2 posts tagged “ザ･クロマニヨンズ”
Didn't think this would last long enough to post, but it's still here so I have to spam it everywhere.
Watch it!
Go to YT and watch it there in high quality while you still can.
Hiroto has the kind of fringe my mother used to give me when I was 7, halfway up his forehead. It never suited me, but it looks strangely good on him. Very Cro-Magnon! ;p He's is in full manic gurning mode too...in fact they have packed every single one of their trademark moves and emotions into this PV.
And Marcys haircut, which at first I thought was vandalism, actually adds to his boyishness I think. Their silhouettes are very dramatically used in this video. Its subtle and perfect in its depiction of both them and the song. Which is awesome. I love that song!
*dances*
I think レッツゴー宇宙 Lets Go Uchuu is even better though, even if it is hella short...that guitar sound is awesome.
Originally written on
Monday, December 25, 2006
Started moving my reviews over here. Could take a while but eventually I will dump Paradox Lust I think.Not that I LOVE Vox. Far from it XD
But at least things basically stay where you put them, and it's harder for random shits to comment. Have to try and resist editing them too much, because they are like time capsules now, and even though I can see things needing changed, it's really better if I don't.
ザ･クロマニヨンズ<初回生産限定盤>
BVCR-18083/4
The Cro-Magnons self titled first album Special Edition!
25/10/06
SO!
A
nice new fresh review hot off the press to celebrate the Summer
Solstice (yeah and Christmas too...anything that gets the white picket
side of the street festooning their houses in trippy lights has to be
good).
Middle of summer here and the weather is...pleasant? Eh? That's something to really celebrate around here XD
And
so I write because celebrating makes me garrulous and no-one in the
immediate vicinity knows wtf I am talking about. Or rather they do
because I've played it obsessively for months and driven them all
hatstand.
Yes, I'm talking about the Cro-Magnons debut album.
Early in the year some time, a good friend of mine sent me a link to a Blue Hearts video she had uploaded to Youtube, a song called Jounetsu no Bara. It was an instant beginning to a very wonderful love affair with all things Hiroto Kohmoto (and Masatoshi Mashima of course).
Imagine my glee on discovering that Hiroto and Marcys' latest band The Cro-Magnons, had Katsuji from Gargoyle and Masaru from Sads (& lately Nil) and that they were releasing an album. How could such an inspired gathering of musicians be anything other than divinely brilliant? Absolutely impossible.
甲本ヒロト Hiroto Kohmoto (Vo.)
真島昌利 Masatoshi Mashima (G.)
小林勝 Masaru Kobayashi (B.)
桐田勝治 Katsuji Kirita (Dr.)
I ordered the special CD/DVD edition and it made me very happy, as they included a five song live on the cd, as well as 5 and a half minutes of photoshoots before the gig. The only complaint I can think of to make is about the booklet. Hiroto is still very beautiful and he should have been the one getting his anatomy closely examined instead of that gorilla suit thing. Still I suppose we get to see plenty of his anatomy in the live. I have to warn you, they do pixelate the naughty bits, but nonetheless, clothes on or off Hiroto is one of the most spell binding live performers you will ever see.
1.Killer Bee
キラービー
(by Marcy)
They
take this Cro-Magnon stuff very seriously XD Opens with alot of funny
prehistoric noises courtesy of the certifiably insane Hiroto and Marcy.
And
then the song, which is ...guh!...fucking hell this album is going to
be hard work to review. It's a gorgeous, melodic, energetic punk song.
Intricate and hard. Brilliantly constructed and divinely simple. And
short.
2. Electric Guitar
エレキギター
(by Marcy)
Then, a
song I didn't like as much at first but soon came to love. It's the
wind up song. The pump em up to action song. In the context of the
whole album, it's perfectly situated to ramp up the band and the
audiences energy for what is to come. Jesus Christ! (Happy Birthday)
Marcy is such a brilliant guitarist. So incredible.
3.連結器よ永遠に
Renke Tsuki Yo Eien Ni
(by Hiroto)
This
song starts with Marcys name. And I really hope that the permanent
connection refered to in the title is between these two fantastic
musicians. Hiroto and Marcy create something together magically, that
no one person could ever create alone, however gifted they were.
And
the stunningly talented Katsuji and Masaru back them up so solidly.
They are playing very much true to their own personalities too and
adding their own special flavour to proceedings. It's all really
exciting to hear and I hope this band will live on to produce many more
albums. Though of course Katsuji must always stay loyal to Kiba,
because Kiba is Kiba is Kiba...
To actually describe how good this song is too hard. Just go facking listen to it.
4.GREAT
グレート
(by Hiroto)
Oh
God! Talk about making life difficult. How to explain the Greatness? XD
He feels so great because he's riding on a tsunami of creative
inspiration. It's empowering just to listen to it.
5.やわらかい
Yawarakai
(by Marcy)
They both are. This song is case in point.
*sighs*
Marcy is the greatest guitarist/songwriter of them all.
6.あさくらさんしょ
Asakura Sansho
(by Marcy)
AHHHHHHHHHH!
Too good. I fucking resign.
There
is so much love in their music. So much healing. So much wit and
compassion. I am floored. They are living proof that if you want the
highest creative gifts you need to have a good honest heart and kind
intentions. An unpurified vessel will crack under the pressure of
divine inspiration.
7.草原の輝き
Sougen no Kagayaki
(by Marcy)
Oh
Marcy man, you mad old hippy you, these songs are unbelievable! I wish
I could have written such a thing. I wish I could do what you do but at
least you inspire me to what I do, and do it with love.
Masarus' bass in this one is particularly crucial.
8.歩くチブ
Aruku Chibu
(by Hiroto)
Cock Walk! LOL! I knew this one had to be about penises. A translation of this would be...most appreciated :D
More
apeman noises from the peanut gallery, and then straight into the best
of the best, the most brilliant song of all. The best song I have heard
in a long long time. XDD
And the LIVE! O.O;; Hiroto is insane, and a genius. What more could you want?
This
song makes my soul dance joyfully. And I think that is what I love to
hear most . A band that forces you to move, whether its internally or
externally. They have to make all your atoms dance.
Whew!
9.くじらなわ
Kujira Nawa
(by Marcy)
A
nice bouncy little ditty of a song, with some great "OI!"s from our
friends in the bottom end. They are such a relentless fighting force of
a band, and yet all rather gentle and shy seeming in their way. It's a
perfect paradox, like all the best things in life.
10.夢のロッケンロール・ドリーム
Yume no Rock'n'Roll Dream
(by Hiroto)
Speaking
of gentle men, here is the "ballad" or soppy song if you hate that word
like me. It's very pretty and sweet of course. These two have always
done the slower, emotional stuff just as brilliantly as their more high
energy masterpieces. I love the way Hiroto sings in this. It's so fresh
and innocent. Reminds me a little of Okens' style. They also have a
similarly physical martial arts informed performance style going on.
Although Hiroto doesn't pull out the nunchuckus like Oken, you can tell
he's into it. After all he's an O type...XD
Don't ask me what all that had to do with a soppy song about the Rock'n'Roll dream.
11.くま
Kuma
(by Hiroto)
Awesome
song! Brilliant guitar work! To die for really. Again very innocent and
simple but not really if you know what I mean. I can only think of it
in terms of art, in which the fewer lines you can capture something in,
the greater master you are. To reduce everything to it's most perfect
form, that is the game. Divine simplicity.
12.Tally Ho
タリホー
(by Hiroto)
And
speaking of perfect forms, here is the fantastic debut single. The
single of the year in many ways, although Kiyoharu - Kimi No Koto Ga is
my hearts' favourite.
This single was the moment we knew the
Kuromaniyons had arrived. And it made me so happy! It's also much more
than just an instantly addictive single. It's a perfect shining gem
from a songwriter who has made my jaw drop more times than I can count
this year as I worked my way through his endless back catalogue.
13.Ma Ma Ma
まーまーま
(by Marcy)
XDD
I love this! I'm not going to even ask what its about. But the baby BVs are so cute :D
Lovely!
14.土星にやさしく
Dosei ni Yasashiku
(by Hiroto)
Love that drumming! And the bells. It's all so festive.
And
such a great song, a triumphant, ecstatic finale by a band that knows
they've made one the best albums of their glorious twenty year plus
career.
Life time honours award for Hiroto and Marcy.
And they are all singing together again now :)
The band that sings together stays together.
NO COMMENT on the hidden extra :P
Conclusion: WOW!!
This the BEST ALBUM FROM A BAND IN 2006, by a country mile.
When
music such as this it creates ripples in the psychospace, like an
earthquake in the sea. If you don't get hold of the special edition
while you still can (if you still can), you are going to be kicking
your own bwatty one day.
Big Time
^..^
Oh and Peace and Love to you all.
DVD Setlist:
1. 5.21 mins photo and preamble (includes stills).
2. Cro Magnon Stomp
3. Killer Bee
4. Tally Ho
5. Aruku Chibu (YEAH!)
6. Dangan Rock
