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.