The Stereolab Albums Poll

does the character on the peng and switched on covers have a name?

Think it was Cliff.

http://stereolab.koly.com/exhibits/images/clifforig.gif

science!

I want all of these on vinyl! Even the eps would look amazing on any record collection:
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g28/manicdogbertpurchases/stereolab3.jpg

Anyone knows if there are any stereolab reissues coming anytime soon?

Rose My Rocket Brain, Solar Throw-Away and Free Witch & No-Bra Queen are fantastic.

Oh and no word on new releases or reissues that I've seen.

reissues of what? all the albums are in print, although there's probably enough of the tour singles etc to justify another switched on collection

I meant vinyl reissues. I might be wrong but last time I checked any of the top 3 winners on this poll (transient random, dots and loops, emperor tomato) sell for over $50+ as they've been out of print for a while.

There was mention of remasters/reissues when the break up was announced.

Found the article ...

http://pitchfork.com/news/34993-stereolab-go-on-hiatus/

"According to Pike, the band also plans both a new entry in their Switched On compilation series and a "remastering of the back catalogue." "

Yeah but it all seems to have stopped.

This has inspired me to revisit their later material, especially the singles. Will report back.

Oh, anyone have their "Godzilla Theme" track?

I want all of these on vinyl! Even the eps would look amazing on any record collection:

I don't know any of these but goddamn they all LOOK amazing! this band has always had such a wonderful design sense.

had no idea ETK vinyl was going for $50+, that's crazy.

$75 on Amazon! nuts

I have The Underground is Coming 7" that i'd happily sell/trade.

anyone have their "Godzilla Theme" track?

Yes. It's probably the most 'abstract' thing released in their name. Technically, it's a Tim Gane remix - and sounds like it.

So I checked out a sampling of album cuts from the last 10 years and was nonplussed. Then I put together a compilation of compilation, rare and singles tracks and, as expected, was duly impressed! Here's what I wound up with, sort of a 21st century Switched On:

1. Old Lungs (V/A - All Tomorrow's Parties)
2. La Spirale (Margerine Eclipse JP bonus track)
3. Rose, My Rocket-Brain! (tour single)
4. Banana Monster Ne Répond Plus (tour single)
5. University Microfilms International (tour single)
6. Variation One (V/A - Moog)
7. Dimension M2 (V/A - Disko Cabine)
8. Mudra (V/A - Dimension Mix)
9. Solar Throw-Away (tour single)
10. Jump Drive Shut Out (tour single)
11. Spool Of Collusion (Chemical Chords bonus single)
12. Forensic Itch (Chemical Chords bonus single)
13. The Nth Degree (Chemical Chords JP bonus track)
14. Magne-Music (Chemical Chords JP bonus track)
15. Explosante Fixe (tour single)
16. L'exotisme Interieur (tour single)

Some of it brings back the feel of their guitar-laden heyday, some tones down the blips and bloops and let's Laetitia shine, while other just lay out a great groove. Only one or two aren't that interesting - good to know there's still a future comp for me to buy!

I'm such a zealot for them (even still) that this shit be Sophie's Choice, for me.

Where did you get these?

Just, when you say you "checked out" these, from where? They're not on Spotify...

Slsk is my source if Spotify fails for checking stuff out.

Agreed those covers look fantastic all together.

Surprised by Dots & Loops' showing on this poll. Prevailing wisdom at the time was it was their first bonafide dud.

sometimes prevailing wisdom is horribly wrong

sometimes it is horrifyingly right, as was the case with D&L - a record I never want to hear again.

feel bad for people who can't appreciate 1997-2001 period stereolab

the idea that anyone could like stereolab and not think 'miss modular' is amazing makes zero sense to me

I don't remember people hating on D&L at all. The serious backlash started with "Cobra and Phases Group", but even that one had plenty of great songs, it was the McEntire/O'Rourke blippy bloopy production that had gotten out of control and basically ruined the album. Those songs rocked when they performed them live.

oh thank god they were recovered for rock

"I don't remember people hating on D&L at all. The serious backlash started with "Cobra and Phases Group""

D&L was definitely perceived as being a step back from ETK (and everything that came before.)

I like Miss Modular, it's most of the rest of the album I can't stand

ehh I don't think you can deny that this group has a tendency to be pretty boring

i think somebody could

they could say "i deny that this group has a tendency to be pretty boring"

see how easy it wd be?

makes ya think

like I just listen to stuff like "Outer Accelerator" and think, oh look, another 3-chord midtempo "Hallo Gallo" riff

Did the Miss Modular remixes ever make it onto a Switched On comp?

so listen to their stuff that isn't a 3-chord midtempo hallo gallo riff. they have a lot of songs.

I dunno if they have more stuff like ETK I'll like 'em but right now Transient Noise Bursts and Mars Audiac both keep to rip Faust and Neu! so much that I can't really wring any enjoyment out of it

what faust song is 'Des Étoiles Électroniques' ripping off

reducto ed absurdum or however that goes, there is way more to these guys than Faust and Neu! rips

sigh I didn't say "literally every song" , I'm just saying they have a limited bag of tricks and a lot of them are making 'new' versions of "Hallo Gallo" and "Krautrock" adinfinitum

xp which makes me think I'm listening to the wrong albums

I dunno if they have more stuff like ETK I'll like 'em

so you prefer Yoko Ono & Kraftwerk rips over Neu! and Faust rips

thing is they were always ripping stuff, just depends on yr familiarity with the source material

Did the Miss Modular remixes ever make it onto a Switched On comp?

No. And they're damn good - and I'm in the anti-Dots & Loops camp with Shakey!

thing is they were always ripping stuff, just depends on yr familiarity with the source material

^^^

I bought ETK and Dots and Loops at the same time and like both almost equally. if anything I listen to D&L more nowadays - much more low key, easy listen.

thing is they were always ripping stuff, just depends on yr familiarity with the source material

― zappi, Monday, October 3, 2011 11:30 AM (28 minutes ago)

List The Direct References of Stereolab

I don't remember people hating on D&L at all. The serious backlash started with "Cobra and Phases Group", but even that one had plenty of great songs, it was the McEntire/O'Rourke blippy bloopy production that had gotten out of control and basically ruined the album.

Those two albums basically coincided with The High Llamas' Cold & Bouncy, which bloops and blips its way across six thousand hours of pretty much exactly the same vibe, so I think O'Hagan is to blame here (NB: I use the term 'blame' loosely as D&L and C&B are two of my favourite albums of all time).

Re ripping stuff off: many yonks ago I heard Krzysztof Komeda's Fearless Vampire Killers composition that Stereolab hooked for Flower Called Nowhere. It's really just the same thing with added swishing noises. Game admitted to that one though.

i don't mind D&L, sometimes i really enjoy it, but i still can't bear C&PG. it seriously disagrees with me, and is literally their only release i out and out dislike.