Customer Reviews

Chat Chat

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...This is a great album for those who have lost all faith in "pop" music. I'm not sure how this kind of record was marketed in Japan... was it meant for little girls? Was it meant for bored 20-somethings like myself? I'm not sure how they would be able to sell this in the USA. Puffy is currently trying to sell some more records over here (a USA-only compilation and a mini-tour), but Minekawa would be even tougher to get through to the "mainstream."

So, this album is all over the place musically. "I Love" is a quirky little ditty with something that sounds like a toy drum providing the beat. Then, "Summertime Blues" comes out of nowhere with an intro that sounds like something on Steve Winwood's "Talking Back to the Night" followed by distorted guitars - and a hilarious 80's hair-metal guitar solo as well!

Some of the tracks sound a little more like "typical" Japanese pop music, but check out how the stripped-down acoustic guitar & voice of "Clover" is followed by the huge "Moonlight Shadow" (is that a mandolin on the intro??? it sounds like somebody's actually TRYING to make interesting pop music here, folks.) Then, the song explodes into a Celine Dion (sorry...) overproduction with Minekawa sounding like Ronnie Spector above the mass of sound - tons of synthesizers & percussion. Gone is the "little girl" voice... and she belts it out like a pro.

Then - on "My Love" - is that a Dobro i hear? Is that a pedal steel guitar on "Love?" It's fascinating how Japanese pop artists have been inspired by typically American musical ideas and, as the MTV-fueled music over here becomes more and more sterile, they are feeding it back to us!

I cannot explain the cover of "Drive my Car" - it is pretty funny, though...

...but if you have the cash (it's always an expensive import) check this one out. This is certainly Minekawa's most pop-oriented record... her collaborations with Buffalo Daughter, various DJ's, and Dymaxion tend to have even LESS "American commercial potential" than this record!

Cheers,
Eric

Okay, I haven't heard all the songs on this CD but I have heard the majority and they are some of my favorite songs by Takako Minekawa. Moonlight Shadow blew me away after hearing nearly all of her music. It's so different from her usual style but it's different in a good way. That's what I like about Minekawa, she is ALWAYS trying new things but still manages to make it great. Kaze No Tani no Nausica (the unlisted song) frankly rocks. Mimi is also an excellent track and would make my "best tracks I've ever heard" list. There's a couple of covers on this CD that sound a lot like Kahimi Karie's more americanized brand of music which is okay if you like that style. I prefer her originals to most of her covers, and there are some good ones on this CD. Overall a must buy for TM lovers.

Chat Chat is very charming to listen to, in fact, it can be called cute... but not bad-cute, rather its the kind of cute that constantly brings a smile to your face when you listen, like many Japanese Pop/Shibuya-Kei songs. The majority of the album is cover songs, including Drive my Car (a Beatles classic), and a catchy synth version of the theme song to the anime "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind", call Kaze No Tani No Naushika (track number 3, not listed). The covers are great, and so are the original songs. Mimi has a cool mildy-Latin beat to it, and My Love has beautiful vocals by Takako. Summertime Blues and Circling Times Square are two of my favorites from this album, and have the classic Takako Minekawa charm to them. Being Takako's first album, the songs may be a little rough around the edges, but for any Japanese Pop fan, this album is a must.

personaly i think it could be better because i'm only teenager what do you ecept from me but it is good but me i don't really listen to it, why do you have to have so many words well this all i can write.