Various Artists – Climax Cool: The Selection of Male Vocalists (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

DISC 1:

1. スキマスイッチ/全力少年
   2. 井上陽水奥田民生/ありがとう
   3. T HE YELLOW MONKEY/LOVE LOVE SHOW
   4. 布袋寅泰/POISON     試聴する
   5. 井上陽水/Make-up Shadow
   6. 槇原敬之/Hungry Spider
   7. キンモクセイ/二人のアカボシ
   8. SHAZNA/すみれSeptember Love
   9. 高野 寛/虹の都へ
   10. CHEMISTRY/PIECES OF A DREAM

DISC 2:

1. 平井 堅/瞳をとじて
   2. 徳永英明/僕のそばに
   3. 藤井フミヤ/TRUE LOVE
   4. ゴスペラーズ/ひとり
   5. CHAGE and ASKA/太陽と埃の中で
   6. エレファントカシマシ/今宵の月のように
   7. 奥田民生/息子
   8. スターダスト・レビュー/木蘭の涙
   9. class/夏の日の1993
   10. VOICE/24 時間の神話

When it comes to compilation albums, the music is always subjective to the listener and depends on what music they are into.

“Climax Cool: The Selection of Male Vocalists” is part of the nine-part “Climax” music compilation series which include “Climax: Sweet” (featuring all female vocalists), “Climax 80′s Green”, “Climax 70′s Sapphire”, “Climax Romantic Songs” and many more.

And what makes these compilations different from other compilations out there is that the songs are not label specific and that is important because what the compilation does do right is take songs that literally hit the top of the charts, many of the songs which were #1 from within the last 25 years. Songs that are romantic ballads and some that are upbeat and fast.

From Fumiya Fujii’s “True Love”, class’s “Natsu no Hi no 1993″, Ryuichi Kawamura’s “Glass”, Sharan Q’s “Zurui Onna”, Original Love’s “Primal”, Kyousuke Himuro’s “Poison”, Noriyuki Makihara’s “Hungry Spider” and many more songs that make up the 32 songs featured on two discs.

There is a booklet which features the lyrics to all songs on “Climax Cool” and also track listings for the eight other Climax compilation albums.

Personally, I found this compilation to be fantastic. Not one song on this album is bad and it helps that the compilation includes various hits from other labels. Granted, “Climax Cool: The Selection of Male Vocalists” is going to be appreciated more by listeners who enjoyed J-Pop from the ’90s, especially the early to mid-90′s.

Overall, “Climax Cool: The Selection of Male Vocalists” is a fantastic compilation album but once again, compilations are subjective to the listener and depends on your taste in music. But for who grew up listening to Japanese music especially in the early ’90s, watching CDTV and Music Station can find this compilation album to be wonderful in its diverse hit music and artists featured on the album.

Definitely recommended!

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Climax Cool: The Selection Of Male Vocalists

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