Released by Sony Music Japan International, comes the Japan for Sale CD series, which features an array of music from some of the hottest artists in Japan. The newest volume of the Japan for Sale CD series will be available in the domestic market on April 29, 2003.
Before starting the review of each track, the artwork for the Japan for Sale volume 3 CD is created by Los Angeles artist Shag. His art seems to capture the essence of what the Japan for Sale CD is all about. He combines traditional Japanese designs with a modern colorful twist. The cover of this CD features a sumo wrestler kickin' back in a lounge chair listening to music in his 70's style pad. With the original title Japan for Sale and the funky, eye-catching artwork, this volume will sure to draw attention in stores.
Track 1: Time featuring. B.M.Q. - Goku
The first track is by Goku, an acclaimed artist in Japan's hip hop and rap scene who has collaborated with high profile artists including recent sensation Rip Slyme. Time featuring. B.M.Q. is an upbeat hip-hop track with a touch of jazz. Blue Monk Quartet (B.M.Q) is Goku's own self-produced jazz ensemble, which adds a new sound to traditional hip-hop. His rap lyrics seem to infuse both a mix of Japanese and English. With a variety of musical genres featured in one song, many will be able to appreciate his work.
Track 2: The Lost Voices featuring Sly & Robbie - DJ Krush
The Lost Voices featuring Sly & Robbie is a club mix by popular Japanese "turnable wizard" DJ Krush. The title of the track seems to fit the music perfectly, as one can get "lost" or hypnotized by the array of sounds and techno beats featured in this mix. The tune is almost haunting and it would be no surprise if this track ended up on a soundtrack of a movie. This is actually one of my favorite tracks on the CD.
Track 3: Four Seasons VS YoYo-C - Matally
Matally is a group of five that seems to blend a dance beat with rap and a little bit of a reggae sound. The beginning of the song starts out rather slowly, but speeds up as it progresses. The background chorus is slow, while the rap lyrics seem to be performed at lightening speed. The song has several moments where the speeds alter, giving it a unique mix.
Track 4: Ja:pon -feat. DJ BASS- - Loop Junktion
This rap track is mixed with a combination of a steady dance beat with a hint of soul and funk. Starting out with street performances in their hometown, their original music mixes have earned them acclaim in the Japan music industry.
Track 5: Black Out Fall Out - Polysincs
Black Out Fall Out is performed by Japanese funk band Polysincs. This particular track reminds me of popular music of the eighties incorporating computer-generated effects. The actual tune is very fast and upbeat and it has a catchy main tune.
Track 6: Track Six: Super Brothers - Guitar Vader
Guitar Vader brings a whole new genre of music to this CD as we switch from hip-hop and rap to grunge and rock. Apparent by their name, guitar emphasis is heavy in their song. This song is rather fast, however it takes a "break" in the middle of the song. The band also incorporates English (fluent and katakana pronunciation styles) and Japanese into their lyrics and both a male and female lead vocal perform the song.
Track 7: Track Seven: Stay With You - Mai Hoshimura
This is another track I enjoyed on this CD. This song is very energetic with a great emphasis on the piano. The intro to the song sounds somewhat like a traditional classic piano piece, however the tempo speeds up as the song transforms into an upbeat J-pop style song. I think traditional listeners of Jpop and piano lovers will appreciate Mai Hoshimura's voice and skills on the piano. I think listeners will be impressed with how the classic piano instrument is incorporated in a pop/rock song.
Track 8: Latata - Mayu Kitaki
Latata is a very light-hearted, "genki" J-pop song. It has a nice, steady beat and sweet piano melody. Mayu Kitaki has a rather high tone to her voice that seems to match the overall tune of the song. She has already made her debut in America to share J-pop with American anime fans at an anime convention.
Track 9: I'm a player in T.V. games - The Brilliant Green
The Brilliant Green is a very popular band in Japan and are known for their infusion of J-pop and English lyrics. Their songs have been featured numerous times on Japanese television shows. This particular song is in English and is performed in rock style with heavy electric guitar emphasis. Although their English songs are good, I usually tend to like their Japanese songs better because it is what they know best. The lead singer, Tomoko Kawase also has a solo career as Tommy February6 and debuted with an 80s sound hit single Everyday at the Bus Stop (a great song).
Track 10: Substream - Kyoto Jazz Massive
Substream is an instrumental track that reminded me a lot of disco club music. It has a great mix of dance, hip-hop, funk, and soul genres all combined into one dance song.
Track 11: Gimme Some High Energy - Takkyu Ishino
Takkyu Ishino is a member of the hit duo Denki Groove which performed the hit techno song Shangri-La. Gimme Some High Energy has that same feeling of dance, funk, and techno music. The name seems to be well-suited to the track and sure to bring high-energy to the dance floor.
Track 12: Spiral Never Before
Similar to Takkyu Ishino, Yoshinori Sunahara was also a member of the techno duo Denki Groove.
Spiral Never Before is another dance track, but on the slower side utilizing an array of electronic sound effects and instruments.
Overall, Japan for Sale volume 3 combines a variety of music from traditional J-pop to instrumental dance mixes. This is a great introduction album for those interested in Japanese music, but do not know what genre might fit their tastes. Listeners are able to sample most all of the distinct genres of Japanese pop music. For those who already listen to Japanese pop music, this album may be interesting because it features music you may not hear from traditional J-pop that has already made its way to America. If I had to rank this album, I would give it an 8.5 for the music and packaging. One aspect that I would have liked is lyrics (even if they were in Japanese or romanized). It would be make it easier to learn the song or translate the lyrics if a listener chose to do so. There are not many Japanese pop CDs released in the domestic market, therefore I think fans of J-pop or Japanese music should give Japan for Sale a listen because you are sure to find something that fits your music tastes.
For more information regarding Japan for Sale CD, visit the official Japan for Sale website.
Japan for Sale Volume 3 © Sony Music Japan International, Inc.
