album of the week: 6.3

GO!GO!7188

Go!!GO!GO!Go!!

Victor Entertainment (2010)

Why you'll love it: Impossibly fun rock and roll

Why you'll hate it: Language barrier, a couple slow filler tracks

Of the short list of bands that made Japan's punk scene so fantastic at the turn of the century, GO!GO!7188 is probably the least prolific. But they're still on that short list, and they're the only one to remain intact today, so that's gotta say something right? Their surf rock inspired sound has undergone fresh and welcome changes every few years since the late nineties. Last year's album, Antenna, was entertaining; but saw the band become a bit desperate to find more uncharted territory. It ended up sounding like an odd b-sides collection. This year, for the first time, the trio is dipping back into their past strengths and creating what sounds like a greatest hits album.

There are loads of pop hooks that have defined their past three releases here. The production is generally that dirty nightclub kind of rock and roll that made albums like 竜舌蘭 (2004) so special. Most exciting though, is the youthful energy from a decade ago returning stronger than ever before.

There are songs on this album that sound like they came straight out of the 魚磔 (2001) era; while the song "Ballad" literally has! This is a throwback album done right. The songs just don't have one catchy riff repeated over and over. "耳たぶ2号" alone is packed with enough memorable moments to fill three songs. Where Antenna tried to divide up their piñata of genres, here they seamlessly work them into parts of songs. "まやかしの世界" has a wonderful unexpected moment of pure shredding. The enka sound of 鬣 (2003) makes a welcome return in "今日の歌" . "最後の晩餐" features some of the lounge and swing style that was a big part of my favorite GO!GO! album, 569 (2007).

Due to there not being a single, some filler has made its way onto the full track list. No bad songs to be found here, but trimming the fat may have made this the best GO!GO! release ever. I'm not usually a fan of bands repeating themselves; but with over 10 years of experience, and songs as bad ass as "ええじゃないか", I'm so pleased that GO!GO! has decided to take another lap around the track.