“House of Sugar” by (Sandy) Alex G is a Must Listen
From “Bandcamp Famous” to signing a record deal, 26 year-old Alex Giannascoli, better known as (Sandy) Alex G, has already released eight albums. His latest, “House of Sugar,” might be his best work yet. While keeping his trademark sound, there is a sophistication and complexity that has been keenly developed on this album, indicating the maturity of this prolific young artist.
Each song on “House of Sugar” could be said to have its own motive, striving to achieve a fully-explored sound, yet in many ways the album is a comprehensive whole. The title is a reference to a casino not far from where Giannascoli grew up, as mentioned in the live track “Sugarhouse,” with the line “Sugarhouse is calling my bluff.” The title is also an allusion to the nursery rhyme of Hansel and Gretel, where in the song “Gretel,” “House of Sugar” is explicitly sung. On “In My Arms,” Giannascoli croons “You know good music makes me want to do bad things,” indicating the struggle of an indulgent vice that can give so much pleasure but at a cost.
The production on this album, his third under Domino Records, shows how far Giannascoli has come since being pegged with the restrictive title of “bedroom pop.” His range is at its most drastic, but there is no mistaking each song is distinctly his. Over the course of a few months, four singles were released in anticipation for the record: “Gretel,” a surprisingly melodic and sympathetic number, “Hope,” a jumpy tribute to old friends, “Near,” which sounds like it was made by extraterrestrials in their free time, and “Southern Sky,” which could easily be performed in a rustic, abandoned barn. Each song has their own stylistic rendering, yet together they indicate the work of a fully-faceted artist, one whose potential is in full stride.
Giannascoli’s signature musical components remain on “House of Sugar:” Layered, distorted vocals, enthusiastic acoustic guitar, and elevating string arrangements. Songs like “Walk Away,” “Project 2,” and “Taking” are heavily produced numbers that are somehow endearingly human despite the warped, high-pitched vocals that serve as their speaker. “Sugarhouse” is reminiscent of a young E Street Band, hitting the mark with a saxophone to embody the pain in Giannascoli’s voice when he chokes out the lines “Feels like I’m always waiting/ For another chance to play the game.” The soft vocals of “Cow” and “Crime” are the reason he is often compared to Elliott Smith; sorrow confessions like “I dream of deep sea/ That it should swallow me,” on “Cow” suggest Giannascoli to be the next renowned sentimental songwriter.
In whole, “House of Sugar” is a great release. It offers a sophistication in composition that can ring around one’s head for days or cause the formation of tears. Giannascoli’s lyrics aren’t just filler noise, but provoke varied notions of heartache, inadequacy, empathy, and pure adoration on a universal level. Newcomers to (Sandy) Alex G and old fans alike can find value in this record. It takes him in a more refined direction while keeping the same sensibilities that built his fan base in the first place.
