Sugarcult are, it seems from this collection, very popular. It’s easy to see why, their music seems to mix all that is popular. The trendy end of guitar pop, indie rock, grunge, touches of easily digestible punk (think Green Day). So while it popularises guitar music, and it does feature some nice tunes, it’s the punk rock music equivalent of TV dinners: easily digested and loved by the kids. Anyone more mature or who has sampled the real deal will find it superficial.

The film mixes scenes back stage, tour bus, onstage etc etc. Band interviews, pics of fans, studios, even the guitarist taking a shower, it’s all here.

Interesting if you’re a fan, intriguing, too, but it’s all rather disjointed. Like a documentary with no script and little production. Go on tour with a camera and piece together. I guess like the age group it’s aimed at, the producer had a limited attention span.

The rest of the DVD features plenty of extras, including promo videos, concert footage, scrapbooks, the complete works. Then there’s the 9 track audio CD.

As a DVD package it’s good, complete, good value for the fan. It has just about everything. Sadly the film is so disjointed and the music the poor end of manufactured boy bands with guitars, pseudo punk attitudes and spiky haircuts.

Yes a good package, which ups the score, but the music and band equally nauseating.

**½

Review by Joe Geesin

Crying
© 2005 Rykodisc. All rights reserved.

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly