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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - Sugisarishi Akegata (過ぎ去りし。明け方)
02 - Manazashi (眼差し)
03 - Moujuu (猛獣)
04 - Daichi no Okite (大地の掟)
05 - Kodoku wo Tsukinukete (孤独を突き抜けて)
06 - Fubuki (吹雪)
07 - Ryokou (旅行)
08 - Gomi (ゴミ)
09 - Aru ga Mama ni (あるがままに)
10 - Tenbin ni Kakaru Yume (天秤にかかる夢)
11 - Kotoba Yori Tsuyoi Omoi (言葉より強い想い)12 - Rojou no Shi (路上の詩) |
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Review |
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There seems to be no other band in the loosely defined melocore subgenre of Japanese punk like Foot Stamp. In fact, one would hesitate to call them a simple punk band; their sound owes more to folk and country than anything else. Helmed by Goto Takamitsu's deep baritone vocals and twangy, sing-song guitar, and rounded out with the solid rhythmic foundation of Miyauchi Kazuhiko on bass and Kera Terumichi's drums, the trio straddles the line between some strangely opposing genres, allowing for a sound that works and is ultimately unique. Their first full length, Fuuketsu, is filled with many terrific songs but suffers as an album due to too much homogeneity. Perhaps it was due to many of the songs maintaining similar tempos or because of Goto's limited vocal range, but in many instances the songs would sound too much alike. On their own each song is terrific, but arrange them like in Fuuketsu and upon the first few listens one would be hard pressed to tell where they are in the album.
It seems this issue was taken to heart in Kuudou, the band's followup. This second full length marks an obvious desire to show more differentiation between tracks, making for a much more experimental package than the safer Fuuketsu. It's a bold move to say the least. In fact, Foot Stamp feels so bold that they do the proverbial rock band no-no: start with a slow song. "Sugisarishi Akegata" works as an opener without sucking the life out of its audience due to the fact that it couples together so well with "Manazashi," the fast paced followup. An obvious musical cliche would be to start the album with "Manazashi," stick another upbeat song after it, then bring the pace down a notch by throwing in a more mellow track like "Sugisarishi Akegata." Repeat ad nauseum until you end with a slow, powerful song. But Foot Stamp goes a different route by framing the album with a slower song in the beginning and the energetic "Roujou no Shi" in the end.
In Kuudou Foot Stamp seems to not just opt for solid songs, but ones that play well with each other, even if they're not the toe tappers that marked their previous full length. The tracks exhibit a broader range from both the band and Goto's singing. His bear-like voice not only soothes but roars, a rare feat for a small Japanese man. For example, the energetic and upbeat "Kodoku wo Tsukinukete" is sandwiched between the lighthearted "Daichi no Okite" and somber "Fubuki." It's rather easy to tell the tracks apart due in part to each song's emotive edge and marked differences in tempo. While much of the first album had a very driving and straightforward beat, many of the tracks in i>Kuudou, like "Roujou no Shi" and "Gomi," exhibit deviations from that approach. The dual vocal powered "Aru ga Mama ni," arguably one of the best songs that the band has ever written, would feel right at home with the generally upbeat songs of Fuuketsu, but there's a certain maturity and confidence brought to the song that shows a band growing beyond its original scope.
Slower songs abound in Kuudou, but like the powerful "Shiwase wo Shinjite" from their previous full length, slow doesn't equal boring. In fact, when coupled with smart track arrangement these slower songs improve the quality of the album by allowing for a more dynamic overall experience. While slightly less exciting songs is a trade-off for a more exciting album, it's a smart trade-off nonetheless. It's a wonder that more people don't know the name Foot Stamp since Fuuketsu's "Hontou no Kotoba" was even the opening theme to an anime. One would think that the band's solid songwriting and overall consistency would yield them superstar success. That doesn't seem to have happened yet, but those that are in the know realize that Foot Stamp is a band whose work is worth treasuring. |
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