Who would've thought? A curious little indie rock trio from Tokyo, Japan... It's really strange to hear this kind of stuff with all of the lyrics in Japanese! That adds a cool effect in some strange way. Their style is heavily influenced by American bands, and I would probably cite Jawbreaker as a sizeable influence musically, but there are a lot of quirkier passages that almost suggest certain jazz leanings (mainly coming from the bass and drums), and some of the more vibrant and ringing melodies are more akin to something perhaps a bit smoother and "poppier" (sort of). There's a lot of guitar layering with nice dynamics between louder distortion and calm clean passages, the writing is melodic with a caustic and abrasive sort of attack at times, they've got an awesome rhythm section with busy bass runs and drums that range from laidback beats to frantic fills, etc. A few more upbeat tracks (the awesomely unique "Breaking the Vow on a Dare, August" and the Fugazi-esque "Zigzag, Zigzag, Ticktock, Ticktock" for starters) spice up the energy and keep things moving, which is cool because a few songs tend to be a bit on the long and somewhat tiresome side. I'd say they've nailed a really strong sound. Bright guitars and vocals take the lead, while thick and pulsating bass alongside hugely resonant drums with totally natural tones back 'em up. The only real problem is that the levels max out to distortion a lot, and the crackling peaks, as subtle as they are, can be rather annoying to the listening experience. It's still a minor issue, though. I like the layout. All of the artwork is done in high contrast using only black, white, and a little red and blue, and all of the text appears in both English and Japanese. Taking that one step further, the booklet opens and reads from right left rather than left to right. Very cool. The lyrics can be strange, but I don't mind them. "No way, sweetie-pie, fussy cranky baby, This town in small hours on my way back home, Another day will dawn with renewed rage and life, What a morning glow... isn't it luxury? It is. Certainly, it is. Vibrancy, stagnancy, the sun rises again, Placidity, insanity, the sun sets again." Bottomline? This is a good disc. Not great, but definitely good. There are only a few songs that really catch me, but nothing's weak. I wouldn't listen to this regularly, but I do dig it.
[Five One, Inc.]
Running time - 45:38, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: A Runner's Self-Portrait, Breaking the Vow on a Dare, August, Zigzag, Zigzag, Ticktock, Ticktock]
Five One, Inc. - http://www.fiveoneinc.com
