Radical champs

just my two cents worth of the new radical wimps album that has been circulating around.

Wat can i say...

their really quite radical in their ways...in terms of vocals, instrumentalization and song genres.

Why?

Vocals....Noda yojiro...vocals and guitar. have u not heard him? I still can't give an apt description of his vocal quality. It's nasal and plaintive at times, but the next moment it can be a caterwauling rock concert like squall. and he transits between the various range of timbre and pitches rather successfully without any glitches. But to be honest i prefer it when he sings more ballad like songs such as kome no senshokuta. Some songs that really exemplify this versatility - Hekkushun and Tonde hi ni Nairu natsu. Of the two the one that has made it to my favourite list is Hekkushun. Get a taste of his really quite perfect english in that one as well as a rather interesting transition between choir boy simpering to angst ridden rock brat from 3.19 onwards.
Instrumentalization .... the guitar plays a vital role in their entire get up. To be honest its in their more ballady and soulful songs that u get a taste of the slightly more brillantly orchestrated pieces. or maybe its just because it their rowdier and more rock songs i can't get a grip of the variety. Anyhows...listen to Hotaru, and pay attention to the solo around 3.19 ( seems like the interesting stuff occurs at this point ne?) the accompaniment to that is a xylophone of sorts. Why do I point that out? Well, to be honest, to me it's kinda rare hearing a xylophone in such a prominent role. Anyone who's played a xylophone noes wats bitches they can be. Hitting the right note, getting the right amount of wrist action and being on time is quite somehting, and to put it with a solo voice as solo acompaniment is a risky action which at the same time demonstrates the percussionist skill... unlesss....it's all done with a synthesizer...which ain't too hard to imagine in this day and age. oh welll...but it's still an interesting combi.

Another song that shows a nice blend of orchestration would be Saigo no uta ( my fave! ) that's where they employ the usage of orchestral strings along with a blend of rock faves, electric guitar drums... good going, that brought an extra pizzazz to the ballad.


Song genres .... Just listen to the album. Rock, pop, rap, R&B, soul, ballads....perfect cocktail for someone who has as short an attention span as moi.


Saigo no uta....

Lyrics: Noda Youjirou Music: Noda Youjirou

Modora nai kinou-tachi hontou ni ne
Arigato ne sabishii naa
Mada minu ashita-tachi ima iku ne
Yoroshiku ne ureshii naa

Kanawa nai negai-tachi hontou ni ne
Gomen ne itsuka kitto
Kanaerareta omoi-tachi arigato ne
Korekara mo zutto tomo ni

Chiisa na kodou furueru tabi
Omou no wa boku ga anata wo mamoru kara

Ima boku ga ikite iru toiu koto wa
Ima boku ga shiawase da toiu koto
Ima boku ga waratte nai toshite mo
Ima boku ga ikite iru sore dakede
Shiawase da toiu koto

Deae nai inochi-tachi kimi no fun mo
Boku wa kitto ganbaru yo
Kawashita kono yakusoku-tachi hanasa nai yo
Wasure nai yo yakusoku shiyou

Itsuka kono yo no dare mo ga ieru no ka na
“Boku wa mou nanimo nozomi wa shinai kara”
Chiisa na yume wo tsugi kara tsugi ni
Egaite wa sutete iku no wa
Hontou wa mou kore ijou nani mo ira nai kara

Ima boku ga ikite iru toiu koto wa
Ima boku ga shiawase da toiu koto
Ima boku no me ni namida ukandemo
Ima boku ga ikite iru sore dakede
Shiawase da toiu koto

Afureru inochi-tachi ikite iru
Boku ga iru ureshii naa
Kiete itta inochi-tachi itsuka wa ne
Boku mo iku ne sono hi made

Ima boku ga ikite iru toiu koto wa
Ima boku ga shiawase da toiu koto

Ima boku ga ikite iru toiu koto wa
Ima boku ga shiawase da toiu koto
Ima boku ga waratte nai toshite mo
Ima boku ga ikite iru soredakede
Shiawase da toiu koto
Ikite iru soredakede
Shiawase da toiu koto