Customer Reviews

Yoshida Brothers 3

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

 

 

The Yoshida Brothers do a wonderful job harmonizing the old with the new. If you've heard their first and second albums, you may have noticed that the first one had a very straight-forward and traditional sound. The second album added a modern twist, but this almost made it become too modern; integrating hip hop in some of the songs. This third album achieves a perfect balance and shows off their awesome potential. The great thing about this group is that they seem to be evolving and improving with each new album. The music evokes wonderful images in the mind and powerful emotions in the heart. They deserve so much more exposure than they currently do. I hope they get their big break soon for all of their hard work. Their cover of John Lennon's "Oh My Love" is especially touching. If you enjoy acoustic music and are into Ottmar Liebert or Jake Shimabukuro, you'd probably love this album. These guys are the pride of Japan, and rightfully so :)

So we're in the car listening to the radio when my partner says "that's a Bulgarian folk song but its being played on a shamisen and it sounds fantastic!" Enough to make us find out who the artist is and what other interesting things they may be up to. Now, all our friends have III by the Yoshida Brothers too, its more than east meets west, the production is very tight and the arrangements are really well worked. From Bulgarian folk music to the ambling Overland Blues via James Bond-type music and John Lennon covers, its amazing what these guys can do with just three strings each. This album is definitely worth buying.

I don't play this instrument but believe I have seen/heard enough to make a fair judgment as a player of another traditional Japanese instrument (Koto). Imagine playing an acoustic guitar with only three strings (or a banjo) made of thin, fragile and slippery silk strings, plucked with a hand-side rice paddle as sharp as a razor, as fast as Paco de Lucia. It is technically amazing enough to hear these guys playing in complete synch and tune (this instrument is so hard to keep in tune) at their speed and precision. Musically, it may not be the top of a hit-chart kind, but I give them a huge credit for reaching out kinds of music that most of these traditional instrument players have neglected or looked down till now.

I knew I liked the 5th track, Overland Blues, and took a risk on the album. Love it. I can clean the house to it, write a torrent of email, or rick out in the car. It is great for motivation.

The little surprises were the Brian Eno Collaboration on By This River and the cover of Oh My Love by John Lennon. Lovely.

Be warned - if you cringe at the sound of traditional Asian instruments - not for you. They have a particular twang.