Cibo Matto have a fond place in my heart, less for their actual recordings than for Christy Bratt’s accapella versions that she would sing to herself. Particular favorite was “Birthday Cake” with it’s breakdown line “…….it’s moldy Mom, isn’t it?” Pretty classic. This was a big album during my Radio Days at wcal, but I’m not sure if I had ever heard the whole thing before. It’s a pretty fun album that achieves a cool eclectic blend of styles kind of similar to the Beastie Boys records of the same era. …….
It seems that many discussions have been had on this death match regarding the issue of originality/derivativeness, i.e. music that sounds a lot like it came from another era and the how intentional this is. Opinions seem usually to fall under the following range: ______ album is derivative and that’s good, ______ album is derivative and that’s bad, or ______ album is derivative which is normally bad but I like this record so this time its ok. I feel that I often place things in the latter category, pretending that I am opposed to all revivalism or copying of older sounds too faithfully……unless I kind of like it. The Horrors seem to fall into this category for me. I feel that they are perhaps trying to emulate their mid-80’s influences too faithfully, but I happen to like the sound quite a bit and think that they write some pretty good tunes. They also have just enough of their own character to give the tunes a bit of their own personality. (Although did anyone else feel that they were about to launch into the chorus of “Alive and Kicking” on a couple different occasions?)
I think Bruce chose this one correct? I am intrigued by what seems to be Bruce’s recent embrace of new wave/goth. I haven’t seen him in a few years, has he started to dress in all black and shave the side of his head? (Btw, Bruce have you ever listened to the Chameleons UK? I really got into them in the last year. Big Hair Wassenaar would always listen to them in high school but it took me until now to catch on).
Oh, hey, wow, that's really well said about the derivative thing. I was preparing some similar thoughts in my head, but no there's no need to write them.
As I listened to Cibo Matto, I was thinking, "This is really fun and interesting, but I probably won't bother listening to it again (since I need to catch up on other MDM matches. Probably the other one will get my vote."
Then listening to The Horrors I thought, "My feetsies are tapping and this is good. This one will get my vote. But now that I'm past track three, I feel like I'm perpetually watching The Breakfast Club credits roll, and I probably won't listen to this one again."
In the bad old days of MDM, I would then listen to each album three more times before abstaining.
The new reformed Karl instead casts an impulsive, intuitive vote: Cibo Matto.
Perhaps if I had listened in the other order my vote would have gone the other way.
VS.
Viva! Cibo Matto
ReplyDeleteSkying was good too, but Cibo just made me hungry for more.
Cibo Matto.
ReplyDeleteI liked The Horrors quite a bit and will be adding this album to my playlist. But my vote goes to Cibo Matto.
ReplyDeleteThe Horrors for me.
ReplyDeleteCibo Matto have a fond place in my heart, less for their actual recordings than for Christy Bratt’s accapella versions that she would sing to herself. Particular favorite was “Birthday Cake” with it’s breakdown line “…….it’s moldy Mom, isn’t it?” Pretty classic. This was a big album during my Radio Days at wcal, but I’m not sure if I had ever heard the whole thing before. It’s a pretty fun album that achieves a cool eclectic blend of styles kind of similar to the Beastie Boys records of the same era.
ReplyDelete…….
It seems that many discussions have been had on this death match regarding the issue of originality/derivativeness, i.e. music that sounds a lot like it came from another era and the how intentional this is. Opinions seem usually to fall under the following range: ______ album is derivative and that’s good, ______ album is derivative and that’s bad, or ______ album is derivative which is normally bad but I like this record so this time its ok. I feel that I often place things in the latter category, pretending that I am opposed to all revivalism or copying of older sounds too faithfully……unless I kind of like it. The Horrors seem to fall into this category for me. I feel that they are perhaps trying to emulate their mid-80’s influences too faithfully, but I happen to like the sound quite a bit and think that they write some pretty good tunes. They also have just enough of their own character to give the tunes a bit of their own personality. (Although did anyone else feel that they were about to launch into the chorus of “Alive and Kicking” on a couple different occasions?)
I think Bruce chose this one correct? I am intrigued by what seems to be Bruce’s recent embrace of new wave/goth. I haven’t seen him in a few years, has he started to dress in all black and shave the side of his head? (Btw, Bruce have you ever listened to the Chameleons UK? I really got into them in the last year. Big Hair Wassenaar would always listen to them in high school but it took me until now to catch on).
I vote The Horrors.
Oh, hey, wow, that's really well said about the derivative thing. I was preparing some similar thoughts in my head, but no there's no need to write them.
DeleteAs I listened to Cibo Matto, I was thinking, "This is really fun and interesting, but I probably won't bother listening to it again (since I need to catch up on other MDM matches. Probably the other one will get my vote."
Then listening to The Horrors I thought, "My feetsies are tapping and this is good. This one will get my vote. But now that I'm past track three, I feel like I'm perpetually watching The Breakfast Club credits roll, and I probably won't listen to this one again."
In the bad old days of MDM, I would then listen to each album three more times before abstaining.
The new reformed Karl instead casts an impulsive, intuitive vote: Cibo Matto.
Perhaps if I had listened in the other order my vote would have gone the other way.