Life's Too Good

The Sugarcubes

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: May 31, 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Ada
• ASIN: B000005IRX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,781 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Rare is the debut that displays such fully formed talent as Iceland's Sugarcubes' first album. Highlighted by the Cocteau Twins-influenced single "Birthday," two other provocative singles, "Deus" and "Coldsweat," and by the incredible vocal gymnastics of Björk Gudmundsdottir, Life's Too Good brilliantly shows a new band staking out its own sonic space. Einar Orn contributes an electronically reprocessed trumpet, and a few awkwardly charming and ranting vocals as well, but this is clearly Björk's show. Her vocal range is staggering. The CD reissue adds six extra tracks, several of which are sung in Icelandic. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychotic, demented fun!, January 21, 2000

By	Adam Carroll - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"I'll... I'll teach them to play the harmonica!" pleads trumpet player and vocalist Einar Orn at the beginning of the first track, `Traitor'. Barely audible, said harmonica starts to play, and at this point you instinctively reach to turn up the volume - but then the drums start, and the insanity begins.

The music is on the edge by itself, but with lead vocalist Björk Gudmundsdottir trading frenzied lines with Orn, the result is something that's completely and utterly over the edge. Every song is filled with a frenetic energy, and Björk's voice is so unpredictable that in some tracks she will quite literally be whispering in one moment and screaming the next. Einar Orn, meanwhile, alternates between a simple lunatic to something akin to a raging werewolf on some tracks. It really is amazing - and this was the Cubes' debut album! Need a charge? Forget that fork in the toaster - go pick up Life's Too Good.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Chances of Actually Dying Increase on First Listen!, July 30, 2000

By	NOWAY (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews

Some people might think of this band as being "irritating", but it is part of their art. Listening to this album is like watching an improvised theatre performance.

The sound of this band is both 'crazy', and 'uplifting'. It is almost impossible to put these two words together to describe something, yet it is!

The album starts very low, forcing you to pump up the volume (to hear whats going on). All of a sudden, "BOOM" the drums enter! This effect might give someone a heart attack!

Other things that might kill you are Einar's howls and Bjork's "Cut-throat" voice. Her voice is very untamed, unlike that in her solo work these days. It goes everywhere and morphs a lot. She might be a little innocent girl one second, then the next a fierce monster that wants to eat you alive! Another thing about Bjork in this band, is that she seems to be having a lot more fun than in her new stuff.

This album is not only for Bjork fans (in fact, some people prefer this to her solo stuff), but for music enthusiasts. It is a revolution in Pop music. A cult classic!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alternative rock's finest hour, January 9, 2000

By	Burritoman "burritoman" - See all my reviews

There really are no words to describe how truly perfect this record is. The Sugarcubes are strange, wondrous and innovative on this, their first and finest album. I could compare it to any of the all-time greatest albums (and it is one itself) and "Life's Too Good" would still hold up. But it's so odd that any comparisons would be almost vapid. Bjork has done some obviously amazing work since, both with the 'Cubes and especially as the most brilliant solo artist of our time. But this is her very greatest work to date, and the rest of the band are more than able to match her. It's funny, innovative, quirky, moody, sexy...you name it. And, it's haunting as well. I cannot recommend this cd enough. A true classic and, in my opinion, the finest album of the entire post-punk era (with the possible--and I say possible--exception of Public Image Ltd.'s "Second Edition"/"Metal Box").