Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation

Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation is the only studio album by English electronic music band Sohodolls, released on 24 September 2007 by Filthy Pretty Records. The album was produced by Robert Harder (Babyshambles, the Sunshine Underground), with additional production by Steve Lyon (Depeche Mode, the Cure) and Harry Smith.

Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation
Studio album by
Released24 September 2007 (2007-09-24)
Recorded2007; Cornwall and London
Genre
Length40:52
LabelFilthy Pretty
Producer
  • Robert Harder
  • Steve Lyon
  • Toni Sailor
  • Sohodolls
  • Andy Wright
Sohodolls chronology
Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation
(2007)
Mayday EP
(2014)
Japanese cover
Singles from Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation
  1. "Prince Harry"
    Released: 15 November 2004[1]
  2. "Stripper"
    Released: 4 July 2005[2]
  3. "No Regrets"
    Released: 30 October 2006[3]
  4. "Right and Right Again"
    Released: 3 September 2007[4]

The songs "Stripper" and "I'm Not Cool" were used in seasons one and two of the American television series Gossip Girl, respectively.[5][6] "Stripper" was also used in the ITV2 advert for the show's first season. "My Vampire" was used in the fifth season finale of the American drama series Nip/Tuck.[7]

The album's name is a play on Music for the Jilted Generation, the second studio album by the Prodigy.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk87%[8]
Gigwise     [9]
MyVillage     [10]
musicOMH     [11]

Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation was well received by music critics. Jenni Cole of musicOMH described the album as "dark electro-glam of a lushness not heard since the synthtastic early '80s", comparing the band favourably to the Human League, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17 and Soft Cell. Cole added that "the music is brilliant. Upbeat, disco-tinged without being cheesy, taking all the best parts from glam and adding them to a Gothy, new century cabaret chic that no doubt translates brilliantly into live performance."[11] Susan Frances of AbsolutePunk commented that the album "wraps you in fishnets of cabaret-styled vocals from lead singer Maya Von Doll and techno-dripping rhythms orchestrated by drummer Paul Stone and bassist Matt Lord. The barbed guitar riffs of Toni Sailor are perched in thickets of bristling keyboards from Weston Doll creating movements that expand and separate with a will of their own, alternating lean segments with thick froths while covered in Maya's femininely sweet vocal reams." She added that the music is "both street savvy and club chic, keeping away from falling into a mundane routine that often plagues synth-pop albums."[8]

Chris Reynolds of Gigwise viewed Sohodolls as "a sleazy yet chic outfit comparable to Goldfrapp" and wrote that "Maya's vocals are seductive and the bass and synths are as smooth as can be", but felt that "the lack of variation ... detracts greatest from a fine debut. When stripped down this is simple pop music with an eighties edge and can become tiresome at points such as the lacklustre 'Trash the Rental'."[9] Emily Kate Stephens of MyVillage concluded, "With a huge mix of influences Sohodolls travel through this album with a strength and grace that means you can't help but listen. They can look forwarded to awakening their followers' senses. From the first listen the album makes you want to catch their next gig."[10]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Sohodolls, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stripper"
3:36
2."Prince Harry" 2:42
3."My Vampire" 3:36
4."Right and Right Again" 3:33
5."Trash the Rental" 3:05
6."I'm Not Cool" 2:55
7."Bang Bang Bang Bang" 3:01
8."The Rest for the Wicked" 4:01
9."Weekender"
  • Sohodolls
  • Laurie Mansworth
3:39
10."Pleasures of Soho" 2:55
11."No Regrets" 4:07
12."1724" 3:42
Japanese edition bonus tracks[12]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Dead by Christmas" (Hanoi Rocks cover)Andy McCoy3:25
14."Trash the Rental" (Crystal Castles Remix)Sohodolls4:32

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation.[13]

Release history

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Region Date Label
United Kingdom 24 September 2007[14] Filthy Pretty Records
Japan 6 August 2008[12] Yoshimoto R and C

References

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  1. ^ "Prince Harry". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Stripper". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  3. ^ "No Regrets [7" VINYL]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Right and Right Again – EP by Sohodolls". iTunes Store (US). Apple. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Gossip Girl – Season 1 – Episode 106". The CW. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Gossip Girl Music | Season 2 – Episode 14". The CW. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Giselle Blaylock & Legend Chandler". Nip/Tuck. Season 5. Episode 22. 3 March 2009. FX.
  8. ^ a b Frances, Susan (22 February 2008). "Soho Dolls – Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  9. ^ a b Reynolds, Chris (13 August 2007). "Soho Dolls – 'Ribbed Music For The Numb Generation' (Filthy Pretty) Released 03/09/07". Gigwise. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  10. ^ a b Stephens, Emily Kate. "Sohodolls – Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation". MyVillage. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  11. ^ a b Cole, Jenni. "Soho Dolls – Ribbed Music For The Numbed Generation". musicOMH. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  12. ^ a b "Ribbed Music For The Numb Generation : Sohodolls". HMV Japan. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  13. ^ Ribbed Music for the Numb Generation (CD liner notes). Sohodolls. Filthy Pretty Records. 2007. AGCD5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ "Ribbed Music For The Numb Generation". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2011.