Refried Ectoplasm (Switched on Vol. 2)

Stereolab | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 23, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drag City
• ASIN: B0000019QL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,344 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #94 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop

Track Listings

1. Harmonium

2. Lo Boob Oscillator

3. Mountain

4. Revox

5. French Disko

6. Exploding Head Movie

7. Eloge d'Eros

8. Tone Burst (Country) [#]

9. Animal or Vegetable (A Wonderful Wooden Reason...)

10. John Cage Bubblegum

11. Sadistic [#]

12. Farfisa

13. Tempter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stereolab's best -- the utopian futurism of 1968!, September 5, 2004

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Refried Ectoplasm (Switched on Vol. 2) (Audio CD)

REFRIED ECTOPLASM is fantastic and propulsive, with the "motorik" Krautrock beat and French pop vocals that won't quit. This is high energy optimistic stuff -- simple Situationist garage-pop from 1968, perfect for dancing in that commune on the barricades. I think it's what Stereolab does best. Track 9, "Animal or Vegetable" is a long psychedelic jam that breaks up the flow in an interesting way, and "John Cage Bubblegum" is, indeed, a great pop song that in another dimension conquered the charts. Fascinating that a retro sound can sound more futuristic than the latest thing...

I don't like the turn Stereolab's music took after EMPEROR TOMATO KETCHUP ('96), starting with DOTS AND LOOPS ('97). My favorites are MARS AUDIAC QUINTET ('94) and this one, REFRIED ECTOPLASM ('95), with strong songs, beats and melodies. For more abstraction, I'll listen to avant jazz/improv or contemporary classical.

(verified purchase from Zia Records in Tucson)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great starter CD for Stereolab, September 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Refried Ectoplasm (Switched on Vol. 2) (Audio CD)

A wonderful mix of Stereolab's most minimal and melodic stuff. More than any other older album, this collection of b-sides and rarities goes the furthest in anticipating what they have started to do with their last two albums. And let's not forget the Marxism! Really, I can't think of a better album of theirs that will let you in on all the various threads that run throughout their music. Some lengthy tracks, some short ones, instrumentals, some singing in French. Where is the lift, the hope and the struggle? Right here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it for John Cage Bubblegum, July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Refried Ectoplasm (Switched on Vol. 2) (Audio CD)

This collection of earlier Stereolab recordings is well worth getting for any of its tracks. But most notably it includes the remarkable track John Cage Bubblegum (impossible to get from any other reasonable source) which is the best showcase for the poppier/noisier side of Stereolab, that the band ever recorded. Wonderful, invigorating listening.