Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
You've gotta love this, "Story"...
Classic! And you know what? The album's actually pretty darned good.
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lKeA3-n27t8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lKeA3-n27t8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
The album's just a lot of fun - really entertaining. I liked it so much I wrote a review... http://www.vistarecords.proboards.co...lay&thread=147
Short version of the review - the album is a lot of fun, and most of the combinations work really well. Even though they're obviously a novelty act the guys can play and sing well and that's what makes the album work (that and some great arrangements).
80’S METAL BAND “ROCK SUGAR” RESCUED AFTER 20 YEARS ON DESERTED ISLAND. BRAINWASHED AND CONFUSED, ROCKERS RETURN TO HOLLYWOOD WITH A SHOCKING NEW MUSICAL STYLE.
1989 should have been the best year ever for Rock Sugar, the big haired heavy metal band that had just broken the top 41 on the rock radio charts with their solid brass debut album “Bang You Like A Drum”. But instead of headlining concerts, Rock Sugar made the headlines when they were presumed lost forever after playing an extremely ill advised gig celebrating the bat mitzvah of 13-year-old Lisa Rosenberg.
The show was performed miles out to sea aboard the private luxury yacht of Lisa’s father, schnapps millionaire Schlomo Rosenberg. Assuming that Rock Sugar was some innocent boy band, Schlomo had no idea who they actually were or what they actually sounded like. He only knew from his extremely spoiled daughter that they were “really cute” and he figured that must mean she would love their music. She didn’t, and judging from the stunned expressions on their faces, neither did her prepubescent little friends.
Shortly after the chorus of Rock Sugar’s second song “Nail You Like A Hammer”, a drunken and violent brawl broke out involving the band, the rabbi, a clown, the captain, a guy in an Smurf costume, Schlomo and well over a hundred infuriated and now thoroughly sexually confused children. In the midst of the fight, as Jesse, the lead singer, was pummeling the Smurf and no one was steering the damned ship anymore, it struck an undersea stone wall. As the boat was sinking, the extremely unhappy and now yacht less Schlomo refused to let Rock Sugar climb aboard the life rafts to safety.
Having been denied rescue, the band credit their miraculous ability to make it to the shore alive only because of their firmly held belief that “sharks don’t eat metal”. Left to their own extremely questionable survival skills, Rock Sugar managed to salvage several items from the sunken yacht. In addition to their instruments, they retrieved a hot pink battery powered boom box covered with stickers of Hello Kitty, a crate of batteries, 158 cases of schnapps and numerous articles of teenage girls clothing, most of which the band admit to trying on and several pieces of which apparently fit and looked “pretty frickin’ awesome”. But things got worse when the horrified rockers discovered that the only music available for them to listen to was little Lisa Rosenberg’s very pop, very 13 year-old girl’s, very ‘80’s CD collection.
And so, the hardcore degenerate heavy metal members of Rock Sugar spent the last two decades stuck on an island with nothing to do but drink schnapps, catch hard to digest wildlife, befriend monkeys and dream of their long lost groupies while listening only to, and being slowly and systematically brainwashed by, every favorite pop song of a 1980’s preteen girl. Bored, full of schnapps and wasting away on a tropical oasis, they built a stage out of driftwood, bamboo shoots and tree sap and got to work. Against the odds, Rock Sugar was alive… and they were practicing.
Fast forward twenty years when a tuna boat with a screwed up compass discovered a group of long haired castaways on a deserted island far out in the middle of the Pacific. Finally rescued and now violently thrown back into the real life of present day Los Angeles, and with absolutely no clue whatsoever of anything that’s happened, developed or changed in the world since 1989, Rock Sugar is back and ready to electrify audiences with their brand new, razor sharp, psychotically original sound.
The first twenty years of their lives spent listening to heavy metal followed by a twenty year forced diet of little girl pop, their own influences have permanently collided with the unknowingly very influential 13-year-old Lisa Rosenberg. And now Rock Sugar is performing “re-imaginings” of the world’s favorite songs in ways that the world has never even dreamed of. Twenty years of what started with a shipwreck and turned into history’s longest reluctant rehearsal has paid off and the band, as well as the wild originality of what they have created, are beyond belief or explanation.
But while you may be able to at last take the metal band off the deserted island, apparently you can’t take 20 years of exposure to 80’s pop out of the metal band. Prepare to have the line between pop and metal blown to smithereens and pour yourself a shot of Rock Sugar.
Because Pop Rocks.
1989 should have been the best year ever for Rock Sugar, the big haired heavy metal band that had just broken the top 41 on the rock radio charts with their solid brass debut album “Bang You Like A Drum”. But instead of headlining concerts, Rock Sugar made the headlines when they were presumed lost forever after playing an extremely ill advised gig celebrating the bat mitzvah of 13-year-old Lisa Rosenberg.
The show was performed miles out to sea aboard the private luxury yacht of Lisa’s father, schnapps millionaire Schlomo Rosenberg. Assuming that Rock Sugar was some innocent boy band, Schlomo had no idea who they actually were or what they actually sounded like. He only knew from his extremely spoiled daughter that they were “really cute” and he figured that must mean she would love their music. She didn’t, and judging from the stunned expressions on their faces, neither did her prepubescent little friends.
Shortly after the chorus of Rock Sugar’s second song “Nail You Like A Hammer”, a drunken and violent brawl broke out involving the band, the rabbi, a clown, the captain, a guy in an Smurf costume, Schlomo and well over a hundred infuriated and now thoroughly sexually confused children. In the midst of the fight, as Jesse, the lead singer, was pummeling the Smurf and no one was steering the damned ship anymore, it struck an undersea stone wall. As the boat was sinking, the extremely unhappy and now yacht less Schlomo refused to let Rock Sugar climb aboard the life rafts to safety.
Having been denied rescue, the band credit their miraculous ability to make it to the shore alive only because of their firmly held belief that “sharks don’t eat metal”. Left to their own extremely questionable survival skills, Rock Sugar managed to salvage several items from the sunken yacht. In addition to their instruments, they retrieved a hot pink battery powered boom box covered with stickers of Hello Kitty, a crate of batteries, 158 cases of schnapps and numerous articles of teenage girls clothing, most of which the band admit to trying on and several pieces of which apparently fit and looked “pretty frickin’ awesome”. But things got worse when the horrified rockers discovered that the only music available for them to listen to was little Lisa Rosenberg’s very pop, very 13 year-old girl’s, very ‘80’s CD collection.
And so, the hardcore degenerate heavy metal members of Rock Sugar spent the last two decades stuck on an island with nothing to do but drink schnapps, catch hard to digest wildlife, befriend monkeys and dream of their long lost groupies while listening only to, and being slowly and systematically brainwashed by, every favorite pop song of a 1980’s preteen girl. Bored, full of schnapps and wasting away on a tropical oasis, they built a stage out of driftwood, bamboo shoots and tree sap and got to work. Against the odds, Rock Sugar was alive… and they were practicing.
Fast forward twenty years when a tuna boat with a screwed up compass discovered a group of long haired castaways on a deserted island far out in the middle of the Pacific. Finally rescued and now violently thrown back into the real life of present day Los Angeles, and with absolutely no clue whatsoever of anything that’s happened, developed or changed in the world since 1989, Rock Sugar is back and ready to electrify audiences with their brand new, razor sharp, psychotically original sound.
The first twenty years of their lives spent listening to heavy metal followed by a twenty year forced diet of little girl pop, their own influences have permanently collided with the unknowingly very influential 13-year-old Lisa Rosenberg. And now Rock Sugar is performing “re-imaginings” of the world’s favorite songs in ways that the world has never even dreamed of. Twenty years of what started with a shipwreck and turned into history’s longest reluctant rehearsal has paid off and the band, as well as the wild originality of what they have created, are beyond belief or explanation.
But while you may be able to at last take the metal band off the deserted island, apparently you can’t take 20 years of exposure to 80’s pop out of the metal band. Prepare to have the line between pop and metal blown to smithereens and pour yourself a shot of Rock Sugar.
Because Pop Rocks.
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lKeA3-n27t8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lKeA3-n27t8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
The album's just a lot of fun - really entertaining. I liked it so much I wrote a review... http://www.vistarecords.proboards.co...lay&thread=147
Short version of the review - the album is a lot of fun, and most of the combinations work really well. Even though they're obviously a novelty act the guys can play and sing well and that's what makes the album work (that and some great arrangements).
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Ha, I'm sold. Just ordered a copy of the cd.
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
So, to condense a page-long story into 4 words... it's a mash-up band. I dig it.
Check out the Broadway cast recording of "Rock of Ages" for some good song combinations there too. Great, fun show.
(BTW, Rock Sugar should've been stranded in 1991 if they were going to be influenced by Enter Sandman)
Check out the Broadway cast recording of "Rock of Ages" for some good song combinations there too. Great, fun show.
(BTW, Rock Sugar should've been stranded in 1991 if they were going to be influenced by Enter Sandman)
Last edited by GuessWho; 02-07-10 at 09:17 AM.
#4
DVD Talk Reviewer/ Admin
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Greenville, South Cackalack
Posts: 28,830
Received 1,883 Likes
on
1,239 Posts
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Awesome. I just bought myself a copy too.
#5
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Interesting! Must be a blast live! I'd like to see straight covers of these songs rather than mashups, but still nice.
http://www.myspace.com/rocksugar
http://www.myspace.com/rocksugar
#6
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
The album's just a lot of fun - really entertaining. I liked it so much I wrote a review... http://www.vistarecords.proboards.co...lay&thread=147
#7
Banned by request
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
This sounds awesome. I'll order a copy as well.
Edit: If I can find where to order it from? They're not on Amazon.
Edit: If I can find where to order it from? They're not on Amazon.
Last edited by Supermallet; 02-07-10 at 03:08 PM.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
I do find it interesting that this seems to be available only through their website as the production values on the album are so good, and the video looks so professional. I wonder if they will distribute it through Amazon and other e-tailers and retailers later on.
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Thanks! I appreciate that.
I do find it interesting that this seems to be available only through their website as the production values on the album are so good, and the video looks so professional. I wonder if they will distribute it through Amazon and other e-tailers and retailers later on.
I do find it interesting that this seems to be available only through their website as the production values on the album are so good, and the video looks so professional. I wonder if they will distribute it through Amazon and other e-tailers and retailers later on.
Production is VERY strong on this. They probably are big time studio musicians and have a ton of money behind them from their label, manager, or whatnot.
Either way, if I hear they're playing LA anytime soon, I'll probably make the trip up there.
#11
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
I like it because it's loud, well produced, & rockin'. And fun. I just wish they were straight cover versions rather than mash ups. "Jesse's Girl" is amazing and would be even better if it was the whole song all the way through.
#12
Banned by request
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Not trying to threadcrap, but what is the use in a release like this? I enjoy mash-ups, but I don't care to see (or hear) a live recreation of a mash-up, except by DJ. I mean, it's really just a band singing the wrong words in the right place. They sound alright, but they are simply a cover band. I just don't get it, I guess. And when I first saw the thread and heard/saw the clip, I was shocked at how much people here like this!! I thought that this would be the last crowd to dig it, as there are many music "purists" 'round these parts. I thought the band would be ripped apart in this forum, lol!
OK, I'm done. Sorry; hope I didn't offend.
.
OK, I'm done. Sorry; hope I didn't offend.
.
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Not trying to threadcrap, but what is the use in a release like this? I enjoy mash-ups, but I don't care to see (or hear) a live recreation of a mash-up, except by DJ. I mean, it's really just a band singing the wrong words in the right place. They sound alright, but they are simply a cover band. I just don't get it, I guess. And when I first saw the thread and heard/saw the clip, I was shocked at how much people here like this!! I thought that this would be the last crowd to dig it, as there are many music "purists" 'round these parts. I thought the band would be ripped apart in this forum, lol!
OK, I'm done. Sorry; hope I didn't offend.
OK, I'm done. Sorry; hope I didn't offend.
I would also buy their album but 22 bucks for a cd doesn't really fly nowadays. If it was $15 or less, I would buy it.
#16
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
I especially like a good song that has been beefed up with louder guitars.
#17
Banned by request
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
I'm no DJ and strictly a hobbyist musician (since I was 5, but still), but thinking about taking two recordings and matching tempo, key, style, and tone in a way that sounds fresh and/or pleasing sounds like a freakin' nightmare to me. I'd much rather pick up a guitar and bass and throw my own spin on it.
#20
Banned by request
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
So, to condense a page-long story into 4 words... it's a mash-up band. I dig it.
Check out the Broadway cast recording of "Rock of Ages" for some good song combinations there too. Great, fun show.
(BTW, Rock Sugar should've been stranded in 1991 if they were going to be influenced by Enter Sandman)
Check out the Broadway cast recording of "Rock of Ages" for some good song combinations there too. Great, fun show.
(BTW, Rock Sugar should've been stranded in 1991 if they were going to be influenced by Enter Sandman)
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: Rock Sugar - Because Pop Rocks
Which is another reason why they should do a straight cover album next time and beef up those Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Loverboy songs!