Customer Reviews

Inland Sea

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

 

 

I bought this CD primarily for Lisa Loeb's vocals on "Anti-Hero." However, the entire CD makes the grade. The traditional Japanese music is beautifully blended with modern music and vocals. There are no real kicky or catchy songs on the album; it definitely has more of an ambient, relaxed feel.

Rin' is a female Trio from Japan. They use traditional Japanese instrumentation with electronica backfill in a unique jazzy or pop format that brings the East to meet the West.

The production work of Jimmy Harry gives this CD its wide range of appeal and professional presence. There are a few "pop" pieces featuring Lisa Loeb and Leigh Nash from Sixpense None the Richer. Harry wrote or co-wrote all the sonds on this CD as well as being the producer. The big hit "Anti Hero" featuring Lisa Loeb is also co-penned by Anna Waronker and Greg Kurstin.

"New Day Rising" is the opening track and it gives us a real feel for the group, its sound and feel, and is one of the typical tracks of this CD. Very jazzy, Japanese influences and lovely vocals with Leigh Nash and harmonies.

The big hit here is the track "Anti Hero", featuring Lisa Loeb. The story is about young lady in Japan in a "hero movie" like situation. Very upbeat, great composition, love the lyrics and Lisa Loeb makes this a winner.

If you like Japanese influences on your music, this is a lovely addition to your collection, or a fine introduction to the genre. Don't miss the Lisa Loeb piece, it is well worth getting the CD for. maf

I'd heard "Antihero" and "New Day Rising" on Internet radio stations, so I was intrigued. I really expected more incredibly beautiful pop hypnotism of the same nature. So when I found a local store had a copy I had to get it; boy was I surprised at the instrumental numbers!

They blew me away. This album is just lovely from start to finish. Sure it has its heavily pop side as mentioned. But there is just a nice dream quality overall to the whole thing, the plucked and wind instruments, and the selection & use of voices is just terrific. I can really see listening to this album to study (fixing to try it!), to workout, or to spend time with someone close!

So yes it gets a high rating from me; I intend to order a couple more copies from Amazon for friends. I do kind of agree with the reviewer though who seems to be criticizing the amount of Rin in the album. I wonder how much the girls contributed, and how they might keep this up? Nevertheless, I think the album is terrific, haunting at times, beautiful, dreamy, whoever is really behind it. I would dearly love to see these girls perform!

Rin' is a group with three Japanese traditional instrumental players from the same class of Music academy. Rin' started with original instrumental pieces and recently has been shifting towards pops with singing. This is their first release in the US and would be a nice introduction to the sound of traditional instruments in the context of American popular music.

Being a fan of Rin' from early, I cast a doubt on the concept of this album. Where are their original compositions? This is a touch of Japan, in that there are Japanese instruments used as background of American popular music, singing and rhythm, but one does not feel the necessity to take these instruments in. Well, antihero is cute, but whose album is this? Expected more in the originality of Rin'.

The type of music I like may not be mainstreet.I don`t care. I had heard a sample of this album and I liked it,so I decided to give it a try.I have been very satisfyed with it,and also with the speed with which it was delivered.