Sugarcult Start Static Lyrics

This Santa Barbara band may look like The Jam, but they sound like surf punks with English degrees. Named after seven lesbians who lived across the hall from singer-guitarist Tim Pagnotta and dubbed themselves "sugarcult," this band fill the airwaves with their own brand of clever wretchedness, constantly veering between hardcore and pop punk, attempting to be all things to all listeners. And they come pretty close with their aerobic, bombastic drumming, nimble guitar work, and Pagnotta's sneering vocals. Luckily, they listened to enough Green Day and Elvis Costello to put a witty face on their spewing invective about dislocation, alienation, and tales of love gone bad that lands just this side of insincere. --Jaan Uhelszki