TOKYO60WATTS – 60 (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)
August 20, 2008 by Dennis Amith
“With a hint of Bruce Hornsby and the Range and some of that funky New Orleans rock, TOKYO60WATTS is a band that demonstrates that they can do various styles of music as showcased in their third album ’60′.”
BAND: TOKYO60WATTS
ALBUM: 60
LABEL: FIVE D PLUS/Hikarimon Records
CATALOG #: VFCV-00027
DURATION: 53:04
RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2008
- DRINKIN’ MUSIC
- たまにはこんなラブ・ソング (Album ver.)
- ボサノババア
- ソラミミソファ
- ループ
- 洗濯物が良く乾く日の午後
- うたたね
- 朝焼けハイウェイ
- カフェオレ
- WATTS GOing on!
- かげぼうし
- すべてはうまくいく
The rock band TOKYO60WATTS returns in 2008 with a new album titled “60″ which features a bit of funky rock, mellow acoustic and piano driven music and the style that makes their music different from other bands in Japan.
The band was formed back in 1999 and signed with Toshiba EMI in 2004. In 2005, the band moved to Avex’s sub-label HIKARIMON Records and currently have released two CD singles, five mini-albums and three albums.
To be truthful, this is the first album I’ve received of the band for review and had never listened to their music prior.
From what I have read on the Internet, the guys are talented musicians and have taken part as support musicians for various bands but if anything, the band is known for their live performances.
With that being said, my first impression by listening to this group is that each track definitely showcases the band’s diversity and each song would have more acoustic guitar, another would have more piano, another would feature a bit of funky, blues and jazz rock and in a way, I had nostalgic memories of music the from the late 80′s to early 90′s such as Ozaki Yutaka and even some Kome Kome Club.
The first track “DRINKIN’ MUSIC” had that funk rock style that you would hear in New Orleans at night with the piano, electric guitar, the brass arrangment and overall an energetic and fun track and that style continues in the second track “Tama ni wa konna love song”.
For the third track, it’s primarily acoustic guitar with some keyboard and the guys just singing. Very cafe, mellow style and then you would have a track like “Loop” which is guitar and drum-driven and it has that classic J-rock feel.
But listening to the whole track, I started to realize that TOKYO60WATTS were like a late 80′s band known as Bruce Hornsby and the Range. Featuring a talented group of musicians and how the piano really would really come out strongly through their music.
And then you would have the final track “Subete wa Umakuiku” demonstrating a reggae style vibe which of course is the only track on the album that sounds like this.
But all in all, I felt that this band was a jack of trades. A band of musicians that just jam and have fun playing any musical style that they feel like playing and probably being at their live performances is where you can probably enjoy that energetic vibe that the band gives off.
As for the insert, the insert is a six-fold sheet with lyrics and production credits on one side and the images of the band members on the other side.
Also included is a flyer promoting the bands live tour in July 2008.
TOKYO60WATTS is a band that showcases a variety of music and I can see those who have enjoyed their live performances probably being wowed and purchasing the album.
For the occasional J-pop or Japanese rock listener, the music is probably more adult contemporary as it does have jazz and funk rock elements together with a variety of styles that the band is capable of.
I made the correlation to Bruce Hornsby and the Range and I would imagine that musically, TOKYO60WATTS probably is similar because their music embraces various styles of rock music, that their music grows and probably is enhanced or changed during a live performance.
So, I have to admit that I felt a bit surprised to hear the music because although it incorporated some Japanese rock elements that I have been accustomed to listening to, especially from a Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra to a Gangazumba but hearing this style that really was nostalgic of a Bruce Hornsby and the Range to a New Orleans funk Harry Connick Jr. style of theme, if anything, quite energetic, fun and as I mentioned before, probably would be even more exciting to watch them perform live.
All in all, if you enjoy this style of music, definitely check TOKYO60WATTS out.
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