Sugar – Copper Blue (Clear Vinyl)

Copper Blue, released in September 1992, represents Bob Mould’s striking reemergence with his new band Sugar after the dissolution of Hüsker Dü. Stepping beyond the intensity of his former work, the album embraces a more melodic and expansive approach—adapting punk urgency into taut, hook-driven alternative rock. Mould’s vocals remain urgent and direct, supported by David Barbe’s steady bass and Malcolm Travis’s dynamic drumming. The production, co-handled with Lou Giordano, achieves a blend of clarity and grit, allowing riffs and harmonies to resonate with vitality.

From the propulsive opener “The Act We Act” to the shimmering melancholy of “If I Can’t Change Your Mind,” Copper Blue showcases a rare combination of emotional immediacy and compositional precision. Tracks like “Helpless” and “Hoover Dam” continue to echo decades later, bridging underground credibility and mainstream reach. Upon release, it earned critical acclaim and strong commercial movement, and has since been reassessed as a landmark in ’90s alt-rock. Its legacy lies in how it extended punk’s spirit into a more melodic idiom without losing edge or authenticity.

“Copper Blue combined Hüsker Dü’s passionate intensity with a new, steely pop resolve; … this is a terrific album that took full advantage of the brief window when noisy, visceral rock songs … could become radio-slaying hits.” – Uncut

“On the debut album by Sugar, Copper Blue, Bob Mould brought the power and intensity of his previous band and added bigger hooks.” – Treble

“The trio’s debut, Copper Blue was … every song a taut masterpiece … there wasn’t a better pop album from the grunge scene.” – Classic Pop Magazine