Stereolab

The recording is among Stereolab's most groove-oriented efforts. There are experiments like the French-pop-flavoured Pack Yr Romantic Mind, but it's mostly a lovely, loud, decadent '90s rock record. The song titles reference obscure equipment, the sounds are made with arcane instruments, the repetitive guitar work is directly lifted from Michael Rother, and the cover image pledges devotion to vinyl (the musical obscurantist's medium of choice), but somehow the band never comes off as snobbish. Stereolab's music would not only spawn dozens of imitators, but the very stuff they drew inspiration from Esquivel and Os Mutantes was suddenly the starting point for any self-respecting hipster's record collection. More important, it totally rocks (Our Trinitone Blast) while beaming sunny vibes (Jenny Ondioline).