Life's Too Good
Rare is the debut that displays such fully formed talent as Iceland's Sugarcubes' first album. Highlighted by theCocteau Twins-influenced single "Birthday," two other provocative singles, "Deus" and "Coldsweat," and by the incredible vocal gymnastics of Björk Gudmundsdottir,Life's Too Goodbrilliantly shows a new band staking out its own sonic space. Einar Orn contributes an electronically reprocessed trumpet, and a few awkwardly charming and ranting vocals as well, but this is clearly Björk's show. Her vocal range is staggering. The CD reissue adds six extra tracks, several of which are sung in Icelandic.--Rob O'Connor