The Sugarcubes: Live Zabor

Known primarily today as the band that launched the solo career of cutting-edge pop chanteuse Björk (of swan-around-the-neck Oscar gown fame), the artsy post-punk Icelandic sextet the Sugarcubes burst onto the college radio scene in 1986 with their debut album Life's Too Good, featuring the hit single “Birthday,” as well as such offbeat gems as “Deus,” “Delicious Demon,” and “Motorcrash,” all of which are performed in this mishmash compilation from 1988-89 performances in Iceland, London, and Auburn, AL. Presenting 14 cuts in all (eight off the first release), annoyingly interrupted six times for individual band member song intro/spoof interviews that invariably fall flat, Live Zabor reveals the band's strengths (namely, the pixie-ish Björk, whose eclectic vocal stylings, ranging from guttural purring to melodic screams, are the highlight here) and weaknesses (which include one-note joke songs such as “Cowboy” or “Mama”). The band would never repeat their initial success and broke up after only two more studio albums. Presented in Dolby Digital stereo, with no extras (the DVD jacket lists an Icelandic version of “Birthday” as a bonus track, but it's nowhere to be found), this will appeal primarily to fans of Björk. Optional. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)