Sugarfix
Encyclopedia
Sugarfix is an album released by rock band Dwarves
in July 1993 on Sub Pop
. It was reissued in February 1999 as a two-album CD along with the band's previous album, Thank Heaven for Little Girls. This was the band's last album for Sub Pop, who dropped them shortly after its release. Meant as a practical joke
, the Dwarves announced that HeWhoCannotBeNamed had been stabbed to death in a bar fight in Philadelphia in April 1993, prompting the label to issue a press release announcing his death, and the album's sleeve art memorializes the supposedly dead guitarist, but it turned out to be a publicity stunt by the band, embarrassing the label. Frontman Blag The Ripper even included an address to which Sub Pop could send flowers and condolences to the "dead" guitarist's "family."
The mixing
of Sugarfix is unique, in that the mixing of the vocals and instrumentation are about equal. Sugarfix also features audio sampling
. For example, there is jungle stock sound effect at the beginning of "Evil Primeval," and a sample of a Southern-accented
Christian Minister at the beginning of "I Wish That I Was Dead." This tradition of audio sampling was carried over on the Dwarves' recent albums
as well. Dwarves frontman Blag The Ripper values his lyrics and enjoys using sound effects in his music. When asked what he want the Dwarves to be remembered for most, Blag says, "We'd like to be remembered as the first punk band to incorporate samples and sounds into their music long before there were samplers and shit. We'd like to be known as the first people to loop garage records and punk records [and] to be known as interesting lyricists."
Dwarves (band)
Dwarves is an American punk band formed in Chicago, Illinois, as The Suburban Nightmare, in the mid-1980s. They are currently based in San Francisco, California. Formed as a garage punk band, their career subsequently saw them move in a hardcore direction before settling into an eclectic punk rock...
in July 1993 on Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
. It was reissued in February 1999 as a two-album CD along with the band's previous album, Thank Heaven for Little Girls. This was the band's last album for Sub Pop, who dropped them shortly after its release. Meant as a practical joke
Practical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
, the Dwarves announced that HeWhoCannotBeNamed had been stabbed to death in a bar fight in Philadelphia in April 1993, prompting the label to issue a press release announcing his death, and the album's sleeve art memorializes the supposedly dead guitarist, but it turned out to be a publicity stunt by the band, embarrassing the label. Frontman Blag The Ripper even included an address to which Sub Pop could send flowers and condolences to the "dead" guitarist's "family."
The mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
of Sugarfix is unique, in that the mixing of the vocals and instrumentation are about equal. Sugarfix also features audio sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
. For example, there is jungle stock sound effect at the beginning of "Evil Primeval," and a sample of a Southern-accented
Southern American English
Southern American English is a group of dialects of the English language spoken throughout the Southern region of the United States, from Southern and Eastern Maryland, West Virginia and Kentucky to the Gulf Coast, and from the Atlantic coast to most of Texas and Oklahoma.The Southern dialects make...
Christian Minister at the beginning of "I Wish That I Was Dead." This tradition of audio sampling was carried over on the Dwarves' recent albums
The Dwarves Must Die
The Dwarves Must Die is the 2004 release by the American punk band Dwarves. It is the band's first release on the Sympathy for the Record Industry label...
as well. Dwarves frontman Blag The Ripper values his lyrics and enjoys using sound effects in his music. When asked what he want the Dwarves to be remembered for most, Blag says, "We'd like to be remembered as the first punk band to incorporate samples and sounds into their music long before there were samplers and shit. We'd like to be known as the first people to loop garage records and punk records [and] to be known as interesting lyricists."
Track listing
- "Anybody Out There" - 3:00
- "Evil Primeval" - 1:56
- "Reputation" - 2:19
- "Lies" - 1:38
- "Saturday Night" - 2:25
- "New Orleans" - 0:58
- "Action Man" - 0:47
- "Smack City" - 1:49
- "Cain Novacaine" - 1:55
- "Underworld" - 2:16
- "Wish That I Was Dead" - 1:42