Pure Cane Sugar

Sugarman Three | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Daptone
• ASIN: B00006JOFQ
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,092 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Picking up where their 7" singles left off, Sugarman Three provides 11 memorable, booty-shaking moments on this 2002 release. Although Sugarman Three has received many Jon Spencer comparisons from indie rock circles, Pure Cane Sugar is a slick and soulful slab of raw R&B that carries little of the screaming and noise of Spencer's outfit. Instead, they harness the sharp timing of funk and produce intensely groovy instrumentals with the occasional guest vocalist making an appearance. The best use of a singer is "Take It As It Comes," a James Brown-style number that uses a tight horn part to drive the song along while Sugarman Three jams away in all their funky glory. Other highlights include the mid-tempo groove of "Pure Cane," the Motown-esque "Modern Jive," and the saxophone extravaganza "Country Girl." The key to Sugarman Three's magic is the tension they manage to pull out of these songs, making each glorious breakdown seem like a genuine release. Soulful, swaggering, and fun, Pure Cane Sugar is a fantastic modern funk release that journeys into the complicated rhythms and basslines of the genre's heyday and comes back ready to dance. -All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super chunk o' slick f-u-n-k-y soul, June 4, 2003

By 

plc (SEATTLE, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pure Cane Sugar (Audio CD)

Initially heard this one at a friends house and thought it was from the 1970's. When I learned it came out in 2002, I was amazed. Who is producing this fat, juicy kind of R&B/Soul these days? Sugarman 3 is. Tight bass an' drum section with hooky guitar riffs. Echo's of blaxplotation era soundtracks. Nice horn section an' that funky clavinet sound. Vocals by Lee Fields in the James Brown style.
Need a solid party disc? Checkitout!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So right its wrong, May 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Pure Cane Sugar (Audio CD)

Pure Cane Sugar. Pure cane sweet it is. All tracks are strong. About half of these tracks carry the James Brown style of vocal, but the strength of this album lies in the instrumentals. You like that Hammond B3 organ sound, extended B3 jams paired with a super funky hot rythm section - this is a must have. This album even pulls off a flute with contagiousness on 10 (and that's almost unheard of in my book). My favorites of the album are 3 Pure Cane, and 10 Culebra - both instrumental, downtempo jams. Those two alone worth the purchase. And there are no skippers in here. Favorites to skip to as with everything, but nothing requiring the punch.

And for the love of God, see these guys live if you get the chance. Float by the Daptone web site for gig info. They seem to reside in the Chicago / NY area when not out and about. If they ever get out West, this is one group that will get the No Holds Barred treatment to get me there. Never heard them in person, granted, but some things are simple no-brainers.

Sugar has some other stuff out I am slowly acquiring. Some are not available (out of print) these days, so you may have to hunt the unusual pipelines to get them. But its worth it. Try "gemm" where Amazon has a void.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not going to write a dissertation..., May 10, 2005

By 

Darn (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pure Cane Sugar (Audio CD)

But this has RHYTHM. Been exploring the soul jazz/boogaloo genre for a while, and there are common threads...the hammond, the alto sax, the jazz, the jammin...but there are only a few albums out there that have the 'updated beat' like this album has, and it makes it so much funkier and cooler to listen too. The beat I'm talking about sounds like it belongs in a hip-hop song of the mid 90's..it's the beat that got me into music in the first place.