Sugar at the Gate

TOPS' prior work, such as their second album Picture You Staring (2014), had an "isolated" soft, old pop rock sound which the group thought was limited by the fact that they recorded only in Montreal; they weren't sure about what sound and style to go for until they completed performing around 100 shows in 2015. Now, they not only had a sense of how to communicate ideas and perform as a band, but also how to record; the different type of space and minimalism of Sugar at the Gates from prior albums, for instance, was influenced by 1990s R&B. == Critical reception ==

Sugar at the Gate was claimed by NARC Magazine to be TOPS' best album: "The satisfying blend of well-timed chord changes, floating synths and featherlike drum beats create something that handsomely rewards repeated listens, especially on the sunnier days." and the 44th best by Blare magazine. It was also one of the "Favorite Indie Pop and Indie Rock Albums" of AllMusic, which published a review by Marcy Donelson that concluded, "If a touch weightier in tone, the album returns a distinctive palette and home-recorded finish to a heavy-heartedness firmly established on 2014's Picture You Staring, so fans and sentimentalists may take heart." The band's continued attention to song craft was a common praise in reviews of Sugar at the Gate, and "DIY sometimes suggests the heedless jettisoning of any frills" (Nows Mark Streeter). In mixed reviews, DIYs Laura Prior appreciated the use of melancholic lyrics and the "indifferent" delivery of them with an upbeat sound Mojo dismissed the record as "largely insubstantial," ==Track listing==

1. Cloudy Skies 04:22 2. Further 03:33 3. Petals 02:54 4. Dayglow Bimbo 02:14 5. Marigold & Gray 04:08 6. Cutlass Cruiser 03:23 7. Hours Between 04:06 8. I Just Wanna Make You Real 03:56 9. Seconds Erase 04:54 10. Topless 02:40 == References ==