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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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1.グッドモーニング (Good Morning)
2.Morning Paper
3.Race
4.ロックンロール (Rock 'n Roll)
5.Hometown
6.花火 (Hanabi)
7.黒い扉 (Kuroi Tobira)
8.花の水鉄砲 (Hana no Mizudeppou)
9.バンドワゴン (Bandwagon)
10.How To Go |
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Review |
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Many of today's musicians are only able to write songs that would only fit in one kind of genre or category. Some, however, are able (and willing) to expand their style throughout the years. The result may not be as good as their original sound, as is often the case, but some artists take that risk and end up creating something fresh and different.
Quruli is one of the bands that have been able to achieve this status with their diverse musical library. With Antenna, Quruli continues writing with the more atmospheric, electronic sound found in their two previous albums, The World Is Mine and Team Rock, excluding the brilliant, mostly instrumental soundtrack for the 2003 movie Joze To Tora To Sakanatachi (Josee, the Tiger and the Fish). However, they also incorporate some of the more upbeat rock styles you would find in their earlier works, such as Zukan, while still varying their music with some progressive and folk guitar writing new to Quruli. Think of Antenna as their Hail To The Thief.
More melodic as a whole when compared to The World Is Mine, their latest should be more accessible to those looking to dive into the rather vast musical world of Quruli. Songs like "Good Morning" and "How To Go " fit the style of this talented group like a glove, as they build upon their atmospheric pop rock sound while adding even catchier vocal melodies that fans would expect to hear from Shigeru Kishida.
Fans of Zukan and their first album Moshimoshi will enjoy hearing them go back to their roots in songs like "Morning Paper" and "Hana no Mizudeppou," though don't expect them to rock as hard as they did in songs such as "Aoi Sora" and "Machi." Quruli's moved past that, replacing some of the rock with some unexpected touches of prog and folk as seen in the epic jam "Kuroi Tobira," which features some of the coolest build-ups and subtle guitar hooks I've ever heard. And the minimalist folk rock tracks "Rock 'n' Roll" and "Bandwagon" show that Quruli aren't afraid to tackle uncharted musical territory. The folk inspired pieces on Antenna are enough to make me think that Quruli's been playing and mastering this kind of music for years.
Even with a new drummer, Christopher McGuire (from the American band 12 Rods), Quruli's as musically tight and free as they've ever been on Antenna. The drumming is complex and diverse ("Hanabi"), while being at just the right level to sound strong in all of the songs without overpowering the rest of the band, and the guitar and bass are often used with immensely varying effects giving each song its own vibe ("Race" and "Hometown").
This album is sure to make all fans of Quruli rejoice, from the listeners of their early rock albums to those of the ambient The World Is Mine and electronic-laden Team Rock. However, people wishing for another Zukan might not be as pleased with the outcome as aficionados of their previous two albums, as Antenna does lean more toward the laidback sound found in their later records. Still, this is definitely the right direction for a band that is only looking to move forward and build on their already impressive collection of material. And with the release of their next album, Nikki, fast upon us, we'll be able to have an even better look at where Quruli's destination is. |
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