Bob Mould’s second great band after his first great band Husker Du. Depending on your point of view Sugar were Husker Du but with better production. I'd disagree of course having a preference for the raw unpolished sound of Acrade Zen, but the production was undoubtedly more radio friendly. With ‘Copper Blue’ their classic album, voted album of the year by NME, Bob’s guitar never sounded so big, and it was always a pretty big sound during the Husker Du days. This is guitar album in a big way. If truth be told I always thought it was a little overrated but here we are 25 years after the fact and it sounds amazingly fresh, it’s aged unbelievably well. Big pop and big guitars. Fill your boots.
If 'Copper Blue' lands a bit too much on the sunny side, which may of been the reason I never rated it as highly as some, then I suggest 'Beaster'. This was classed as an EP on release but clocking in over 30 mins, that's an album in my book. 'Beaster' was my favorite of the Sugar years but this album is not for the faint hearted. The guitars practically have teeth. So beware.