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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rock-Slash-Punk-Slash-Pop - An amazing debut, August 15, 2004
The first song I heard by these guys was "Stuck in America", which prompted me into thinking that the punk scene was being toned down considerably. Then I heard "Bouncing off the Walls" and "How Does it Feel" and I thought that perhaps I was wrong. But it wasn't until I heard "Pretty Girl" that I realized the great coincidence.
See, the songs I had downloaded off the band's Ultimatum Records debut were the punk-ish songs. Of the 12 tracks, 5 were fast-paced and short. I happened to download 4 of those 5. The rest were songs that were completely reminiscent of Gin Blossoms. Seriously. But, despite the tone I might convey as I write this, this is not a bad thing. Hey, I like Gin Blossoms.
So yes, those four songs can be deceptive. I guess one could accuse the band of not having a particular identity, but if you're as open as I am regarding music then this shouldn't be a problem. The album's opener, "You're the One", an incredibly hyper romp through teen obsessions and spontaneous bursts of emotion, is everything but similar to the album's closer, "I Changed My Name", which can easily be compared to Collective Soul or Silverchair's older ballads. Then we have twin songs "Every Beautiful Day" and "Saying Goodbye", which are easily the catchiest pop rock songs I have heard recently. Sure, the guitars are distorted, but they easily evoke memories of the Refreshments and the Verve Pipe.
If you've seen Van Wilder then you're familiar with the song "Bouncing off the Walls". It's faster than the rest of the album, and at times can sound a little pretentious or obnoxious (like Midtown at times). The album does not resemble this song (with the exception of "You're the One" and "How Does it Feel"). If you want to see the difference at its greatest, download any of the aforementioned songs and pair it up with "Lost in You" (which could easily be the closest they get to being a Gin Blossoms cover band). Seriously, this last song just screams "Allison Road" or "Mrs. Rita".
I like the band. I really do. The songs that I've mentioned are great and will ring in your ears incessantly. My point is: don't be fooled into thinking that they're another punk band, because I wouldn't exactly call them that. Sure, some songs can be fast and punk-ish, but on the whole, they're another pop rock band with an occasional harder edge.
Recommendations: "Hate Every Beautiful Day", "Bouncing off the Walls", "Saying Goodbye", "Pretty Girl", "I Changed My Name"
Little Side Note: The hidden track on the album is astounding. If you want to download it, search for either "Bonus Track" or "Neil Rocks My World" (the actual song title). Quite possibly the most underrated song I've heard yet. Absolutely amazing.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good debut, June 17, 2002
Sugarcult is a pop-punk band that knows what they're doing. Their songs are structured and ear catching, and they posses a sound that's all their own. Yes, you can believe what you just read, a pop-punk band with a unique sound, not something they stole from another band (Hm, Sum41 perhaps?). This album as a whole comes off very strong, with tracks that can go punch for punch with the best of them. Songs such as "You're the one" and "Stuck in America" really kick things off with a bang. Other great songs that follow are "Bouncing off the walls", "Daddy's little defect" and "Pretty Girl". I couldn't find anything negative about "Start Static", which has solidified the band in the pop-punk scene. Hopefully Sugarcult can come out with something more jaw dropping on their next release. But, none of the less this is a great album to get the band on their feet. Nothing really good or bad to point out musically, the guitar work is pretty basic which is of course what you would expect of a pop-punk band. The same comment would apply well to the rest of the band. Overall, pop-punk fans and rock fans alike will both enjoy this release, pick it up.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great stuff from Sugarcult, December 27, 2002
While I like this album, and I like Sugarcult, it left me wanting something more. Maybe it's because there's only 11 tracks, or maybe it's the tracks themselves, it just seems like something's missing. Either way, here's the track-by-track analysis:1. "You're The One"
At first listen, this song seems promising, delivering a catchy chorus and nice rythm. And then, it just... ends. 1:50 is a little short for a good song. 2. "Stuck In America"
If you've seen the movie 'National Lampoon's Van Wilder', then you know this song. It's not a bad song, but the hundredth time, it gets old. It should be renamed "Stuck In Your Head", because that's EXACTLY what happens. Good song, nonetheless. 3. "Hate Every Beautiful Day"
This is where the album gets going. A nice introductory riff leads into a song that almost sounds like Lit rather than Sugarcult... this track is a great listen and would make a good single. 4. "Bouncing Off The Walls"
The smash radio hit that got everyone addicted to Sugarcult in the first place, "Bouncing Off The Walls" has a happy-go-lucky feel to it that's impossible to resist. You'll listen to it over and over again, and that's a fact! 5. "Saying Goodbye"
A slower version of "Stuck In America", this track sneaks up on you and gets you nodding your head before you even realize it. 6. "Daddy's Little Defect"
My personal favorite of the album, "Daddy's Little Defect" is an anthem for horny guys (yet I repeat myself) everywhere. "Wasting all your time, going all the way..." 7. "Lost In You"
After the speed of "Daddy's Little Defect", listening to "Lost In You" is like getting off of a roller coaster and getting on a trolly. Not to knock the track itself, I just think the placement on the CD could have been a bit better. 8. "Pretty Girl (The Way)"
After hearing this song on the radio a couple dozen times, I became hooked. While vastly different from everything else on this CD, it has its own style - more deliberate, methodical, and emotional than the rest of the album. Excellent song. 9. "Crashing Down"
Reminiscent in lyrical content to "Daddy's Little Defect", this song is especailly nice to listen to for the broken-hearted, which includes about 75% of the teenage population in this country. Slow and sad, just as it should be. 10. "How Does It Feel"
Picking things up again, this song sounds almost exactly like "Stuck In America", just with different lyrics and slight differences in tempo and melody. There's the same feel to the chorus, which may just be the way Tim Pagnotta (Sugarcult's lead singer) sings. 11. "I Changed My Name"
Slower than everything else on this album "I Changed My Name" sounds like another artist, not Sugarcult. In my opinion, this song is the weak point of the CD - it's more boring than it is anything else. After listening to the album, the thoughts that come to mind are "That's it?" There is definately room for more tracks here, and I would have been a lot more impressed with more material.
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