2 keepers
keeper avg .200
Without analyzing how the album fits into Bob Mould's solo catalog, it's clear from both the album's strongest and weakest moments that Sugar as a band was running its course. But "not so fast there pardner" the furious "Gift"**** seems to say, resembling the raging Beaster EP more than anything on the legendary debut album Copper Blue. Ditto for the jack-hammering single "Gee Angel," whose busy, quacking riffs were much more galvanizing to me back in 1994 than they sound to me now. The album's high point is obviously its debut single "Your Favorite Thing"****, which slightly tweaks the radiant power pop formula of the 1992 classic "Helpless".
Or rather it sonically copies "Helpless" while borrowing and only slightly tweaking the ACTUAL CHORDS of "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (recycling the two main singles from Copper Blue). David Barbe's fine contribution "Company Book" and Mould's "What You Want It to Be" are two solid tracks that would have fit in fine on Copper Blue, and unfortunately sound very similar with only one trach separating them on the album. You see where I'm going here? As if to prove my point Mould recycles the entirety of the mostly instrumental "Come Around" (from Beaster) and added some words and some chorus chords to lazily create the lackluster "Panama City Motel." "Can't Help You Anymore" is passable but the jokey throwaway "Granny Cool" and Bob Mould lite "Believe What You're Saying" (an "If I Can't Change Your Mind" clone) indicate diminishing returns. If you like heart-wrenching ballads "Explode and Make Up" is a fine way to sign-off, though that's not really my thing.
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