Playboy & Playgirl

Pizzicato 5 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 20, 1999)
• Original Release Date: April 20, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B00000I6H4
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,629 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shagadelic Ride of your Life!, September 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Playboy & Playgirl (Audio CD)

'Playboy/Playgirl' was the first Pizzicato Five CD I ever listened to. A student in my architectural studio class decided to play it on the communal jambox as background music to all those quietly drafting away and building cardboard models. The music became instantly infectious and each song was filled with gorgeous hooks, lush orchestration and production, and an exagerrated albeit fun mood throughout the entire length of the album. In other words, 'Playboy/Playgirl' was exactly what I needed to finish my architecture projects and keep me motivated and driven to the very last all-nighter. Unlike most CDs that I own which all were 'slow burners' in that they had to grow on me before I embraced them, this album is one of the very few to have lit the fire so fast it was more of a flame-thrower. Each song carefully studied the influences of Bacharach, Carpenters, Gainsbourg and the Beach Boys, yet each track is original and perfect. Not one mediocre track anywhere because the strongest aspect of the CD is its sequencing. Each song follows its predecessor perfectly, seamlessly, and therefore requires the listener to listen the entire LP as one carefully constructed piece. What differentiates this album from previous American releases like 'Happy End of the World' and 'Made in USA' is that it is a coherent and unified piece, while the former titles are mostly a hodgepodge of dance tracks and ballads randomly packaged. Although many would accuse this album of being cartoonish in its sentimentality, my response is that it's exactly this aspect that makes it such a guilty pleasure. Since it is a retro-inspired work, 'Playboy/Playgirl' does indeed remind us of the innocence lost from the 60s and 70s. Its 'sweetness' worked for me, as my fiancee and I first fell in love while enjoying this album. All I can say is that it's full of magic. 'Playboy/Playgirl' is the embodiment of happiness.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential P5, November 5, 2001

By 

W. Davidson (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Playboy & Playgirl (Audio CD)

Les Pizzicato Five, how do I love thee, let me count the ways... Great songs, beautifully arranged and conceived, Nomiya Maki's fab voice, impossibly gorgeous style, the list goes on. Matador have released the international version of Playboy & Playgirl which differs only slightly to the Japanese release (the main difference being a long spoken word piece left off which will not bother most non-Japaenes speaking listeners, especially considering it is several minutes long and entirely in Japanese) and it is a tight, wonderful collection that showcases the talent of this outfit. There are great pop gems waiting to be discovered and the songs span from easy listening to drum and bass and from go-go pop to orchestral singsong. My only complaint about the album is the placement of the title track next to the song "Le Regle Du Jeu" as they sound too similar when played back to back. Not much of a criticism, and for good reason, this is a totally superb collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supreme -- The album of 1999, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Playboy & Playgirl (Audio CD)

It catches you and just doesn't stop, this is relentless pop that gives you everything you need except English (if you must). Even with plenty of natural instruments included, this oozes with a futuristic sound that often cannot be recognized. This is as danceable an album as I've heard in ages but has time for some lovely ballads, "I hear a Symphony" is just wonderful. Vocalist Maki is supreme, pun intended, making you want to meet a Japanese girl. As good as their last album (Happy End of the World)was, this is better. When you think about it, Pizzicato 5 is as cosmopolitan and modern as any group going. Truly uplifting -- buy it, love it.