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Tracklist |
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01 - 暗号のワルツ (Angou no Waltz)
02 - ワールドアパート (World Apart)
03 - ブラックアウト (Blackout)
04 - 桜草 (Sakurasou)
05 - 路地裏のうさぎ (Rojiura no Usagi)
06 - ブルートレイン (Blue Train)
07 - 真冬のダンス (Mafuyu no Dance)
08 - バタフライ (Butterfly)
09 - センスレス (Senseless)
10 - 月光 (Gekkou)
11 - タイトロープ (Tightrope) |
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Review |
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It's easy to pick on Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Call them Eastern Youth Lite (as does our fellow reviewer at Musicwhore); accuse them of writing the same song over and over on all their recordings. Still, the band has a knack for pep and melody that made them one of the biggest up-and-coming bands of 2003. While their energy hasn't faded much on Fan Club, the writing has taken a slight turn towards the mature, casting them more in the role of Acidman Lite (less hippy, more happy).
As they open the album with "Angou Waltz," AKG already show their newer predilection towards more nuanced drums and guitars, serving to introduce some much-needed variety. Songs retain more individual identity since the band is willing to mix things up a little more. There are few recycled riffs on Fan Club and even some guitar interplay at times, resulting in instrumental sections like in "Gekkou" which mixes a nicely ethereal melody with a thin layer of distortion.
The drums fare better as well, the rhythmic phrases throughout the album having been diversified. This is especially noticeable on "Blue Train," an apparent nod in John Coltrane's direction, where drummer Ijichi Kiyoshi bounces into double time and back during the verses. Even Gotou Masafumi stretches his vocals at times, delivering an uncannily Hyde-like falsetto on "World Apart."
Overall, Asian Kung-Fu Generation have not messed much with their basic formula. They have, however, turned in a more refined performance on Fan Club, in spite of a few slip-ups along the way (the chorus to "Sakurasou" really should have stayed in Ellegarden's closet). While their catchier staples of old ("Kimi to Iu Hana" and the like) do not make an appearance here, AKG have instead chosen to deliver their simple tunes wrapped in a smarter package at the expense of a little energy. And that's fine too, because every once in a while an Acidman Lite is just what a guy (or gal) is thirsty for. |
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