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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - Himitsu Girl's Top Secret
02 - Brain Construction
03 - Hentai Terminated
04 - Hard Liquor
05 - Usodarake Take2 |
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Review |
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Zazen Boys have stormed through their first two years of existence. They've released two albums, two singles, and an internet-only live album. By my count, that tallies up to one hell of a start. What's even more amazing than the speed at which they're producing these records is the quality of each song they've produced so far. Their newest single, Himitsu Girl's Top Secret is no different containing five brand new (almost) songs that are all of the highest quality you would expect from the mind of Mukai Shuutoku, the slightly crazy genius behind Number Girl.
"Himitsu Girl's Top Secret" explodes through the gates with an instant reminder of why it's impossible not to like Zazen Boys (literally impossible; I tried once and it wasn't pretty). The guitars pull creative riffs in perfect or perfectly imperfect synchronization with the rhythm section. This single also marks the first studio introduction to new drummer, 松下敦/Matsushita Atsushi, who was previously acting as touring support for off-her-rocker pop songstress, Yuki. Atsushi does an admirable job of filling the drumsticks left by super-drummer Inazawa (who left to start his own group, Vola and the Oriental Machine). Perhaps Atsushi's percussion range isn't quite as unique as Inazawa, but he does everything Mukai thinks up with incredible precision; "cold beat" indeed! Mukai is showing a definite talent at picking up talented and under-used musicians from all areas of music; maybe Zazen Boys will pick up Tokyo Jihen's newly lost members as well!
"Brain Construction" is a riotously good time as we get even more of Mukai's bear-like yelling about things going on in his head. I was half expecting another "Zazen Boyyyyyyyys!" or "Oooosaaaaakaaaaaaaaaa!" hidden somewhere in here after how that sort of yelling dominated their live album. "Brain Construction" is easily one of the better songs the band has done yet, making it a hands-down winner for this single. The freakout synth and drum breakdowns combined with the yelling makes it as easily addicting as Diet Vanilla Coke.
"Hentai Terminated" is a good if slightly indistinctive song, sandwiched in between the single's craziest pieces. Remember though, Zazen Boys don't really do mediocre songs, so even if it is slightly nondescript, there are plenty of good passages with intense drumming and "singing."
The penultimate rocker, "Hard Liquor" is the band at its most insane. I can't really do the song justice with words, but there are two main sections that the song ping pongs back and forth in between. Later in the song, the sections begin to bleed into each other and things really start shaking up. Needless to say, "Hard Liquor" is a complete delight featuring some of the smartest songwriting I've heard, even from Mukai.
Finally we have "Usodarake Take2" which revisits the best song from their first album and gives it more than a few new tricks. The only reminder of the original song is the incredibly catchy chorus; "Usodarake Take2" is just as fresh as the original was, and you can see how much the band has changed in such a short period.
Himitsu Girl's Top Secret is a hard reminder that Mukai and his band of rock and roll gentlemen are always thinking of new ways to surprise and delight their listeners. Zazen Boys keep their originality levels at maxx power and have never disappointed with a single ounce of their input. If Zazen Boys can keep up their shinkansen pace while continuing to travel off the guided tracks of modern rock music, then many festivals shall be given in their honor. A band as rare as this surely deserves a ticker tape parade. |
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