| Stereo ★ Type A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Cibo Matto | ||||
| Released | June 8, 1999 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, samba, Shibuya-kei | |||
| Length | 57:04 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. 47345 |
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| Producer | Yuka Honda | |||
| Cibo Matto chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[2] |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
Stereo ★ Type A is an album by Cibo Matto released in 1999. It is only their second studio album, and their last before their disbandment in 2001.
While having a strong focus on atmospheric and ambient sounds and melody (particularly in "Moonchild"), Stereo ★ Type A also contains a broad range of styles, reaching into hip hop territory in "Sci-Fi Wasabi" (with vocals by Duma Love), and heavy metal in "Blue Train".[1] Furthermore, "Clouds" and "Mortming" contain heavily vocoded vocals. Several critics noted the album's difference from the group's debut, regarding it positively as a progression of style[1] and a maturation.[3]
While not managing to chart commercially, the album did reach the top spot of CMJ's College charts.[2]
Contents |
The Japanese release includes the bonus tracks "Backseat" and "Country".
The album received positive reviews upon its release, with Melody Maker calling it "album of the year so far. Purely joyous pop." Time Out magazine also named it "pure pop LP of the year so far."[2]
Heather Phrase of Allmusic says of the album: "Relying less on samples and more on their latent funk and jazz elements, Stereo ★ Type A sounds like summer in New York -- eclectic, hot, and funky. ...Stereo ★ Type A's overall sound is more direct and less fanciful than of their debut album Viva! La Woman."[1]
In their interview with the band, Barnes & Noble noted the band moving away from writing songs about food, opining the album was a "diverse collection of tracks that includes metal-edged rockers, lounge-influenced pop, pithy hip-hop -- and only one song about culinary delicacies ('Sci-Fi Wasabi')."[4]
Independent publication SOMA Magazine stated: "Stereo ★ Type A confirms that the best way to make pop music is by combining multiple styles... Combined with Yuka Honda's style for sampling and Miho's sensual vocals, Stereo ★ Type A is a complete success."[2] Duke University's student newspaper The Chronicle summarised: "It's a funky alternative to G-105 and definitely a sign that all pop music hasn't gone to hell yet. Here's to hoping Honda and Hatori can bring it back."[3]
From the liner notes of Stereo ★ Type A:
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