Artist description Sugarsmack was a four piece power pop band based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Led by Nick Pipitone, Sugarsmack created melodic power pop in the vein of pre-1967 Beatles, Big Star, Squeeze and Nick Lowe. Sugarsmack created pop gems filled with bouncy rythyms, tight harmonies and sugar coated hooks.

Music Style power pop

Musical Influences All the biggies!

Similar Artists costello, squeeze, matthew sweet, who, beatles

Artist History Sugarsmack busted onto the pop scene in early 1999 with a stunning self-titled debut album on Bombardier Records of Chicago, Illinois. The band received rave reviews from scribes worldwide and performed jaw dropping live shows during 1999 and 2000, and then broke up. ***Ain't it a bitch!*** Nick Pipitone continues to turn out power pop gems, recently releasing a CD on Kool Kat Records entitled "Music For Minivans". Nick Pipitone continues to write classic pop songs. Give me a Y!

Instruments guitars, bass, drums

Albums 'Sugarsmack', "Music for Minivans"

Press Reviews The Big Takeover (NYC), December 1999 "This is the kind of luscious power pop record that I've normally had to rely on overseas groups like DM3 to provide--Americans just don't seem to do this sort of thing that well. The press sheet says that Milwaukee's Sugarsmack loves Nick Lowe and Squeeze, but I didn't need to be told--it's totally obvious from one listen. What's more, on their debut, they've manage to just about equal anything either of these two bands ever released. Singer Nick Pipitone frequently sounds like Paul Simon fronting jangly band like Let's Active as they score three classics with "Wake Up!," "Perfection" and "Sassy Girl." Every other track here is no worse than a pleasure."............ ................... Pure Pop Online, May 17, 1999 David Bash "More and more solid power pop keeps coming from the Midwest--these Milwaukee boys keep the streak going on their nine-song debut. Lead singer/songwriter Nick Pipitone should probably be called "Peppy-tone" as his songs are just that; they pay homage to ancestral brethren like Pezband, Off Broadway, and Material Issue. Pipitone's distinctive vocals are at the forefront of catchy numbers like "Wake Up!," "Perfection," and "Sassy Girl." Other tracks like "Sophia" feature an inventive juxtaposition between major and minor chords. "I Quit" boasts soaring harmonies and a melt in your mouth chorus, and "Sam and Addie" has a cool "I'm Looking Through You" guitar sound. .......................... "Shake It Up ", March 1999 Claudio Sossi Full of hard hooks, fun songs, and solid melodies, Sugarsmack aim to please on this nine track CD - and please they do! The pure pop of Wake Up! starts the set off wonderfully with its breezy rhythm and solid chorus. Sassy Girl is another track with a lighter feel that features a gorgeous melody and a wonderful guitar solo by Nick Pipitone. Continuing in this vein, but with a country feel, is the lovely Forever Endeavor which also features one of Pipitone's finer vocals on the set. A tougher sound is used on tracks like Perfection and Sister Ida in conjunction with more delicate breaks, making for some dramatic pop here. I Quit is one of the finer tracks here, thanks to a solid vocal arrangement and some tremendous guitar work as well. As far as all out fun goes, it would be hard to top Pop Song with it's bouncy rhythm from Nick Verban, catchy guitar from Pipitone and Dean Sobel, and fun lyrics. There's enough diversity and talent throughout Sugarsmack that would suggest quite a promising future. One thing is for sure - they're off to a great start!

Location Milwaukee, WI - USA

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