Frigid Stars LP

Frigid Stars LP is the debut album by American indie rock band Codeine. It was released in February 1991 on Glitterhouse in Europe and in May 1991 on Sub Pop in the United States.^[1] The album was released to generally positive reviews and is regarded as being one of the pioneering albums in the slowcore genre.

Frigid Stars LP
Studio album by Codeine
Released	February 1991
Recorded	July–August 1990
Genre	Slowcore, indie rock
Length	41:15
Label	Glitterhouse, Sub Pop
Producer	Codeine, Mike McMackin
Codeine chronology
Frigid Stars LP (1991) Barely Real (1992)

"New Year's" is a cover version of a track co-written by Bitch Magnet singer Sooyoung Park. Park did not record the track himself until 1992, with new band Seam. Park is featured on the song "Summer Dresses", which can be found on the 2012 expanded reissue by the label The Numero Group. This edition also placed "3 Angels" to the fourth track on the album. "Cave-In" has been covered by rock band Cave In and appears on their compilation album Anomalies, Vol. 1. The song title was the inspiration for their band name.^[2]

The phrase "frigid stars" is taken from a line in the song "Crap Rap 2" by the Fall from their 1979 album Live at the Witch Trials.^[1][3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
NME	7/10[5]
Pitchfork	8.8/10[6]
Record Collector	[7]
Spin	7/10[8]
Uncut	8/10[9]

The St. Petersburg Times noted that "comparisons to Spacemen 3 and Galaxie 500 have been made, but Codeine is on a purer, more simplistic level."^[10] In 2008, Frigid Stars LP was chosen by Pitchfork as one of the 20 best Sub Pop albums.^[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"D"	4:27
2.	"Gravel Bed"	3:58
3.	"Pickup Song"	2:44
4.	"New Year's" (Seam cover)	3:34
5.	"Second Chance"	4:45
6.	"Cave-In"	3:37
7.	"Cigarette Machine"	4:42
8.	"Old Things"	4:59
9.	"3 Angels"	4:51
10.	"Pea"	3:38
Total length:		41:15

All tracks are written by Codeine, except "New Year's", written by S. Park and A. Mitchell

The Numero Group reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Castle" (demo)	4:29
12.	"Skeletons" (demo)	1:48
13.	"3 Angels" (demo)	3:26
14.	"Corner Store" (demo)	5:20
15.	"Summer Dresses" (demo)	1:56
16.	"Pea" (acoustic)	3:34
17.	"Second Chance" (demo)	4:13
18.	"Pickup Song" (demo)	2:37
19.	"Cave-In" (demo)	3:06
20.	"Kitchen"	2:15
Total length:		73:59

Personnel

Codeine

• Chris Brokaw – drums, guitar
• John Engle – guitar
• Stephen Immerwahr – bass guitar, vocals, all instruments on demo versions of "Pea", "Second Chance", "Pickup Song", "Cave-In", and "Kitchen"

Additional personnel

• Mike McMackin – piano on "Pea"
• Peter Pollack – drums on "Castle", "Skeletons", and "3 Angels"
• Sooyoung Park – bass on demo version of "Summer Dresses"

Production

• Mike McMackin – production, recording
• Laura Larson – photography
• Tammi Colichio – cover art

References

1. "Codeine: Frigid Stars LP". The Numero Group. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
2. Heller, Jason (February 2, 2011). "February 2011". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
3. Potter, Jordan (March 29, 2024). "Five Easy Masterpieces: introductory albums to slowcore". Far Out. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
4. Raggett, Ned. "Frigid Stars LP – Codeine". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
5. Pouncey, Edwin (March 23, 1991). "Codeine: Frigid Stars / Slint: Spiderland / Steel Pole Bathtub: Tulip". NME. p. 36. ISSN 0028-6362.
6. Stosuy, Brandon (June 28, 2012). "Codeine: Frigid Stars / Barely Real EP / The White Birch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
7. Pearlman, Mischa (October 2023). "Codeine: Frigid Stars / Barely Real EP / The White Birch". Record Collector. No. 549. p. 95. ISSN 0261-250X.
8. Powell, Mike (May–June 2012). "Diggin' in the Crates". Spin. Vol. 28, no. 3. p. 90. ISSN 0886-3032. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
9. Milner, Jack (August 2023). "Codeine: Frigid Stars / 'Barely Real' EP / The White Birch". Uncut. No. 315. pp. 40–42. ISSN 1368-0722.
10. Matz, Daniel (June 21, 1991). "Sound Bites". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 21.
11. "Sub Pop 20". Pitchfork. July 11, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2015.

External links

• Frigid Stars LP at Discogs (list of releases)