HOME MADE KAZOKU – YOU ~Anata ga Soba ni Iru Shiawase~ (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
May 30, 2009 by Dennis Amith
“The hip hop trio HOME MADE KAZOKU returns with an elegant ballad and two addictive hip hop tracks. Overall, a solid, enjoyable and catchy CD single from the trio!”
GROUP: HOME MADE KAZOKU
CD SINGLE: YOU ~Anata ga Soba ni Iru Shiawase~
LABEL: KI/OON RECORDS
CATALOG #: KSCL-1355-6
DURATION: 12:40
RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2009
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- YOU ～あなたがそばにいる幸せ～
- FUN HOUSE
- CLAP! CLAP!
DVD: Region 2, Duration: 5:47, 4:3
- Come Back Home (MUSIC VIDEO CLIP)
Nagoya hip hop trio HOME MADE KAZOKU (which consists of MICRO, KURO and DJ U-ICHI) are one of the few Japanese hip hop bands that have established its own fanbase around the world courtesy of their anime theme songs for popular anime “BLEACH”, “EUREKA 7″ and “Naruto Shippuuden”.
The trio released their 19th CD single “YOU ~Anata ga Soba ni Iru Shiawase~ (translation: Happy to be Around You) in March 2009.
The main track is a ballad that features Micro’s vocals and Kuro’s hip hop track. The music features an elegant piano with an underlying hip hop beat but showcases strings and violin by MANABOON and Daisuke Kadowaki. Overall, well done arrangement as the vocals and rap are well-balanced with the music. Overall, a solid ballad!
The coupling track “FUN HOUSE” features HOME MADE KAZOKU collaborating with KAME (of KAME & L.N.K.), TUT-1026, HOZE (from SMELLS GOOD). The track starts off with a vocal only hip hop track by everyone and then leads into the musical track featuring each of the artists having their own rap segment and then all singing the main chorus and ending lyrics.
The third and final track “CLAP! CLAP!” features a happy hip hop track with a catchy, happy groove. Featuring MICRO doing a sing along rap whike KURO delivers the rhymes. Overall, a fun track!
As for the DVD, for those who have not purchased a HOME MADE KAZOKU release recently (or ever), unlike most artists who have a music video of the main track featured on the CD single, for HOME MADE KAZOKU releases, they feature a DVD of the music video of the last (or a past released) single. In this case, the music video featured on this DVD release is for their 18th CD single “Come Back Home”.
This single features a black and white music video as time stops and MICRO and KURO walking. Pretty much while they walk, time stops and all movement stops and then time moves and features everyone walking again. Overall a cool music video
For those purchasing the CD single for “YOU ~Anata ga Soba ni Iru Shiawase~” and wanting the music video for that song will more than likely need to wait for the release of their next CD+DVD single.
As for the CD insert, there is a tri-fold featuring the music lyrics on one side and photos of each member and production credits on the other.
Overall, “YOU ~Anata ga Soba ni Iru Shiawase~” is another solid CD single from the group. SONY and KI/OON Records have done a great job in positioning the group to have their music used on anime themes for popular anime television series.
Although there are many Japanese hip hop groups that have a lead vocalist, a rapper and a DJ on mainstream labels, HOME MADE KAZOKU has had the benefit to become one of the well-known groups in Japan because of the way they have been marketed.
The group has a consistent vocal/hip hop presences in each of their CD singles but its the music and their high production value of their music that separates them from other musical groups. Geared more towards a mainstream audience, their music is catchy and addictive.
For this CD single, we are treated with an elegant ballad but then you have two coupling songs showcasing the group’s music with a collaboration with other hip hop artists and also a track that is an overall, happy, catch and enjoyable.
Again, some people may have problems with the way their DVD releases are (of not featuring the music video of the main track) and may decide to go with the regular release version of the CD singles. But overall, “YOU ~Anata ga Soba ni Iru Shiawase~ is a solid CD single featuring different types of music from the group and a single worth checking out!
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