Artist: The Magokoro Brothers Title: Nejire no Ichi Production Co: EPIC/SONY RECORDS Cat#: ECSB 1028 Release: 1990/../.. Price: 2800yen Length: 16 tracks Track Data: 1 DOKAAN 2 KIMI TO KANE SAE AREBA 3 FUWA FUWA HITO 4 BIINMAN NO UTA 5 TOMODACHI 6 BUNRUI 7 NORIBEN ONNA (? JO?) 8 SENSOU DE MAKETA HEISHI WA HISSHI NI NATTE HASHIRU 9 SAISHUU DENSHA 10 UWASA 11 SURAMPU 12 SARUMAWASHI 13 UMAKU WA IENAI KEDO 14 HATARAKEDO (?) 15 KIITE IRU YATSURA WA BAKA DA KARA 16 PANKU ROKKAA NO KURUSHIMI Comments: Debut album by ex-buskers The Magokoro Brothers (lit. The Trueheart Brothers), a name obviously chosen to reflect their musical style. The music is usually acoustic in the folk tradition, and often quite energetic. Some of the best songs are the electric rockers (DOKAAN, KIITE IRU YATSURA GA BAKA DA KARA) however. Their voices are not too polished, but interesting. Songs have interesting topics, including humour (KIITE IRU ....) and social comment (SAISHUU DENSHA, PANKU ROKKAA NO KURUSHIMI). Self-drawn art is quite hippyish. (Ross Clement: ross-c@scs.leeds.ac.uk) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Melon Title: Deep Cut Remix Production Co: Cat#: SRCL-2516 Release: 1992 Price: Y2,800 Length: 58'44" Track Data: 1. Quiet Village 2. Up & Down in the Blade Runner City 3. Hard Core Hawaiian 4. Delightful Time of Love 5. Somewhere Faraway on the Shore 6. Faraway & Far Out 7. Pleasure Before Your Breakfast, For Your Pleasure Mix 8. Funk+Asia=Love Mix 9. Deep in the Night (Change the Groove Mix) 10. Gate of Japonesia Yann Mix Cover: "No1" "MELON" "TOKYO" "DEEP CUT" "REMIX." Gold horizontal strip across black background. Comments: I bought an album by Melon at Aron's Records, used for about $6.00 and was horribly disappointed. Out of Osaka, Melon were one of the first groups in Japan that could have been called Rap Music, but lack the elements in American Rap Music that make it appealing to some. Funkiness, for one. This album isn't that much funkier than the previous, but it has some quite good techno-style instrumentals, with some "Tribal" samples that pre-date so-called "tribal" music. There are some rather painful to listen to English vocals, and a couple tracks that could be done without, but all in all, "Deep Cut" is a great improvement. Most remixes are done by former members Toshi and KUDO, with one mix by "Dr." Yann Tomita. I no longer have the former, but I'll keep the latter. Grade: B- Genre: Techno, Rap Other Comments: Bought at Asahiya Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. (Benjamin List: list@chaph.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Milano Alyssa Title: Look In My Heart Production Co: Pony Canyon Cat#: D25Y0273 Release: 1989 Price: yen Length: (8 tracks) Track Data: 1 Look In My Heart 2 What A Feeling 3 Da Doo Ron Ron/Magic In Your Eyes Medley 4 You Lied To Me 5 Kimi Wa Sunshine Boy 6 Born To Love 7 Waiting For My Star 8 Straight To The Top Goodies: Comments: OK Album, Nothing Special. Alyssa's second Album. Possibly aimed at very young kids. (maybe?) Sounds like a young boy. Not really Japanese Pop, but ONLY AVAILABLE IN JAPAN. (Roman Kolek: s925962@yallara.cs.rmit.OZ.AU) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Milano Alyssa Title: Alyssa Production Co: Pony Canyon Cat#: PCCY-00026 Release: 1989 Price: yen Length: (10 tracks) Track Data: 1 I Just Wanna Be Loved 2 I Had A Dream 3 Step By Step 4 Can You Feel It 5 Destiny 6 Happiness 7 Give A Little Kindness 8 Be My Baby/Tell Me That You Love Me - Medley 9 Let My Love Show You 10 We Need The Children Goodies: Comments: OK Alyssa CD. Just as good/bad as LOOK IN MY HEART. This is her debut. (Roman Kolek: s925962@yallara.cs.rmit.OZ.AU) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Milano Alyssa Title: The Best In The World Production Co: Pony Canyon Cat#: PCCY-00059 Release: 1990 Price: 2500 Length: (7 tracks) Track Data: 1 The Best In The World 2 Straight To The Top 3 I Had A Dream 4 Look In My Heart 5 I Just Wanna Be Loved 6 Happiness 7 What A Feeling Goodies: Comments: Strangely, a great NON-STOP remix album of the first two. Great music, and some nice voice effects. (Roman Kolek: s925962@yallara.cs.rmit.OZ.AU) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Milano Alyssa Title: Locked Inside A Dream Production Co: Pony Canyon Cat#: PCCY-00204 Release: 1991 Price: 2800 Length: (10 tracks) Track Data: 1 No Secret 2 I Want Your Number 3 Every Single Kiss 4 Closer To You 5 Your Lips Don't Lie 6 Through It All 7 Say A Prayer Tonight 8 Locked Inside A Dream 9 Count On Me 10 New Sensation Goodies: Free picture booklet of bad Alyssa Milano pictures. Comments: Strange techno-rap style music. Not too bad. (Roman Kolek: s925962@yallara.cs.rmit.OZ.AU) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Mondo Grosso Title: Mondo Grosso, etc. Production Co: For Life Cat#: FLCF-30210 Release: 1993/6/18 Price: Y3000 Length: 42'48" Track Data: 1 Anger 2 Voice of Moon 3 Vibe P.M. 4 Carnival of Colors 5 Souffles H 6 Pivot Throw 7 High Max 8 Day Dreamin' 9 Dazzling 10 Yellow Note Goodies: Clear Jewelbox. Booklet with photos and lyrics. Comments: Mondo Grosso are an excellent acid jazz group. Osawa Shinichi seems to be the mastermind behind the group, and he's an excellent musician. From bass guitar, to guitar, to percussion, keyboards, vibes and construction of rhythms for the group, to writing all the music, which is excellent. They're world class, really. All vocals are in English, except for a rap by French rapper B-Band J, who is also a regular member. Cover: Dark red-toned photo of three band members. Green and white logo: "Mondo Grosso" Grade: A Genre: Acid Jazz Bought through special order at Kinokuniya Bookstores. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Mondo Grosso Title: Marble Production Co: For Life Cat#: FLCF-25224 Release: 93/10/21 Price: Y2500 Length: 41'28" Track Data: 1 Tree, Air Rain on the Earth 2 Anger (Club Mix) - remixed by Norman Cook 3 Souffles H (Souffle Your Wing) - remixed by Norman Cook 4 Thats How it Is 5 Spirit of Voyage (Non Vocal Mix) 6 Yellow Note (Straight to Prince Jazz Beards Head) - remixed by Brother Marco 7 Vibe P.M. (Stranger Things Have Happened - Brazil on a Jimmy Hill Mix) - remixed by Men from UNKLE (James Lavelle/Tim Goldsworthy) Goodies: Standard Jewelbox. Booklet with lyrics and photos. No back cover. Comments: Mondo Grosso had a terrific album with their debut "Mondo Grosso, etc." and were featured on the "Jazz, Hip, Jap" comps as "Men Against Cool." This album is a followup to the first and is primarily a remix album. Also excellent. Cover: Five of the members in sepia-tone. Mondo Grosso logo. "MONDO GROSSO" "MARBLE" over yellow background. Grade: A Genre: Acid Jazz Bought via special order from Kinokuniya Bookstores (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Artist: Moriguchi Hiroko Title: Hikkoshi Wo Suruyo! Production co.: King Cat#: KICS226 Release: 92.9.16 Price: 3000yen(tax included) Length: 49'15" Track Data: 1. Um...Komatta 2. Moshimo Sekai Ga Owarunara 3. Te Wo Tsunaide Italy He Ikoune 4. Hikkoshi Wo Suruyo 5. Nichiyou No Pajama 6. Anata Wo Oikoshita 7. Maa Ikka, Demone... 8. I'll Never Kiss You Again 9. Bad Bad Girl Ni Naretara 10. Nantoka Suruwa 11. Yume Ga Mori Mori Goodies: Comments: Hiroko Moriguchi is famous for her big mouth in the TV variety show programs. But this is just one of her great talents, and her greatest talent is singing! This album is full of her good talents of singing, you can hear. (Kazuhiro Sanada: sana@McLaren.pontneuf.tis.co.jp) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: M-Age Title: Mustard Production Co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-268 Release: 1992 Price: Y3000 Length: 41'59" Track Data: 1 Silent Fears 2 Call Me 3 Wonder 4 Blooming Out of Season 5 Mind War 6 Under the Cubic Sky 7 Walk on the Moon 8 Crisis 9 Visitor 10 Enough of This Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Booklet with photos and lyrics. Comments: M-AGE is most easily classified as a clone of England's Jesus Jones. In a recent Takarajima interview, lead singer Koichiro said that there was no conscious decision to create this sound. Basically when the group came together, the sound happened naturally. Indeed the connection is clear, but there is something unmistakably unique about the band, beyond the language. For one, one member is a DJ. DJ Peah does the programming, sampling and scratching for the group, one of the most incredibly well-produced bands in the country. Cover: "MUSTARD" Group members superimposed over green-leafy background. "M-age" Grade: A- Genre: Indie Rock Bought at the Wave in Ikebukuro. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: M-Age Title: Vibes Production Co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-354 Release: 1992 Price: Y3000 Length: 53'58" Track Data: 1 Mayonaka no Toubousha 2 Body & Soul 3 Tsuki no Bishoumi 4 Flowers of the Sun 5 Passionate 6 Someday Close Your Eyes 7 I'll Keep Holding On 8 Sink 9 Change Your Mind 10 One Love 11 Heaven Goodies: Standard jewelbox. Booklet with lyrics. Comments: This album shows the continuing evoluton of this group, who seem as if they're trying to find a foothold on their style. Unfortunately, this reflects on their music, which has become a bit bland. It is, perhaps, a little more accessible to pop fans, but at the same time relies a little more on mixing and production than its predecessor. This _is_ a good package with good music, though perhaps not as unique an evolution as _I_ had expected. Cover: "M" "a" "g" "e" Letters layered over pink and blue "chrystalline"-looking background. "vibes" Grade: B Genre: Indie Rock Bought somewhere in Shinjuku. (Benjamin List: list@scf.usc.edu) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: M-Age Title: Interface Production co: Invitation (Victor) Cat#: VICL-497 Release: 1993 Price: Y3000 Length: 68'12" Track Data: 1. "Inflation" 2. "The End of the Century" 3. "Mother" 4. "Blink, Blink, Blink" 5. "Earthquake" 6. "Star Shell" 7. "Ocean Rain" 8. "Dream All Day" 9. "Personal Ascension" 10. "Cure" 11. "Sample Return" 12. "Cry For the Moon" 13. "Revive" 14. "Blind Venus" 15. "The Blind Venus" Cover: "INTERFACE" "M-AGE" Cover is a psychadelic Black & White photo of a man about to kiss a woman on the lips. Spine: (Japanese) "London Recording15 Song (Mix: Mike "Spike" Drake). The most acute Alternative Guitar Dance (music). The first step into the world. New mix of single "Blind Venus." Comments: M-Age's latest of three albums shows their slow progress as artists quite well. Their sound is starting to round out. While they still sound distinctly like the UK alternative group Jesus Jones, they have their own unique, slightly more techno-related sound. A bit lacking in variety, though the production on this one is good, was recorded in England and mixed by Mike "Spike" Drake. The instrumentals are particularly notable. Grade: B+ Genre: Elctronic Rock Other Comments: Includes lyrics. Bought through mail-order at Kinokuniya Bookstore. (Ben J. List:list@chaph.usc.edu) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------