Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows is a live studio recording from 1989, released on picture disc earlier this year on limited vinyl for Record Store Day. Given that it came shortly before the release of Blood, Guts & Pussy, it's no surprise that it's heavy on songs from that record (10 of 14, if I've counted correctly). It's more primal than the studio record, yet better production than your standard live record, with very minimal banter.
My takeaway is that I've grown accustomed to modern clean and poppy Dwarves and this flashback reminds me of the raw energy of their old records in a great way. It's a great companion to Blood, Guts & Pussy that feels both professional, yet raw and even a little bit humanizing behind the masks. While people will inevitably view the subject matter through a different lens in 2025, the style of the music remains timeless as ever, mixing hardcore with garage and pop for roughly 15 minutes of controlled chaos. It's a nice time capsule that doesn't just take me back. It will make me pull out those early Dwarves records for another spin too. It's probably more for Dwarves completists than noobs, but it would be a great introduction to the band for first timers too as it highlights the sound and style they’ve built on for a few decades now.
My only complaint is that it ends suddenly -- seemingly by design before a copyright infringement occurs. It's a fitting reminder that while the recording itself, and the band's live shows of the day, were chaotic, there was also a playful element at their core.
