Title

Title Artist: Straightener
Label: Toshiba EMI
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 4988006194892
ASIN: B0006M196G


Release Date: 2005-02-03

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Tracks:

  1. Sad And Beautiful World
  2. Play The Star Guitar
  3. Japanese Tittle
  4. Tender (Title Version)
  5. Rebirth
  6. Stillness In Time
  7. Against The Wall
  8. Love Record
  9. Reminder
  10. Amazing Stories
  11. Evergreen
  12. Killer Tune (Natural Born Killer Tune Mix)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Best Japanese Rock Around.......2007-03-19

First, a quick background: Straightener was formed in 1998, and this album, TITLE (2005), is their sixth. They've been working under their own record label, Ghost Records, since 2002. The lead singer, Atsushi Horie, also plays guitar and sings in the Japanese band FULLARMOR.

I first discovered this band on YouTube, where you can watch videos for "Killer Tune" (from this album, TITLE) and "Berserker Tune." Go check it out. I was immediately impressed by their sound, so unique in the world of J-Pop and heard-it-before Japanese Rock.

"Killer Tune" has a similar flavor to the Vines, and it's probably my favorite song on the album. But, unlike the Vines, this band has strong vocals and some beautiful melodies. Thirty seconds into the first song on this album, "Sad and Beautiful World," it becomes pretty clear that they can write not only catchy melodies that rock, but also catchy melodies that move.

The percussion, guitar work, vocals, and melodies are all extremely well done. They mesh well together, and they don't sound like generic poprock--which is such a big worry in the Japanese music world.

I know this album has an expensive price tag, so I would recommend watching them on YouTube or finding some other way to give them a trial before you buy. Their overall sound on this album isn't quite what you get on "Killer Tune," but that doesn't mean they don't rock. Look out for used copies, too.

Admittedly, if this album were from an American band I might have only given it four stars. But compared to everything else I've heard in Japanese music these days, this band is FIVE STARS the BEST.

Music CD:

  1. Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape ~ Me'Shell Ndeg%C3%A9Ocello
  2. Iny Cantos da Tradição Karajá ~ Various Artists
  3. Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape ~ Me'Shell Ndeg%C3%A9Ocello
  4. Lotus ~ Santana
  5. Lotus ~ Santana
  6. Lotus ~ Santana
  7. The Chess Box ~ Howlin' Wolf
  8. Eshu Laroye: The Best of Afro Cuban Music ~ Various Artists
  9. Tombarock ~ Various Artists
  10. Baila Habibi ~ Katerina Lui Lafe

Music CD

Music CD

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Playa Hatin 101 ~ Big Lew

Mediterranean Nights ~ Various Artists

The Philosopher Kings ~ The Philosopher Kings

Live ~ Blackfoot

Spizz Not Dead: 1978-88 Decade of Spizz History ~ Spizz Energi

Three Dollar Bill.Y'alls

Hell Is ~ Alice Cooper

Princess Bride

Action Thrillers ~ Ennio Morricone

Run to You ~ Joi Cardwell