Worst of Moon Riders [Import]

Moon Riders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 3, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Pony Canyon Japan
• ASIN: B000083OAP
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,837,721 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Japanese

2. Japanese ( It's Very Very Long Orgasms)

3. Japanese

4. Japanese

5. Japanese

6. Japanese

7. Japanese

8. Japanese

9. Japanese

10. Japanese

11. Japanese

12. 30

13. Frou Frou

14. Japanese

15. 2001 Japanese

16. Japanese

17. Japanese

18. Japanese

19. Japanese

20. Cuban Parco

See all 30 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Some extra info that David stabbed at, December 30, 2004

By 

C. Browne "-CTB" (Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Worst of Moon Riders (Audio CD)

The first track, though not recorded by Hachimitsu Pie, was indeed reminiscent of their folk-rock era, but as they ask in the liner notes "Dead-like [grateful dead?], or Crimson-like [King Crimson?]?" they were simply rocking out on stage here. The translation of the title is "Opportunist's Chance (flying time)", but it is hard to be sure because of the lack of Kanji on Koumori. Indeed, the live version of Natsu no Hi no Orgasm (Summer Day Orgasm) is a "very very long orgasms" version, which is a medley of the track (a single, never on album, their last release prior to a 5 year hiatus) and a ton of their others. I have both releases of this set, and this new version is expanded to the length of the original LP, Frou Frou, Yoi Dore Dance Music, and Scarlet Chikai are restored here. The best tracks on disc 1 are Itokodoshi (Cousin) which far surpasses the album version in its live rendition, and Russian Reggae, which is not a track they ever released outside of this live take.

Also nice is that the complete Natsu no Hi no Orgasm single is included at the end of disc two, Imasugu Kimi o Buttobase is probably their best B-Side, and deserves to be heard.

Again, this is for completists, you will not appreciate this unless you can hum the album takes... but beware, this is only the first step on the path to Moon Riders rarities!

5.0 out of 5 stars An astoundly good 80s-era live album? Surely you jest!, December 16, 2004

By 

David Goodwin (Westchester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Worst of Moon Riders (Audio CD)

Those who are more familiar with Western album-naming conventions, be advised: despite its title, this is *not* a sarcastically-titled collection of Greatest Hits. No, rather it's a...err, nonsensically titled live album that really isn't a collection of greatest hits. Make of this what you will.

I've said enough about this woefully-overlooked band in my other reviews, so I'll spare you that in this entry, and instead give a quick summary on this..."unique" live album.

"The Worst of the Moonriders" was released in 1986, as one of the last releases on the TENT record label. This is essentially the extent of the factual information I know about the thing. Is it a contract filler? A lark? No idea. I can, however, tell you that it's really, really good.

In the mid-eighties, the Moonriders were at the height of their powers, releasing a string of comparatively-successful albums. "The Worst of the Moonriders" is drawn from their extensive (even in 1986!) back catalogue, but features a bizarre assortment of tracks. Instead of featuring what I assume would be considered hits--"Swimmer," "Beep Beep Be," "Video Boy," "Jealousy" and others--the band seems to pick and choose whatever suits them.

So what DO we have? A variety of excellent performances, drawn from throughout the band's career. Disc 1--subtitled the "History of Orgasm" (we'll get to that in a second) side--starts out with a slow track with which I am unfamiliar; sources point to it being a track from Hachimitsu Pie, Keiichi Suzuki's pre-Moonriders band. Next up comes the track to which most people's eyes are immediately drawn when glancing over the tracklisting to this album: Natsuno Hino Orgasm (It's Very Very Long Orgasms), a version of their latest single which morphs into a medley which manages to feature about 15 different songs crammed into its running length. The rest of Disc 1 ("The Worst Side") features oft-radically rearranged versions of tracks ("Sparking Gentlemen") from a variety of concerts.

Disc 2 features the "International Instrumental Hits Side," and "The Voice of Bedside," a collection of odd covers and stripped-down, mostly-acoustic tunes, respectively.

What's it like? Given the disparity of sources, the experience tends to vary, Zappa "Stage" style. The 80s tracks find the band experimenting with sampling, often using synth backing tracks to the recordings...it's often hard to tell what is and what's not live (it's especially difficult to tell whether Kashibuchi's drumming is real or just a sample). In other words, the 80s-era live tracks are about as steeped in the 80s-aesthetic as are the band's contemporary studio albums--with which one should hopefully be familiar before buying this, anyway. The 70s tracks are more organic.

I especially like this mini-LP sleeve reissue, as it apparently gathers up tracks unique to several singles and different permutations of the album; for example, it staples the entire Natsuno Hino Orgasm (B-sides and all!) to the end of disc 2. It also comes with an absurd assortment of essays, concert lists, and other stuff I naturally can't make heads or tails of. You might want to shop around for better bargains (I've seen this go for far cheaper at other merchants), but this is in all likelyhood the best version of this album we'll see.

Verdict? Ehh...it's difficult to recommend a niche item like this, despite its obvious appeal to crazy people like myself. If you like the band, this should be the live album you go for, finding the band excellent at many different stages of their prime. The key there, though, is "if you like the band." Liking obscure (if incredibly good and influential) Japanese pop is often a trial in and of itself. My advice? Try some studio albums by the band out. If you like them...well, you'll eventually get here.