Dots and Loops is just as good, if not better, than Emperor Tomato Ketchup and I will explain, in depth, if anyone (no one) is curious (doesn't respond because they (are afraid) don't care).
Stereolab was one of the best live shows I've ever seen (saw them on the Sound-Dust tour) and I was really impressed with how they transformed "Metronomic Underground" and "Cybele's Reverie" into live performances; you can sort of get the idea from the terrific compilation album, ABC Music.
You kind of hit the nail on the head about what I was getting at, but it's also the fact that Dots and Loops is more of a daring, and completely successful, departure for them than ETK. ETK is like the pinnacle of their early-middle period, but Dots and Loops takes them into outer-space lounge jazz territory. "Miss Modular" is one of the best singles of their entire career, "Refractions in the Plastic Pulse" is their best long-form effort and "Rainbo Conversation" is one of the few tracks where Sadier's voice actually carries a great deal of passion.
I'm in the minority with Stereolab fans in that I also really think that Cobra... gets pandered unfairly (thank you, Pitchfork - seriously, that review and the head guy's review of a GYBE! album are why they get so much shit, awful, awful reviews by people who betray their musical ignorance). But taking a step back, you'll see that they really transformed themselves and their song-writing, going from longer, minimalist tracks to shorter, more subtly orchestrated, almost "pop" songs. Chemical Chords kind of proves this, and it's one of the reasons why I think it's a fantastic album. But, Cobra... is the seed for that. I love "The Free Design," but "Fuses" is almost as good, if not as tight, "People Do It All The Time" is also a terrific, lounge pop kind of song, sort of bridging the gap between their early/late styles. My favorite song of the album, and one of my all-time favorite 'lab tracks is "Infinity Girl."
I'd say the reason that I think Dots and Loops is "better" than ETK is that it's more important to the evolution of their style; it's also a reflection of how much I think their latest release contains some of the best material in a prolific band with a lot of good tunes.
(I love "The Ecstatic Static" too, but "Three Women" with that opening drum, bass and tambourine intro gets me every time.)
oh, also, while I'm on the subject of that album: thanks to the digital age, it's possible to recreate an album the way you think it should be. In my iTunes, I've chopped a third of the tracks off (and almost half the total time, which is telling w/r/t my assertion above about their songwriting shift), leaving it at a manageable 43 minutes and very listenable. It makes it a really good album! Like, 7 or 8 out of 10. Here's the listing if you're interested.
1. Fuses 2. People Do It All The Time 3. The Free Design 4. Blips, Drips and Strips 5. Infinity Girl 6. Op Hop Detonation 7. Puncture in the Radax Permutation 8. Strobo Acceleration 9. The Emergency Kisses 10. Come and Play in the Milky Night
Upon another go-round with "Chemical Chords," the song I loved was actually "Self Portrait with Electronic Brain". I really do wish bands would try as hard as possible to include song titles in their lyrics, it's just way too much work otherwise.
I feel that Stereolab is sort of like a modern day Fall, always different, always the same.
Anyway, if there's a time in the hopefully near future where you and I, and Fagen and Becker, are all alive and healthy, we absolutely HAVE to see Steely Dan perform together, like no excuses other than births, weddings, or funerals!
You kind of hit the nail on the head about what I was getting at, but it's also the fact that Dots and Loops is more of a daring, and completely successful, departure for them than ETK. ETK is like the pinnacle of their early-middle period, but Dots and Loops takes them into outer-space lounge jazz territory. "Miss Modular" is one of the best singles of their entire career, "Refractions in the Plastic Pulse" is their best long-form effort and "Rainbo Conversation" is one of the few tracks where Sadier's voice actually carries a great deal of passion.
I'm in the minority with Stereolab fans in that I also really think that Cobra... gets pandered unfairly (thank you, Pitchfork - seriously, that review and the head guy's review of a GYBE! album are why they get so much shit, awful, awful reviews by people who betray their musical ignorance). But taking a step back, you'll see that they really transformed themselves and their song-writing, going from longer, minimalist tracks to shorter, more subtly orchestrated, almost "pop" songs. Chemical Chords kind of proves this, and it's one of the reasons why I think it's a fantastic album. But, Cobra... is the seed for that. I love "The Free Design," but "Fuses" is almost as good, if not as tight, "People Do It All The Time" is also a terrific, lounge pop kind of song, sort of bridging the gap between their early/late styles. My favorite song of the album, and one of my all-time favorite 'lab tracks is "Infinity Girl."
I'd say the reason that I think Dots and Loops is "better" than ETK is that it's more important to the evolution of their style; it's also a reflection of how much I think their latest release contains some of the best material in a prolific band with a lot of good tunes.
(I love "The Ecstatic Static" too, but "Three Women" with that opening drum, bass and tambourine intro gets me every time.)
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1. Fuses
2. People Do It All The Time
3. The Free Design
4. Blips, Drips and Strips
5. Infinity Girl
6. Op Hop Detonation
7. Puncture in the Radax Permutation
8. Strobo Acceleration
9. The Emergency Kisses
10. Come and Play in the Milky Night
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I feel that Stereolab is sort of like a modern day Fall, always different, always the same.
Anyway, if there's a time in the hopefully near future where you and I, and Fagen and Becker, are all alive and healthy, we absolutely HAVE to see Steely Dan perform together, like no excuses other than births, weddings, or funerals!
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