Sugar - Copper Blue

MINE

What a surprise!  I knew absolutely nothing about this band before pressing Play this morning, and it's shown me my husband can still astonish me after eight years.  This album is (whisper this so he doesn't get offended) positively pure pop-rock.  My only criticism is the band obviously didn't pay any attention to the tracklisting, as the opening number is quite lack-lustre.

I vaguely recall hearing Helpless before but it was If I Can't Change Your Mind that really got me hopping about in the car this morning.  Top tune, good album, why haven't you played it to me before?  Hmmm?  Could it be it's just a little too MOR for your street cred, honey?  (YourZ sez: first of all: what street cred?  The fact is I had all but forgotten about this album but not again).  The close harmonies and great arrangements actually reminded me of Lush and the Bangles, so there.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

YOURZ

See, this is why this project is so fucking good because it's putting me back in touch with albums like Copper Blue and the songwriting of guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould - and whose existence in our collection had been all but forgotten.  When it came out, it was such an influential piece on me  - more than just about anything else around at the time, with the only possible exception being The Pixies (who openly acknowledge Mould's former band, Husker Du, as being a big influence).

Copper Blue is a stunning pop record, thinly disguised with abrasive guitars and a tough rhythm section.  But listening back, there's no doubting Mould's intentions.  The statement is clear in tracks like If I Can't Change Your Mind, for instance, which is just about the most perfect guitar pop song ever recorded.  Then there's A Good Idea, the best song The Pixies never wrote.  The rest of the track listing is similarly brilliant.

I really don't know why I forgot about this album.  Probably got distracted by too many shiny objects (yes, it happens).  Copper Blue is not like a long lost friend, but more like a close relative who appears on the doorstep after years, maybe looking a little care-worn but still very much a member of the family and whose appearance is cause for much celebration.  And this album is so worth celebrating.

Copper Blue, without a doubt, is the first Forgotten Gem for May (and a contender for the best Forgotten Gem of the year).

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/bobmould

Swervedriver - Mezcal Head

MINE

There's something about these - fortunately rare - early morning shifts I'm doing at the morning that absolutely requires a bit of heart-starting, hard-driving music to get me to work.  So I was happy to launch Swervedriver despite having never really sampled their music before, and even happier to discover that they actually sing, not shout, their tunes.  As regular readers will know, I hate shouty music, be it from the metal, rock or rap genres.  I can make some exceptions for punk but only in short bursts.

I liked this, and I'll play it again.  What's more, I'll listen to more albums, if they're all this good.  While it's not what I'd pick for a lazy day at home, I'm sure it'd motivate me to perform my housework chores with more vim and vigour.  Plus the lyrics are good, even poetic, and  I found myself singing along. 

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

YOURZ

Part of the 'shoe-gazer' genre, Swervedriver were also-rans to bigger names such as My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Lush and Ride.  Like most categorisations, the label only fit when viewed a particular way.  The reality is this band were only labelled as such due to the fact they came from the same district and played in the same clubs (often on the same bill as a few of them - it was Ride who gave a Swervedriver demo to Creation and led to them being signed).

More influenced by The Stooges and Husker Du, Swervedriver's sound would probably better be described as an amalgam of past and present trends in rock music, a melding of punk, psychedelia and grunge.  (I've ranted before about why I hate labelling music and this is a perfect example of why).  The reality is this is fuckin' kick-arse music, despite whatever label you wanna apply. 

Mezcal Head is their follow up to their great debut, Raise, and sees them defining their sound and dramatic lyrics.  From the opener For Seeking Heat to the closing suite Never Lost That Feeling/Never Learn, it is a winner.  It is also the most accomplished and confident example of their work, although their third release, Ejector Seat Reservation, also has some very fine moments.  My copy of Raise walked out of a share house years ago and I never replaced it.  I'm going to have to add yet another name to that ever growing list.

The most unfortunate part of the Swervedriver story is the lack of faith the recording industry exhibited in this band, despite critical praise and a dedicated following.  This led to the band going on hiatus in 1998 and not returning for a decade, when they completed a  very successful world tour.  Without naming names, I'm sure there are some record companies who are still kicking themselves for their appalling lack of faith.  But then, this is nothing new.

This is Forgotten Gem number two for April.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For further information: http://www.swervedriver.com/

In our collection we also have Ejector Seat Reservation and 99th Dream