album of the week: 10.3

Kenichi Asai

Sphnix Rose

BMG Japan (2009)

why you'll love it: Best straightforward rock and roll Japan has to offer

why you'll hate it: Nothing original

A big reason why classic rock is still strong in modern day Japan is because of Kenichi Asai. He's successfully led four bands experimenting with classic rock, blues, jazz, garage rock, and punk. He's also released four solo albums, including this one.

Sphinx Rose is quite restrained compared to his past material, but comfortable with its own pace. Kenichi is in his mid-forties now, and I love to see artists act their age. The biggest rock songs are held back to a David Bowie easy going anthem style. There is nothing on this album that tries to knock you out of your seat with power, but the melodies are well crafted and atmospheric.

As with his recent past material, the best songs on here are the very mellow ones. Hypnotizing songs like "Cooler" and "Light Screw" do anything but put you to sleep. The album's shortcomings are a few of the ballads in the first half, which I found to be a bit hammy.

I personally prefer music to be more impulsive or experimental than this, but I can't fault an album for not being what it isn't trying to be. This album does what it sets out to do, as if we needed any more proof that Benzie is a rock master.