Review Summary: In a time when revival has become hip, with mainstream resurrections of blues, folk, and new wave, it is refreshing to see a modern take on Motown – especially when it’s done this well.
Sugar and the Hi-Lows was formed when two solo artists, Trent Dabbs and Amy Stroup, met up in 2011 to co-write. Dabbs, grew up listening to his dad’s collection of Motown acts such as Marvin Gaye and the Temptations, and wanted to make music that honored the mantra his dad always told him, “It’s not good music unless you can dance to it.” Soon after, the co-write session became a band, and the song became an album, their self-titled debut. Truly sticking to Dabb’s roots, Sugar and the Hi-Lows is the closest thing to Motown that this era has brought us. And everything about it makes you want to get up and dance.
It is quite evident that this is a music duo, as Dabbs and Stroup swap off vocal duties for much of the album. However, the songs that stand out the most are when the two singers combine their voices into smooth and haunting harmonies, such as “Two Day High” and “See It For Yourself”. These two tracks are always two of the more upbeat tunes on the record – though the overall vibe remains consistently dance-able from start to finish. Album opener, “Show & Tell” is a slow crooner that brings an aura of a 1960’s prom night slow dance, setting the tone in an unexpected, yet appropriate way. The track, as well as the whole album, strongly resembles Robert Plant and Allison Krauss’ acclaimed collaboration in 2007’s Raising Sand. Though neither Dabbs nor Stroup are legends by any means, their confidence on the record seems to swagger in the same way.
In the past year, Sugar and the Hi-Lows has slowly began to step out of the sidelines, opening for Ingrid Michaelson, and being hailed by magazines such as Relevant and Paste (as well as putting out a remarkable Christmas album). That being said, this album was kept quiet during its initial release, though it deserves a great deal of attention. As intended, Sugar and the Hi-Lows is an album that simply makes you want to pick a tambourine and dance along, but more in a way that Dabbs’ father grew up doing than this generation is used to. In a time when revival has become hip, with mainstream resurrections of blues, folk, and new wave, it is refreshing to see a modern take on Motown – especially when it’s done this well.
Top Tracks:
Two Day High
See It For Yourself
This Can't Be The Last Time
