That's too easy
Dear friends,
I've never paid attention to Stereolab lyrics. I love the band and their music but I remember their songs as impressions, floating polka dots forming a pointilistic portrait; a face, an emotion and a scene. Words would ruin the feeling. My favorite record of theirs, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, is a treasure trove of these moments, from the opening percolating beats of Metronomic Underground to the dreamy, violin sweep of Slow Fast Hazel. I play it around the house while I vacuum. I chirp ba da bap or la la la and everything is lovely like an animated film with singing birds.
Apparently, I went the wrong way here. Upon inspection of a lyric sheet, Stereolab usually aims more political than personal. Oops. The Noise of Carpet is straight confrontation courtesy of a clipped and haughty vocal from Lætitia Sadier. You are complacent, cynical and a bore. Take some responsibility, make some choices and stop blaming your dissatisfaction on others. It's all YOU. Wake up to your life.
The Noise of Carpet/Stereolab (mp3)
Purchase Emperor Tomato Ketchup* by Stereolab.
Love, D
*Seriously. Buy it. This is fantastic album. Someone really ought to pitch it for the 33 1/3 series. Cough, cough, hint, hint.
posted by d @ 9:00 AM
5 Comments:
Yeah, they have a reputation for being Marxists. I'd totally pitch this for 33 1/3 but I have no idea how they go about their selection process...although it's not necessarily the first album I'd go with.
I think it's a brilliant and hugely underrated album.
I really enjoy their mid-90s output- from Mars Audiac Quintet through Dots & Loops. But Emperor Tomato Ketchup is by far my fave.
You think its underrated? I always thought it was pretty much acknowledged as their magnum opus and one of the best of the 90's. Is that just teenage Spin reading clouding my mind?
Teenage Spin reading definitely. I don't think it's nearly as well known or talked about now as other indie breakout albums of the time.
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