Customer Reviews

Stereo Type a (Mcup)

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

It's a difficult country to gain respect in, America that is, for foreign musicians...Especially those who don't care to be recognized for their cute gimmicks or for novelty. Cibo Matto, though acclaimed for their debut Viva La Woman!, have masterfully and elegantly avoided being artistically restrained to one idea or concept with the eclectic release Stereotype A. This record is groundbreaking for the band and is, perhaps, an affirmation of the strength of good pop music everywhere. While Viva La Woman was symbiotic in themes and musical textures, Stereotype A is all over the map stylistically and in focus. 'Working for Vacation' is a crazy stomp through electronic breaks and middle eastern melodies, while 'Blue Train' is a heavy metal anthem making you check your decks to see if you're still listening to the same record. 'Sci-Fi Wasabi' will please Cibo fans who are fond of Viva's girlie shout-outs, and 'Spoon's get-down-on-the- get-down funkified bassline will have even the most boring of you bobbing your heads. A great element on this album that was a bit underdeveloped on Viva is the inclusion of several ballads. 'Moonchild' is an amazing tune showcasing Miho's pipes better than even 'Birthday Cake'. My favorite track is definitely the gorgeous 'Sunday part 2'. Lyrically and structurally, it is one of the most beautiful songs I have had the privelege to hear in a long time. Overall, Cibo Matto have established themselves as an important element in pop music and we can surely expect a great deal of amazing material in the future from them.

Cibo Matto's 'Stereo Type A' is an incredible album. Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori are unafraid of exploring all genres of music while still keeping each song original and their own. Their lyrical talent shineso n the triumphant 'Speechless' and 'Sunday Part 1'. 'Flowers'' and 'Llint of love' are disguised as cheesy and cute pop-songs, but are spiked up with deep, thought- provoking lyrics. Cibo masterfully creates each song using an ecclectic mix of instruments from synthesizers to country-guitar to a slamming door. They have definitely matured since 'Viva La Woman.' They're less crunchy and irreverent, more polished and defined. The vocals on this album show that they are truly talented vocalist, beyond excellent singers. I recommend this album to open minded individuals who are sick of the bland, neatly categorized mainstream. Cibo Matto's music sounds effortlessly inventive and original. This is one of the best albums of the year, if not the decade. Yuka and Miho break every stereotype imaginable with Cibo Matto. They write and produce all their own songs (with other two Cibo members, Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis), and play their own instruments. They are ahead of their time and in a league of their own, Stereo-type A is a must in every dj's bag.

This was my first Cibo Matto album, and what an album it is!
It's too bad the duo split after this, because their potential had always been utilized in über-spiffy ways, of which this is quite a shining example indeed.
In the fine tradition of "Viva La Woman", Cibo Matto mix hip-hop and funky sounds all around the mix with tales of relatably mundane experience and, again, sometimes food and related appliances.
Sean Lennon even appears as a guest on this album, as he was Yuka's boyfriend for a time, but there's no doubt that one with his talent could have done wonders for what was already amazing!
From the first, amusing and breezy song, to the last, and all the rocky, rappy, latin-ish and even ballads in between, this album is like an extremely gleeful cornucopia featuring the most unusual, yet succulent fruits.
Proof that the whimsical often wins out.

Cibo Matto's Stereo* Type A is a fantastic journey for anyone who appreciates musical originality, creativity and talent! (I actually wanted to give it 4.5 stars, but that's not allowed... ) Sean Lennon's addition to the mix has definitely served as a catalyst for Miho Haturi and Yuka Honda, who have vastly improved upon the promising work shared on their first effort, Viva La Woman! Tracks like the re-worked "Spoon" and "Sci-Fi Wasabi" are definite groove tunes, while songs like "Moonchild" and "King of Silence" are guaranteed to sweep you up in their perfect mating of instrumental and vocal stylings. Hip-Hop, soul, pop, blues (?)... All genres dutifully obey the commands of Mistresses Miho and Yuka. (Heck! I even enjoyed the rock tune, "Blue Train," and I am NOT a big rock fan...) Moreover, Cibo Matto has captured the elusive blend of creativity and diversity heard on CDs like Wyclef Jean's Carnival. If you have never purchased a CD before based on a review you've read, please let this be your first; you won't regret it. Those of us who have already joined the second world of Cibo Matto happily await you...

I thought that there was no way possible this CD could be any better than Viva!La Woman, but it just may be. This is an entirely different album, but it is just as great. While there is a noticeable absence of Bossa Nova samples, it is all but made for with the overall artistry of each song. My favorite tracks are the Beastie-esque "Sci-Fi Wasabi"(Which is better than anything the Beastie Boys have ever done), "Sunday Part 2", "Moonchild"(Beautiful Song), and my favorite of all "Stone"(great horn arrangement and deep lyrics). Oh yeah, "Blue Train" is really great for a rock song. I like it better than anything Black Sabbath ever did. Overall, my personal #1 favorite album. Be sure to buy it!

it's been more than a year since I bought this CD. when I first came here to write a review, I gave this CD 4 stars, and today, I'm here to give it 5 stars. even now,more than a year has been passed, I never stopped listening this CD. just incredible. Speechless, Lint of love, Sunday Part I&II, Moonchild... everysong is precious and also fun, thoughtful, unique. one of my friend said "moonchild" it the most disappointing song because he thought is sounds like a normal R&B song, but now, I think "moonchild" is one of the most thoughtful songs in the album since now I know this song is about Miho Hatori's friend who died when s/he was young. Speechless remains as my favorite ever. the lyrics are honest and metaphors are fresh and fun. this song just makes me speechless with Miho's unique vocal and cool rhythm. Lint of love is very powerful with all member's collaborations. Dont forget to check out Sean Lennon's solo vocal! yay! Cibo Matto!

This is the best CD I've ever bought. I listen to it every day! Cibo Matto provides a mix of tech. music and alternative with a modern edge. This CD deserves 5 stars because it is packed full of lyrics with meaning. You won't hear them on the radio, but Cibo Matto is far better than the so called music played today.

Let's face it: music may be heading to a crossroads of boredom. i mean, creativity is fast becoming an endangered species. And then these two ladies came along. With "Stereo*type A" Cibo Matto emerge victorious by creating a melange of styles, (lounge, jazz, a little rock, hip hop, pop, funk) that is endearingly listenable and always surprising. This album is a joy, from "working for vacation" (a devo-like excursion into the eighties) to "lint of love" (six minutes of musical creativity replete with a brass section and a grinding six string) to "sunday part I" (produced by the Automator) Cibo Matto give pop-funk bliss to those who have a soft spot in their hearts for the eighties as interpreted by two hip japanese women from New York.

This was okay but I already own Pizacatto Five and Stereolab. I miss the innovative loops and samples - like from the first album.

I don't remember what caused me to buy the first album of this group, but I did, and I enjoyed it. It was more of a novelty though, not terribly substantial, and it never lasted on the CD player for very long. It was like eating an unusual-tasting piece of candy, but that was about it.

Well, this one then came along and I let it sit in the store for several weeks until, desperate for something original, I finally picked it up, and man, am I glad I did. This is a HUGE improvement over the first album; in fact, this is a revelation. These girls are GREAT!

The first leap forward and noticable immediately is the quality of singing. They are both absolutely terrific singers, both individally and especially while singing in harmony. And not only that, but their phrasing--the way they fit these lyrics in with the music--is truly wonderful and just a joy to listen to. You can listen to it over and over and just marvel. For example, in the first song, Working for Vacation, the chorus is, "Counting heartbeats, seventy-two in a minute." Except the way they sing it, it's more like, sah-van-tee too in ah mini-eet. Man, I can't describe it, forget it, but it is unbelievably cool! (And the drummer that kicks in there about half-way through--overtaking and sublimating the drum machine--is also great.)

This vocal, technical skill is evident in just about all of their songs, most notably, to me, in Flowers, Moonchild, Spoon, and King of Silence. Moonchild, particularly, is amazing. It is clear that Miho Hatori, the singer, is at the top of her vocal registry, but she doesn't miss a note or even quaver or anything. It is a magnificent performance. But beyond this, the two sing with a great deal of passion and to intelligent lyrics, so the experience is quite moving in other ways also. Moonchild, for example, is apparently about a person the singer knew as a kid, since passed away. "Sometimes I feel you're smiling at me and telling me your memories." This is so sweet, so touching, so beautifully sung.

And Speechless. It starts off with a jazzy-bluesy bass, with syncopated, spoken lyrics, then delves into, again, a jazzy chorus, all the while picking up power, before heading into the climax: "I'm leeeeeeeeeaving you," she sings, two times only, in anguish and yes, defiance, over the cascading chorus. This is so powerful it makes your knees weak; it sends shivers down your spine. You feel like you maybe have to sit down.

The musicians are fantastic as well and there are a lot of them. Lots of horns, guitar, percussion effects, a driving bass on most supplied by Sean Lennon. There are also keyboards and a lot of cool-sounding electronic effects, none of which detract from the whole. These girls are not only great singers, they are great musicians. Every sound on every song is worth listening too; nothing is thrown in for filler and there are no cheap shortcuts.

As to the songs, well, it's hard to describe, they're all over the map. Mostly, I guess, you would say it's jazz, Latin-inspired jazz, with some pop and hip-hop influences. There are two attempts at rap metal which in my opinion are failures. You shouldn't try to make moonshine with Bordeaux grapes. Maybe it's just me--I don't like that style.

But everything else is just fantastic and I find myself listening to this all the time, even though it's been a year or two since I finally got it. It's all here: passion, skill, intelligence and beauty, played with a big sound and incredible vocals. I love this stuff and hope and pray and hereby beg Cibo Matto to round up Sean Lennon and make another album. Please, please, please, I beg you!