― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 21:54 (twenty years ago) link
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 21:55 (twenty years ago) link
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 22:24 (twenty years ago) link
For a buck, it's worth giving a spin or two.
― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 22:38 (twenty years ago) link
― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 22:42 (twenty years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 22:46 (twenty years ago) link
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 22:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 22:52 (twenty years ago) link
― Gas Coin, Tuesday, 20 January 2004 23:15 (twenty years ago) link
― notfazed (notfazed), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 00:05 (twenty years ago) link
― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 00:07 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 02:15 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 03:33 (twenty years ago) link
― the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 03:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 03:56 (twenty years ago) link
― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 04:01 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 04:21 (twenty years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 05:26 (twenty years ago) link
― Ian Johnson (orion), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 05:29 (twenty years ago) link
― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 12:59 (twenty years ago) link
the weakest release in a stong catalogue; still think it would be improved if they'd opened with a Suhar-ed cover of 'this gift' by Mudhoney, as opposed to their own 'gift'...
― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 16:04 (twenty years ago) link
'beaster' is incredible.
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 16:17 (twenty years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 16:20 (twenty years ago) link
I actually think that's the best thing Mould ever did.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 16:25 (twenty years ago) link
This is an underrated album. "Gift", "Your Favorite Thing", "Gee Angel" and "Explode And Make Up" are indredible songs. The other six tunes range from nearly-as-good to just-"OK", but, still... the production is astounding, I can't believe anyone would dislike it. It's like the warmth-of-vinyl thing meets Bob's usual guitar sound... with that MBV undercurrent... doing big pop songs... with an acoustic second side... it's cool!
The other Sugar records had just as many flaws. Perhaps 'Copper Blue' has more great songs--only a few are lukewarm--but it's pretty close. I've had these for the better part of a decade and over the years this has become the one I grab for some reason...
― John 2, Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:51 (twenty years ago) link
This album would be worth $1 even it just consisted of "Gift" 10 times. Hell, it might even be worth $10 in that case. But with "Gift" and "Explode and Make Up", def. worth $10. I don't think I've listened to anything between those two songs on the album since 1994, but maybe I ought to.
The live version of "Explode and Make Up" that came on the bonus second disk of Besides is even better, though: it's one of those performances I can't listen to with anyone else around b/c I lose it every time. The same is true for that show's version of "The Slim", which didn't really move me on Copper Blue. The live version is astounding. I wish they'd sounded this good to me when I saw them live on the FUEL tour, but the assault that night was just wearying.
― Euler, Sunday, 27 December 2009 07:33 (fourteen years ago) link
I concur with your assessment, very underrated record coming in the wake of it's excellent predecessors. I'm not sure I agree with you re: the live versions - when I saw them they just played straight through each song in a perfunctory way. Fast as hell, yes, but without the soul that the studio versions have. Exception: the live version of "JC Auto".
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 27 December 2009 13:38 (fourteen years ago) link
glad it made the Rolling Stone list – such a great album
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 17 April 2014 19:03 (nine years ago) link
You can always toss the CD and use the blank case to replace a broken one.
― Mark (MarkR)
i had completely forgotten this
― balls, Thursday, 17 April 2014 22:28 (nine years ago) link
was a letdown after Copper Blue and Beaster, but still has some decent tunes. Besides with bonus live disc worth checking out too.
― nitro-burning funny car (Moodles), Thursday, 17 April 2014 22:47 (nine years ago) link
This is someway short of a great album IMO. Gift, Your Favourite Thing (one of his best ever), Gee Angel, Believe What You're Saying and Explode are great.
But the Barbe track, Panama City Motel, What You Want It To Be (such generic Mould), Granny Cool are average.
― Master of Treacle, Thursday, 17 April 2014 23:16 (nine years ago) link
GIFT is the best
― Euler, Thursday, 17 April 2014 23:26 (nine years ago) link
& as I said above, the live version of "The Slim" on the Besides bonus live disk is as great as "Gift", and now it's available as the second disk of the FU:EL reissue. his screams...song is something else.
― Euler, Thursday, 17 April 2014 23:34 (nine years ago) link
― Master of Treacle,
that's about right -- I skip those.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 17 April 2014 23:43 (nine years ago) link