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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - Wind
02 - Rainy Day
03 - ドキドキ
04 - ハナウタ
05 - あるがまま
06 - 星の数 月の数
07 - リリー
08 - いつの日か
09 - ガジュマルの木
10 - 月へ送る手紙 |
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Review |
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Mongol800 is one of the first Japanese bands that I heard. Probably the one that got me really heavily into it all too. We have some history together, me and these boys.
Message was the album that got the band into the world of huge record sales, and it's where I first heard them unsurprisingly. The pop-punk "melo-core" sound of that album was absolutely divine, even years after the mid-90's skate scene that had influenced them had long gone the way of stale. Their last album, Message, was perfect simply for what it was, a fast and fun punk album without any pretension or seriousness. It's also worth noting that Mongol800 has always come up with some pretty hilarious engrish lyrics, remembering "Marriage Blue" always produces both groans and laughter. Regardless of the saccharinely sweet lyrical content, it's hard to write off the youthful playing and songwriting of the Okinawa trio, they're just having too much fun.
It's frivolous to say that Momo was eagerly anticipated considering the financial and musical success of its predecessor. At the first listen, I felt really let down by the new album, and I still am for the most part. It's not that the band made any crushing changes to their style established over the first two albums. Indeed, the sound is much the same, earnest yet sloppy playing betraying some incredibly smart pop-punk songwriting. The problem isn't with the songs at all, a lot of them are fantastic; it's the production.
You'd think that a punk band breaking into the mainstream would have their label pushing them into over-producing and over-writing their next album as we've seen happen to lesser bands in the same scene such as 175R. Thankfully, the band avoids the temptations and pitfalls of success and remains respectable in both their music and business. With their third release the band has managed to keep the DIY attitude that they've had since the beginning (independent Okinawa label High Wave is once again tapped for distribution). The production while refreshing in its unmarketability, doesn't give enough accent or clarity to the performance.
Everything seems a little muted throughout the entire album, almost as if the entire thing was recorded live and on one mic. I certainly have no problem with a band retaining their grittiness so as not to fall prey to the lures of glossy pop production, but Momo sounds a little more like a really maturely written demo tape than a third full length from an established act.
Even with the recording process working against them, Mongol800 are still writing unforgettable tunes. "Wind " and "Rainy Day," the first two songs of the album set the stage for the rest of the album really well. These two are the best of the album and definitely some of the best the band has produced. In tone, Momo seems a little more serious than the first two albums, both audibly and lyrically. There are no invitations of "let's in the party," no summer barbecues with your earth angel. In fact, there are only two songs fully in English on the album, and they're really all the better for keeping it to a minimum. The singing is still soulful and the songs still played with the same characteristic speed shifts; I really enjoy how little this band has improved musically. The instrumentation is perfectly distinctive on all three albums giving the band a real something special, even if they keep running through the same set of ideas.
It's hard to recommend this album above Message or even Go On As You Are, but it is an important next step for a growing band. Momo is still an essential for fans; they haven't lost it just yet. Still, I can't help but feel a little let down almost a year after the release date. I'm still eagerly awaiting the next album but I hope it will do them justice. |
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