ZUCKERBABY Zuckerbaby 1997

 

Discogs

 

Artist Biography

by Charlotte Dillon

Zuckerbaby got their start in the early '90s, first performing under the name Calliope. Members are lead singer/songwriter and guitarist Andy Eichhorn, bassist Brian Doss, guitarist and singer Reed Shimozawa, and drummer Wayne Stadler. In 1998, Doss left the group, and bassist Ted Koti was brought in to fill the empty spot. He was later replaced by bassist Ed Teigs. Drummer Kurt Dahle temporarily stepped in when Stadler took a short break.

The group started out performing at small gigs to gain experience and fans. Soon, Zuckerbaby was doing opening spots for major acts across much of Canada. As word of mouth spread and the band's fan base grew, the music world began to take notice. In 1996, Mercury Records signed the group to a recording contract. Zuckerbaby entered the Sundae Sound Studios and began work on their debut album, a self-titled offering that hit the market in 1997 with 12 pop/rock tracks. Three singles came from the album: "Shampoo," "Andromeda," and "Heavy." Positive reviews and music videos rotating in top spots on MuchMusic helped boost the group's popularity. A few of the other songs on the superb debut are "Venus," "Clouds," "Twice as Hard," and "Bellybutton Queen."

When the new millennium rolled in, Zuckerbaby was ready with a long-awaited sophomore album, Platinum Again. With the new tunes, some filled with heavy guitar riffs, the band left most of their pop behind to pick up a little more rock.


Tracklist

1		Shampoo	2:50
2		Heavy	4:48
3		Venus	2:29
4		Twice As Hard	3:51
5		Bellybutton Queen	3:53
6		Valentine	4:53
7		Jealousy	3:30
8		Clouds	2:05
9		Make It 'Til Monday	4:19
10		Radiate	3:07
11		Blue	4:00
12		Andromeda	4:19

 

CALLIOPE self titled 1995

 

Discogs

AllMusic Review by Ned Raggett  [-]

The opening guitar strums on the band's debut say it all -- namely, "We love the Cocteau Twins and we're not afraid to show it." Then again, titling the song "Tangerines and Gingerale" and having the main vocalist sing in a breathy post-Chapterhouse tone of voice indicates a broader spectrum of twee and shoegazing at play. Add to that a strong if basic drum punch and the harmonica at points and the sense is of a band content to try several different things at once, with fine if not terribly original results. Said sense is maintained throughout the album's ten songs, meaning that Calliope is good listening for anyone interested in the above-mentioned points of comparison. It can be the beautiful end series of melancholy but energetic chiming on "Train of Thought," or the stripped-down intro of "Gennanica," with guitars, bass, voice and little else, but the key point is that lovers of electric guitar music who prefer texture over brute crunch will be in heaven. One happy point is that the band doesn't limit itself to the most obvious conclusions of blissout, very rarely approaching guitar stun level at any point. Thus, "Vibrochamp and the Galactic Solution," bemusing title aside, boasts some lovely trumpet à la the Boo Radleys' earlier confections. Sometimes the combinations produce some slight head-scratchers -- the apparently affected British accent on "Laughing at Roadsigns" would make more sense for Fairport Convention than it does here. Most of the time, though, everything connects just right. The final two tracks make for a good ending -- the slightly more energetic but still attractively cool and arranged "A Taste for Killing," with some intentionally amusing vocal squeals for effect, and the minute-long instrumental "Trillium," quick but big, guitars and bass echoing off into the distance.

Tracklist

1	Tangerines And Gingerale	4:46
2	Laughing At Roadsigns	3:25
3	Vibrochamp And The Galactic Solution	3:01
4	Train Of Thought	5:05
5	Will I Or Never So	5:02
6	If I	6:14
7	Gennanica	3:10
8	Ode To River Phoenix	1:32
9	A Taste For Killing	5:58
10	Trillium	1:05