Customer Reviews

Third Generation

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

 

 

This is one of the older Hiroshima albums. It is classic Hiroshima with a lot of jazz fusion combined with very distinct Japanese sounds. "Distant Thoughts" is one of Hiroshima's best compositions. This CD is a must for every Hiroshima fan.

"Third Generation," released waay back in '83, found this band at a crossroads. Prior to this recording, they didn't know if they were going to be a band that infused its brand of Asian music with rock or with jazz, or if they were going to infuse thier particular brand of rock/jazz fusion with Asian influences. They almost got it right with thier first, self-titled release, and got it horribly wrong with "Odori." With subsequent releases, the band veered away from thier Asian/Fusion base and toward a more popular format, one that was only lightly tinged with Asian fusion. However, this CD has the best of both worlds in it. It's perfectly balanced between all three, Asian (mostly Japanese but with hints of Korean thrown in), Fusion and Popular (although the vocals on "From the Heart" and "Long Walks" are a bit thin). The entire CD works, although, for me, the more notable standouts are the Carribean-infused "Do what you can," the driving "San Say," (a curious play on both the Japanese-American term for a "Third Generation" Japanese American and the Japanese word for teacher), the hauntingly beautiful "Distant Thoughts," and "Fifths."

The CD arrived early and was one of many orders to complete my collection. I look forward to ordering from this company again. CD & case are in excellent condition as promised. Thanks