Track Listing

1. She's the Blade
2. Crying
3. Memory
4. Worst December
5. Back to California
6. Destination
7. Champagne
8. What You Say
9. Over
10. Head Up
11. Counting Stars
12. Sign Off

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16113 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
The energy and dedication Sugarcult brought to Start Static created a massive fan base for the rock quartet around the world, selling nearly half a million copies -- 300,000 units in the United States alone. On their new, Gavin MacKillop produced album, Palm Trees and Power Lines the plaintive edge that lurked below the surface of singer/guitarist Tim Pagnotta's songs is now front and center. The new material has an emotional intensity that matches the band's electrifying musical jolt. Sugarcult is quintessentially Californian, and the new album's 12 songs play out against the backdrop of California's beauty and ugliness, its romance and reality; documenting a physical and psychological journey that begins and ends at the edge of the Pacific.

On the undeniably catchy rocker "Memory," the band effortlessly dives into one of the themes that have made them such an important band to their fans - love hanging by a thread. The similarly wrenching songs, "Crying" and "Over", search for a glimmer of affirmation amid the debris of shattered romantic dreams.

"Back to California,"encapsulates the album's dramatic payload in a vivid narrative ("Drive all night to hold you tight / Back to California / We couldn't win in the end") that recalls the climax of an earlier California saga of highways and hope, The Graduate.

"These songs are fresh documents of our lives over the last two years," says Marko. "We're more confident as musicians, we're more confident in our ideas - because, when you set out to do something against all odds and it's working, that just strengthens your resolve. It gives you the confidence to take more chances, keep doing the things you've been doing without apologies and just go for it."

Amazon.com
Another album of unapologetic pop punk songs from this Santa Barbara outfit who have smartly filled in the void that Green Day left when they decided to dabble into rock's early canon and eschew self-loathing for more mature introspection. Sugarcult has none of those pretensions; instead their rock anthems are rather unadulterated and athletic--even when they're trying to sonically extricate themselves from complicated and claustrophobic romantic entanglements. With lyrics more clever than smart, Sugarcult makes romantic fatalism oddly entertaining as they take listeners through a wistful post mortem of a love affair gone awry. --Jaan Uhelszki

About the Artist
Sugarcult doesn't play by the rules. Since the 2001 release of their debut album, Start Static, the Santa Barbara-based quartet has been rewriting the book on how to succeed in the brave new world of post-millennial rock & roll.

The group took shape in 1998, starting with Pagnotta, who after a nomadic childhood hooked up with bassist Airin and the band's first drummer Ben Davis at City College in Santa Barbara. Soon thereafter Sugarcult played their first gig supporting Superdrag at a local club. This gig was also attended by Marko 72, a scenester who'd played bass with punk bands the Ataris, the Swingin' Utters and Nerf Herder (in addition to running an bedroom indie label, hosting a weekly radio show, working in a record store and writing for the weekly tabloid). Tim and Marko found they loved the same bands, from Elvis Costello and The Clash to Nirvana and Green Day, and before long Marko was playing guitar in the band.

After gaining some notoriety in the Central Coast music scene, the boys pointed their van south on the 101 and began their quest to conquer the highly competitive environs of Southern California. Says Marko, "We'd use the money we'd made in packed gigs in Santa Barbara to subsidize total disasters a hundred miles away. But we quickly developed a fan base, and it seemed really natural, not fabricated."

Immediately after completing Start Static with producer Matt Wallace, Sugarcult hit the road as the new kids on the 2001 Warped Tour. The unknown band went over so well that what was initially a two-week run was extended through the entire two-month tour, and they were back again the following summer. Thus the seeds were sown that led Sugarcult on one tour after another - resulting in a rabid fanbase. It's a phenomenon that has less to do with airplay or endcaps, and more to do with the direct result of a genuine, wholly organic buzz.

Now, with three more years of experience and musical honing under their belts, Sugarcult (with recent addition Kenny Livingston on drums) has delivered an album with immense promise. When the time came to write the new album, the songs came quickly, having been percolating in Pagnotta's brain during the course of his travels. "We'd just played over 300 shows and traveled the world a couple of times - from which so many experiences and emotions evolved. All these new songs were written in about a month after coming off the road. It was a matter of tapping into the moments and memories in order to recreate the feeling." "The themes are a little darker," adds Marko, "and Tim's really opening up."

Sugarcult has upped the ante with a musically and emotionally resonant album that marks the coming of age of an important new band with something to say and the firepower to put it across with a vengeance. There's simply no quitting - and no compromise - with this crew. Get used to having Sugarcult around, because they're not about to go away.

Customer Reviews

Surprisingly liked by a 30-something 80's fan
Just thought I'd throw in my two-cents worth. I am a 30-something music listener who usually listens to 80's pop and rock. While checking out some old music videos on Launch, the "Memory" video came on. Before I could turn it off, the music caught my interest.

These guys are really cool! I bought the album the next day, and listen to it nearly every day (especially when my kids are in the car). I've seen them called "punk" and "alternative" styled, which may in fact be the case. All I know is it sounds like GREAT ROCK & ROLL to me. This coming from a "alternative rock sucks" kinda guy.

Although some of the lyrics get deep and depressive at times, the music itself is very fresh and explores many moods.

If you are a fan of Rock & Roll, give this band a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Now what did I do with that Boston CD.........?

not a bad song!!
ok, i got this album as just another CD to play every once and a while. well what did i know, its all i have been listening to for the past 2 weeks and more to come! what a great cd.

1. Shes the blade - 5/5 this is the 1st song i put on, and i loved it. its a very good song

2. Crying - 5/5 this song has very catchy lyrics nd beat.

3. Memory - 5/5 the first single that will live forever, what else to say GREAT song. i boought the album because of THIS song, and i am very happy

4. Worst december - 4/5 good song...not a fav but good ^^

5. Back to california - 5/5 awsome song. one of my favs, and will be one of yous

6. Destination anywhere - 4/5 nice song, nice chours. the beginning is a little different but the rest makes up for it

7. Champagne - 5/5 i dont really know y but i love this song! its just, a good song that u love to listen to.

8. what you say - 3/5 a good song, not a fav but its diff nd i still like it

9. over - 5/5 maybe my absolute favotrite, awsome chorus.

10. Head up - 4/5 nice toon, and lyrics. very song

11. Counting stars - 4/5 not one of my favs, but its a good song

12. Sign off - 4/5 ok song, pretty short, creative song..u might put it but good lyrics nd toon

the cd 5/5
its just one of thoes cds where u dont skip one song when listening to it.. BUY IT!

Pop-punk at its finest
I'm not a very big pop-punk fan at all. The music I listen to is considered to be "emo" but what can I say? This cd pulled me in.

I'm not giving this album 5 stars because it just didn't exactly live up to "Start Static" but it came pretty darn close.

This review may not be considered "helpful" but I'd say that my three favorite songs on this album are "Champagne", "Worst December", and "Sign Off"(Beautiful slow song).