---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Dip Title: I'll Slip Into the Inner Light Production Co: Cat#: TOCT-8275 Release: 1994/../.. Price: 3000yen Length: 61'34" Track Data: 1. Lilac Accordian 2. Sora ni Yuretai (I Want To Swing in the Sky) 3. OMOTO 4. Toransu Orenji Tokkyuu (Trance Orange Limited Express) 5. Fall in Holy 6. Tsumetai Kurai ni Kawaitara (?? If I Dried Up on My Cold Throne ??) Cover: "i''ll slip into the inner light dip" Cover is a double-exposure photo of the 3 members of the group in an aqua-green room seemingly just hanging out. Red text across center. Spine: (Japanese) "dip first album - I've never experienced such freshly painful "Japanese Rock" before." "Quiet and movement, innocence and craziness, a chill that seems like it will freeze you, and and a heat that feels like it will burn you up. A kind of Rock & Roll has been born which has until now not existed; one which completely mixes together such extreme. The sound that flows out from this album will change the very air around you. This is a just such a pure album, just such a dangerous album." Nanda sonna kopi-raitingu??? Comments: Looking past the hype on the spine, this is a good album. I've heard the lead singer, Yamaji Kazuhide, a couple years ago in another group, a decidedly more "Manchester-oriented" group called "Bikkly-H." I don't know if they had any albums, but their songs could be heard on various compilations here and there. "Dip's" music has alot of classic rock elements, and quite its share of classic rock references, but this is by no means "classic rock" style. They're very solid, but might be a little too mcuh of a leap for most Jpop listeners. Grade: B+ Other Comments: Includes lyrics. Bought at Asahiya Bookstore in downtown LA. (Benjamin List: list@chaph.usc.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: DJ Doc Holiday Title: The Rhythm The Rebel Production Co: Rhythm Cat#: RNS-006 Release: 1992 Price: Y2000 Length: 32'16" Track Data: 1 Brain Posse 2 Volume Dealers - "Wyatt Earp" 3 Bank Rocker Madness 4 For the Boys 5 Big Beat Dis 6 Bakuretsu Toshi 7 Pianoman 8 The Rhythm The Rebel 9 The Walk 10 Act 2 reprise 11 Wrath Child Goodies: Sandard jewelbox. Comments: DJ Doc Holiday is a Hip-Hop DJ known primarily for fusing a hard-rock edge into his music. Its perhaps for that reason that his music _seems_ to lack some of the professional sound, resonant bass, and well... "funky-ness" that I would expect from a pro. He is well-respected, though, and this album features contributions from Japanese Rap notables (that he produces) ECD, You the Rock, PMX, Zingi and the Gas Boys. Cover: Looks like the Clash's "London Calling" cover. Grade: B- Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop Bought at Virgin Megastore in Shinjuku. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: DJ Krush Title: Krush Production Co: Triad Z (Nippon Columbia) Cat#: 11420 Release: 94/1/21 Price: Y2800 Length: 51'20" Track Data: 1 AM 300 TYO 2 B-Boy Mastamind 3 Mixed Nuts 4 Roll & Tumble 5 Murder of Soul 6 E.A.R.T.H./SOS 7 On the Dub-ble 8 Another Day 9 Underneath the System 10 Edge of Blue 11 Big City Lover 12 Down the Drain 13 Into the Water 14 Ruff-Neck Jam 15 Keeping the Motion Godies: Clear jewelbox. Comments: "Special Thanks" to RJ (sincere congrats, and thanks for the album rec. months ago). Krush, in his mid-30's now, is a serious DJ on a large scale. His recent work on the Jazz Hip Jap compilation has gotten him some international attention, yet his activity in Japanese Hip-Hop for the past few years reflects strongly even in his "Jazz" work. This album is a culmination of these two major influences, and weaves them together nicely, with a strong lean on heavy bass and dope scratching. Guest vocals by Guru (#2), Carla Vallet (#5), Sonya Vallet (#11) and Monday Michiru (#15). Numerous guest musicians. Cover: "KRUSH" Blurry B&W photo of b-boy Krush on a train platform. Grade: A Genre: Rap, Acid Jazz Bought special order at Kinokuniya Bookstores. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Dreams Come True Title: The Swinging Star Production co.: Epic/Sony Records Cat#: ESCB 1350 Release: 92.11.14 Price: 2800yen(tax included) Length: 53'55" Track Data: 1.The Swinging Star 2.Ano Natsu No Hanabi 3.Da Diddly Deet Dee 4.Sayonara(Extended Version) 5.Ikitai No Wa Mountain Mountain 6.Megane-goshi No Sora 7.Kessen Wa Kin'youbi(Version of "The Dynamites") 8.Namida To Tatakatteru 9.Hide And Seek 10.Taiyo Ga Miteru 11.Sweet Sweet Sweet 12.Haretara Iine Goodies: Comments: Following their million seller album "Million Kisses", they release their fifth album. "Kessen Wa Kin'youbi" has already reached No.1 at the ORICON signles chart. The last title "Haretara Iine" is used in the NHK morning series of drama "Hirari". Members are: Masato Nakamura: arrangement, keyboards, drums and bass programming, heart field bass guitar, backing vocal arrangement. Miwa Yoshida: vocal, backing vocal, vocal and backing vocal arrangement. Takahiro Nishikawa: keyboards, sound design, backing vocal arrangement, backing vocal. (Kazuhiro Sanada: sana@McLaren.pontneuf.tis.co.jp) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Dub Master X Title: Dub Master X II Production Co: Triad Z (Nippon Columbia) Cat#: COCA-10516 Release: 92/12/1 Price: Y2500 Length: 69'02" Track Data: 1 1000 River 1.1.4 - Hana 2 Sun Set Dub 3 Joukei 1.0.1 4 Perfect Beat 5 Perfect Dub 6 Guitar Talk 7 Good Night 8 Disco REKUIEMU 9 Good Nightmare (...Can't Sleep) 10 Joukei 1.0.2 11 1000 River 1.1.4 (Dub's 70's Remix) - Hana 12 Sun Set Dub 2 (...and Sun Rise) Gooies: Standard jewelbox.Insert includes complete listing of DMX projects. Comments: The music produced by Izumi "DMX" Miyazaki has a distinct sound. At times, this is unfortunate as much of it lacks anything in the way of flavor. He is recognized as a producer, remixer, and a DJ and his projects span the range of JPOP from Koizumi Kyouko and the Go-Bangs to Pizzicato 5 and Mute Beat to Itou Seikou and MC Joe. This solo album is full of hits... and misses, unfortunately. He strikes me as someone with more skill than sense, personally, but I am curious to hear more of his future collaborations and projects. Cover: Red letters "DMX II" Grade: C Genre: Dub, Techno (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu)