Now, I may not be fluent in Japanese…OK, to be honest, I haven’t got a clue. But, I do know amazing music when I hear it! So, I was more than hooked when I first stumbled across young J-Rockers, One OK Rock a few years back. Since then, they have released an album or two, an EP here and there and toured rather extensively, collecting many new fans along the way.
Recently, they released their sixth studio album entitled Jinsei x Boku =, and honestly it is some of their best work yet. Their beautiful incorporation of both Japanese and English in all of their songs is a true testament to their storytelling – a sense of deep tradition mixed with modern edge. Opening with an instrumental track, characteristic of many punk/rock acts, the album soon explodes with powerhouse song, ‘Ending Story?’, a song filled with hate, passion and anguish. Characteristic of their previous material, One OK Rock yet again use the punchiest of drums, the edgiest of guitars and the best of the best when it comes to vocals. Taka (lead vocals) has truly pushed his abilities on this album, exploring a healthy mix of cleans and screams, which turn the albums intensity up quite considerably.
The main thing that caught my attention upon purchasing the album was actually the track titles. A part of me wondered if the band had chosen a more comical path for this album, however, this is quite the contrary. The album explores a wide range of emotions and themes, ranging from loss, optimism, strength and the future. Songs such as ‘ONION!’ highlight the fragility and complexity of humans, whilst ‘Smiling Down’ beautifully expresses the pain of losing a loved one and the strength those left behind must find within themselves. ‘Deeper Deeper’ is a high-speed concoction of experimental samples, unusual vocal techniques and stadium-esque guitars, whereas ‘The Beginning’, is a wonderful example of a love song with power – a truly amazing song.
Already having released four singles from the album, the question now faced is which will be next? ‘Juvenile’ would seem best suited to fulfill the purpose of a single. Its optimistic tone, mixed with ear-catching guitars and an unusually heavy breakdown, would be an ideal track to (potentially) wrap up the album’s promotion. However, something like ‘The Same As…’ would be equally as successful, as it explores the theme of family and the devotion and foreverness that defines it – certainly a song to capture the hearts of the hopelessly romantic and the exceptionally loyal.
One OK Rock are definitely a band on the rise. Already filling venues to capacity, they will soon, no doubt, be selling out stadiums across the globe. A band to definitely keep an eye on, One OK Rock will surely capture your attention and leave you wanting more.
8.5/10
Reviewer: Ashlee Kellehear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4N8Dcj9nAw
Great delivery. Great arguments. Keep up the good work.
the same as was already released as a digital single tho. it was a them song to some family movie.
i agree with Juvenile being a strong single. 🙂