36. J Pop CD 2

JPop CD 2 Various Artists (Tofu Records) 2005

Detail of cover retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/album/jpop-cd-vol-2-mw0000703362

Genre

Music: Japanese Pop Music

Review

The liner notes indicate that the album is an anthology of hit anime themes, not just pop music lifted from Japanese radio.  The songs are as anthemic as you'd expect from the opening frames of an anime series, whose visuals are usually frenzied.  The music is just as bombastic often with straining, soaring vocals. 

Opinion

The songs have a distinct western influence heard in the melody and use of electric guitar.  Many are upbeat: Puffy AmiYumi's "Beginnings" is particularly fun.  It's vocals are cheerful and the song is poppy and insistent with a driving bridge built on drums and a percussive synthesizer part.  An electric guitar stands near the front with the vocals for most of the rest of the song.  There's a clear rock and roll influence, but particularly fun rock and roll like B-52s by way of the Go-Gos.  Still, other songs sound like 70s sitcom themes (slightly cheesy, bubbly pop music): Yuki's "Dramatic" for instance.

Ideas

The anime might be a good link to the music or vice versa.  It'd be fun to have a listening program where children brought in their favorite international music.  If the library were doing a Japanese culture event, this might be a fun, modern soundtrack.