Life's Too Good
| Life's Too Good | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by The Sugarcubes | ||||
| Released | April 1988 | |||
| Recorded | Summer/Fall 1987 at Stúdíó Grettisgat, Reykjavik, Iceland; Berry St. Studios and Orinocco Studios in London | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 33:13 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Ray Shulman | |||
| The Sugarcubes chronology | ||||
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Life's Too Good, released in April 1988, was the first album by the Icelandic alternative rock-pop band The Sugarcubes, which brought fame to lead vocalist Björk. Through the first single, "Birthday", the Sugarcubes received attention in Europe and the United States.
"Ammæli", afterwards released in English as "Birthday", entered the charts outside Iceland, leading the band to put Icelandic music on the world map. "Birthday" was chosen as "single of the week" by both NME and Melody Maker in August 1987 and was also selected Number 1 in John Peel's Festive Fifty for 1987. The album was featured as one of the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[1]
Besides the regular green sleeve, the UK and American LPs were released in blue,[2] yellow,[3] orange,[4] and pink.[5]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [6] |
| Robert Christgau | B− [7] |
| Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [8] |
Track listing
- Traitor - 3:08
- Motorcrash - 2:23
- Birthday - 3:59
- Delicious Demon - 2:43
- Mama - 2:56
- Coldsweat - 3:15
- Blue Eyed Pop - 2:38
- Deus - 4:07
- Sick for Toys - 3:15
- Fucking in Rhythm & Sorrow - 3:14
- Take Some Petrol Darling (Hidden Track) - 1:27
Bonus tracks in some versions
- 12. Cowboy - 3:26
- 13. I Want... - 2:56
- 14. Dragon (Icelandic) - 3:07
- 15. Cat (Icelandic) - 2:56
- 16. Coldsweat (Remix) - 3:42
- 17. Deus (Remix) - 6:03
- 18. Traitor (Icelandic) - 3:07
The original LP release only contains tracks 1-11, track #11 not being listed on the sleeve or label.
The title of track #10 appears as "F***ing in Rhythm & Sorrow" on the cover of the original LP and subsequent CD covers, but is titled "Fucking in Rhythm & Sorrow" on Björk's official website.
Singles
| Release | Title | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1987 | Birthday | 7”/12” | One Little Indian/Elektra/Columbia |
| December 1987 | Birthday | CD | One Little Indian/Elektra |
| January 1988 | Coldsweat | 12”/CD | One Little Indian/Elektra |
| April 5, 1988 | Deus | 7”/10”/12”/CD | One Little Indian |
| August 1988 | Birthday Christmas Mixes | 12”/CD | One Little Indian/Elektra |
| 1988 | Motorcrash | 7”/12”/MC/CD | One Little Indian/Rough Trade/Elektra |
Video clips
- ”Motorcrash”, directed by Óskar Jónasson.
- ”Birthday”, directed by Óskar Jónasson.
- ”Deus”.
- ”Coldsweat.
Credits
Performers
Vocals: Björk Guðmundsdóttir and Einar Örn Benediktsson.
Trumpet: Einar Örn Benediktsson.
Guitars: Þór Eldon Jónsson.
Keyboards: Björk Guðmundsdóttir.
Bass: Bragi Ólafsson.
Drums: Sigtryggur Baldursson.
Lyrics and music: The Sugarcubes.
Acknowledgement: Friðrik Erlingson.
Personnel
Engineering: Kjartan Kjartansson, Gerard Johnson, Gail Lambourne, Mel Jefferson, Brian Pugsley and Ken Thomas.
Production: Ray Shulman and Derek Birkett.
Sleeve: P. White at Me Company.
Photograph: David McIntyre with collaboration of Pinks.
Publishing: Second Wind.
References
- ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- ↑ "Image: lifestoo2.jpg, (600 × 603 px)". molrik.dk. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
- ↑ "Image: lifestoo3.jpg, (600 × 600 px)". molrik.dk. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
- ↑ "Image: lifestoo4.jpg, (283 × 282 px)". molrik.dk. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
- ↑ "Image: lifestoo5.jpg, (217 × 300 px)". molrik.dk. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
- ↑ Dougan, John. Life's Too Good at AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2004.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (November 29, 1988). "Christgau's Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot: The Sugarcubes: Life's Too Good". The Village Voice. Retrieved 11 December 2011. Also posted at "The Sugarcubes: Life's Too Good > Consumer Guide Album". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 October 2005.
- ↑ Considine, J.D. (2004). "The Sugarcubes". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. London: Fireside. p. 791. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Cited on 18 March 2010.
External links
- Life's Too Good (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
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