Customer Reviews

Prism

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

 

 

"Prism" seems the perfect name for this CD by the Yoshida Brothers, both experts on the shamisen, as they use a traditional Japanese instrument to interpret modern music. The percussion and bass foil the strings (there are also guitars) and keyboards add a triple Z smooth jazz vibe. The vocal tracks tilt the recording even more into the light jazz area.

Overall, the CD sounds brittle and bright, and everyone is trying too hard to crystalize something special, a fusion of funk, jazz, rock, and folk that never approaches the best elements of either. The brothers play with both abandon and finesse, but I just cannot summon much more than a lukewarm endorsement for this amalgam.

This album was our introduction to the Yoshida Brothers. I'm not a music expert in any way, nonetheless I really enjoy listening to Yoshida music. Their instrumentation is superb and the overall sound gives us that wonderful "Nippon" feeling. The Yoshida Brother's technique seems precise and is very musical. This is wonderful contemporary music with very traditional instruments. Ichi-ban!

I love the way the brothers play the shamisen & enjoyed this album for that & the awsome percussion. But as with all bands, the more well known they get the more spit & polish they get. I like the raw, hard driving sounds, not the orchestra effect. Some great cuts & glad i have it.