It starts with the droning hypnotic "Come Around" and ends similarly with "Walking Away", but these are there more as endcaps to the four song centerpiece. Coming on the heels of "Come Around" "Tilted" is a barreling, pummeling brute of a song, arriving at high velocity and maintaining speed to its squalling, feedback-drenched conclusion. The noise turns to sludge as "Judas Cradle" lurches forth, with Mould screaming to open and bellowing throughout. Malcom Travis' pounding drumbeat announces the more-propulsive-but-still-thick "JC Auto". Mould's vocals continue to outstrip all-comers in the intensity department & the chords are thick. "Feeling Better" does indeed feel better, almost strutting with a loose confidence, maybe not joyous but certainly filled with exuberance.

Few bands or songwriters could say as much with the (seemingly obligatory) seventy minutes possible on a cd. This is all of 32 minutes. And, might I add, the tour supporting it was the most ungodly loud thing I've EVER heard. My ears rang for two weeks. I was still grinning when they stopped.


Pain   August 25, 2001
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Ethereal, spiritual, brutal. Bob Mould leads the band through the tunnels of religious struggle with this visciously visceral mini-album. Sugar's finest moment, but barely heard (probably a result of Mould's shrewd marketing sense, knowing that the band was widely considered a power-pop group), it is a true Bob Mould album of grit and ugliness. The band is at its musical zenith here: the guitars are just dirty, Malcolm's drumming moves beyond the often plain patterns on "Copper Blue" and "F.U.E.L.," and Dave's bass-playing is just sprawling all over the album. The record opens and closes with heavenly songs of acceptance (the opener willingly, and the closer more out of necessity/hopelessness). But it's what's in between that's really interesting: angry and confused, as dislplayed in "Tilted," perhaps the band's best song overall (but that's a close one) and "JC Auto." Sugar's finest moment.


an absolute must that will last past teenage obsession   December 2, 2004
Paul Baker
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is a rare treat. The 'copper blue' sugar debut everyone champions is not a patch on this in my opinion, as it suffers, at times, from the wimpiness and plain weakness (lyric wise) of just about all bob moulds post sst husker du work.
It is indeed (as one good person said) an album rather than an ep.
The sequel to old husker du, and the only one availible.
I would highly recommend you trip out to this minor masterpiece of melodic rock.
Not unlike the foo fighters sound (dave growl clearly influenced by mould and husker du bandmember hart) this is how you want it to sound.
Utterly Incredible.
I recommend the very cd you are looking at (a great cd for a change, no need to pick up the vinyl)




perfect title   June 5, 2001
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This cd, in my opinon is the height of Sugar. The ferocity of the material is literally jaw-dropping. Don't get me wrong the melodic nature of Mould shines through on every track but tracks 2-5 are relentless in their aggression and energy. Threw this on a couple weeks ago for the first time in about 4 years and it was a state of nirvana. In a way this reminds me of New Day Rising in terms of the the power on display. The production is the same sound as Copper Blue and its just amazing that this was the material they released before the uninspired F.U.E.L cd. In the end it's Bob Mould and while not everything he creates works, its usually miles above what currently passes for hard rock/power pop these days. If you can find Beaster, add it to your collection