{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Libido Speedway | type = studio | artist = Orbit | cover = Orbit - libido.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|1997|2|25}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Alternative rock | length = {{Duration|m=45|s=34}} | label = A&M Records | producer = Ben Grosse, Orbit | prev_title = La Mano | prev_year = 1995 | next_title = XLR8R | next_year = 2001 | misc = {{Singles | name = Album | type = studio | single1 = Medicine | single1date = 1997 | single2 = Bicycle Song | single2date = 1997 }} }} '''''Libido Speedway''''' is an album by Orbit, released in 1997 on A&M Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/orbit-mn0000405080/biography|title=Orbit Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/62436-rock-relaunched/|title=Rock relaunched - Music Features|website=thephoenix.com}}</ref> It won a Boston Music Award, for the best debut album of 1997.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Scott |title=Cole, Crowns big winners in Boston |work=Telegram & Gazette |date=16 Jan 1998 |page=C3}}</ref>
The album's first single was "Medicine", which was a modern rock radio hit; the band had considered rewriting it after determining that it sounded too much like Pixies.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bambarger |first1=Bradley |title=The modern age |magazine=Billboard |date=May 24, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=21 |page=95}}</ref> Orbit supported the album by playing the second stage on select 1997 Lollapalooza dates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benedetti |first1=Winda |title=BACK TO BASICS: AFTER LAST YEAR'S TIRED ALL-MALE ROCK BAND MISSTEP, LOLLAPALOOZA '97 LOADS UP WITH FRESHER ACTS IN HOPES OF KEEPING PACE WITH COPYCAT FESTIVALS |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=7 Aug 1997 |page=D3}}</ref><ref name=SA/>
==Production== The album was produced by Ben Grosse and the band.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Steve |title=Orbit hits the fast track with new 'Libido Speedway' |work=The Boston Globe |date=19 Dec 1997 |page=E18}}</ref> Many of the songs were written by coming up with the bass line first.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farinella |first1=David |title=No more going in circles for Orbit |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=March 30, 1997 |location=Showcase |page=13}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/libido-speedway-mw0000090071|title=Libido Speedway - Orbit | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Chicago Tribune'' |rev2score = {{rating|2|4}}<ref name="CT">{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Allison |title=Album reviews |work=Chicago Tribune |date=28 Mar 1997 |location=Friday |page=7}}</ref> |rev3 = ''Daily Breeze'' |rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="DB">{{cite news |last1=Gnerre |first1=Sam |title=Orbit, 'Libido Speedway' |work=Daily Breeze |date=March 21, 1997 |page=K18}}</ref> |rev4 = ''San Antonio Express-News'' |rev4score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="SA">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Robert |title=Touring bands flying in under the radar worth hearing out |work=San Antonio Express-News |date=July 30, 1997 |page=2G}}</ref> }} The ''Chicago Reader'' called "Medicine" a "memorable car-radio rocker."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/spot-check-360/|title=Spot Check|first=Frank|last=Youngwerth|date=April 3, 1997|website=Chicago Reader}}</ref> The ''Chicago Tribune'' thought that "echo tracks and excessive vocal layering clutter an otherwise peppy, involving record."<ref name=CT/>
The ''Daily Breeze'' determined that "Orbit has the rare ability to juxtapose a ferocious instrumental attack with buzzing melodies and make it work."<ref name=DB/> The ''Omaha World-Herald'' deemed the album "crunchy, stripped-down rock that has a melodic aftertaste."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Minge |first1=Jim |title=Critic's Choice |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=June 25, 1997 |location=Living Today |page=48}}</ref>
AllMusic called the album "an entertaining collection of punk-pop and post-grunge power-pop, driven by fizzy melodies and fuzzy guitar riffs."<ref name="auto"/>
==Track listing== All songs written by Jeff Lowe Robbins, except where stated.
#"Yeah" – 2:35 #"Bicycle Song" – 5:33 #"Wake Up" – 3:50 #"Amp" – 2:43 #"Medicine" – 3:56 #"Rockets" – 4:17 (Buckley / Robbins) #"Motorama" – 3:01 #"Nocturnal Autodrive" – 4:21 #"Why You Won't" – 3:46 (Brookner / Buckley / Robbins) #"Carnival" – 3:25 #"Chapel Hill" – 1:41 (Brookner / Buckley / Robbins) #"Paper Bag" – 4:44 (Buckley / Robbins) #"Gazer" – 1:42 #"Untitled (Hidden Track)" – 3:04
==Credits==
* Jeff Lowe Robbins – vocals, guitars * Paul Buckley – drums, vocals * Wally Gagel – bass, vocals * Produced by Ben Grosse (except "Motorama", produced by Orbit) * Engineered by Grosse and Gagel (except "Motorama", engineered by Gagel) * Mixed by Grosse (except "Motorama", mixed by Gagel) * Mastered by Bob Ludwig
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:Orbit (band) albums Category:1997 albums Category:A&M Records albums