Sugar - House of Dead Memories 7"

 
Granary (2026)

These days, it seems like just about any band (aside from Operation Ivy) could potentially get back together provided the band members are in good health.  Because of that, I don't suppose that I was surprised to hear that Sugar was playing again, but I was definitely excited about it.  So much so that I immediately bought tickets to one of their NYC shows when they were announced.  The timing of those shows ended up not working out exactly, so I didn't end up going.  Though the way things are going, it doesn't look like that will be the only time I will get to see them as they announced a full tour and have put out this new two-song 7".

The A side is "House of Dead Memories" and it's kind of exactly what you'd expect from a Sugar song.  Upper mid tempo, gigantic guitar sounds, a driving verse that pushes into a chorus and a bridge and a little instrumental interlude with some guitar squawking.  It's pretty short, clocking in just over the two-minute mark, but it gets the job done as far as paying off the anticipation of waiting for new music for so long.

On the flip we have "Long Live Love," which if I'm being honest, mostly ticks all of those same boxes as the A side.  It's perhaps a bit more straightforward and slightly less dynamic than "House of Dead Memories," but I am absolutely not looking for Sugar to reinvent the wheel.  I want them to sound like Sugar and they mostly do.

There's nothing here that's too dissimilar to Bob Mould's solo records, which really weren't all that dissimilar to what Sugar used to do anyway.  Am I blown away? No, I'm not.  But I definitely enjoy both songs and would be eager to see them worked into a full album.  I'm hopeful that's in the cards once the touring is done.

Sugar - "House of Dead Memories":

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk5QT4r46jM

Sugar - "Long Live Love":

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fK7khG6zPvE

Sugar - File Under Easy Listening LP

Merge (2012, Reissue)

This purchase probably wasn't one hundred percent necessary, but my original copy of File Under Easy Listening is nearly thirty years old at this point.  It still sounds great, but as this is one of my absolute favorite albums, I thought it made sense to grab a copy of the Merge reissue when I saw it go on sale.  For the price, it just seemed like a very worthwhile investment.

The bonus is that the vinyl really sounds great.  It's full and warm sounding, perfectly highlighting those big crunchy guitar riffs.  I know that a lot of people (and what feels to me like a majority) point to Husker Du as Bob Mould's greatest work.  For me, I'll take Sugar every time.  And even more controversial is that I think File Under Easy Listening is superior to Copper Blue.  Take that world.

I'm sure that has something to do with the fact that this album was the first Bob Mould related release that I ever bought.  And it doesn't hurt that I am borderline obsessed with the song "Gee Angel."  Top to bottom I love every song on this album though.  It probably just entered my consciousness at just the right time and has stayed with me all of these years later.

Sugar - File Under Easy Listening:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lvHmVzheRcXQV_2-QviaypWdxhDoMUcp8

Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind 7" (RSD2012)

Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind 7" (RSD2012), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Edsel (2012)

This was a UK only Record Store Day release this year. When it came out, I was unable to secure a copy. Recently I was browsing one of my favorite UK based online stores and I noticed that they happened to have a copy of this. Now it's mine. There's nothing very exciting here, an album track and a B-side that has already been released, but I have been good about picking up all of the Sugar 7"s over the years and didn't want to add another to the wants list. I'm still looking for the Gee Angel promo only 7", if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHnFIaLp_ys

Sugar - Copper Blue/Beaster 2xLP

Sugar - Copper Blue/Beaster 2xLP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Merge (2012, Reissue)

Let's stick with another Merge reissue for today. The label has reissued the Sugar back catalog and while I already had File Under Easy Listening on vinyl, Copper Blue & Beaster were only in my collection as CDs up until now. As with the Archers of Loaf reissues, Merge did a great job with the art & liner notes and it's a really snazzy package. But, also like with the Archers reissues, Merge infuriates me with more download only bonus tracks.

Now I will say, it's unnecessary and I don't need a 3rd LP full of live tracks, but there are 3 B-Sides (and 1 alternate version, but let's take that out of the equation) in the download and you can't tell me you couldn't have fit those at the end of the 6 song Beaster LP. I get that a lot of the Beaster songs are long, but I would be very surprised to learn that 3 songs wouldn't fit.

Regardless, even though File Under easy Listening was always my favorite Sugar album, I commend Merge for re-releasing these Sugar albums so I can add Copper Blue and Beaster to the vinyl collection as well.

Sugar - Good Idea:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqW8P7dEqIo

Sugar If I Can't Change Your Mind:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHnFIaLp_ys

Sugar - Tilted:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLcNWi94Wk