Tokyo Jihen - Adult

One of my favorite albums from last year. An interesting mix of specifically Japanese “pop” sensibilities with Western rock and jazz influences.

スポーツ (Sports) is the newest album released by 東京事変 (Tokyo Jihen). Formed in 2004 after 椎名林檎 (Shiina Ringo) decided to end her solo career (though she has since resumed it with her 2009 album 三文ゴシップ, which is also great). All of her albums, both solo and with the band have been at least great, and most of them are amazing.

As far as stand out tracks go on this album... pretty much all of them. This tends to be the case with all of her albums, and each individual track would probably be a standout single on any other album. None of that hits + filler nonsense. That being said, there are still tracks that stand out within the album. The second track, Denpa Tsuushin opens with a hectic bass line, while combining elements of electropop and her signature jazzy style into a ridiculously catchy and energetic song. Raise the dead on your turntable, she sings on 能動的三分間 (Noudouteki Sanpunkan, Active Three Minutes), the lead single. An exactly three minute long (get it?) song, played at 120BPM, with hands down one of the catchiest choruses I've ever heard. A fusion of her amazing pop sensibilities and the rest of the band's instrumentation. This song is the shining example of her ability to fuse modern rock and pop with the feel of high energy jazz performances in a tightly knit song, stripped away of any superfluous elements and without a single wasted second. Finally, スイートスポット (Sweet Spot), is another one of my favorites and one of the slower songs on the album. In the form of a modern jazz ballad, overflowing with emotion, amazing vocal delivery, etc etc.