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Sugar was an American alternative rock band of the early 1990s led by vocalist/guitarist Bob Mould (former Hüsker Dü) alongside bassist David Barbe (ex-Mercyland) and drummer Malcolm Travis (ex-Zulus/ ex-Human Sexual Response).

Mould envisioned Sugar as a similar musical venture to Hüsker Dü except with him writing all the songs and calling all the shots. Their sound was more radio-friendly than that of Hüsker Dü, though with similarly dark and introspective undertones.

[edit] Band history

Their first live show was February 20, 1992, at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA, after a few weeks warming up in R.E.M.'s downtown practice space. It was a "secret" show, not advertised in the local media, bumping Athens band Roosevelt from headliner to opener. Word got out and the club was packed.

Later in 1992, the band released the album Copper Blue, which was named Album Of The Year 1992 by the NME. The following year they released Beaster, an EP of darker material recorded during the Copper Blue sessions. The single "If I Can't Change Your Mind" was a moderate UK hit.

After a first abortive attempt to record a second full-length album, the band regrouped and recorded File Under: Easy Listening quickly in the spring of 1994 and released it that fall.This album reached number 7 in the U.K. album charts.

A B-side collection, Besides, followed in 1995. Mould broke the band up later that year because Barbe wished to spend more time with his growing family and expand his solo career. Travis then took over the drumming slot in the band Kustomized.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums, EP

• Copper Blue LP (Rykodisc, 1992)
• Beaster EP (Rykodisc, 1993)
• File Under: Easy Listening LP (Rykodisc, 1994)
• Besides compilation LP (Rykodisc, 1995)
• The Joke Is Always On Us, Sometimes. Live disc, incl. w/ Besides

[edit] Singles

• "Changes" (Creation, 1992)
• "Helpless" (Rykodisc, 1992)
• "A Good Idea" (Rykodisc, 1992) UK:#65
• "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (Rykodisc, 1992) UK:#30
• "Tilted" (Rykodisc, 1993) UK:#48
• "Your Favorite Thing" (Rykodisc, 1994) UK:#48
• "Believe What You're Saying" (Rykodisc, 1994) UK:#78
• "Gee Angel" (Rykodisc, 1994)

[edit] External links

• Sugar's AMG entry