Tsunamic Girls From Tokyo

Pistol Valve (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Garule/Rightsscale USA
• ASIN: B000TXRAM4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #596,087 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

10 girls, 10 instruments, one unique style :: Pistol Valve performs cool brass-band-pop with a hip groove. Pistol Valve was formed in Tokyo on October 2005 by 10 Japanese girls whose average age was 20. Although young, the members are all professionals at their respective position and create a unique sound that blends together Rock, pop and hip-hop. The band first gained attention when they were featured in FUJI-TV's "The Best House 1-2-3". Their appearance was an immediate impact and "Pistol Valve" was ranked #4 on Yahoo! Japan's search word ranking the very next day. Since then Pistol Valve has been appearing in numerous television programs, steadily establishing themselves as a stable presence in Japanese mainstream media. Aside from that the girls were also renowned for the frequent street performances that they conducted around central Tokyo. In 2007 Pistol Valve broke out onto the International music scene by making their first-ever US performance. Performing in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Texas (SXSW2007) and L.A., Pistol Valve amazed the audiences with their flashy looks and unique sound. As a result the band received numerous inquiries from various sectors of the american music industry upon returning to Tokyo. Keep an eye out for Pistol Valve - these ladies are ready to revolutionize the music scene with their hip groove and heavy sound!! 1 Western Girls 2 Pull The TRIGGER! 3 Flap Up Elephant 4 Fo-Fo 5 Tube Tune 6 My Generation 7 Sit At Cow Char Nail 8 The Best House

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 10-talented musicians of Pistol Valve make their first US album debut, August 8, 2008

By 

Dennis A. Amith (kndy) (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tsunamic Girls From Tokyo (Audio CD)

Things are looking great for the 10-member, all-female group known as Pistol Valve.

The group consists of Jenni 7000 (Violin & Vocal), cotton (Alto Sax & Vocal), ANDO! (Tenor Sax & Vocal), tommy (Euphonium & Vocal), DJ Lilya (Turntable), Misaty (Trumpet), Yoko Brooklyn (Tenor & Baritone Sax), Corina (Valve Trombone) and M-chan (Trumpet).

The young energetic group brings something new to the industry with ten beautiful musicians belding rock, pop and hip-hop into one.

The group has performed throughout the US for Japan Nite and SXSW in 2007 attracting new fans in the US and has now released their first album in America courtesy of Rightsscale USA.

Although we have covered their performance in Los Angeles at Japan Nite, I wasn't sure what to expect with "Tsunamic Girls From Tokyo".

I really enjoyed their debut album because it reminded me of old school FISHBONE. One of my favorite US bands in the 80's and 90's with their hip style fusing alternative rock with ska and funk.

The same can be said of Pistol Valve and what makes it so interesting is that with so many beautiful women in a band, you can think "another idol girl band?" Nope.

What you have are ten young and beautiful musicians who jam with their instruments and showcase that ska/rock sound with "Western Girls" and "Pull the TRIGGER!" and then bust into some experimentation on tracks such as the poppy and catchy "Fo-Fo", to a J-Pop tune with "Tube Tune" and then the English cover of the Who's "My Generation" and then the rock inspired track of "Sit At Crow Char Nail" which I really enjoyed.

As for the vocals, each song features breezy rhythms in conjunction with melodic affecting pop and rock tunes with a big dose of brass-band synergy. Most tracks are sung in Japanese with the exception of "My Generation" which is in English.

You get a little of everything on this album but one thing is consistent are the brass horns on each song and knowing that the women can definitely play.

If I had to list the negatives of this album, which there aren't really any, it's just the fact that there are only 8 tracks. But I enjoyed each track nevertheless.

With some labels that try to include an English track, Pistol Valve has the cover of the classic Who song "My Generation" and similar to other artists who try to sing in English, with this track, it's pretty hard to discern the English lyrics. Also, I wish the Japanese lyrics were included inside the CD insert. But that is just me being picky.

With an album release in the US, I can only hope we see another US tour from the group. I can see a lot of potential with "Pistol Valve" and wish the best for them as they embark in the next stage in their careers of bringing their music (from Japan) to an American audience. I dig Pistol Valve and if you enjoy ska and it being fused with rock and pop, I think you will dig them as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and frothy, November 19, 2007

By 

R. Moses (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tsunamic Girls From Tokyo (Audio CD)

These girls from Japan have turned out a very solid good-time album -- nothing too cerebral, just a fun listen from beginning to end. And even if the party horns thing isn't your bag, their Engrish take on My Generation is worth the price of admission. Phonetic pronunciation never sounded so good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, November 10, 2007

By 

A. Chaplin "Dia LMT" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tsunamic Girls From Tokyo (Audio CD)

I took this cd with me on a road trip and I loved having the upbeat music for the drive.