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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - WHITE WORLD
02 - watch out!
03 - PIRATES OF THE WOODS
04 - The room
05 - Cheap SF novel of as 2003
06 - more demand shatter
07 - DAYS OF{R&S}
08 - SWINGING LIFE
09 - TERRA FORMING
10 - pairyland |
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Review |
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Frontier Backyard
Self-Titled
Frontier Backyard's members have a long tenure in Japan's indie scene. Members TGMX, Kenzi Masubuchi and TDC were all former members of the ska-funk band Scafull King. After splitting up, they embarked upon a variety of projects, the most notable being TGMX's album Music Library in 2001, and Kenzi's album Tales of the Axxe Player in 2003. The electronic disco-funk of each of their solo efforts was foreshadowed by Scafull King's final release, the remix EP Winning Six. With the release of their self-titled debut, they're making more of the same, but with more consistency and grace.
Dreamy images of wonder come to mind when I listen to Frontier Backyard. The intricate guitar rhythms, brisk drum work and funky keyboard melodies almost sound like a video game, if not the soundtrack to a night in Shibuya. TGMX's soulful vocals are very complimentary given the instrumentation. If anything, it seems to me that TGMX and Kenzi have outdone their solo projects just by combining their respective strengths in vocals and guitars. At times the songs are almost too funky or too catchy, and after a few listens songs like "Days of 'R&S'" and "Pairyland" lose some of their charm. On the other hand, some songs manage a memorable and catchy melody that doesn't wear itself out. The keyboard solo in "The Room" always surprises me, and the ending of "White World", in particular, is just as sublime as the first time, every time I hear it.
My one complaint might be TGMX's choice to sing in English. His pronunciation is pretty awful, and it makes the songs border on corny sometimes, when they'd otherwise be genuinely good songs. Japanese singers who sing in Japanese always sound less annoying to me, and TGMX's strong vocal delivery really deserves better lyrical company.
I'm not too sure what niche of music fans will like Frontier Backyard, but their self-titled debut might be a Japanese indie fan's excuse to dance. |
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