Various Artists - This Is The Sound Of Sugar Town Volume 2
This second Sound of… compilation showcasing the thriving scene in Bury St Edmunds AKA Sugar Town or, as John Peel (reportedly) referred to the place, BSE Rock City. There are at least fifteen good reasons to buy this:
1. All proceeds go to mental health charity Julian Support.
2. Sun Scream’s She is a cracking slice of brooding indie-psyche.
3. Cathedrals & Cars deliver near perfect guitar pop with Concierge.
4. Janet Street Slaughter is a fantastic name and The Sensitive Side of Bill Sykes is a brilliant song.
5. The Wilsons’ If It Wasn’t So Soon combines rock ‘n’ roll, Americana and Lloyd Cole but still sounds contemporary.
6. The Cuts’ Hometown has the distinctly lo-fi sound and sweary lyrics that would be at home on a Crass Records release circa 1981 which is a very good thing.
7. Gaffa Tape Sandy make me dance around my kitchen.
8. Bracken’s Slaves Pt II makes Sunn 0))) sound lightweight.
9. Horse Party are a long time fave and Looking For Life is as great as anything they’ve ever done.
10. Suburban Minds merge post-rock and old-school indie-pop on Sun Break.
11. Moon Man by The Virtues rocks like a bastard.
12. Jack Randell does his best Chris T-T on Wicked Words.
13. Siah’s Susie Smokes is another chunk of near perfect guitar pop.
14. Tundra’s Vacation (Cheer Up Chuck) pretty much sums up my working week.
15. The sleeve is by Kate Jackson.
‘Nuff said. Go and buy this.
9/10
