Emperor Tomato Ketchup

I sort of like Stereolab. The album was a 2.5 but I rounded up because the song names are cool.

Fun album, really on the edge with this one ..not sure I could listen to her high pitch voice much longer but it gets another listen .

tiene momentos raritos que se destacan pero se repite como un cd rayado 5/10

I had high hopes going into this album, as I had heard good things about Stereolab before, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It had a relatively weak first half but did pick up a bit in the second. Still, not as interested in this as I thought I'd be, but still quite good. 7.5/10

i love everything yesss plug it into me put this on forever nnnnnnghhh

Stereolab was sort of The Meters for a new millennium and this is one of their better records. Best band of the 90's? Deserving to be on the short list for sure. Cool shit!

I'm not sure why it confused me so much to see this album in today's selection, and then to realize that this is the only Stereolab album in the collection; I suspect much this was largely because I own a different album of theirs (2001's "Sound Dust"), and must have decided at some point that it was part of the "1001 Albums" project. Either way, I've enjoyed what little I've heard before from this duo, and I'm happy to get a different set of tracks to hear from them. I get the sense from the Wikipedia entry that "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" marked a transition to what I think of Stereolab's sound--sort of minimalist electronic pop descended from the progeny of Philip Glass and Kraftwerk, I guess (with a touch of Brazilian Girls, shamefully missing from the project)--and helped them get a broader audience, although it's hard to imagine that their audience was ever all that big given their niche style. Highlights for me were the opener "Metronomic underground", "Les yper-sound", and the Nico/Velvet Underground-adjacent "Tomorrow is already here", with a nod to the odd Shuji-Terayama-inspired videos for "Cybele's reverie" and "The noise of carpet" (especially because I finally got to see the person behind Lætitia Sadier's distinctive vocals). Nothing spectacular here (and a bit of a slog towards the end of the album), and I think I prefer "Sound Dust" to this album, but nice to have Streolab here. (And for some reason it calls to mind that this project is also missing out by not including the Lo-Fidelity All-Stars, who don't really sound at all like Stereolab but deserve a place at the table just as much.)

Much like its namesake film, this album made me feel like throwing up. Success?

Always loved the quirkiness of this album.

The first three songs sounded like one long one. After that, it was just hit or miss ambient background fodder that did little for me one way or the other.

I found this a bit odd and interesting. But I still didn’t like it.

Stereolab is a band I’ve struggled with. I’ve heard many of their albums before, including this one. I’ve seen them live and didn’t enjoy it. This time I realized it’s the voice. Everything else is great but the vocal tone just doesn’t agree with me. Still giving it a positive rating because it’s an accomplished album that I’d recommend to others.

Very unique sound Fave track: Metronomic Underground

I don't know how it works so well, but it just does. 3.5/5

4.5

90s sound. Different languages

This was really enjoyable. Perhaps a little overlong. It could have done with a couple of the weaker tracks not being there. Overall though, I was very impressed.

Hard to trust this review given I spun this very late at night after a birthday thing and I was in a mood to enjoy, but I was pulled into a very deeply immersed state where every track reeled me in slowly and seemed to keep layering on more and more engaging elements. All in all, an awesome listening experience. If I listen again and come to a radically different conclusion I may update this rating later.

The best noun noun noun album so far. I had a hard time deciding between a four and a five. Ultimately, I went for alignment with the recently-reviewed, and Project Partner Certified, four-star Screamadelica.

Colorless

I like this singer and the electric 90s sound. Really pretty solid at points tho not quite a 4

Really liked this one

Loses a star for Fr🤮nch

I've long loved Stereolab, and I"m always happy when a song pops up on a playlist or radio. It's been a while since I listened to this entire album though, and I must admit that, while still very enjoyable, it demands a certain relaxed mood. It's got a repetitive groove, but whether I'm digging that groove depends upon the mood.

great vibe, very cool. mellow by times but chaotic and hectic sometimes too. Very well constructed. A bit 'anxiety inducing' by time though.

Very futuristic-sounding

Just an hour of straight nothing

I don’t even remember one track from this album which speaks for itself.

This feels like an homage to 60's/70's psychedlic/lounge music with wild/weird production from the 90's. Really cool. I don't know many other bands like it if I can even name another banad like it generally.

I like the album, but it's long and very varied, so it needs more listens before I give a final rating. But it is at least a strong 3. ★★★½

This ain't it.

It just gets worse. Damn you wretched thing!

This was weird. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it was bad, sometimes it was French. But above all it was interesting

8/10 Stereolab is a name I know, and I'm sure I've heard a track or two by them over the years, but I'm going into this fairly clean. The range of genre tags they have is fairly broad and intriguing, but is also the kind of thing that could easily land in the "aren't we quirky" world of indie pop. Fortunately, this is an incredibly loveable record. It is quirky and whimsical, but it feels organically so, rather than being any kind of affectation. While there are touchstones within the style that call up references to electronica acts like Luke Vibert and Bibio, avant pop like Kate Bush and Björk, and even touches of more standard indie pop and new wave, the sound is very much their own. The general feel is light and airy, but they're also not afraid to throw in slightly more psychedelic and foreboding themes here and there to add extra textural flavour to the record. While there are moments in which repetition becomes key to certain tracks, it only rarely becomes overwhelming, more often operating as a hypnotic central point around which sonic experimentation and melodic interest is woven. And melody is where the primary strength of this album lies. The pop melodic sensibility of the songwriting is utterly charming and incredibly hooky, often supported by overlapping counterpoint in the backing vocals that elevate the melodic work even further and adding yet more dreamy texture to the aesthetic. Beyond all that, this is just a remarkably lovely album. I kept finding myself variously bobbing to the grooves, or drifting into a grin as I listened and the sound world just opened up and washed over me. I wouldn't say that it particularly stood out as genius or even particularly remarkable in any way, but in that regard it feels greater than the sum of it's parts. I'll definitely be checking out more of their work, and hope to find more loveliness buried within. Metronomic Underground - This immediately calls to mind a blend of New Wave like Tom Tom Club and the downtempo electronic whimsy of Luke Vibert. It has a very dance music structure, focusing on evolution and orchestration changes as the track progresses, rather than a more standard rock verse/chorus structure. There’s an element of hypnotic groove building to it that manages to keep it feeling relatively fresh and there’s just about enough development under the core theme to keep it flowing. But it probably is a bit on the long side. Cybele's Reverie - And now we drift into lovely, floaty indie rock with good pace and vibe. The melodic work is really lovely and sucks you in immediately. It’s then augmented really well with the layered counterpoint vocals that build beautifully. It’s lovely stuff. There’s loads of movement, some good sonic inventiveness and it’s brilliantly hooky too. Percolator - The vibe continues to be very good here, but the instrumental blend is a bit less coherent, and there’s not as much musical development and depth of interest to the composition. The main vocal hook is very good, but I don’t feel it completely develops that into a fully rounded song and the slightly too repetitive chord pattern doesn’t help on that front either. It’s not bad, but it feels a step down from the first two tracks. Les Yper-Sound - This feels immediately more whimsical again. The up-tempo drive to the groove is good and blends well with the octave switching synth line. There’s more strong melodic pop work here, but delivered in a carefree artsy way that’s very easy to like. I do wish they’d developed this a little more, but as it stands, it’s a very enjoyable little slice of melodic synth pop. Spark Plug - This continues on the theme of satisfying electro-pop, with a hint of acid from the squelchy 303-esque synth line. It’s rhythmically bouncy and great fun, while also feeling well realised and tonally interesting. Oddly, I’ve not got much to comment on here, except that it was really great, enjoyable work. OLV 26 - Slow-building atmospheric dreamy synth stuff now. It’s a bit more persistent and dynamically flat, due the relentless bass and drums, but that is softened somewhat by the ambient soundscaping that they build around it. It’s another that’s enjoyable enough, but doesn’t quite manage to tip the scales into being among the best cuts of the album, because it feels a bit lacking in development. The Noise Of Carpet - Now leaning more into the indie side of things and this is one I fell like I’ve heard before. It’s got more great vocal blends and melodic ideas, while supplementing that with a bit more drive and bite. It’s a solid mix and nice to get a bit of a different level of intensity popping into the album while not losing touch of the core vibe. It’s not the most compositionally complex track, but again, it’s just superbly produced and realised and has great hooks. Tomorrow Is Already Here - I like the slightly janky feel to the rhythm here, which is accentuated by the panning of the guitar parts. It does take a little too long to get going, but it leans again into that kind of pop-whimsy that’s been a calling card of the record thus far. The atmosphere and development of the parts that are introduced as the track progresses are very good and I like the drumming work in particular. I can’t help but feel the main panned guitar motif could have been at the very least placed further into the background, because it’s quite repetitive and dominates the mix a bit too much, detracting from the rest of the song. Emperor Tomato Ketchup - Another quirky indie track that has so much going on, particularly across the different interwoven vocal lines. The main persistent chord pattern gets a bit overwhelming, but as soon as they actually move away from the single chord, things improve. There’s lots of fun bits of synth work and the dreamy melodic work continues to delight. It’s not the strongest track on the record, but it’s sonically interesting and still pretty delightful. Monstre Sacre - This is a bit more of a sombre affair. It still has a dreamy edge to it but it’s a slightly more uncomfortable tone and the hypnotic repetition leans into that further, making it feel a bit like a dream in which something slightly sinister is happening that you can’t quite put your finger on. Very evocative and a nice change of pace. Motoroller Scalatron - We return to the safer whimsy of the earlier record now. This is just lovely quirky electronic pop with an excellent shuffling groove that’s incredibly infectious and jives beautifully against the pretty melodies. It’s not particularly deep or challenging, but it achieves everything it sets out to do perfectly. Slow Fast Hazel - Back to something slower paced and more dreamy now. It’s got some nice harmonic structures to it, as well as some cool tempo and groove changes. It’s not as melodically hooky and moreish as the albums choicest cuts, but it’s still an entirely lovely listening experience, and again gives a bit of range to the record with its slightly more psychedelic edge. Anonymous Collective - The underbelly pulses along here in another hypnotic groove. It has an interesting tone due to Lætitia Sadier butting up against the bottom of her vocal range here and there, but she climbs up her range as it drifts along. It’s not got the get up and go of the more upbeat numbers here, but there’s something compelling about it regardless. Another slightly psychedelic dreamy number and an atmospheric way to see us off.

Prior to this, my only familiarity with Stereolab was a healthy appreciation for "Dots and Loops." I've read before about how that album became the band's most well-known largely due to how different it was from their previous work, so this was a fun listening experience. There really is such a specificity to this band and their sound. It's simultaneously pastiche-y while feeling incredibly original, and while I'm certain I've heard something like it all before, whenever these songs are on, I lose all memory of possible comps. That said, while their chanteuse-electronica is difficult to dislike, sometimes it overstays its welcome. With the inherent simplicity of these tracks, their individual elements need to be exceptionally strong to maintain interest, and while they are (for the most part), some of these tracks could have really benefited from a "Radio Mix" runtime. Fav Tracks: Cybele's Reverie, Spark Plug, Olv 26, The Noise of Carpet, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Slow Fast Hazel Least Fav: Metronomic Underground Score: 7

Always lovely to be reminded of that album. Listen to it two or three times yesterday.

Philip glass meets 90s alt rock

Didn't do a lot for me but some of the tracks were kinda fun

Muy copado!

I'm not sure what's wrong with me lately. Maybe it's 1,001 fatigue. Or maybe Robert's list is simply flawed and bloated. I listened to this twice, and it has all the makings of what should have been a solid album for me, but I found myself feeling, at best, indifferent towards it... with even a slight annoyance under the surface at some of the overlong repetitive parts and excessive organ holds in the background. I'll give this the benefit of the doubt and hope I can shake this funk soon. I'm tired of being "that guy" who slaps 1s on everything.

I really liked this. It would have been a 5 for me except it didn’t stick enough. I will be looking more into Stereolab though.

Liked it more towards the end but still not really for me

***An ok album

wat een titel.

I thought it was pretty inoffensive when I had it on as I was doing other things. But then I started paying attention during the second half of the album and it really started annoying me. The title track and Motorola Scalatron were my least favorites because of their driving repetition.. Luckily the songs are fairly eclectic and there were others that were more atmospheric and interesting. Definitely a mixed bag, which is preferable to boring.

There is some cleverness and a bit of imagination in all the sampling and layers of these songs. There are lots of tidbits on each track. The problem is, the songs are lame and repetitive. They would honestly be better as instrumentals, and for songs that don't say much, they go on way too long. I really don't think I needed to hear this album before I die.

It’s just too repetitive for me. There are parts of songs that I like but then they go on too long. By the end I just really wanted it to be over. I do think they do a good job of building an atmosphere and I thought the vocals were good but really it’s just not my thing. Fav song: Monstre Sacre Least fav: Metronomic Underground

Thought this was going to be a serious stinker from the first few seconds but it actually turned out alright. Tad repetitive and samey at times but lightly pleasant to listen to. Specific rating - 4.0 Fav song - spark plug Least fav- the noise of carpet

Found the first song so annoying I had to take a break after it was finished. But I think the rest of the album is actually pretty lovely. The French singing won me back over and I stayed won over. There were definitely some more annoying moments (the opening of the title track for one) but I didn't hate it anywhere near as much as I initially thought I would. Favourite song: Les Yper-Sound Least: Metronomic Underground

I was expecting to hate this album and yet I found myself oddly thrilled. Leticia Sadier’s voice reminds me a lot of Nico from the 1970s, but she definitely has more range than Nico ever did. The perfect example is the song Percolator in which her vocals sound like they’re being run through a Wawa pedal. Metronomic Underground was probably my favorite song on this because despite the fact it fell into a groove the song still felt like he was moving forward and building towards something. The song Noise of the Carpet was surprising because so much the album has a psychedelic alt feel, and then this comes along with a Proto-punk feel, yet it’s still worked and felt consistent with the album. Tomorrow Is Already Here reminded me of the band School for Seven Bells. I only heard of a Stereolab in passing, but I am definitely gonna come back to the lab at some point.

Random thoughts: * I thought I knew Stereolab but then I realized I actually knew Stereo MCs. Doh! * Anyway, I have never listened to Stereolab. I was surprised to learn they are French. Well, British and French. Oh la la! * It is upbeat and I'm mostly jamming to it. It is definitely more jaunty and less electronic than I expected. A little more rock and pop. * I played this a couple of times yesterday. There were no songs that really stuck with me but the overall vibes were fun and I'd like to come back to this. * Solid to have one Stereolab album on 1001.

There's certainly nothing bad about the album, but I bounced off it in 1996 and I bounce off it now. I like the 1960s chirpy French vocals and the 1990s electronica, but I can't love it. It's unexciting to me, it seems to lack character, whatever that means.

I enjoyed it more than I expected from reading the title

This album was great. I saved 3 songs, and would've saved more if I was paying it my full attention. I will most definitely revisit this album someday. 8/10.

Massively underrated band, essential listening.

Quite enjoyed this album after being a little unsure on the first track. I like the genre hopping and the vocals are quite pretty and soft to listen to. It’s not something I’d rush back to, but an interesting listen to get something different in here. Monstre Sacre was a personal favourite from this one.

Great beats. Great riffs. Can't stand the voice. Felt this way 30 years ago, and still feel this way now.

wow this was great! Original, fun, trippy

I have tried this band before. I appreciate them, but don’t ever think to listen to them. Forgettable?

Never heard of this band. Interesting. I respect the music, just not my type.

Okay.

In a nutshell: pick 'n' mix music Electronica-VU avant garde- krautrock leaning-abstract goodness. It's the kind of artist you need to be in the right mood to appreciate. Personally I'd start with Dots and Loops then go back to Emperor if you're new to Stereolab Overall: 6/10

5/5. Stereolab are one of my favorite bands. They combine a ton of disparate elements from Lounge music to post-rock to kraut-rock to electronica and much more and fuse it all into such a distinct, but wholistic sound. Then add in some left-wing philosophy and political anger and you’ve got the basic idea of Stereolab. Emperor Tomato Keptchup is one of the albums that shows the band at its full power and that begins immediately with “Metronomic Underground” which has a hypnotic locked-in Krautrock groove to it. You then get “Cybele’s Reverie” which might be the most beautiful sounding song in the Stereolab catalogue. A few tracks later there’s “Les-Yper Sound” which has a bizarre groove to it and lyrics that talk about how humanity loves to create categories of separation and then fight over them. And from there the tracklist continues to be pretty much all hits no misses. Frontwoman Lætitia Sadier is also great all throughout this album, matching the energy of every song whether that be the more punkish energy of “the noise of carpet” or the hectic-ness of “Percolator.” One of those albums that’s just absolutely bursting at the seams with creativity from one of the most consistent bands to ever do it. I will always heavily recommend checking out their stuff.

Meh, pretty boring 90s electronica.

Very good

Not my favourite of theirs but probably their most experimental

Like most electronic music, this quickly became background music. It was not bad, but there was nothing exceptional here. 2.5/5

Nice eclectic sounds.

Something different! Franco pop? Would listen to again

honesty very iffy at first but pretty into it the further i got, saved 0/13

A whole album of Stereolab is a bit too much for me. I was given a promo copy of the single from this album back in the day and enjoyed listening to it and added it to a mix tape. The soundscapes they create are wonderfully dreamy but a whole album is a bit too much. The Noise of Carpet gave me Hawkwind vibes, for what it's worth.

After that godawful first track the rest of the album is alright.

Maso

4/5

I’d only ever heard discotheque by stereo lab which I love, and this album in the most part was very good, the albums a bit long is all, but I liked it.

Simply epic

I confused them with Supergrass so this wasn't what I expected.

2⭐️

Very hypnotic

Parts were kind of cool, I guess.

I liked this more than I was expecting to; what aliens would be listening to on their spaceship radio Playlist add: "Spark Plug"

Terrible decision to listen to this album while extremely exhausted and trying not to fall asleep at work. Thankfully, after taking a small nap of... two and a half hours (once I finished my job), I was able to quite enjoy this record. The reason why I had a hard time listen to it in that state is due to how hypnotic this sounds. It is a very sweet and charming indie rock album that blends different styles, like krautrock (where the hypnotic rhythms and guitars would come from, and notable in songs such as "Metronomic Underground" or "Olv 26"), post-rock (from which they take the crescendo type of composition, and very palpable in "Cybele's Reverie) and Indietronica (probably the most obvious one as every song is filled with little electronic details). There are in addition other genres that they take elements from, like Neo-Psychedelia and Space Rock Revival, both of them making the album feel more hypnotic and spacious. Apart from the ambitious mixture of styles, I quite liked how catchy everything sounds as well, specially the singing, which happens to do something very peculiar by switching between English and French. In the end, I think this is a very fun album that had my head moving along the rhythms through the whole project.

Okay, but ultimately a bit bland and boring.

Sehr elektrisch, etwas stampfend. Nicht mein Geschmack. 2/5

Not my cup of tea

2.5 if it was an option. Not my thing, but there’s enough meat on the bones for me to try another Stereolab album or two

If every song on this album was cut in half it would still be too long.

6/10 Too repetitive. I love my guitar pedal looper, but I kind of realise not many people want to hear it and nauseum.

Quite like the French tones injected into the altrock sound. My wife reminds me however that "were too old for this" 🤣

Familiar with Stereolab. Enjoy their mix of indie rock and electronic music. It's a fun album. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again

The precursor to Dots and Loops, amazing album.

Liked this a lot. I knew the name but don't recall listening before now. Certainly not this album. Enjoyable. Not life changing but enjoyable. 4/5

Not for me

Rubbish

Experimental, right? Normally, this category would bring to mind something that’s somehow surprising, jarring, or unsettling… Instead, on “Emperor Tomato Ketchup,” Stereolab delivers a series of semi-electronic tracks that are so monotonous that literally any 3-second sequence from them could be used as a ringtone. The slightly livelier “The Noise Of Carpet” stands out just a bit, but at best reaches the status of a solid track. If Stereolab hadn’t happened to be founded in London, Robert Dimery certainly would never have heard of them. That wouldn’t have been such a bad thing.

A bit weird here and there but in general a nice vibe

I firmly believe that all of stereolab's good output after the 3rd album would barely fill an EP. this goes on forever.

Delightful. Whimsical yet relentless.

Huge disconnect between reputation and what I heard here. I think I just don't care for this sort of low key soundscape stuff. Didn't dislike it! Just not for me.

I love this. Psych pop with some krautrock in the mix. Very cool

Fun. Still sounds great & fresh.

My first and probably favorite Stereolab. Still pretty great!

This was pretty cool and fun. I never have listened to much Stereolab, but I wouldn’t mind if another album or two of theirs popped up.

Headache mysic for me.

Extremely enjoyable listen

Voice like Nico, atmosphere and sensibility like Air. Also reminiscent of Cortex. Uncoincidental that all are French except Nico (German). This is a difficult rating because I dig the psychedelic dream pop vibes but the musical motifs in the songs are a little too flat and repetitive for my tastes, so it’s a 3.5 rounded down.

Might be one of my new favorites. I had not heard any of this album before, but a bit from the artist. Lovely music and lovely voice, with some political messages thrown in.

Meh, not my thing. At moments, hardly consider it music, too braindead, or ironically brainy. Little to no nuance. Some odd rhythmics. I gotta kick u down

Stereolab has always been a favorite since discovering Dots and Loops in the early thousands. You'll slowly realize their influences, but the way they do things is truly unique. They also kick live if you get the chance to see them these days. Anyway, this album is a definite highlight of their discography and probably a great representation of it.

This is not my usual style but I enjoyed it quite a bit for what it is. Not huge on the indie stuff but this has to be on eof the better records ive heard. Its just interesting all around. The songs and the changes within them are pretty varied. There are some moments where an idea gets a little played out but thats almost the only negative I could throw at it. It just does alot with the time it has. And I respect it. Hard jot to have a good time and move with this on

One of their best

Glorious

Always assumed I didn't like Stereolab but this is very good. 3 for now but it's a grower I think

A four star classic, thank you RGP!!!!!! time. ❤️❤️❤️❤️. Tom.

it was interesting not a huge fan of it

Nej, detta var tråkigt. Inget som direkt stod ut. Lite kul att det sjöngs på franska då och då men det var väl det. Inget jag kommer att lyssna på igen.

Perhaps leaning a tad too much to the indie side of things to my taste but eh, I know they love their krautrock and that they do very well. Enjoyed this album greatly in any case and think I couldn't give it anything but full five stars, especially in the context of this list. Brilliant.

5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background

Музыка такая же странная, как и название альбома. Иногда даже раздражает своими постоянными зацикленными повторениями одного и того же. Хотя местами напоминает Dakh Daughters, но только местами.

Lovely stuff - the combination of krautrock, indie vibes, chanson styles etc makes for something really unique. Not perfect, but different enough to everything else to be a really enjoyable listen. Strong 4.

Fun! And interesting. But is it profound? 3.5?

i'm sure i've heard of stereolab before but this is my first time actually hearing their music. i'm into the sound i think, especially for the first 20 mins or so. i really like the dueling vocals, especially on "cybele's reverie", which is probably my favourite track from this album, and they got the electric organs going throughout which is always a plus for me. but to be honest..... on every single listen i've found myself clocking out mentally by about halfway through. the back half isn't bad, or even just less interesting than the front, but it somehow really starts to drag on. the tracks can be quite repetitive, which in isolation i think works pretty well and gives them a kinda hypnotic quality, but combined with the length of the album as a whole..... maybe a double album was a misstep i think. it's a pretty good album but, i really struggle to lock onto it. cool sound though!

i like a few tracks a lot but it does drag on a bit. not my fav stereolab album either

This is real real good 90s french pop that was totally top of its game when britpop was running rapant and we had real dirgey stuff over here. It's playful and fun and one of their best I reckon! I love booping about to this!

6music dads wet dream, but also really good. I like Stereolab a lot, this is just real nice to chill and work to, but also there's such a wealth of stuff going on beneath the surface that it also rewards concentration.

Very Avant Garde - A few songs are good, many are experimental for the purpose of being experimental

Funky electronica - wasn't bad

I liked it a lot when they weren't singing.

Not a bad album as such but really didn’t leave much of an impression

I dig looped soundscapes, and I was all in on the first track, but the rest of this album couldn't seem to keep that soundscape propulsion going and by track 5 and 6 the album had really begun to drag. I was hopeful that this was just a reprieve, but it never made it back. While the production and engineer skill levels are clearly high enough to produce magic, there does not, in fact, appear to be much magic on this album. In this genre, and in this decade, Yello's ZEBRA (1994) was far more interesting to me. Most bearable: "Metronomic Underground" To me this wasn't one of the interesting albums from 1996. More interesting albums in 1996 that are not on this list include: Tori Amos's BOYS FOR PELE TOOL's AENIMA Primitive Radio Gods ROCKET Rush's TEST FOR ECHO THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS Soundtrack album Prong RUDE AWAKENING Gravity Kills GRAVITY KILLS.

While I'm not a mad stereo lab fan, I have a couple of their albums, and this sounds similar. I like their vibe, but the other albums I own skins very similar.

A fun listen. But likely to never come up on my rotation again. And without this most, never would have.

This one passed me by in 1996 - I wish it hadn't! Also, doesn't seem to have aged at all in 30 years.

644/1001 2026.06.25

Weird but ok

fun

interesting

Stereolab is good, actually.

75

3 out of 5. There's fun to be had listening to this album.

Stereolab is another band that I need to spend more time exploring. This is their second album that I've listened to, the first being "Dots and Loops" (which should be on this list). It seems like they have a pretty consistent discography so I definitely need to check out more from them. Favorite track: Metronomic Underground

Interesting, kind of Jazzy. Sounds like it would be part of an Indie movie soundtrack

pretty cool album, unusual

Bad background music

Nothing special.

Dødsbra album! Treffer godt! Veldig kul indie fra 90 tallet!

I don’t know this band and this album isn’t to my taste. One star...

I really liked this one. I had listened to Dots and Loops before so I kinda knew what to expect from them going in and that may have helped me prepare. I don't always enjoy Krautrock, but these guys are great.

80s quirk chungus ass music

This is a really good album. While listening I felt like I was floating through something both futuristic and warm at the same time. The music is the star here — it’s interesting, layered, and constantly shifting between groovy, hypnotic, almost industrial rhythms and beautiful melodic pop moments. The production is excellent, mixing motorik beats, funky basslines, spacey synths, loungey vibes, and noisy textures in a way that feels fresh and inventive. It has this cool, retro-futuristic charm that keeps things engaging. My only real issue is the lyrics. Laetitia Sadier sings a lot in French, and even though I read the translations, I just don’t connect with them the same way. They feel distant and I don’t fully get into the words. If I understood French better I’d probably rate this album even higher. Still, as a musical experience, Emperor Tomato Ketchup is strong and rewarding. It’s one of those records where the sound and atmosphere carry it.

Fun, but pretty forgettable

i liekd it

Tomorrow Is Already Here

Reading the reviews to this album is the first time I wished I could argue on this site, because this is a slice of heaven, knobheads saying this is bad electronica just means that they don't listen to these albums. Undeserved score, it's a 5 again - Cybele's Reverie will be my wedding song when I never get married.

Yeah, that'll do. Wasn't entirely sure at first, but once it gets moving this is really decent and different enough to deserve a place here.

Really cool, now I gotta listen to Dots and Loops I guess

Number: 159 Date: 06/11/2026 Artist: Stereolab Album: Emperor Tomato Ketchup Year: 1996 Style: Stereolab Familiarity: Extremely (5) Rating: 5 Before: ======= Yum, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, don't mind if I do. This is one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite groups of all time. It's hard to say who would take the top spot for favorite artist(s) but it would be either Stereolab or The Fall. They're hard to compare seeing's how they are so different from each other. I do have to say though that it's a travesty there's only one album from Stereolab on this list. Shoot, I would probably consider breaking my own rule of no more than 3 albums for this group. Anyway's, this is a fine choice to represent them, but not the best, imo. If I could choose only one album from them it would probably be Dots And Loops. Funny story: I once had Emperor Tomato Ketchup stuck in my car's cassette player for an entire year and never got tired of listening to it, for real. Now, I did listen to a lot of talk radio back then but if I was listening to music, this is what I was listening to. So without further adieu, we'll get started. During: ======= 5 Metronomic Underground 5 Cybele's Reverie 5 Percolator 4 Les Yper-Sound 5 Spark Plug 4 Olv 26 5 The Noise Of Carpet 5 Tomorrow Is Already Here 4 Emperor Tomato Ketchup 4 Monstre Sacre 5 Motoroller Scalatron 5 Slow Fast Hazel 5 Anonymous Collective ----------------------------------------------------- 4.68 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= So, this might by my favorite album on this entire list. I know I'm only 159 albums in so there are probably a lot of artists I've never head of before that I'll get the chance to listen to but from what I know so far, this one is right up there at the top. However, it would probably only rank around number 5 of all of Stereolab's collection for me. I actually have Stereolab down for the best album of the year for the years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001. And either the top 2 or 3 for the years 1993 and 1994. One final note, you may notice that for Style, I have "Stereolab". I'm calling the style "Stereolab" instead of something like Indie-Art-Kraut-Post-Rock as they pretty much invented their own style of music, that didn't sound like anything else at the time. In fact when people used to ask me what kind of music I listened I would simply tell them, Stereolab. 5 my personal rating 5 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 4.7 composite rating

I had zero expectations or ideas as to what this album would sound like. I had never heard of this band before, and I didn’t take the time to look at the Wikipedia page. So all of this was completely new to me, and I really liked it. It’s so relaxing and pleasant. Right off the bat though I have to admit alot of the album is in French so on a literal level I did not understand/connect with the lyrics in the same way I would with a band singing in English. But I don’t think that got in my way from enjoying this album. The instrumentals are repetitive but creative and original. There are moments where it’s electronic leaning, then there’s moments where it feels like a small indie rock band, and then there’s even movements that feel epic and orchestral. This album truely has a great sense of variety and creativity that I always harp on almost every single album about. Seriously this album is a powerhouse of creativity. The only small negatives to me were at moments it was painfully repetitive like the opening track, and a few songs near the end of the album didn’t really grab me in anyway. But seriously I really love this album, definitely go check it out.

Alright, so this is a mid-90s electronic rock album? More accurately, it sounds like a more modern version of krautrock. The songs are often long and very groove-driven, and they often have heavy amounts of synth and electronics mixed in. Hell, even the vocals sound Can-esque. Unfortunately, this doesn't come close to the quality of Tago Mago's greatest songs despite solid songwriting. On that album, they swell dramatically and change constantly, showcasing huge dynamic range that this lacks. However, this is by no means a bad album. It still has much of the appeal of krautrock as a style even if it's not a true great of the genre. This album is ranked #14 of 28 albums for 1996. Other 1996 albums rated by me: The Score(1/28)-4 Tigermilk(8/28)-3 Everything Must Go(11/28)-3 1977(13/28)-2 Better Living Through Chemistry(15/28)-2 Oedipus Schmoedipus(23/28)-3 Now I Got Worry(27/28)-4

Emperor Tomato Ketchup gets high marks for WHEN it deftly blends its Krautrock-French pop into an enticing update of those two styles. However, several songs could not quite get the Motorik groove down to my liking or the breathy vocals of Lætitia Sadier took up to much space. The title track fell prey to these issues as did “Les Yper-Sound.” Ballads such as “Monster Sacre” and “Slow Fast Hazel” definitely depend on mood. Sometimes, I can feel the rain dripping down the window as a forlorn Jean Seberg stares out contemplating her existence. Other times I find them dreary with effects like wah-wah sounds that grate. The opener “Metronomic Underground” ranks with Neu’s “Hallogallo” as my top tunes with the Motorik sound. “Percolator” fully evoke the title and is the most fun song on the abum. I did not remember how “Motoroller Scalatron” and “The Noise of Carpet” feature great guitars that get fully supported with terrific drums. To hit great status, an album should not have this many tracks that draw a thumbs up or down depending on the day I listen.

I feel my first listen of it is what fits this album best, seems like a great one to have on in the background, but I don't feel much depth when it comes to an album I would intently listen to, except maybe the French stuff because I already don't understand it, which makes it feel sophisticated to listen in another language. "Slow Fast Hazel" was my favorite. I would jam along if it came on, especially the last minute or so. Sometimes repeating the same line over and over again can grit me, but here it is done in a way I want to chant along to, maybe it's Lætitia Sadier's voice, or just her name, which is a great name, unlike this album title.

1001 albums to hear before you zone out 128# So, i love the sound of this. Sounds timeless, not from a given space in time, but from a diverse time space. The only issue is that some tracks become a bit tiresome, becoming a loop that doesn't really go anywhere. Even though the loops are satisfying as hell, but it just goes on for a bit longer than it should. Great sound they made in 96, if I had to give this a date of release I'd say around 150 before christ and 2350 after christ.

God, I love when an album grabs me from the first notes. I had never heard of this band, and was immediately mesmerized. My enthusiasm tempered somewhat by the end but I still enjoyed this unique sound enough to give it 4 stars

Malo

Quirky and cool.

nao é ruim mas não é minha vibe

Like listening to Air without the breathy vocals.

Bit chaotic opening. Songs are way too repetitive (same lyrics over and over again), but some are catchy.

Aye really like these. One of the many bands where I hear one album and think ‘this is great’ and never seem to delve much further. Hadnt hesrd this one before, recognised a few songs. Quite ahead of its time in a lot of respect, probably helped pave the way for that early 00s indie/electro crossover scene. Got no evidence to prove it, but why not. And not that I’m blaming them for most of those bands. This is a lot more ‘sophisticated’, more experimental. Strong 4.5

This was so good, it's a mix of electronic and indie I've always wanted. The run from olv26 to emperor tomato ketchup was the best part. The early album was nice but a bit more indie and strings, which I really liked but not as much Lovely electronic repetition but crafted into proper interesting songs. The electronic side reminded me of air and royksopp, building up with guitars and proper drums in an LCD way. A good few songs with odd time signatures too. Loved it.

Cybele's Reverie, The Sound of Carpet, and Percolator (definitely heard it before, perhaps an advert) were the strongest. Slightly too repetitive for me, some droney vocals could have been livened up. Better than I expected going in, but no exquisite bloops.

This wasn't what I was expecting when I saw it was listed as electronica.... I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Perhaps reminiscent of hookworms? Yeah yeah yeahs too? Either way it was way better than I was expecting. I do think the first half was stronger than the latter. The first couple of tracks and "the noise of carpet" were the highlights. Good though. 3.5

Noisy and French. Terrible

kind of great

I kind of think it sounds like Krautrock made in Ableton. It's mostly progressive looping and layering, where various melodies constantly recontextualise what came before. It's a very atmospheric listen which explores every angle of the core of each track. It becomes quite hypnotic. But where the album excels in harmonic layering, it sacrifices rhythm variation. This is of course a staple of Krautrock but it leaves a lot of the burden on the melody, and I think the melodies tire quicker to the ear than a repeating drum loop ever would. Without rhythmic evolution to carry the weight, the tracks can feel a bit static. Several tracks offer a break from that mechanical rigidity. "Monstre Sacré" is atmospheric and contemplative. But the real standout for me is "Slow Fast Hazel." It's a dynamic track which is fun, jazzy, and spacey. It makes a nice change from the rigid, looping, progressive structure found elsewhere on the album. Ultimately, this is an album of evolving textures rather than narrative journeys, and that will probably put off some listeners. I enjoyed it though. I'd consider checking out their other stuff. 4/5

Liked this, it was pleasant. Not one I would be rushing back to but I like a lot of stuff likely inspired by and adjacent to it.

Good album

No no no

Why do people make stuff like this

- This has always been my favourite Stereolab album, and I've listened to it a lot. I don't actually know most of the lyrics, but I should, lol. - Love the sound effects, cool and unexpected vocals/harmonies, and laid back groove. - There's a lot of variety on this album for something that's so singularly its own. - I love the first half most, but I like most of the songs and prefer to listen to this completely as an album than as singles. - I do find it goes on a little too long.

super enjoyable. I prefer the repetitive/hypnotic side of this album to the more rock-oriented tracks.

2.5

All I can say about this album is that, like many Radiohead Lps, I find them more interesting than enjoyable. There is a lot of cool stuff going here I like the actual mix EDM and 90s modern rock, as well, as throwback 70's synth exploration. But I really found myself admiring the complexities and really getting into the actual Groove itself. I don't know if I would put this album on as a casual listen. (7.1) ★★★½

Some cool parts, but mostly boring. 3 stars

I think this is a really interesting mix of Krautrock, electronica, and indie pop. They kind of come across as an electronic Yo La Tengo. It's really pretty and hypnotic at times. Highlights for me are "Metronomic Underground", "Cybele's Reverie", "Olv 26", "The Noise of Carpet", and "Tomorrow is Already Here". 4.5 stars.

4.5

Album art is unfortunate because it reminds me of Emergency & I by Dismemberment Plan, one of the most earachey albums of all time (it will dismember your ears. Even google will tell you that ‘help is available’ if you were to search for Emergency & I.) Album name is unfortunate because it reminds me of Tormato, one of the crappest Yes albums. Another unfortunate fact is that the year is 2026 and Boards Of Canada have released a new modern classic called Inferno that you should definitely check out over this. This is just really higgedly flotsam and ramshackle 90s indie with a French singer that should be sexy but is super stilted and robotic like a Frankenstein Francophone Hatsune Miku. The movie that the album title references seems like a wrong un and the inclusion of this album on the list seems wrong as well.

it was okay

Essential influence for so much of the music I love today, yet still so peculiar and quirky that it still stands on its own today. One of the weirdo classics. I have to confess that even though I knew it was in French and I can understand a bit of it, I thought that one of the tracks included the phrase "Klaatu barada nikto" from "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Nope, just more French.

Unique but irritating. Vocals feel flat. Mostly. Some of it is kinda hypnotic.

strange ass album makes for interesting vibes

Straight to the top. Best album so far

Ended up listening to Stereolab in the background all day. Good work music.

If this was jam, it would not be mine that’s for sure

"Cybele's Reverie" is just a nice, breezy jam, as many of these songs are, bordering on a neo-psychedelia sound, with pleasant vocal delivery and bouncy, rhythmic looping/tape editing. This is yet another album, however, that does not earn the extended length. Cut 20 minutes from this and it's a really, really great record. At 57:15, I tire out about halfway through.

Got old fast.

I tend to start a lot of these 1001 albums reviews with "this isn't my thing" and truly, this isn't. That being said, there are a few parts on here that I truly did enjoy quite a bit. "The Noise of Carpet" and "Tomorrow Is Already Here" are close enough to my wheelhouse that I really enjoyed them. Problem is, I could pass on pretty much the entirety of the rest of the record. I respect what they've done here and it's not a BAD album, it's just not one I want to hear again.

Кайфовый альбом

hm, ne nicht so mein Fall

Hat vielversprechend begonnen (ersten zwei Lieder), aber dann abgeflacht.

Nicht meine Tasse Tee

I was pretty much primed to give this a 4 but truth be told I didn't take all that much joy from it after the first half. It seems I have a limited threshold for this brand of squelchy analogue downtempo chicanery. I mean, it is still very good, just not my exact cup of tea over a full lp. One to check out again I think.

Loved it! Very interesting, sounds great and lots of good French practice.

(3/7) some of it sounded like French

Love the autobahn riff and generally finger snapping is very much a thing I do

Another of my favorites. Easy 5 for me, the whole album front to back is sonically interesting and geeky. Metronomic Underground is one of the best long-form songs I've ever heard, and it has a trance that just connects.

Overall: 7/10 This album opened up with a noise that was so grating to my ears that it took me a couple songs to really get into it. Here's a tip for any aspiring musicians, if you want people to like your album instantly, don't open it with the brown note. Once I got over that little mishap, this ended up being a really cool album! I found myself rocking out quite a bit, and there's some unique and interesting instrumentation here. The female vocals are also very pretty and relaxing. There's a mix of french and english lyrics as well, and I honestly prefered the french stuff. It fit very well with this music. That cover is straight garbage though, I always assumed I would hate this just from looking at that thing. Thankfully I didn't. Fav Song: Tomorrow is Already Here

Could not get into this. 1.7

Eu esperava muito mais de algo chamado "emperor tomato ketchup". Desapontado.

CRAZY STURDY A TOR PEDO 🗣️🔊🔥🔥🔥

понравилось, кое-что сохранил, напомнило alvvays)

Would I listen again: no The French are on thin fucking ice. superrr repetitive and boring

another album I have no words other than "background music"

Def got some Tacocat vibes from some of these songs like The Noise of Carpet, which I liked. Unfortunately a lot of the album was quite different vibes. The few gems bump up the rating though.

Kicking off with a 7min song that is incredibly repetitive is a bold choice. Not for me. That light airy voice is not something I can listen to for a long time.

What am I listening to?? Ist wirklich schwer zu sagen, jedes Lied komplett unterschiedlich und ich Bingo den meisten nicht wirklich begeistert

Chill, creative electronic music, yet I can’t think of one reason why I’d listen to it again.

Revisiting this album confirms it is a banger. I do prefer Nars Audiac Quintet, but happy to see Stereolab on here.

Pretty interesting stuff, hard to categorize

Great album: love the sound, love the grooves

This played heavily in my late 90’s playlist. It brings back Portland Or. memories…. Their style, stunning vocals, the name - an album I’m happy to revisit.

I remember listening to this album on a school trip to Paris in 98, it’s a good album, when it hits it really hits, a couple of the tracks are a little flat and long for me but overall it’s interesting, in parts groovy and pretty unique. 3.6

I didn't really like this. It's weird and unusual, which is fine. But too often the same phrase or riff was just repeated for far too long and it got annoying. The vocals were not my cup of tea either

love these guys, love this album it's groovy, ambient sound is perfect background chill

This sucked. 3 songs in and I turned it off. I’ve come to the conclusion that this project really should be 500 albums to listen to before you die.

This album resonates like a skydive. Intensity and tension, which rarely let up, surrounding a spiritual awe.

Bringing the sexy back...to socialism. Blips bleeps and beats accompany anti capitalist screeds. More fun that it sounds because of perfectly matched intention and execution.

Electro buena onda

Super fun listen that was never on my radar. I knew the name of the band but was not familiar with their stuff.

300/1001 Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ I was very late to discover Stereolab, so hadn't got to this album of theirs yet. It's as I expected from the band. The combination of psych and a chilled out delivery works well. It's perhaps not as muscular as their most recent output, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Meh

Overall it’s not bad. Not a whole lot is grabbing me - it’s kind of like riot grrrl music mixed with punk and indie pop. The songs can be fairly monotonous, but they jam pretty good. With some highlights I could see myself adding a couple tracks to specific playlists but overall it’s fairly forgettable.

This is great! never heard before

3.5 stars. Pretty cool electronic experimental rock/pop. Catchy beats. French lyrics. Cool bassline in "Percolator" but gets repetitive.

I mean, for some reason I didn’t hate it

Utter Genius

meh

I had a lot more fun than I was expecting with this album. From the opening track alone, I thought I was in for quite a long and not too exciting ride, but then, as repetitive as it is, I started to actually really like 'Metronomic Underground'. Something about the soothing vocal lines and almost hallucinogenic backing track really started to pull me in. It was once this track was over and the others started to play that I was really invested. Although I think it's hard to connect to music that isn't in a language you understand, this was somehow an exception. I really liked the switches between French and English throughout the album; it gave you something new to listen to each time. I really enjoyed a lot of the tracks, but my favourite track is my number one by a mile. It is just so beautifully made from the first note. Favourites (in order): Cybele's Reverie Percolator Emperor Tomato Ketchup

Surprisingly fun and good sounds. Probably won't repeat a listen but I enjoyed the simple, fun spirit of the album.

Didn't care for it

sort of clownish

This has an enjoyable and unusual retro-futurist sound, but most of the tracks start well before settling into an overly repetitive groove with a lack of variation or melody

No to be confuessed with Stereo Mc whoch sucks. Although not my type of music, I can feel the vibe like a modernday hippie indie electronica. Something not common so pretty original and unpredictable. Really good album

Not for me. I just didn’t get it, I guess.

I love the Krautrock influenced monotonic driving music. Sterolab do it with the best of them. I find that the album drags a bit in the back half but still a great listen whenever I return to it.

computronic funky, so futuristic to be an old songs

Love Sterolab and this album, they really put out a challange on the first track. Thin the crowd about, but greatness follows. Was so unique at the time,forward looking yet rooted in the past. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes: 69/279 (24%) Will I get: Already have

Favorite Track: Cybele’s Reverie

Caveat: I am listening to this on narcotics following an oral surgery. So I may enjoy this more or less than expected. I never got into Stereolab or their ilk. The closest I came was probably my enjoyment of Beck. I did like the one Stereolab song on the High Fidelity soundtrack ("Lo Boob Oscillator") but I think part of that was just the context and how it fit in with the other songs. I never thought I needed to check out more of their stuff. But here I am... I liked some of this. The music is fine but the language was a barrier for me in the French songs. I really liked "The Noise of Carpet." As the album went along, I liked it more. It may be the drugs, but I'm feeling generous.

Solid zone out / background music. Low four stars, but there's a high four stars 40 minute cut in there.

kinda boring. i feel like it doesnt really go anywhere. fine music to study to though.

Another band I was due to listen to, and patiently waited for its selection on this list to do it. And yeah it's really good, especially for a synth weirdo like me. Looks like they have a fun discography to get into if you like this stuff. CAUTION: French

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE

66/100. The instrumentation on this record is great especially with the way it blends traditional rock elements with interesting electronics and analog synths. The French singing adds a really stylish and unique layer. However as a whole project I just think it is okay.

quite interesting, i c the concept n the vision n i like the sounds n melodies BUT they were way 2 repetititititititive. sum of them (like monstre sacre n emperor tomato ketchup) were less repetitive than others, but enuf were repetitive enuf 4 me 2 not rly enjoy it that much. maybe if the songs were alot shorter, or maybe 2 songs mixed in2 1 so it wouldnt b as repetitititive.

Great album for desk work/studying! Not quite lofi but very easy listening- the kind of thing I want on at a coffee shop or maybe a club when it’s closing.

kind of fun! wasnt expecting french so thought my auditory processing was going craaazy but enjoyed it nonetheless. it’s hard to put albums like these up against seriously meaningful ones though, like it was fun but did it really say anything? apparently it’s based on a movie/experimental short film but the movie sounds awful

Maybe a bit too indie for me

Jazz and Funk infused progressive rock. Thoroughly enjoyed this album.

The sound of a French primary school teacher warbling over someone blowing a kazoo into a biscuit tin.

I think I like the band a lot just not all the songs are special 3

I'm pretty much a sucker for anything with French lyrics so this, with its Foux du fafa vibe, was all right with me.

Love whatever incomprehensible alien language they're speaking

Pretty good background music

Too many noises. They hurt my ears

Stereolab are a one-of-a-kind band — their music is very distinct. They expertly stack layers of rhythm and melodies on top of each other, sometimes even one layer at a time so that you can really hear how the song was built. And when it all comes together, it's like a symphony. Their style is so cool. It's whimsical and strange, with a rock edge at times and a light air at other times. They can get pretty spacey and psychedelic but they always stay locked into a rhythm like a well-oiled machine. They make pop music that doesn't always follow a pop structure. It has more in common with electronica in terms of how it's structured and paced. They take their time, looping rhythms over and over, and building on top of them. I listened to a bunch of Stereolab in college and whenever I'm reminded about them, I realize I don't listen to them enough. This album is the big one. Every song has a memorable hook or melody. It's complex and detailed, but also really accessible. Great album (with a great title too).

This is a really cool sound. I feel like I've heard this band before but not too deeply so I'm happy to get to listen to them with some focus now. That intro song "Metronomic Underground" is really tight and a great groove to sit and lean into for a nice eight minutes. I also love how the second track starts with that nice orchestral string sequence. It shows off the band's production chops a bit. Sometimes this feels like a pop rock version of Steve Reich music; with textural layers that blend and drone and repeat in a round, and it's all very cool and distinct from most modern popular song structures. I also like how they have such a cohesive sound when it comes to instrumentation but they aren't afraid to reach for something weird, like synths that sound like toy sounds. It's a 3.4/5 for me, but with more listens could definitely be a 4.

I dig it. I think I've heard a few of these before but definitely not the whole album. Added cybelles reverie

Really fun album, I'm interested in hearing what else these guys have done

8/10… indietronica / avant pop / *1996 👂

C'était très sympa Belle musique d'ambiance J'adore

Je ne connaissais pas Stereolab J'étais un être incomplet sans le savoir

That was pretty fun

Kinda cool, French

Probably not something I will revisit but it was a fun listen.

Definitely heavy use of loops and digital sounds but that is right up my alley. ITs the kind of album I would like to have as a local band at a cafe that I can just hang out with and always enjoy. The French aspects of the songs are clear and not bad either. Overall glad to have discovered the band.

(2.75)

I don't hate French music or electronica, and this was a pleasant listen. There's just no variance between songs. The album sounds like one very mediocre, long song. Influence 4. Hits 2. Quality 3. Intangibles 3. Meh 3.

There are moments where this sounds like modern, electronic, (French?) Bossa Nova and it's absolutely brilliant... and then there are other moments I can't remember at all. But nothing I totally hated. On balance, I think that means this is a solid 3.5 for me and since their catalog seems to lean into Bossa Nova adjacent vibes, I'm willing to round up.

Just noise

As an electronica fan, this album disappointed me. It wasn't bad, but I didn't enjoy it well enough to cement any desire to play it again.

Points for the album name, obviously. Unfortunately I also need to subtract points for the vocals that are actively annoying. The music is...well, it was fine for a while, but then it wore on me after a while. What I'm saying is that the album name might be the only good thing about this album. In the band's defense: I'm not in a great mood today, so that's probably affecting how I feel about the album...but this is just striking me as more annoying the longer it goes on. 2.0 (I'd be tempted to give it a 1 if it were named "Noises" or "Stereolab" or something, but "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" is simply fantastic)

This was irritating. It started ok, fair, but not too interesting. Then it became tedious.

went for a bit long but it had its moments

Man come on

Wow, this was fabulous! I love the layered/looping vocals and lyrics sung in French and English. The melodies are captivating and pulled me into the music, which is lush, rich and textured. There are grooves to be found here, but also slower moments where the vocals have an almost choral feel - such as Monstre Sacre which sounds almost sacred. The music is weird, psychedelic and beautiful, which means it’s fully in my wheelhouse and was immediately added to my library.

I just listened to this and already I’ve forgotten what it sounds like

Usually when you come up on the words "experimental" and "post rock" and such on this list, you know you're in the world of boring slow shit. Thankfully, this is one of those rare cases when an album doesn't sound like that at all.

It felt like an entire album when different beats, rhythms and synth were being played behind the same lyrics.

This didn't necessarily grab me, but it was nice to drift in and out to. Some songs sounded familiar, like they were from a movie soundtrack. I don't think they were, but I like that effect!

I think this genre is just not for me. It was fine, I guess? I got pretty sick of the mumbled lyrics and repetitive music.

This music is giddy and infectious. It's a whole vibe, as the kids say.

had zero clue what this was going to be from the title or cover but I loved every minute of it

Colorful but not for me. Recommend listening to it outdoors in the sun. I listened indoors after sundown.

When the first song was already repetitive 3 minutes in, I checked, and there were 5 minutes left, I knew this would be a rough one. This was...weird. I don't think I enjoyed the style, and I was ready for it to be done.

Tinnitus rock.

Two bangers in a row. This was awesome. -.25 for the album name; +.26 for the album cover.

The singer's voice really grated on me. The music wasn't any better.

Certainly French and certainly 90’s

Just not a fan of electronics.