You’re Still My Sugar – Maddie Ross

“You’re Still My Sugar” by Maddie Ross

Is this song sweet? Let’s throw it in the mix and see what develops. Today, I’m reviewing a song called “You’re Still My Sugar” by LA-based rocker Maddie Ross, which can be found on her EP Touch Hands, Touch Bodies. I haven’t heard of Maddie Ross before, but in a few days she will be playing a set at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. I’ll be at the festival all day Saturday and her set is one of the final events of the day. I wondered if it might be worth sticking around for, so I thought I would check out some of her music in advance. Based on her web site stating that “You’re Still My Sugar” “was named Billboard.com’s #9 Rock Song of that year,” I chose this song to listen to first and review.

This is Music New to My Ears

These are my immediate thoughts as I listen to this song for the very first time. Head over to the track on her Bandcamp page if you would like to hear it while you’re reading my thoughts. It opens minimally with a central rhythmic bassline to pull in the listener. Maddie’s vocal tone reminds me of Avril Lavigne in her heyday and the music has that 1990s pop rock female-led band sound or seems as if influenced by Liz Phair. The initial singing of the “You’re Still My Sugar” line is repetitive (until it isalmost annoying), but then there is a satisfying release of the built-up tension when the music kicks in heavily — following the formula of stripped down, quiet verses up against a loud, full chorus. The guitar and drums let loose in a cascade of sound that shower over the top of the vocals. Still, Maddie’s lead vocals are clear and bright, while the background vocals provide a dreamy response, like guardian angels singing over her shoulder. Toward the end of the song, fuzzy spoken lyrics provide a steady embellishment to the tune as it transitions from bursting rock to simplified finish. It concludes like a wrapped gift having a shining, smooth ribbon pulled around it and tied into a neat bow.

Let’s Enter the Lyrics Laboratory

Time to dip into these lyrics and see what can be discovered. This song speaks of a young love, perhaps a sparked teen romance of self-discovery, that illuminates the narrator’s world as gleaned through lyrics, “after we first talked, my tiny heart throbbed, you were my savior.” With the relationship comes a disdain for the uninitiated, unaware, and outsiders to the couple as the singer writes them off with “everybody’s braindead” and “everybody’s so fake.” The relationship endures though, because “You’re Still My Sugar.” It is pretty straightforward stuff and completely relatable.

I do want to point out one odd line in the spoken section, “Oh we are braindead swimming in the sea, I’m a pet store fish and I make good shark meat.” What is she trying to say here? My feeling is that this spoken section is performed as if it is narrated by one of the so-called fake people on the outside of the relationship. Someone with a vibrant style, focused on fashion and style, which rather than attracting a similar mate, only serve to make that fish more vulnerable to the predators patrolling around it. Despite what is on display and seeking attention, the person remains ignored and outside the couple’s relationship bubble. Note, the song has an explicit warning for one dropped f-bomb.

That’s a Wrap!

“You’re Still My Sugar” is saccharine enough with just pinch of tartness. It’s the kind of tune you might crank up while driving around town on a sunny day with the windows open. It’s production makes me wonder what her other music is like, so that I desire to hear more, and I’d like to see what she would bring to a live performance. Perhaps I will drop by the USC Stage on Saturday to find out.

Maddie Ross will be performing at 5:30pm on Saturday, April 13, 2018 on the USC Stage at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books held on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. You Make My World Rock encourages the support of indie artists to allow them to continue to create — buy the music!