Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 01/16/1996
Run Time: 47:47
Fresh and funky, female and Japanese, the
trip-hop/
rap duo
Cibo Matto has been the recipient of a lot of hype. Fortunately, it's well-founded; all trendiness aside,
Viva! La Woman is an innovative and catchy mix of eclectic samples and stream-of-consciousness lyrics. The likes of
Paul Weller,
Ennio Morricone, and
Duke Ellington combine with observations like "My weight is three hundred pounds/My favorite is beef jerky" (from
"Beef Jerky") and "Shut up and eat! You know my love is sweet!" from (
"Birthday Cake") in a fun and refreshing way. The tone of the album varies with each song; on tracks like
"Sugar Water" and
"Artichoke," Cibo Matto plays it spooky and ethereal, while
"Birthday Cake" and the single
"Know Your Chicken" find them as a couple of cryptic Beastie Girls, tossing off wacky non sequiturs over found soundscapes.
Cibo Matto cooks up a tasty appetizer of their talent with
Viva! La Woman. Like their tongue-in-cheek cover of
"The Candy Man," Cibo Matto makes everything they bake satisfying and delicious. A diverse and entertaining album,
Viva! La Woman leaves the listener hungry for more of their crazy food for thought.
~Heather Phares, All Music Guide
;)
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