Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation
Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation is the debut album by English electronic band Sohodolls, released in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2007 by A&G Records. The album was produced by Robert Harder (Babyshambles, The Sunshine Underground), with additional production by Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode, The Cure) and Harry Smith. The album's lead single, "My Vampire", was released as a free digital-only track on 26 April 2007, followed by second single "Right and Right Again" on 3 September 2007.
The songs "Stripper" and "I'm Not Cool" were used in seasons one and two of the American television series Gossip Girl, respectively.[1][2] "Stripper" was also used in the advert for the series' first season on ITV2. "My Vampire" was used in the fifth season finale of the American drama series Nip/Tuck.
Critical reception
Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation was well received by music critics. Jenni Cole of musicOMH gave the album four out of five stars and described it as "dark electro-glam of a lushness not heard since the synthtastic early '80s", comparing the band favourably to The Human League, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17 and Soft Cell. Cole also stated that "the music is brilliant. Upbeat, disco-tinged without being cheesy, taking all the best parts from glam and adding them to a Gothy, new century cabaret chic that no doubt translates brilliantly into live performance."[5] Susan Frances of AbsolutePunk commented that "the album wraps you in fishnets of cabaret-styled vocals from lead singer Maya Von Doll and techno-dripping rhythms orchestrated by drummer Paul Stone and bassist Matt Lord. The barbed guitar riffs of Toni Sailor are perched in thickets of bristling keyboards from Weston Doll creating movements that expand and separate with a will of their own, alternating lean segments with thick froths while covered in Maya's femininely sweet vocal reams." She added that the music is "both street savvy and club chic, keeping away from falling into a mundane routine that often plagues synth-pop albums."[3]
Chris Reynolds of Gigwise, giving the album four out of five stars, referred to Sohodolls as "a sleazy yet chic outfit comparable to Goldfrapp" and wrote that "Maya's vocals are seductive and the bass and synths are as smooth as can be", but felt that "[i]t is unfortunately the lack of variation which detracts greatest from a fine debut. When stripped down this is simple pop music with an eighties edge and can become tiresome at points such as the lacklustre 'Trash the Rental'."[4] Ultimate Guitar Archive opined that the band have "the seductive voicing of Goldfrapp with the kick and flick action of Siouxsie And The Banshees", while praising the music as "sexy and intense showing iron-fisted guitar bangles gilded in slithering keyboards with a pole-dancing sensuality in the vocals."[6] Emily Kate Stephens of MyVillage concluded, "With a huge mix of influences Sohodolls travel through this album with a strength and grace that means you can't help but listen. They can look forwarded to awakening their followers' senses. From the first listen the album makes you want to catch their next gig."[7]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Sohodolls, except where noted.
| 1. |
"Stripper" (Sohodolls, Karen Gibbs, Neville Henry) |
3:36 |
| 2. |
"Prince Harry" |
2:42 |
| 3. |
"My Vampire" |
3:36 |
| 4. |
"Right and Right Again" |
3:33 |
| 5. |
"Trash the Rental" |
3:05 |
| 6. |
"I'm Not Cool" |
2:55 |
| 7. |
"Bang Bang Bang Bang" |
3:01 |
| 8. |
"The Rest for the Wicked" |
4:01 |
| 9. |
"Weekender" (Sohodolls, Laurie Mansworth) |
3:39 |
| 10. |
"Pleasures of Soho" |
2:55 |
| 11. |
"No Regrets" |
4:07 |
| 12. |
"1724" |
3:42 |
Personnel
- Band
- Maya von Doll – vocals
- Weston Doll – keyboards
- Matt Lord – bass
- Toni Sailor – guitar (all tracks); producer (track 12)
- Paul Stone – drums
- Sohodolls – producers (track 8)
|
- Additional
- Dave Blair – assistant engineer (track 1)
- Nicholas Fowler – additional guitar (track 2)
- Martin Giles – mastering
- Robert Harder – producer (tracks 1–7, 9–11); mixing (tracks 2, 10)
- Tomi Lahdesmaki – artwork, design
- Steve Lyon – additional producer (track 11); mixing (tracks 1, 3–9, 11, 12)
- Emma Tempest – band photography
- Andy Wright – additional producer (track 1)
|
Release history
| Country |
Date |
Label |
| United Kingdom |
24 September 2007[9] |
A&G Records, Filthy Pretty Records |
| Japan |
6 August 2008[8] |
Yoshimoto R and C |
References