Customer Reviews

New Rock

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It would be hard to find a more fitting title for Buffalo Daughter's third album than "New Rock," except maybe "Highly Original Mind-Blowing Rock." Bulky as the second option is, it perfectly describes the outstanding electro-rock that this Japanese trio churns out, in their most polished release to date.

The title track is a wild mix of riffs, keyboards and solid beats, a guitar-and-drum rhythm that is overlaid with strangely distant vocals. The more typical rock approach continues through songs like the strange "Super Blooper" and more downbeat "Jellyfish Blues." "Socks Drugs and Rock'n'Roll" is probably the most fun of these.

But no way have Buffalo Daughter abandoned their older sound. "R&B (Rhythm and Basement)" is a pure slice of bizarro electro-rock, and one that gets more addictive every time you listen. On the other hand, "Great Five Lakes" is a series of corkscrewing sounds over an indie riff. Aural collages like "No Tokyo" are crazy quilts of ... well, they defy description.

Buffalo Daughter blithely uses all sorts of music -- techno, a bit of blues, rock, electronica, and sound sampling that rivals the Avalanches. Yet it's the most original sort of music you can find. The only downside is that none of the songs sound like they were created by the same band. But on the other hand, there is absolutely zero monotony. Zip. Zilch.

Motoko "Sugar" Yoshinaga plays a slightly insane guitar, and Yukimo Ohno has some solid bass and keyboards. MoOog Yamamoto works his turntable/synth magic as well, and there's some guest musicians who play drums, violin, and who knows what. The result is a tangle of sounds, riffs and blips -- all mashed together. And somehow, that tangle is more fun than any of them taken alone.

One of the best things is how effortless the little sound samples are -- frogs? Toilets? Airports? Subways? TVs? Birds? Commercials? Yes, they fit in. And the lyrics are fun as well -- in case you're wondering, a "Silver Turkey" is an 18-wheeler. The vocals are strangely distant and detached -- they slip in and out of your awareness, sounding almost robotic at times.

Buffalo Daughter's music is wild and mad, and we like it that way. And third album "New Rock" is a delirious DJ's dream come true. Highly recommended.

If U dig weird analog synths mixed with all sorts of funky noise
check it out.They are amazing live 2

Yep, an wondrous album. These guys are a dream live; better than whomever they happen to be opening for, promise.

Sox, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll is about touring, which fact adds to my enjoyment of the song.

Many bands now live in a post R'n'R wasteland, where radio is a blur between one interchangeable altrock band to the next. We whir across the landscape, a land of the hit single which fades into the distance. Album rock is no more, or maybe it isn't. Or maybe it's all the same.

Well, this is unique and listenable. It is fresh and clever. It is simple. It smashes together a lot of little fragments, an artifact of mix culture, analog synths and simple guitar and vocals. Great Five Lakes is a gentle breeze pouring from your speakers, you lose track of time. That's a good thing.

It's often experimental, but like good cutting edge cinema, they start from a place that is familiar and pull you into the unfamiliar, and it all seems to work. Some of the songs sound almost like jam sessions, in the old geezer 70's sense, but that is in itself refreshing.

It would be hard to find a more fitting title for Buffalo Daughter's third album than "New Rock," except maybe "Highly Original Mind-Blowing Rock." Bulky as the second option is, it perfectly describes the outstanding electro-rock that this Japanese trio churns out, in their most polished release to date.

The title track is a wild mix of riffs, keyboards and solid beats, a guitar-and-drum rhythm that is overlaid with strangely distant vocals. The more typical rock approach continues through songs like the strange "Super Blooper" and more downbeat "Jellyfish Blues." "Socks Drugs and Rock'n'Roll" is probably the most fun of these. There's also a couple of extra songs: "Daisy," a lovely little pop song, and a longer version of "Jellyfish Blues." The longer version isn't too much better, but it is an interesting listen.

But no way have Buffalo Daughter abandoned their older sound. "R&B (Rhythm and Basement)" is a pure slice of bizarro electro-rock, and one that gets more addictive every time you listen. On the other hand, "Great Five Lakes" is a series of corkscrewing sounds over an indie riff. Aural collages like "No Tokyo" are crazy quilts of ... well, they defy description.

Buffalo Daughter blithely uses all sorts of music -- techno, a bit of blues, rock, electronica, and sound sampling that rivals the Avalanches. Yet it's the most original sort of music you can find. The only downside is that none of the songs sound like they were created by the same band. But on the other hand, there is absolutely zero monotony. Zip. Zilch.

Motoko "Sugar" Yoshinaga plays a slightly insane guitar, and Yukimo Ohno has some solid bass and keyboards. MoOog Yamamoto works his turntable/synth magic as well, and there's some guest musicians who play drums, violin, and who knows what. The result is a tangle of sounds, riffs and blips -- all mashed together. And somehow, that tangle is more fun than any of them taken alone.

One of the best things is how effortless the little sound samples are -- frogs? Toilets? Airports? Subways? TVs? Birds? Commercials? Yes, they fit in. And the lyrics are fun as well -- in case you're wondering, a "Silver Turkey" is an 18-wheeler. The vocals are strangely distant and detached -- they slip in and out of your awareness, sounding almost robotic at times.

Buffalo Daughter's music is wild and mad, and we like it that way. And third album "New Rock" is a delirious DJ's dream come true. Highly recommended.

Having purchased this on a whim, I must say that I do find it a refreshing soundtrack to keep in the background while I engage in a variety of household activities. That said, I think this is the point of Post-Rock: Keep it minimal, interesting and explore only so much foreground. I would argue that this latest offering from Buffalo Daughter will seem much like Martin Denny-esqe exotica from the 50's in 20 yrs or so: information-age (Bachelor/ette) music to whir and hum to the veneer that covers our bland, design-driven existence.

Not as heavy as Melt Banana, or as exotic and jazzy as Cibo Matto, or really even as cheesily 60s as Pizzacato 5, Buffalo Daughter was long overlooked by this fan of Japanese Rockers. When I saw them open up for Money Mark I was amazed. They had solid bass and drums in interlocking step with soaring keyboard and guitar solos that were sparse and simple, but full of emotion. Driving Disco Funk met digital hip-hop in an alley full of instrument swapping, MOOGs, and a heavy rhythm section. I bought their album before leaving the show to get away from Money Mark's uniquely unbearable singer-songwriter palaver and continue rocking out at home. Though very slickly produced, this album has raw rock with experimentalism. I was not disappointed. As the 'Socks, Drugs, and Rock n Roll' proves, these kids know when to throw down a rauchy guitar solo even in their cutesy songs. The Buffalo Daughters have an ironic take, with opposing tracks, 'No New Rock' and the title track. So what's new about 'New Rock?' After collaboration between Public Enemy and Anthrax, for example, is rap-rock fusion new? In 'Socks' Buffalo Daughter plays off the irony of say, Run DMC covering Aerosmyth's 'Walk this Way,' coyly shouting out 'Wave your hands in the air!' 'New Rock' opens up with a heavy, melodic bass groove, slowly layering on snare, guitar, haunting vocals and keyboards. The effect is mournful and heroic, exuberant even. By contrast 'No New Rock' is quirkily unsettling, with a skittering guitar riff and lyrics being mostly the title over and over, but still a caboose-wiggler. I can't point to some feature that is 'new', but the variety of their songs together point to the experimental-techno future of groove oriented rock. Get your ears on everything they've done. If they come to your town, or the next town over, go see them and enjoy!

i've been listening to this record for a while now and unlike a lot of the crap i bought last year this is still excellent. if you have a chance to catch them live, don't miss it.

Buffalo Daughter have yet again given the world an amazing work of art. There are no words I can use to describe how amazing they are. This entire album will suspend you in a place you have never been. "Jellyfish Blues" takes blues on a newer plane. Buffalo Daughter is amazing live too. I was lucky enough to see them in Detroit this summer. They will be back in the U.S. soon. Hope you are lucky enough to see them and hear this album!!

When I first heard the title "Great Five Lakes" I laughed, but then stood awestruck by the amazing sounds coming at me. Buffalo Daughter has truly created a winner with "New Rock." They turn noise into music- and make chipmunk voices sound poetic. The scratches are lyrical. The band is the best thing out of Japan in a while.