the healthiest of junk foods (Buffalo Daughter - Konjac-Tion)

Buffalo Daughter - Konjac-Tion

why you'll love it:  Incredibly fun art-rock

why you'll hate it:  Lighthearted to the point of corniness

I am almost certain this is my favorite album of 2014.  Let's just get that out of the way.  I say that up front because I'm not sure any specific examples are going to back up that claim.  There are no truly standout tracks on Konjac-Tion.  As a whole, it's just one big amazing concoction of pop and art.  Just under an hour of near perfection.

What makes Konjac-Tion sweeter is that this is a "comeback from a comeback" album for Buffalo Daughter.  In 2010, they awoke from a four year hibernation with The Weapons of Math Destruction.  A disappointing return for the once mind-blowing artisans of electronic Krautrock.  Weapons ended up being a poor imitation of themselves.

With Konjac-Tion, Buffalo Daughter wisely explores their other half; a wacky, carefree, somewhat Shibuya-kei inspired block party.  Buffalo Daughter is no young upstart Japanese pop act looking to make waves with full blown cuteness though.  Maturity and restraint goes a long way in this album.  Songs aren't constructed to have hooks, but moreso flow.  While singing about junk food, in French, or quoting The Buggles; Yumiko Ohno delivers with such a dry honest sincerity and a killer backbeat, only the most jaded curmudgeon would roll their eyes.

It's fitting there is no Hot Chip album this year, because Konjac-Tion has filled that void effortlessly.  It's a dance party that blurs the lines between cool and corny, art and entertainment, punk and prep.  Konjac-Tion does Tom Tom Club better than Tom Tom Club ever did.  The addition of guest performers (Gorillaz and Battles style) only makes the party more fun.  Kahimi Karie lends her whispery tones with a brief French lesson.  With surprise cameo of the year, Shintaro Sakamoto (Formerly of departed garage psycadellic guitar freakout group, Yura Yura Teikoku), lends his vocals to the silliest song on the album, "Love & Food".

Many guest stars lend remixes to the bonus album if you pick this one up on iTunes.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  I usually ignore remixes, but these tracks are just as fun, and in some cases, even better, in unexpected ways.  Also worth it for an instrumental version of "Les Sirens" (The only bad track on the album, due to a rap that just doesn't suit Buffalo Daughter well.)

I could go down moment to moment what I love about this album, but it's the full package that makes it so good.  There are a lot of great albums out there that only sound good in the background, with only the highlights leaving a good impression on you.  There are some that will pass you by unless you pay deep attention to them.  There are good road trip albums, good study albums, etc...  Konjac-Tion can be enjoyed any damn way, and will still be enjoyed.  I'm so happy Buffalo Daughter was motivated enough to create it.