Boys Star Library - Sugar and Water
by Olga Sladeckova
published: 26 / 10 / 2002
Label:
Bumblebear
Format: CD
intro
Infectiously eclectic pop on second album from New York trio, Boys' Star Library
It's been over a year now since the New York based band, Boys' Star Library, released their debut full length album, 'If I Was Born A Girl'. The album showed off perfectly the musicians' friendly and creative style of music. The songs on it, which described in conceptual order the whole of a life from birth until old age, were similarly outstanding. 'Sugar & Water', the band's second album, develops the idea of its precursor focusing on just one period of life this time, which is adolescence, and everything that goes with it. “... where are you now? because I fell asleep and had a dream that I'd love to share with you now “ ss how Jimmy Hughes, the lead singer, opens the album on 'On Summer Vocation', the first track. ' 'Sugar & Water', like as 'If I Was…, is generous in its use of instrumentation which includes bass, guitar, cello, tambourine, woodblock and trombone. It is evident from its title what 'Me & Julia', the second track, is about . Everyone in the group must have felt desire for a girl at some point, and the 4 piece all male band is not shy admitting it in the lyrics. '(Under Master Control)’ is modest in its sound at first. There is a lot to it , however. The music is smoothly shifted along by a steady undercurrent of bass guitars through several quieter and noisier moments. You know the feeling that makes your body shiver. 'Pinned Between Two Ghosts' has a similar impact where the music is kept in in the background, while the lyric is forced to stand out as a result of it its delicate style. 'Sugar & Water', on the other hand, brims with energy. The words are sang with similar vitality and fast speed. One of the significant features of Boys' Star Library is their ability to affect your mood. 'Like At The Brink Of A Dream', the last song, is not exception, when all the instruments are given a good airing and the volume of the song is toyed around with once again. The album has a good swing to it right from its beginning and throughout all of its 11 tracks. These are lyrics that anyone can relate to, and the music is expressive. It's definitely worth listening to, and will have a delightful effect on the way that you think about things.
Track Listing:-
1 On Summer Vacation2 Me And Julia
3 Kissed With Sugar And Water
4 Pinned Between Two Ghosts
5 Still Stuck With Myself
6 In Seven Minutes
7 Like At The Brink Of A Dream
interviews |
Interview (2002) |
Eclectic in tone, New York alt. pop trio Boys' Star Library have just released their second album, 'Sugar & Water'. Frontman Jimmy Hughes speaks to Olga Sladeckova about it, and recent developments at his BumbleBEAR label |
Interview with Jimmy Hughes (2002) |
reviews |
If I Was Born A Girl (2001) |
Are you happy in your life? Do you always look forward? If so, good for you, but don’t forget what went on in your past. “Have a look back for a moment”, suggest The Boys’ Star Library, a New York Cit |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart