The Sugarcubes
| The Sugarcubes | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Alternative rock , post punk |
| founding | 1986 |
| resolution | 1992 |
| Founding members | |
| Björk Guðmundsdóttir | |
Singing, trumpet
|
Einar Örn Benediktsson |
| Þór Eldon Jónsson | |
| Bragi Ólafsson | |
| Sigtryggur "Siggi" Baldursson | |
| former members | |
Keyboard |
Einar Melax (1987-1989) |
Keyboard |
Margrét "Magga" Örnólfsdóttir (from 1989) |
The Sugarcubes (Icelandic Sykurmolarnir , translated “ Die Zuckerwürfel ”) were an alternative rock band from Iceland , with which the singer Björk gained notoriety beyond her Icelandic homeland.
Band history
According to the band legend, the group was formed on June 8, 1986, the day the son Sindri was born to singer Björk and guitarist Þór Eldon Jónsson. The Sugarcubes' first single, Ammæli ("Birthday"), was a huge success, not least thanks to the support of John Peel in England, and the group quickly achieved cult status in the USA and England. Soon after, the calls from the record companies followed. The group then signed with the independent label One Little Indian Records in England and Elektra Records (part of the Warner Music Group) in the United States and recorded their first album, Life's too Good , in 1988 . The album brought the Sugarcubes international fame within a short period of time. Two more studio albums followed in the following years, cementing the band's reputation as an independent, creative act. This made the Sugarcubes the first Icelandic band to become popular around the world and gain influence with a style of their own. During this time Björk was already working on various projects in other musical fields, and at the beginning of the nineties her increasing interest in electronic music became increasingly evident. When, against this background, in 1992 more and more tensions built up between Björk and Einar Örn and the other band members, it was decided, in order not to jeopardize the friendship, to go musically separate ways and to dissolve the Sugarcubes. Björk then started her successful solo career.
In November 2006 the band performed again together in Reykjavík on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the release of their first single Ammæli . The proceeds from the gig, which was planned as a one-time concert from the start, benefited young Icelandic bands.
style
The sound of the Sugarcubes is determined by idiosyncratic, often escapist texts, an indie instrumentation that was withdrawn for the time, but clear and above all the characteristic voice of the singer Björk , who is already the focus here as well as in her later solo projects. Her vocal alternation between gentle vocal parts, screeching interludes and crying crashes gives the music its very own emotional depth, but even then separated fans from haters.
Discography
Studio albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1988 | Life's Too Good | - | - | - |
UK14 (6 weeks) UK |
US54 (29 weeks) US |
First published: April 1988
|
| 1989 | Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week! | - | - | - |
UK15 (3 weeks) UK |
US70 (9 weeks) US |
First published: September 1989
|
| 1992 | Stick around for joy |
DE58 (6 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK16 (4 weeks) UK |
US95 (11 weeks) US |
First published: February 18, 1992
|
| It's-It | - | - | - |
UK47 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: October 27, 1992
compilation |
|
More albums
- 1998: The Great Crossover Potential
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DE
|
AT
|
CH
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1987 | Birthday Life’s Too Good |
- | - | - |
UK64 (16 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: August 1987
|
| 1988 | Coldsweat Life’s Too Good |
- | - | - |
UK56 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: January 1988
|
| Deus Life’s Too Good |
- | - | - |
UK51 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: April 1988
|
|
| 1989 | Regina Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week! |
- | - | - |
UK55 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: September 1989
|
| Planet Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week! |
- | - | - |
UK97 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: December 1989
|
|
| 1991 | Hit Stick Around for Joy |
- | - | - |
UK17 (6 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: December 1991
|
More singles
- 1986: One Mol'á man
- 1986: Air guitar
- 1988: engine crash
- 1989: Tidal Wave
- 1992: Walkabout
- 1992: Vitamin
- 1992: Leash Called Love
Vinyl and cd boxes
- 1989: November 12th ( One Little Indian Records )
- 1989: 7.8 (One Little Indian Records)
- 1989: CD.6 (One Little Indian Records)
- 2006: The Complete Studio albums box . Triple CD pack with three studio albums, which was released on the occasion of the 20-year publication of the first single and the Reunion concert. (One Little Indian Records)
Guest appearances and participation in samplers
- 1987: Snarl 2 ( Erðanumúsík ), Icelandic compilation. Published under the name Sykurmolarnir .
- 1987: Luftgítar ( Smekkleysa ), album by Johnny Triumph .
- 1987: Skytturnar (Gramm), soundtrack for the film of the same name. Directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson .
- 1988: One Little Indian - Greatest Hits Volume One (One Little Indian), Greatest Hits (Volume 1), published by One Little Indian.
- 1990: Hættuleg hljómsveit & glæpakvendið Stella ( Megas ), album by Megas .
- 1990: World Domination or Death Volume 1 ( Smekkleysa / Workers Playtime PLAY ), compilation.
- 1990: One Little Indian - Greatest Hits, Volume Two (One Little Indian), Greatest Hits (Volume 2), published by One Little Indian.
- 1990: Rubáiyát - Elektra's 40th Anniversary ( Elektra Records ), anniversary compilation by Elektra Records.
- 1993: Welcome to the Future (One Little Indian), compilation.
more publishments
- 1988: Sugarcubes Interview Disc (One Little Indian)
- 1992: Murder and Killing in Hell , music video sampler.
- 1998: The Great Crossover Potential (One Little Indian)
- 1998: Avengers (Soundtrack) ( WEA / Atlantic ) feat. Annie Lennox's Cover of The Sugarcubes' Mama .
- 1998: Music Inspired by the Motion Picture: The Avengers ( BIG EAR )
- 2006: The DVD (One Little Indian), music video sampler.
- 2006: Live Zabor DVD ( One Little Indian ), a live performance from 1988.
Web links
- The Sugarcubes at Discogs (English)