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Tracklist |
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01 - I dedicate D chord
02 - a sight
03 - hesitate to see
04 - bakadana
05 - world wide waddle
06 - wanderlust
07 - scene of a girl
08 - mur mur
09 - oyster
10 - so long |
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Review |
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Until Toddle, I had never heard a Japanese indie rock band that I liked. I wouldn't blame this on a dearth of good bands, but, rather, on the non-existence of indie rock in Japan. It's a good thing we have a whole website here, Keikaku.net, dedicated to a type of music that doesn't exist.
But seriously, Japan is chock full of indie bands. The problem is that my stubborn refusal to acknowledge the evolution of the term "indie rock" means that I only think of 1990's American heavyweights like Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr. and Guided By Voices when I think of indie rock. Should Toddle be honored that I think of them the same way I think of the Breeders or Sleater Kinney? Judging by the dark, yet clean, production, and the deceptively simple interplay between bass and guitar, Toddle's I dedicate D chord would've been a great release on Sub Pop or Kill Rock Stars back in 1994.
The production on I dedicate D chord compliments Toddle's melodic songwriting immensely. Songs like "a sight" and "bakadana~" gracefully layer sparse guitar leads over chugging bass guitars, simultaneously sounding thin and full. Each instrument's melody is clearly discernible, yet they blend together so well that no song is ever left feeling empty. Even Toddle's otherwise weak and hesitant vocals are positively rich when they're harmonized, as on "bakadana~" and "so long". Additionally, the drumming is energetic and creative, particularly on the dynamic "mur mur."
When compared to guitarist and vocalist Tabuchi Hisako's other bands, Number Girl and Bloodthirsty Butchers, Toddle is simply much easier to enjoy. Tabuchi's work is a refreshing alternative to the progressively weirder and denser songwriting of Mukai Shutoku and Yoshimura Hideki. I dedicate D chord is one of the most enjoyable albums I've heard this year, and judging by its esteemed company, it'll be one to remember for years to come. |
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