Should Have Beens: Sugarbomb - Bully

Sugarbomb is a band that only released one album but that one album is brilliant. The band encompass everything that was great about rock music's history and put their influences to great use on such brilliant songs like "What A Drag" that is one of the best power pop songs there is.

Their album Bully went nowhere because in 2003 they were too cool for the pop market. Bands like this rarely get the fair shake they deserve. Look at Squeez for example with all the brilliant work of Difford and Tillbrook they are basically considered one hit wonders for "Tempted" but they have a catalog of great music larger than most artists in the mainstream. Sugarbomb hit the perfect chord with "Hello" a sunshine pop tune that is so good you want to just give it a big hug.

As the album begins to turn a little more progressive and theatrical you really get to enjoy something special. The more radio friendly stuff kicks the record off and then they unlock the creativity cupboard and unleashing some amazing music. Songs like "Motor Mouth", "Poster Child For Tragedy" that show their influences in great detail but they do it with their own spirit and ideas making their own sound.

If only the band would have stuck around and gave us more slices of genius like "Mail Order Girlfriend" the music world would be a better place. When you get a song that immediately reminds you of Jellyfish that is an awesome moment for any music fan. One of the greatest collection of musicians in one group you can find since the immortal Fab Four were Jellyfish and Sugarbomb could have been on that sort of level if only they didn't disband.

Drawing even from the Vaudevillian inspired garage rock of early Alice Cooper does Sugarbomb. One listen to "After All" most will hear Queen but at its core is the Coop's angst. If you can find a copy of this wonderful and charismatic album I'd suggest you do not pass it by. There is just too much glorious entertainment for you ears to love and have your musical journey expanded by to miss out on Sugarbomb's Bully.