Artist: Cibo Matto Album: Stereotype A

Year: 1999
Duration: 1:00:03

A Deep Dive into Cibo Matto's Stereotype A Album

Cibo Matto is a band from New York City that became popular back in the '90s through their unique blend of rock, hip hop, and electronic music. Their second studio album, Stereotype A, released in 1999, showcased a significant transformation for the band. This album was a departure from their first album, Viva! La Woman, which had a more indie rock sound, and instead took on a more electronic and experimental style. In this blog post, we'll do a critical review of Stereotype A, dive into the history of Cibo Matto, analyze the music genre of the album, highlight its best songs, and finally, give our thoughts on the most innovative parts of the album.

The history of Cibo Matto began back in 1994 when Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori first met in Tokyo, Japan. The two became friends and started collaborating musically, eventually leading to the formation of the band. The band's name, Cibo Matto, is Italian for crazy food, a reflection of their Japanese roots and their music's eclectic mix of various genres.

Stereotype A is an experimental album that blends rock, hiphop, and electronic music with hints of Japanese culture. The album's sound is futuristic and surreal, with the use of synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines creating a unique sonic landscape. The lyrics of the album are as whimsical as the music, with references to fantasies, magic, and even robots.

The album's best songs are undoubtedly Sci-Fi Wasabi, Working for Vacation, and Stereotype A. Sci-Fi Wasabi is one of the catchiest songs on the album, with its playful lyrics and infectious beat. Working for Vacation is another standout track that features a mix of drum machines and acoustic drums, creating a unique rhythm that complements the song's jazzy vocal melody. Finally, Stereotype A is a title track that showcases the band's experimental sound in full force, with its use of samples and distorted vocals.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is its use of samples from various sources, including old Japanese movies and TV shows. The opening track, Apple, samples a Japanese soap opera's theme song and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The sampling shows the band's openness to experimental sounds and their strong connection to their Japanese roots and culture.

On the flip side, the album is not entirely perfect and has a few misses. The song Blue Train feels out of place, and its jazzy vibe clashes with the rest of the album's futuristic sound. The album's sequencing is also questionable, with the more experimental tracks placed towards the album's end, making the listening experience feel disjointed.

Overall, Stereotype A is a solid album that showcases the evolution of Cibo Matto as a band. With its unique blend of electronic, hip hop, and rock music, the album offers listeners a surreal listening experience. The album's best tracks, Sci-Fi Wasabi, Working for Vacation, and Stereotype A, show the band's experimental style and creativity, while the sampling of Japanese pop culture shows their connection to their roots. While the album has a few misses and questionable sequencing, it's still a must-listen for fans of eclectic and experimental music.

Overall, Stereotype A is a solid album that showcases the evolution of Cibo Matto as a band. With its unique blend of electronic, hip hop, and rock music, the album offers listeners a surreal listening experience. The album's best tracks, Sci-Fi Wasabi, Working for Vacation, and Stereotype A, show the band's experimental style and creativity, while the sampling of Japanese pop culture shows their connection to their roots. While the album has a few misses and questionable sequencing, it's still a must-listen for fans of eclectic and experimental music.