Viva! Cibo Matto: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Their Breakthrough Debut LP
With
Rewind, KEXP digs out beloved albums, giving them another look. In honor of
Pushing Boundaries, and in celebration of the album s 25th anniversary, KEXP s Janice Headley revisits
Cibo Matto s genre-defying 1996 debut full-length
Viva! La Woman
It seemed like things were getting better for women in ‘90s alt-rock. No, really, hear me out.
The punk movement of the ‘80s paved the way, with icons like
Siouxsie Sioux,
Blondie,
Patti Smith wielding the sledgehammers. You could find more female faces on the stage, not just in the audience… sure, they were often playing bass, but, hey, I said things were getting better, not stupendous. The Riot Grrrl movement emerged early in the decade, calling for a revolution, y know, girl style. There was even Lilith Fair, which, look, I know it became a bit of a punchline, but it was a radical concept at the time and a defiant response to c
Boring music is no fun.
90’s band Cibo Matto understood that loud and clear. With their emulsification of genres and unique sound, you won’t be bored even if it is not exactly your cup of tea.
Seeking refuge from the harsh world around us, this past summer I immersed myself in the renowned television series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In one particular episode, protagonist Buffy Summers returns after a summer away from her friends with a new attitude. She wants to flirt with the line of good and evil and show she is more complex than a textbook hero. She does this by tantalizing a man who she knows is in love with her, swaying her hips and beguiling him to the sounds of “Sugar Water” by Cibo Matto.
David Bennun
, March 1st, 2021 09:13
Damon Albarn could have floated out with the tide after Britpop, but he was too canny, he had too much creative energy, and he had a great deal more to offer. David Bennun salutes a remarkable second act that began with Gorillaz
The first Gorillaz album is not the best album Damon Albarn ever made. It’s not even the best Gorillaz album Damon Albarn ever made. And the list of outstanding albums made with the involvement of Damon Albarn is not an extensive one in the first place, when you consider how long he’s been at it.