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Sugar was an American alternative rock band active in the early 1990s. Formed in 1992, they were led by the singer and guitarist Bob Mould (ex-Hüsker Dü), alongside bassist David Barbe (ex-Mercyland) and drummer Malcolm Travis (ex-Human Sexual Response).[2]
Sugar | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Austin, Texas, US |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1992–1995[1] |
| Labels | Rykodisc Creation (UK) |
| Past members | Bob Mould David Barbe Malcolm Travis |
After frontman Bob Mould departed from Hüsker Dü, he released two solo ventures, Workbook and Black Sheets of Rain; neither album was well received and Mould was released from his contract with Virgin Records America in 1991 as a result.[3] Shortly after, Mould recorded a demo tape of over thirty songs and formed Sugar with David Barbe and Malcolm Travis.[4] The band was named in an Athens, GA Waffle House Restaurant when Mould spotted a sugar packet on the table where he and the other two band members were sitting. Their first concert was on February 20, 1992, at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia,[4] after a few weeks warming up in R.E.M.'s downtown practice space.
Later in 1992, the band released the album Copper Blue on Rykodisc in the US and Creation Records in the UK.[4] Copper Blue was named Album Of The Year 1992 by NME.[5] The music videos for the singles "If I Can't Change Your Mind" and "Helpless" received extensive air time on MTV shortly after the album's release.[1] The single for "If I Can't Change Your Mind" had moderate success in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
In the spring of 1993, they released Beaster, an EP of material recorded during the Copper Blue sessions. The album proved to be more aggressive than the content on Copper Blue.[1] After an abortive attempt to record a second album, the band regrouped and released File Under: Easy Listening in September 1994. It reached No. 7 in the UK Albums Chart.[2]
A b-side compilation album, Besides, followed in July 1995. The band played their final show in Japan in 1995,[6] Mould broke the band up in spring 1996.[2] Barbe wished to spend more time with his growing family and expand his solo career. Travis took over the drumming slot in Kustomized.
Bob Mould spent the summer of 2012 touring and playing Copper Blue in its entirety.[7]
| Sugar discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 2 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Compilation albums | 3 |
| Singles | 8 |
The discography of Sugar consists of three studio albums, one compilation album, one live album, two boxsets and eight singles.
Albums
| Title | Details[2] | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [8] |
AUS [9] |
NZ [10] |
UK [11][12] | ||
| Copper Blue |
|
– | 92 | 12 | 10 |
| Beaster (EP) |
|
130 | 94 | 18 | 3 |
| File Under: Easy Listening |
|
50 | 72 | 10 | 7 |
| Besides (compilation) |
|
122 | – | – | – |
| The Joke Is Always on Us, Sometimes. (live album) |
|
– | – | – | – |
Box sets
- A Box of Sugar (Edsel, 2013) – 5xLP
- Complete Recordings 1992-1995 (Edsel, 2014) – 5xCD
Singles
- All singles were released on both Creation and Rykodisc; except where indicated.
| Title[12] | Year | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Alt [8] |
NZ [10] |
UK [11] | |||
| "Changes" (Creation) | 1992 | – | – | 77 | Copper Blue |
| "Helpless" (Rykodisc) | 5 | 37 | – | ||
| "A Good Idea" | – | – | 65 | ||
| "If I Can't Change Your Mind" | 1993 | – | – | 30 | |
| "Tilted" (Creation) | – | – | 48 | Beaster | |
| "Your Favorite Thing" | 1994 | 14 | – | 40 | File Under: Easy Listening |
| "Believe What You're Saying" | – | – | 73 | ||
| "Gee Angel" (Rykodisc) | 1995 | – | – | – | |
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