Sugar – Beaster (1993)

Sugar was Bob Mould's second band (after Husker Du), but one where he clearly led, writing all the material and producing. I wasn't aware of the band (nor of Mould) until after the band finished, but they were a fantastic discovery. The band have reformed in 2026, and will play US gigs in the autumn. Let's hope for some UK dates to follow.

This mini-album (six tracks, just over half an hour) followed six months after their debut, Copper Blue, and has a darker, heavier sound than the more accessible debut.

It kicks off with Come Around, an extended riff, accompanied by the title repeatedly droned, followed by the high energy Tilted, a solid, high decibel rock song, of the sort you'd expect. Judas Cradle is more grungy, discordant and a bit of a slower plodder, which gets more interesting with time, while JC Auto and Feeling Better are straightforward loud rock songs, the latter being a more comfortable, commercial listen. Finally, Walking Away, a single theme, propelled by a church organ sound, which doesn't really work as an album climax.

Not as immediate a listen as its predecessor, and carrying a couple of duff tracks, nevertheless it's a solid representation of this power trio's heavier sound.

Link to full album

3* - some fine loud rock for the listener here