LIFE'S TOO GOOD released 1988 by the sugarcubes put iceland on the map in western music. But is it good?
So if we're discussing this album it's pretty important to discuss the environment it was made in- Iceland (insert supermarket joke here) in the eighties- from what i've seen in interviews, western culture was hitting the capital city of Reykjavik like a truck, this is a country that not 100 year ago had people living in mud huts still. Lots of their produce was and is imported due to the harsh climate, and with that came pop culture, and the punk movement. "Everyone was in a band", lead singer and keyboardist Bjork said. So in a saturated landscape, how did this band stand out?
Well firstly, the energy presented by the band is undeniable, from both the vocals to the instrumentals, the band really feels like they're on a sugar rush, as the name suggests. The vocals from the male vocalist, Einar, are frantic and almost mocking at points, specifically on the track "Sick for toys", which tells the absurd story of a girl who's "sick for toys", which is probably a metaphor but thats for you to find out. The other vocalist on this album is the now legendary Bjork Guomundsdottir, who would go on to forge an incredible solo career, who is seen in a much more laid back and less serious setting here. Her lyrics, on the "final track", fucking in rhythm and sorrow, tell the story of a divorced woman who comes home to find a naked man and jesus in her apartment. Bjork's instantly recognisable vocal is all over this album, and whilst not carrying the record, definitely sets it apart from others.
I wrote final track in quotations because it technically isnt- despite the 1 thru ten tracklisting on the cover, there's also a secret bonus track called "take some petrol darling" which just kind of feels like an afterthought at 1:27 long. Talking of length, this album is not that- the first ten tracks barely peak 30 minutes, but I think that's kind of what they're going for with the moniker of "the sugarcubes". The tracks are all fairly short, about half of them are less than three minutes and only one is longer than 4, but I don't feel like that detracts from the record.
The sound of the album is a whole melting pot of influences, from talking heads to joy division, this album is steeped in punk and rock with a sweet and quirky twist that make the songs pop. The drums are loud and abbrasive but still rhythmic, the guitars aren't afraid to be lathered in effects and played in unconventional ways, and the sound pallete for everything else is eclectic enough to keep the record interesting.
In terms of songs i did and didn't like, I like delicious demon a whole lot, the drum line and guitar melody are very rock-y and dance-y, and Bjork just ends up screaming by the end. That being said I was pretty underwhelmed by Birthday, being the band's biggest charting song, It just didn't come off as particularily notable to me, or how it even became a big hit. It's not a bad song, but not great either, particularily. None of the tracks are really really bad, they just don't stick around long enough to get annoying.
So I definitely enjoyed the record, with it's short runtime and fun songwriting it functions as a hit of sugar when you need it most, with tracks that function as fun songs on their own too. check it out!
There's also someone with two dicks on the album cover which is awesome
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