très flou qui lui vaut même d'être qualifié plus ou moins de noise pop sur Rate Your Music. Bon, dans tous les cas, c'est un album très cool, efficace, avec des mélodies hyper prenantes. Au départ, je pensais partir sur un 3, mais je commence sérieusement à envisager de mettre un 4. Parce que même si au départ, j'ai pas trouvé ça hyper ambitieux, mais d'un autre côté, je ne peux pas m'empêcher de trouver ça hyper efficace. On verra bien quelle sera mon humeur demain matin !
Bit REM, bit Husker Du, bits are good, bits didn't click
Heard of the man and previous projects but this one passed me by. I liked it. Not sure I’d rush to listen again but I liked it.
Never heard of Sugar and wasnt expecting much with it being early 90's. Nicely surprised I enjoyed it a lot, didnt care for the american pretend punk acfcent on vocal but music was fine, some good guitar.
Solid album that I've never heard of. It's like Foo Fighters before Foo Fighters existed, but better. I like this vocal style but the balance feels a bit off. I wish it was more of a focal point. Overall though, a pretty decent listen.
Très différents de ce que j écoute. Surpris
I swear this group participated in sound tracks for early 00s movies because they sound so familiar! This album wasn't bad and it did remind me of that time period, but I'm unsure if I'd listen to it very often.
Beetje voorloper van de green Day etc.
*Power pop with one of the best A good idea Changes *If I can't change your mind
Catchy, guitar-driven riff-rock. Like a heavier Lemonheads.
Who doesn’t love an almost Hüsker Dü record?
A pretty average rock album without any real individuality. 3 stars or C.
Peak 90s radio rock
decent, 1e album was 3 rating maar eig 2 waard, dit 2e album is wel 3 rating
best nice, beetje nirvana achtig
I really enjoyed this one. Everything up to and including If I Can’t Change Your Mind was brilliant. It loses a star because the last three tracks didn’t do as much for me. Still a great album and one I will definitely go back to. Top Track - Helpless
Favorite Track: A Good Idea
Okayish rock music, nothing special
It got repetitive
Dislike
Monotematyczny liryka słąba nudny z małym wyjątkiem jenda piosenka miała spoko intsrumental troche are you expiernce type shit
Can hear clear influence in other music that I like but none of this particularly stuck with me !
I like Hüsker Dü but this wasn't for me. I'm glad the grunge "yarling" vocal style has largely died out.
Not as good as I initially thought, but not bad. Fun off/punk from 90s
Pretty generic garage rock sound. Competent, but not that interesting. A 2.
Wanted to like this more than I did. Instruments are solid, but could not get into vocals they way it was mixed. Couldn't even hear the lyrics a lot of the time.
Helpless is a perfect song. Descending bass line, driving drums, lyrics tight, dirty but polished feel to it. Would 100% road trip with this song, buds, and beers. Complete album reminds me of Bleed American, or The Nerves. 4 listens and more to come this one is a gem.
The Pixies are just Bob Mould but with Kim Deal
ciężki listen
Definitely 90s, but it was a fun listen. Wish I listened to the hoover dam song at the hoover dam
Mucho ruido y pocas nueces
Stone cold classic mix of punk and melody. I’m glad Bob is back. I loved Husker Du and was saddened when they broke up. I actually still blame Bob for the breakup but I digress. I thought this was Bob’s attempt at the brass ring of alt-rock popularity. He transmogrified the Husker’s sound palate into something a bit more pop friendly and therefore radio friendly when he formed Sugar. This was a logical progression for Bob at this time. More melodic but still soaked in sheets of squall. The fist 7 tracks - From the Act We Act to If I Can’t Change Your Kind are all really singles. This record is really a later version of The Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady. The song structure mimics much of Pete Shelley’s earlier efforts with the difference being the distortion Bob overlays on these pop songs. The last 3 songs, while solid, are not the same caliber as those first seven. That is, Fortune Teller, Slick and Man On The Moon are not nearly as catchy as the first seven. I’ve listened to this record hundreds of times and as recently as a week ago. It still resonates as these records that you first enjoyed as a young adult ( I was 32 when this was released) tend to do when you frequently revisit them as you age. Not nostalgia really as each decade of experience colors the way you interact with the music. 4.5/5
An amazing album. I recently rediscovered this, and I actually like it a lot more nowadays.
Melodic Husker Dü, and that’s what it’s supposed to be. Listening to this, you can clearly hear Bob Mould’s influence on Husker Dü. His "loud-quiet-loud" song craft is here too, which is where you can also hear Mould’s impact on bands like Nirvana. Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic said that Nirvana's musical style was "nothing new; Hüsker Dü did it before us."
Really good sounding album. Melodic and slick. I've never heard of Sugar. Makes me wonder why it is that some bands break through and others disappear almost without trace. It can't just be the naff name surely.
Weird to have this Bob Mould album and not fucking Zen Arcade. I’d even take New Day Rising. But we get Warehouse and this. It’s good but like, generic? Good Idea and Hoover Dam are excellent.
It's like an angry REM jamming with the Pixies, really cool. Terribly mastered though, could not have less dynamic range if it tried
This album has a classic, American rock sound that really works in its favour sometimes but leads to monotony at other times. The first song is fantastic and is an excellent lead into the album but after than I found myself wanting more all the way up until the last song. The instrumentation remains pretty stagnant and when they do change it up I didn't really like that much. That being said, if rock is your jam, you'll definitely like this more than me.
Bland. Nothing interesting at all.
Nice classic 90s indie rock but far from the best of the era
ok
This album is good grunge pop rock– the perfect representation of the 90s sound. No wonder it won awards at the time. For me, it is enjoyable to listen to, even though the wall-of-sound mix gets a little much at times. But I probably wouldn't dive back in as ultimately from this perspective it now just feels a bit....generic. Unfortunately there have been so many bands like this that is hard to separate them all. I suspect that at the time people welcomed this as a breath of fresh air. All in all a solid effort, but not one of the greats.
It's really nothing special. A lot of repetition of simple beats and melodies, and while the instruments sometimes tried to add a bit of heaviness, I don't think it matched the singing style.
Loud, melodic, guitar-forward alternative rock from 1992. Bob Mould knows what he's doing — the songs are well-constructed, the energy is there. Nothing offensive, nothing remarkable. I enjoyed it while it was on. The moment it stopped, it was gone. Sometimes that's just how it goes. 2/5 — pleasant enough, remembered by no one, including me.
Hard to rate this. On the one, all of the songs were really "okay" as they passed by. On the other hand, not one was good enough to make me wish to revisit. I felt the song parts often didn't fit together, so a good instrumental interlude or nice chorus in there was quickly followed by something that brought the song down again. In my ears, (they may have been one of the first to create this kind of melodic alternative rock sound, but) many others did it much better. 2/5 below average
Cool! i enjoy it
This is good old-fashioned early 90s alternative.
1/10… 90s indie / *1992
Although alternative rock is my favourite genre I came with before getting here, I'm starting to notice what a lot of comments say: too many generic albums. I mean I can enjoy this for being my kind, but I know there are more unique albums out there that people trying to diversify their music portofolio would enjoy, let alone those interested that might find some new style. Ok, towards the end it gets decent, with The Slim (again least streamed too), Slick and Fortune Teller. The first ones are loud mashes of other bands, changing at the middle slightly, becoming more balanced. Idk it's fine, just not really to die for.
This is just Husker Du for the 90's. And just not as good
Meh
...eh? I guess I can see how this would be amazing but now it just sounds like generic rock.
I always thought that I should like Husker Du more than I should, but I think Sugar hits this for me. Should get more Bob Mould in my life.
Unapologetically generic.
It’s alright.
I had never even heard of this band, yet I felt like I heard this music (or at least the music this serves as an archetype for) throughout the 90s. Seemed pretty good, though no tracks really stood out for me as must-listens. I think if I had heard this while growing up, the tie to nostalgia would have bumped it up a star.
its good soundwise but feels a bit vain
This kind of reminds me of the type of music that took over in the late 90s and ruined all that the early 90s achieved in terms of grunge, alternative and punk. I can hear BS like Third Eye Blind, the Gin Blossoms, Matchbox 20 in this. So while Sugar was there first, at least I now know who to blame. The songs also mostly sound the same. I didn't mind Slick and Man on the Moon, if I had to choose a favourite. 2/5
distilled essence of 90's alternative. surprised I never heard of it
Nice.
"What if REM was a post-hardcore band?"
8/10 Loud ass alt rock, with all the good and bad that comes with it. It's not the most unique thing but it's an enjoyable listen.
Middle of the road grunge if middle was spelt MEH
I’m surprised I never listened to this album before, really good.
I mean, it's not horrible. This was certainly listenable, and maybe even a couple songs I enjoyed. But boy, this dude's voice is not pleasant to listen to, and that whining, droning guitar is painful. Most of these songs sound the same, the mixing is mediocre, and the songwriting seems uninspired. Just barely out of 1 territory here. Fave tracks: - Helpless - Hoover Dam Edit: The more I listen, the more my head hurts. One star.
just not my vibe. (or my today's vibe)
Pretty forgettable to be honest. A Good Idea is fun enough but the rest doesn't get past okay.
Eh
Heavy, but melodic rock. Vocals kinda sounded like bare naked ladies
-Mom I want R.E.M! -Hush, we have R.E.M at home. The only thing I could think of during this album. Not bad in any way but not good either. 2
Very good
It's fine if you want your background music to be alternative. Does not stand out from anything on the radio in the mid 90s.
meh all sounds the same
Decently catchy. My favourites were Changes and If I Can't Change Your Mind.
Solid rock album, but I don't see anything special about it that it needs to be on this list.
I didn't mind the songs, but they weren't very interesting at all to my ear. Also, the mix on this is atrocious. You can't hear the vocals at all on many songs. There is so many albums from the 90s in this style that are much better.
Sensacional alternativo
Was this album ahead of its time? It feels like it. I got the vibe of california beachy 2000’s.
I liked this a bit - no surprise since I liked Husker Dü - it's that guitar.
How have I not heard of Sugar before? This album is alt rock gold standard stuff. I will be listening to more from Sugar.
Alt rock from ‘92.
Started as nostalgic 90s sound, but quickly grew repetitive and I ended up not liking the album very much.
The act we act - 4/5 A good idea - 2/5 Changes - 3/5 Helpless - 3/5 Hoover dam - 3/5 The slim - 3/5 If I cant change your mind - 4/5 Fortune teller - 4/5 Slick - 3/5 Man on the moon - 3/5
On the spectrum of Creed to Pearl Jam, this is firmly in the danger zone.
Holy apathy Batman
Nir-vanilla; it sounds fine, but the instrumentals are less creative than contemporaries. And my god, hire a fucking lyricist, every song is a jilted lover complaining and the lyrics just keep on repeating repeating repeating repea ...
I've heard this type of an album too many times already
Hüsker Dü singer tries Power Pop. It's pretty good, I guess. Not sure how essential it really is. Key tracks: The Act We Act Helpless If I Can't Change Your Mind
Sounded pretty generic and not particularly good or engaging. 5/10
Decent early 90s rock/grunge album. I can see why Bob Mould was an influence to other bands but never quite made it as big as the ones he inspired. Some good songs and some filler.
That was fun
8/10
1001 albums that indicate that space is not the place. 1
Для мене це чітке попадання в 3.5. Є хороші пісні, класний звук гітар, але на 100% не потрапляє в мене. Немає тут бенгера для мене. Мені здається, я його слухав раніше, проте цілком допускаю, що можу помилятися, бо не те щоб сильно щось пам'ятав із цих пісень.
Я дуже поважаю Боба Моулда та його проекти. Звісно ж хускер ду (чи хаскер?) це мабуть основне за чим він відомий, але Sugar теж клас - класичний для Боба емо\панк\альтернативний рок. Фірмові мелодії, особливо подобаються тут Changes та The Slim.
Fine
Taking me back to my college days
Just so 90’s. I was never a fan of Husker Du and that grunge/not grunge sound. I’m not sure if it’s the guitar tones or the vocal work but it just does not do it for me.
Hardrock, on sent l’influence fin 90 qui va switcher sur 2000, saturees avec melodies peu interessantes et voix nasillardes. Beaucoup de batterie et de guitare electrique. La voix et les harmo sont vraiment plates et chantees de tres loin. Que des membres d’anciens groupes.
Medium
Before I even listen can we all come to agreement that the Genre "Post-Hardcore" is a dumb one. I get post-punk and post-rock because rock and punk were pretty big and mainstream. I cannot think of a single hardcore band that went mainstream. To be even more fair and honest post-punk and post-rock are kind of dumb too as though there are not bands out there rocking out and putting out punk still. Punk might not be on the radio or TV anymore but there are still plenty of kids out there playing 3 chords and blasting out the jams. We do need to admit that Bob Mould is just great. This album was, for me, typical 90's era indie/alternative rock. Nothing to write home about but a good listen.
I think I enjoyed it more towards the end, then it started again and I found I'd settled into it a little. It's a bit samey, vocalist sometimes sounds like he's been hung upside down with a peg on his nose. Not bad though.
Listens: 2 Standout tracks: None Ugh. I mostly hate this. So far, College rock has been decidedly absent on the List. Sure, there's been a few R.E.M. albums and a Chili Peppers album, but I'm talking about, like, Eve 6, Matchbox 20, Green Day, Weezer, The New Radicals, Third Eye Blind, Everclear, etc etc. Some of these examples actually kind of suck, but my point is, this album - Copper Blue - is also a terrible example of college rock, alternative rock, and rock in general and is entirely undeserving of being on the List. The lyrics are vapid, the sound sonically "thick" and generic to boot. For a genre sort of defined by its hooks, catchiness, and radio appeal this album sure is lacking in all categories. It's not entirely-overplayed late 90s / early 2000s tween pop music, so it doesn't get a 1, but its not much higher that that.
The brilliant “Workbook” was my first exposure to Bob Mould, and unfortunately it’s an outlier compared to his otherwise noisy and distorted body of work. Copper Blue is a little more palatable, but if he wasn’t always setting his dials to 11 one might realize a wonderful song buried under all that noise.
Godt alternativ rock og power pop åbenbart? Tidligere bandmedlemmer fra Hüsker dü så det er meget anderledes lyd, det andet var mere post-punket og punket. Men det har stadig en masse attitude og det blev vidst et rigtig populært album. De sagde at den eneste grund til det kunne lade sig gøre, var fordi Nirvana's nevermind ændrede måden man kunne lytte til måske på. Jeg synes det var meget godt og jeg gemte også mange af sangene selv, men jeg synes heller ikke det var noget synderligt specielt. Jeg synes jo at det mindede mig en smule om R.E.M men synes overall R.E.M gør det bedre. Jeg kunne bedre lide det kantede ved Hüsker Dü og ikke så meget de poppede og simple strukturer, selvom attituden og lyden fra instrumenterne er gode.
Solid album
Very much a product of its time. 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 fits right into the early 90s alternative sound, with plenty of crunchy guitars and strong melodic instincts, but it doesn’t really stand out to me. The songwriting is solid throughout, yet it often feels a bit too familiar, like it’s hitting all the right notes without adding much of its own identity. Easy to listen to, but not something that leaves a lasting impression.
This was a good LP. I enjoyed Bob Mould’s music ever since he started out with Hüsker Dü, so I was familiar with some of the tunes on this album. Very enjoyable in a punk, alt- rock way.
This one is kind of Slick.
**mostly banging instruments, most tracks sound alike. No real music
excellent
Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Alright - I don't know what I was expecting but not the roaring guitar straight from the start. Looking it up, it's a band led by Bob Mould so maybe I should have expected exactly that. Like other albums I have heard with him involved this is decent but not particularly memorable.
Enjoyable 90s rock that's a bit too noisy / dissonant for me to get all the way into. If either the music or the vocals were more melodic I could really dig this, but they're both a bit too noisy for me.
There are some good tunes here, but nothing that stands out, nothing that hasn't been done better by another band. Sort of a distillation of that early indie sound. Nothing wrong with it, but it's not amazing.
very good
Not extremely bad but not great either, just a typical early 90s indie/power pop album. Not sure why it is on the list.
Really loses steam after Helpless. Great opening 3 song run though. Haven’t yet listened to Husker Du, very excited to.
Har lyst til at stå på skateboard
Ikke rigtig noget, der sætter sig fast..
I like it! Dog var "Slick" temmelig ringe.
*44 Lige så tyndt som Bud Light. Ikke kæmpe fan.