The Sugarcubes "It's-It" (1992)

It's-It, remix album
release date: Oct. 27, 1992
format: cd (MRCD 3205)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: various
label: Mega Records - nationality: Iceland

Track highlights: 2. "Leash Called Love (Tony Humphries mix)" - 3. "Blue Eyed Pop (S1000 mix)" - 4. "Motorcrash (Justin Robertson mix)" - 6. "Gold (Todd Terry mix)" - 7. "Water (Bryan 'Chuck' New Mix)" - 11. "Hit (Tony Humphries Sweet & Low mix)"

A remix album by The Sugarcubes originally released on One Little Indian. No, it's not an original studio album of new compositions but it's neither a mere compilation of best of, left overs or rarities but an interesting remix album. The songs are taken from the band's three studio albums and most of them have been heavily remixed by various artists. Only "Regina" comes in a Sugarcubes remix, and that's also the compositions sounding most alike the original version. Some tracks have little in common with the familiar song and others still carry recognisable traits from the blue print, and then some are very fine remixes with new stylistic qualities, and yet others are too strange.
The album was the second album that I bought with the band, and perhaps the reason why I didn't bother buying the other two until later. 'Cause many of the best songs from both Here Today... (1989) and Stick Around for Joy (1992) appear on this in heavily "remixed" versions, and frankly, I found these better than the original album versions, although "Birthday" comes in two versions, none of which are better than the original. "Leash Called Love (Tony Humphries mix)" is an even better song here, and all remixes are composed as dance-pop or alt. dance with house as a common denominator, which only add that extra energy to some of the more ('artsy-farty') art pop original compositions.
All in all, a very fine collection.

The Sugarcubes "Stick Around for Joy" (1992)

Stick Around for Joy
release date: Feb. 18, 1992
format: cd / vinyl (2017 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Paul Fox
One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland

Track highlights: 1. "Gold" (4 / 5) - 2. "Hit" - 3. "Leash Called Love" (4 / 5) - 4. "Lucky Night" - 5. "Happy Nurse" - 6. "I'm Hungry" - 7. "Walkabout" (4 / 5) - 8. "Hetero Scum"

3rd and final studio album by The Sugarcubes. I don't think that I heard this album at the time of its release. I was too tired of the band, and too tired of their inability to provide something close to their most interesting compositions, so I only knew of "Hit" and "Leash Called Love" from radio transmissions, and they simply weren't even enough to catch my interest, at least not until 10 years after or so. Today, I consider the album nearly as good as their debut, and I really only ask myself as to why I didn't find it enjoyable at the time. I think Björk's voice and her physical appearances while performing were what "disgusted" me. "Gold" is almost the best track on the album, but what makes it better than Here Today... (1989) is the overall feel of solid compositions, and it's also the band's most homogeneous album. The song "Hit" reached no. 1 on the American charts of "Modern Rock" as their only no.1. in the US. It's a fine album to end their career. After all, they only released 3 studio albums, and one year after this, Björk released her great solo Debut, which initiated a fine solo career.

The Sugarcubes "Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!" (1989)

Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!
release date: Sep. 1989
format: vinyl (gatefold) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,63]
producer: The Sugarcubes, Derek Birkett
label: One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland

Tracklist: 1. "Tidal Wave" - 2. "Regina" (4 / 5) - 3. "Speed Is the Key" - 4. "Dream TV" - 5. "Nail" - 6. "Pump" (3 / 5) - 7. "Eat the Menu" - 8. "Bee" - 9. "Dear Plastic" - 10. "Shoot Him" - 11. "Water" - 12. "A Day Called Zero" - 13. "Planet"

2nd studio album by The Sugarcubes was a highly expected follow-up to a very interesting debut, but moreover, they were so overly hyped at the time after the debut that they could only fail to fulfill the expectations, and therefore they did. I was extremely disappointed and didn't even buy the album at the time. My initial ratings were probably 2 out of 5 stars as I only thought it had one great song, and one so-so. About ten years after I was so tired of Björk's singing voice that I still couldn't listen to this, so it's actually not until after 2005 that I have come to appreciate this album more. Still, I think it contains one great song, and it's still "Regina", which I think nearly pars "Birthday", but the remaining songs appear much better - today, I think. "Tidal Wave" is a fine track, and a few others shine thanks to varied, complex and good songwriting, BUT it's also music a bit away from the daring simple indie pop, which brought them fame in the first place. The song "Pump" sounds like Björk solo, maybe like a track from Debut (1993) or Post (1995)? I don't think this is their very best but in retrospect, I don't think The Sugarcubes ever released anything poor and this album still contains a few good singles.

The Sugarcubes "Life's Too Good" (1988)

Life's Too Good [debut]
release date: Apr. 1988
format: vinyl (tplp5) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: D. Birkett, R. Shulman
label: One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland

Tracklist: A) 1. "Traitor" (2 / 5) - 2. "Motorcrash" - 3. "Birthday" (5 / 5) - 4. "Delicious Demon" (4 / 5) - 5. "Mama" - - B) 1. "Coldsweat" (2 / 5) - 2. "Blue Eyed Pop" - 3. "Deus" - 4. "Sick for Toys" - 5. "F***Ing in Rhythm & Sorrow"

Studio debut album by The Sugarcubes produced by Derek Birkett and Ray Schulman. I had really been looking forward to it, hoping for more great tracks like the marvelous "Birthday", so I was a bit disappointed by this after rushing out to buy it upon its release. The opening track is a bit dull and a bit uninspiring. "Motorcrash" is better but still not great. "Delicious Demon" is refreshingly funny and energetic, and a great track. "Mama" is... dull art pop and far from the sparkling energy on their best tracks. "Coldsweat" is like an alternate version of "Traitor", which isn't great. "Blue Eyed Pop" is like Talking Heads on speed, and that's quite enjoyable. "Deus" is again too much art pop but with fine vocals by Björk and Einar Örn. "Sick for Toys" is strange post-punk art punk and a rather weak track, and the closing track (on the original vinyl release) "F***Ing in Rhythm & Sorrow" is also strange, but in a funny crazy drunken blues rock kind of way. Overall, the debut is interesting with great tracks and it appears as highly original but also a bit uneven, and not on par with my expectations; however, it is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and is a recommended album.

The Sugarcubes "Birthday" (1987) (single)

Birthday, 12'' single
release date: Oct. 1987
format: vinyl (12 tp 7)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Ray Shulman & Derek Birkett
label: One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland

Tracklist: A) 1. "Birthday" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Birthday" (Icelandic) (4 / 5) - 2. "Cat" (Icelandic)

Single release by The Sugarcubes, and the band's first international single, as well as its perhaps biggest (?) international hit featured on their forthcoming debut album Life's Too Good (Apr. '88). The band consists of vocalist Björk Guðmundsdóttir, vocalist and trumpeter Einar Örn (Benediktsson), guitarist Thór (aka Þór Eldon Jónsson), bassist Bragi (Ólafsson) and drummer Siggi (aka Sigtryggur Baldursson) - both Björk, Örn and Siggi had played together in the band Kukl from which they broke out around '86 to from The Sugarcubes.

I remember the song being played almost everywhere, at record stores, and at cafés when it was released, and I puchased it during school holiday in October when it was just being released, as I thought it was a fabulous song, and I could hardly wait until they released an album.

Birthday, CD single

release date: Dec. 1987
format: cd (7tp7cd)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Ray Shulman & Derek Birkett
label: One Little Indian - nationality: Iceland

Tracklist: A) 1. "Birthday" (5 / 5) - 2. "Motorcrash" - 3. "Cat" (Icelandic) - 4. "Birthday" (Icelandic) (4 / 5)

CD single issue released two months following the vinyl editions. The single contains the bonus track "Motorcrash", like the title track, taken from the upcoming debut album Life's Too Good (1988).