album of the week: 9.3

Sherbets

Free

(2011)

why you'll love it: cool groovy rock and roll blues

why you'll hate it: could be too slow or boring for some

To complement the last review, this week I'm listening to the latest Kenichi Asai release. Benzie is the other pillar of Japanese rock and roll, with four "you should really listen to these" rock projects and a solo library on his resume. Sherbets is the most experimental and long running band of his. While there is a constant thread of blues rock through all of Asai's projects, Sherbets seems to be the most labored and atmospheric.

The last Sherbets release was 2008's Mad Disco; a departure from their last few albums at the time. It had a lot more energy and variety. Enough to reconsider my opinion of the band as "background music" and take a much closer listen to their discography. Free is a return to the gentle tones explored on albums like Miracle (2007) and Natural (2005). I can't tell if it's my newfound perspective, or if they have really nailed it, but Free has clicked with me much faster than any other Sherbets album has.

The first minute of "これ以上言ってはいけない" makes it very clear where this album is coming from and what its goals are. Asai's vocals are smooth. They rise and fall at all the perfect moments. Every instrument is delivering an interesting independent melody, which all blend to create a very atmospheric coffeehouse performance sound. Qumico Fucci's vocals and organ support have never felt so clear and present as in "Lydia & David". "Wonder Wonder" is probably the softest song I've ever stated as "rocks". The way the song crests at the chorus is surprisingly overwhelming. Throughout this whole album are incredible swells when the band comes together. The last three minutes of "Nothing For All" is a great example of this. They could have gotten to that moment faster, or made it its own song, but the ambience that binds everything feels irreplaceable. So much that a hi-volume song like "Motor Blitz Breakers" seems very out of place, although it wouldn't on any other of Kenichi's bands, or even a couple other Sherbets albums.

Free never goes through the motions at any point, but I must admit, I begin to drift away a little after the halfway point of this album. They still use a lot of interesting effects on their instruments like in "Neighborhood Funky Special" and "Love Bean". To the very end there is a quality performance… I don't think the album is too long or has filler, but it does feel lopsided. They use all their best tricks in the first half, and then give you the rest. Some changes to the track listing may help, because I can recall a whole lot from this album, but nothing from the last three or four songs to send me off.

If you're a patient listener, who likes to really soak into a song, Free is just the rock album for you. You will be greatly rewarded for the attention you devote. If you're coming into this after discovering Benzie's most popular band (Blankey Jet City) or latest (Pontiacs); you may be let down by the deliberate pace. Once you get on the same wavelength with it though, you wouldn't want it any other way.