ABC Music the Radio 1 Sessions [Live]

Stereolab | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00008O310
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,048 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Often derided as "shoe-gazer" aesthetes, Stereolab’s dirty little secret is that they’re a lively, inventive, and surprisingly aggressive live band, and have been since their 1991 inception. These 32 tracks were recorded live in the studio for BBC radio hosts John Peel and Mark Radcliffe. The early songs have a garage-rock vibe; listeners are witness to the "groop" working through their influences, which they’ve never really tried to hide. "Anemie," for instance, is a Farfisa-fired homage to the Faust tune "Rainy Day." As the '90s progressed, the band's recording became more genteel and intricately arranged songs. But what some songs may lose in subtlety they make up for in force. Of particular note is 1996’s 10-minute "Metronomic Underground," a jagged space-age/Afro-rock workout. Fans shouldn't hesitate to pick up ABC Music, while newcomers might consider it as a playful and raw retrospective of this innovative pop band's career. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

In the absence of a Stereolab 'best of' album, this release covers everything in the band's 10 year career, from their first Radio 1 session in 1991, to the latest in 2001. Features versions of tracks from their album Emperor Tomato Ketchup and the album --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very worthwhile compilation of some of Stereolab's best, December 19, 2002

By 

E. MCCORD "farpin" (NYC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ABC Music: The Radio 1 Sessions (Audio CD)

This new double CD sort of functions as both a greatest hits collection and a quasi-live album at the same time. Compiling all of Stereolab's Radio 1 sessions, this set features songs from nearly every phase of the 'Lab's constantly evolving massive body of work. It's amazing to hear, although the more raw qualities of a band performing on the radio are definitely evident here, how polished the band sounds in these recordings. The early, more guitar-centered songs like "Super-Electric" and "Laissez Faire" sound great, but it's the songs from the "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" and "Sound-Dust" eras that are most fun and revelatory to hear in this 'live' setting. The inclusion of some very good songs that you probably haven't heard anywhere else before ("Moogie Wonderland" and the awesome "Heavy Denim") makes 'ABC Music' an essential buy for Stereolab fans--even though they'll already have the studio versions of most of these songs. God, I sound like I'm working for Amazon.com, but it really is worth getting. I have found myself preferring the songs from "Sound-Dust" on this compilation better than the ones on the actual record.

We'll miss you, Mary.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Make that 3.5...., April 27, 2003

By 

skytwo "skytwo" (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ABC Music the Radio 1 Sessions (Audio CD)

I'm surprised that there haven't been more reviews of this album. Stereolab's first release in quite a while is more in line with their 'Switched On' series than their studio releases (NOTE: this is not a new studio album), so it's tough to know who to recommend it to. If you're a little turned off by their electronic shenanigans, then it's a great opportunity to hear a more stripped-down Stereolab relying more on their instruments to make their sound. If, like me, you're thrilled with their more polished and eclectic works, this might be a bit of a letdown. Nevertheless, it's two discs of solid pop tracks that include some new versions of their best songs. For fans, it's a must-have (natch), but it might not be the best introduction for newcomers. That said, if you like them more live than you do on CD, then this is the Stereolab album for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is, in my opinion, the DEFINITIVE Stereolab output!!!, April 20, 2006

By 

Mendicant Pigeon "Mendicant Pigeon" (pdx, or United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ABC Music the Radio 1 Sessions (Audio CD)

It has taken me a long time to get round to really connecting with this double CD workproduct from the famed Franco-British synthetic pop-music agitprop alternorock band. Ever since catching them live about ten years ago, I've considered them one of my favorite bands. I mean the live sound was so good that although I had long outgrown my penchant for ingesting mind altering substances, I caught myself longing for something really good to better enjoy the sound with AND even though I left that concert thinking it was one of the dem finest concert experiences I'd ever had--and I've attended dozens and dozens, of 'em--I still to this day wish I'd been there on a different plane of consciousness. It was just an indescribably good time. Having said that, I subsequently acquired three or four of their efforts, King Tomato Ketchup, Dot and Loops, Space Age Bachelor Music and perhaps another but they all got a couple of plays and then gathered dust. I got this double CD more from wishful thinking than from any expectations of taking aural pleasure from it. My first couple of play throughs more or less confirmed my worst expectations: just another another semi-repetitious Stereolab album with a few good bits, I thought. Then, about a year later for no reason or any reason at all I gave it another chance, by chance and you know what? It came alive for me. I have to say that this comp. of synthetic mongopopular radio frequency stage happiness is really quite good, and complete and definitely worth a purchase. If you've never heard Stereolab listen to the sample tracks above, I'm sure that they will give one a good idea of what they sound like. The music is kind of dreamy kind of funky kind of hokey kind of thoughtful kind of happy and often kind of demmed good. It is refreshing to find a band that one likes which does not sound like a whole bunch of other bands. In fact, if I were to make a comparison of Stereolab to another band I would have to compare it to a band that I haven't heard yet. This album is definitely a long term keeper.