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Tracklist | |
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01 - killer smile 02 - 8月のバター (8gatsu no Butter) 03 - Cheap Disco"13 steps" 04 - On Sundays 05 - 6月8日7時のニュースで君は泣いた (6gatsu 8ka 7ji no News de Kimi ha Naita) 06 - Under the Sand 07 - gone too long 08 - 我ガ心ニ向日葵ハ咲カズ (Wa ga Kokoro ni Himawari ha Sakazu) ～Ryukyu Underground：Jon Taylor REMIX～ 09 - HAPPY SONG 10 - fight against the jellyfish 11 - 大海の海月 (Taikai no Maitsuki) 12 - average 4 13 - Relax × Relax |
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Review | |
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Veltpunch's question no. 13 would have made my Albums to Buy in 2004 List had I known that the band existed before I wrote it. Though short in length, the band easily pulls in some great hooks and catchy tunes while still maintaining substance. So to say that their newest album, a huge mistake, was listened to with high expectations is an understatement. And while those expectations weren't entirely met, a $300 pair of pants that end up too long in the legs, a huge mistake is still a very comfortable fit. "killer smile" is the perfect way to showcase the band's driving sound, with male screams serving as a terrific counterpoint to Nakajima Aiko's smooth, angelic voice. One of the band's biggest draws is its multiple vocals; many of the songs are sung by both Nakajima and guitarist Naganuma Hidenori while drummer Endou Taisuke provides most of the screams in a three-pronged attack. Hooks run rampant throughout the album, and the guitars and bass compliment and weave around each other perfectly while still maintaining an atonal quality that's prevalent in bands like Number Girl. However, the overall tone of Veltpunch seems reminiscent of Superchunk and other 90s power pop bands. Naganuma definitely likes to add a lot of flourishes and accents, switching guitar styles at the drop of a hat. Coupled with Nakajima's melodic lines they really give the songs a layered sound. But one thing that stands out the most is Endou's drumming. While he might have always been in excellent form, a huge mistake has brought the drums to the forefront more than before. Tracks like "killer smile" and "Cheap Disco '13 steps'" definitely showcase his subtle fills and attention to the beat. There's more experimentation than the past two album efforts to mixed effect. While when we drive focused on delivering solid pop songs with a typical 13 song length, question no. 13 saw the band finding their sound and delivering in a very tight and quick eight song format. In a huge mistake they attempt to tackle a longer album again, though it's hard to believe that the whole album runs at over 55 minutes since it rarely drags. Some songs do tend to run a little longer than their course should permit, and a few times the guitars will overkill a sweet melody like a grizzly bear demolishing Kobayashi Takeru in a hot dog eating contest. But that doesn't stop the band being in tight form. They veer a little from their sound in a couple of tracks—namely the Weezeresque "On Sundays" and the punker "Happy Song"—but all songs retain the band's distinct qualities that just make you want to hum or sing along. This is music that makes life fun, the kind that makes you feel young and alive. Think summers, the first girl or boy you ever kissed, stuff like that. Sure, it can get kind of poppy or even cheesy, but the band avoids totally falling in that direction with its strange key choices and jarring change-ups. Veltpunch definitely has a better handle on how to deliver a longer album than their first full length foray; it's just the album could have been stronger with some trimming and more focused track arrangement. Jon Taylor of Ryukyu Underground lends his talents to an excellent dance remix of "Wa ga Kokoro ni Himawari ha Sakazu" from the last album, scretching the song well beyond its minute and a half length. However, it's rather strange to put the track in the middle of the album when it would have been better to trim it altogether and put it as a b-side to a future release, or even stick it with the accompanying CD of "8gatsu no Butter" remixes. "fight against the jellyfish" would have worked better in the beginning rather than being a near-end album segue, but it is still pleasing to have. "Relax X Relax" is probably the biggest disappointment. It attempts to be epic in scope, but doesn't make the kind of end-album impact that "K.A.O.S. vs. Den" and "REASON" did in question no. 13. question no. 13 garnered high expectations toward future endeavors, a belief that the band can only go up. While the lofty expectations established by its predecessor weren't entirely met due a couple of track arrangement hiccups, song-for-song a huge mistake supercede's Veltpunch's last release with its catchy songs and energetic performance. question feels more like a mini-album rather than a full length effort, a pair of pants that's too tight for the package underneath. mistake fits better, but the legs are a little too long. With some proper tailoring it would have been almost perfect. Here's to hoping that the next pair of pants fits perfectly, or at the very least as well as the last few. |
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