Various Artists – J-Rocker Densetsu [DJ Wa in No.1 J-ROCK MIX] (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

J-Rocker Densetsu [DJ Wa in No.1 J-ROCK MIX]

V.A.

or YesAsia.com

1. UNICORN – 大迷惑
2. BUCK-TICK – 悪の華
3. JUN SKY WALKER(S) – 歩いていこう
4. ZIGGY – GLORIA
5. LINDBERG – 今すぐKiss Me
6. Jitterin’ Jinn – プレゼント
7. PERSONZ – Dear Friends
8. THE MODS – 激しい雨が
9. REBECCA – フレンズ ～remixed edition～
10. PINK SAPPHIRE – P.S. I LOVE YOU
11. SHOW-YA – 限界LOVERS
12. Ann Lewis – 六本木心中
13. KOME KOME CLUB – Shake Hip!
14. ECHOES – ZOO
15. THE BOOM – 星のラブレター
16. Tamio Okuda – イージュー★ライダー
17. Bakufu Slump – Runner
18. Sharan Q – いいわけ
19. Seikima II – 蝋人形の館
20. Takashi Sorimachi – POISON ～言いたい事も言えないこんな世の中は～
21. Motoharu Sano -  約束の橋
22. FLOW – GO!!!
23. ORANGE RANGE – 上海ハニー
24. Kishidan – One Night Carnival
25. Chatmonchy – シャングリラ
26. Whiteberry – 夏祭り
27. PRINCESS PRINCESS – 世界でいちばん熱い夏
28. NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA – GLAMOROUS SKY
29. SIAM SHADE – 1/3の純情な感情
30. JUDY AND MARY – そばかす
31. Group Tamashii – 君にジュースを買ってあげる
32. Daisuke Shima – 男の勲章
33. T.C.R. Yokohama Ginbae R.S. – ツッパリHigh School Rock’n Roll (登校編)
34. RIZE – Why I’m Me
35. SHAZNA – Melty Love
36. Ryuichi Kawamura – Glass
37. LUNA SEA – STORM
38. GLAY – 誘惑
39. MONGOL800 – 小さな恋のうた
40. THE YELLOW MONKEY – SPARK
41. Tomoyasu Hotei – スリル
42. COMPLEX – BE MY BABY
43. HOUND DOG – ff

In Japan, you have several types of compilations available and for certain listeners who want mixes songs that last from 1-2 minutes or those who have a short attention span for listening to music, various labels have figured that they can easily market to this group.

While “Mix” does not mean a full out remix and a perfect blend of tunes in a compilation, most of the time, they are just clips of music from various groups and artists on one CD and typically from the same label.

Sony sub-label One Nation has recently released a compilation featuring popular rock hits from the last 20-years from popular artists and bands in “J-Rocker Densetsu [DJ Wa in No. 1 J-Rock Mix].

While I am not entirely sure what DJ Wa did in terms of mixing these tracks, I will say that if it’s song selection, you do get a good number of tracks from popular artists and bands but at the same time, you have some major omissions as well.

You can have LUNA SEA and GLAY, but without X JAPAN, BOOWY, The Blue Hearts or L’Arc~en~Ciel, the compilation does seem a bit limiting.

Fortunately, you do find bands such as BUCK-TICK, LINDBERG, JUDY AND MARY, THE BOOM, SHARAN Q, REBECCA to more recent music from FLOW, RIZE and ORANGE RANGE and artists like Mika Nakashima.

Granted, this is a Sony release and although you have artists from various labels, I am surprised that Sony-based bands such as KI/OON Records L’Arc~en~Ciel didn’t make the cut, nor did Sony’s ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION and The Brilliant Green and opted to go for actor Sorimachi Takashi’s “POISON” and choices such as Ryuichi Kawamura’s emotional hit “Glass” definitely slows down the pace of the compilation.

But still, I do recognize the many hits that are on this compilation album. There are a good number of them and while I’m sure compilations are subjective to the listener and many would have different choices of songs that represent an artist or band, I suppose these compilations are rather hit and miss.

It’s important to note that in the series of these mix compilations, also available are three “DJ Wa in No. 1 J-Pop Mix” albums and also a “DJ Wa in WHAT’s IN? 20th Mix”.

Once again, it all depends on you as the listener if these mix compilations are for you. If you are into the full-length tracks, obviously this one is not for you. If you are into mixes that are perfectly mixed especially when connect one song to the other, this not for you. This is a straight up, compilation album featuring short versions of songs together in one CD. And it’s also great if you want to familiarize yourself with bands and artists from the last 25-years.

The CD insert features lyrics and also band/artist profile information and a small flyer for the website and information on related compilations.

Overall, “J-Rocker Densetsu [DJ Wa in No.1 J-ROCK MIX]” was a good compilation CD for me as I have grown up listening to nearly every song on this album and I also have a short attention span that sometimes shortened versions of the songs are good enough for me to listen to, especially during work hours. But it all depends on the listener and if the tracks listed are your type of bands and music!

BUY THIS ALBUM from CDJapan.com:

J-Rocker Densetsu [DJ Wa in No.1 J-ROCK MIX]

V.A.

or YesAsia.com