Customer Reviews

Sugar

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know how to exactly describe this cd but it is truly one of the best cds I have purchased this year. I have Aloha's last cd, "That's your fire" which I feel is a very good cd that sounds a little disjointed at time because of the mixing of song speeds but for the most part, I really liked that cd. This cd is much warmer and more conventional - in a good way. Where the last cd had me skipping past sections of songs, this one has me listening to every note of every song. Tracks 2,3,4,7,9 are the standout but all of the others are great as well. The drummer plays amazingly complex rythems and the vibraphone blends better into the entire songs than it did on their previous cd. The vocals are strong as they always have been. I wish I could compare them to someone else; maybe the Sea and Cake's earlier music but it is more indie-rock emo-oriented post-punkish. Meaning, many college kids will probabaly find it comforting.

I'll be damned if Polyvinyl didn't do it again. They seem to have this knack for signing amazing bands and putting out amazing records - Braid, Rainer Maria, American Football, Mates of State, and now Aloha.

Now, I know Aloha has been around for a few years and they've put out a few releases on Polyvinyl, but this is the first one that really grabbed my attention, and it's obvious why. This band is making music no one else is right now. They incorporate the unique sound of a vibraphone into their instrumentation, which adds a dreamy effect to a lot of the album. Auxillary percussion such as conga drums are experimented with on the album as well, and make songs like "Let Your Head Hang Low" soar to new heights. Think of the Dismemberment Plan, only more hyperactive.

Singer Tony's voice posesses an otherworldly falsetto, it seems, as he lets it swoop in and out of songs, adding it at just the right moments. Drummer Cale and vibraphonist Eric lock in with each other so much on the album that it's almost impossible to find a flaw. This group is very rhythm oriented, and it shows. Tracks like the driving "Balling Phase" wouldn't be the same without the vibes noodling over the repetitive guitar chord changes.

This band has really stumbled onto something unique and original that actually works, a rarity in today's music scene. The vocals entrance, the rhythms hypotize, and the music stimulates your mind while moving your body. Say hello to Aloha.

this album is excellent. i can't imagine aloha getting any better than this cd, but they already have surpassed any expectations i have had for indie bands in a long time. the vibraphone and conga drums add depth and originality to their songs and bass lines that have been compared to dismemberment plan give their songs a great jazzy feel. the songs have excellent compositions and blend together so well making the entire album just a great piece of ear candy (hahaha)
just to let you know, that if my life were a movie, i would choose this as my backdrop music. if anyone from aloha reads this review, i really want you to tour with tristeza or sea and cake. its a good idea trust me!

Aloha's vibraphone-piloted tranquil rock is calming, contemplative, and soft. Sugar shimmers like a surreal dream underwater. Simply put, Sugar is a stimulating release etched with rich and resonant melodies, and Aloha is one of few groups willing to venture away from the normal indie-rock line of attack and focus their sound around atypical implements--one being the sweet and echoing sounds of the vibraphone.

A while back I was lucky enough to see Aloha live--they captivated all ears with their charming softness and deep quietude. The same night The Mercury Program played. Both outfits wooed listeners with the reverberating sounds of the vibraphone that seemed to fill the entire room, bouncing warm vibrato notes off all the walls and the enraptured eardrums of viewers. It definitely stands out as one of the more memorable shows I've been to.

Aloha's Sugar is an excellent formation of melodious guitar strums, delicate pitter-patters of the drum, mellifluous bass parts, and piano and electronic sounds that are all raveled and tangled up in the all-encompassing sweetness of a vibraphone. The warmth of Tony Cavallario's vocal delivery couldn't complement the music any better, but Aloha wouldn't be the same without the multi-wizardry of Eric Koltnow's continuous mallet movement up and down the vibraphone, plus his talents with the piano, congas, triangle, cymbals, and glockenspiel that all help deepen the musical depth of Aloha into an abyss of ethereal indie-rock.

I'm sure a lot of people are reluctant to give Aloha a chance, but Sugar is a highly rewarding listen if you can get past your fear of the vibraphone. Honestly, it may be one of the most beautiful instruments you'll ever hear, and Aloha perfectly utilizes its resounding quality with great gentle indie-rock

This is one of the best records I have heard in quite a while. Everytime I listen to it, I hear something new and like it that much more. They are way hip on the groovy rock beats and the ballads are so sweet. And yes, it IS better than ice cream. Way to go aloha!

This album has been just about all I've listened to lately.. Not only is this album solid and put-together well enough for the average person to enjoy, it is complex and interesting enough to catch a musicians ear. This album is much more jazz-oriented than their later releases, putting many jazz/improv guitar ideals into play, such as complex timings and chord progressions, and the drumming drives it all home, making it all flow together and keep a consistent groove so as to keep the music from appearing hackneyed or chaotic. The vibraphone brings in a little more of the Pele-esque sect of this genre, which is never a bad thing. So pick this one up-- It's worth the listen!

I really wanted to like this Cd,and tried many times.
The vocals are very pleasant but get lost and
confused with all the high-hats and vibraphones.
Just a little too much fusion for me.
But I bet they are really nice people!