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Tracklist |
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01-tauntin'
02-two hundred and forty one mondays
03-counterclockwise
04-stage in the shadow
05-a british man swam across the river with his wine
06-minor
07-c.c.revival
08-harvest on moon
09-table disco
10-telegnosis
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Review |
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Singing in English has been a common trait for thousands of Japanese artists. The culprits are usually pop artists, who are expected to throw in "I love you" or "everything is all right", but it's an infection that has spread among many genres and artists. These bilingual attempts often feel like a 4 minute wet-willy to the ears of native listeners. It's much more comforting and slightly exotic to hear Japanese.
Yuichi Shirane makes a bold attempt to defy the language trend on modernize., a wily, all-English rock album. Shirane's voice is thin and whiny and his pronunciation above average. It is difficult to comprehend most of his lyrics upon first listen; the translation process requires patience and the album sleeve. The lead vocalist and guitarists' perspective is revealed in the album art, also drawn by Shirane. On the front, a warped, polluted city surrounds a deep sea diver, a radio as his air tank. The frontman's drawing matches his lyrical content, which often revolves in the excess of society and the loneliness which follows. Matched with his thin and whiny range, the album may seem to be headed for power punk boredom.
However, Perfect Piano Lesson never falls into this pit of cheap self sorrow. Instead, the trio feels tight and contained. Takura Oya's bass and Kunizo Katsuya's drums feel as if they're being played face-to-face, and Shirane's guitar work screams much harder than his vocals. The guitar sounds like early John Frusciante, not too heavy or distorted, but perfectly balanced. Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, Shirane is capable of kick-starting tracks with an inspired buzzed-out tone.
While there might not be much interest in Shirane's jaded lyrics, the trio makes up for the pronunciation by producing the genuine feel of a band enjoying itself. The strongest tracks on the record are supported by Katsuya and Oya's harmonies, which add needed weight to the lead vocals. With focused instrumentation and big jams to finish off songs, modernize. suggests that Perfect Piano Lesson would be a great live band.
Despite the occasionally bland lead vocals, the enthusiastic jams and soft harmonies give the album a refreshing sound. modernize. is the work of a young band. The album leaks influences from early 90's radio friendly rock and more recent cynical punk artists. But there are hints of Perfect Piano Lesson breaking out into a fresh sound, especially in the softer tunes which build on subtle licks of guitar. The trio sounds as full as three instruments and voices should – there are no ridiculous overdubs or electronics. Small variations – like the delayed reverb on "harvest on moon," the bongos on "a british man…", and the bass interlude on "stage in the shadow" all hint that Perfect Piano Lesson has potential to bring a fully original album to their audience. As it stands, modernize. is a good start. |
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