FAT PROP – This is Life (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

June 16, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

“If you enjoy bands such as JET, Green Day and Good Charlotte, definitely give the Japanese band FAT PROP a chance! Singing English and sporting that similar musical style, “This is Life” is the band’s first mini-album.”

BAND: FAT PROP

ALBUM: This is Life

LABEL: JUNK MUSEUM/ORIGINAL RECORDS

CATALOG #: CTCR-80048

DURATION: 24:14

RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Air
2. Blue Beach
3. Oh!! Sexy Girl
4. Time
5. Never Forget
6. This is Life (bonus version)

I have to be honest that I have never heard of FAT PROP before. In fact, during my research of the band, there was not too much information about them.

But what I can say is that if you are a fan of bands such as JET, Yellowcard and Good Charlotte, you will more than likely dig FAT PROP.

In fact, next to Ellegarden which we reviewed on J!-ENT before, FAT PROP is a Japanese band that embraces the rock music such as the bands we mentioned and brings it to Japan and sing them in English.

The band consists of Imabeppu Tomohiro (vocals and guitar), Nagi Kenichiro (bass), Mukai Kouchichi (guitar) and Uehara Akikane (drums).

I felt that their third and latest mini-album “CHANGE THE FUTURE” was a well done album by the group but as “This is Life” is their first release, the album was also another good first effort from the band.

In April 2008, with the signing on a major label, along with “CHANGE THE FUTURE” was a simultaneous release of this first mini-album and their second “Looking For New Joy”.

Its evident listening to their music that they were influenced by American rock bands as their music shared similar styles with bands like JET, Green Day, yellow card and Good Charlotte.

With confessional lyrics, riff heavy and catchy chorus, FAT PROP and ELLEGARDEN are two bands that are bringing current American style of rock sound to Japan and knowing that, it’s almost a complete different sound to other Japanese music bands.

As for the CD insert, the booklet features the English lyrics to the songs on the mini-album.

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From an American standpoint, listening to FAT PROP’s music, “This is Life” is no different from the many bands that you hear in the US.

But from a Japanese standpoint, for a Japanese band incorporating that alternative rock style from what other Japanese bands are doing is actually quite refreshing.

So, I have to give FAT PROP some “props” for being band that sings in English (and the English pronunciation is ok) and sporting that sound in Japan.

All in all, “This is Life” is a pretty cool album and a very good first effort.

BUY THIS ALBUM