| Stereo Type A | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Cibo Matto |
| Cover: | Stereo Type A.jpg |
| Released: | June 8, 1999 |
| Studio: |
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| Length: | 57:04 |
| Label: | Warner Bros. |
| Producer: | Yuka Honda |
| Prev Title: | Super Relax EP |
| Prev Year: | 1997 |
| Next Year: | 2007 |
Stereo Type A (stylized as Stereo ★ Type A) is the second studio album by Cibo Matto released in 1999. As the group disbanded in 2001, it was their last studio album prior to their 2011 reunion. The album peaked at number 171 on the Billboard 200, and also reached the top spot of CMJs College charts.[1]
While having a strong focus on atmospheric and ambient sounds and melody (particularly in "Moonchild"), Stereo Type A also contains a broad range of styles, reaching into hip hop territory on "Sci-Fi Wasabi" (with additional vocals by Duma Love), and heavy metal on "Blue Train". Furthermore, "Clouds" and "Mortming" contain heavily vocoded vocals.
In their interview with the band, Barnes & Noble noted the band moving away from writing songs about food, opining the album is a "diverse collection of tracks that includes metal-edged rockers, lounge-influenced pop, pithy hip-hop -- and only one song about culinary delicacies ('Sci-Fi Wasabi')." In the same interview, Yuka spoke about the album's title:
When we decided to make this record, Miho and I talked about a lot of things that were on our minds: what was happening around us and how we felt about what happened with [the perception of] Viva! La Woman. For three days we were just sitting around talking and talking instead of writing music. And we kept bumping into that subject a lot: how we have to deal with stereotypes so much, and how it can be very hard, because the people who have these stereotypes aren't even aware of it.[2]
Several critics noted the album's difference from the group's debut, regarding it positively as a progression of style and a maturation. The album received positive reviews upon its release, with Melody Maker calling it "album of the year so far. Purely joyous pop."[3] Time Out magazine also named it "pure pop LP of the year so far."[1]
Heather Phares of AllMusic says of the album: "Relying less on samples and more on their latent funk and jazz elements, Stereotype A sounds like summer in New York -- eclectic, hot, and funky. ...Stereotype As overall sound is more direct and less fanciful than of their debut album Viva! La Woman." Independent publication SOMA Magazine stated: "Stereotype A confirms that the best way to make pop music is by combining multiple styles... Combined with Yuka Honda's style for sampling and Miho's sensual vocals, Stereotype A is a complete success."[1]
All songs written and composed by Cibo Matto, unless otherwise specified.
The Japanese release includes the bonus tracks "Backseat" and "Country".
Additional musicians ("special guests")
Recording personnel
Additional personnel