“As my feelings were of ‘Tokyo Bambi’ being one of the most solid CD singles from the band, the trio’s sixteenth album ‘PIED PIPER’ is just an awesome, rock n’ roll album overall. Energetic, fun and I have listened to the album over a zillion times. Definitely an album I enjoyed a lot and have no doubts that you will too!”
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BAND: the pillows
ALBUM: PIED PIPER
LABEL: avex trax
CATALOG #: AVCD-23604/D
DURATION: 37:36
RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2008
- PIED PIPER
- New Animal
- No Surrender
- Last Holiday
- Tokyo Zombie (The knock come at dead of night)
- Across the metropolis
- Purple Apple
- Tokyo Bambi
- Ladybird girl
- That’s a wonderful world (song for Hermit)
- POISON ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 6 minutes
- PIED PIPER (Video Clip)
- Texan Daily Life
The trio known as the pillows featuring Sawao Yamanaka (Vocals and rhythm guitar), Yoshiaki Manabe (lead guitar) and Shinichirou Sato (drums) return with their second album on the avex trax label (their 16th overall) featuring their 26th through 28th CD Singles (“Ladybird Girl”, “Tokyo Bambi” and “New Animal”).
Having established a fan following in Japan and many other countries, it’s one thing to say that the band is known for their music from the anime “FLCL”, the band has been one of the popular bands to tour North America continuously, successfully despite not having any physical CD distribution at this time.
The music featured on “Pied Piper” is just highly enjoyable and very energetic. In fact, of the eleven tracks featured on the album, there was not one song that I didn’t enjoy.
From the first titled track, the catchy rhythm and melody just hooks you upon listening to it. Cool, energetic percussions, cool guitar playing and with the catchy vocals, everything just comes together.
And the same can be used to describe many other tracks on the album. “Catchy”, “energetic”,”cool” and “enjoyable”. And this extends to their live performance. What you hear on the album is what you hear live with these guys.
There are two tracks that feature all English lyrics. Those songs are “Purple Apple” and “POISON ROCK ‘N’ ROLL”. And there is one instrumental with “Tokyo Zombie (The Knock Came at Dead of Night)”. As the majority of the songs are upbeat and fast, there is one ballad included in the album which is “Last Holiday”. A ballad that has a really cool sound and a song that is complimented by the guitar-playing.
As for those who were wondering if there are any coupling songs from the CD singles on the album, only one coupling song from these CD singles made it to the album. The song was “Across the Metropolis” from the CD single “Tokyo Bambi”. “Across the Metropolis” is one of the more mellow sounds in the album but probably has the most catchy chorus compared to the other tracks.
THE DVD features the music videos for “PIED PIPER” and “Texan Daily Life”. “PIED PIPER” features the band playing with a cool perspective with the camera right under their feet. And a puppet dancing in the corner.
The second video “Texan Daily Life” features the band members walking individually through Texas and giving a classic video style with a lot of noise.
The CD insert booklet features the lyrics to each track, pictures that are literally cardboard cutouts of the faces of each member and put on someone’s head. Production credits are also included.
Also included is a mini flyer promoting the band’s “PIED PIPER” tour, the official fan club and a postcard for “The pillows & DELICIOUS”.
I’ve listened to this album so many times over and over. It’s a very catchy album that features primarily upbeat tracks. There is no stepping away from the style that the band is known for.
All in all, a very awesome and solid album from the pillows yet again!
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