Have you listened to the album, or are you just basing it off the samples?

What the heck is a Komeri?

[quote="[Mr. Lostman]"]What the heck is a Komeri?[/quote]

Japanese Home Depot, [i]gosh[/i]. Doesn't, like, everyone live in Japan? Brb going to the konbini to kaimasu some C.C. Remon.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]Brb going to the konbini to kaimasu some C.C. Remon.[/quote]

With a giant bottle of Calpis?

I just got around to listening to it today.

It's about what you'd expect by listening to the sample.

Uproad kudasai~?

[quote="Marekenshin"]Uproad kudasai~? [/quote]


I didn't buy it. I just listened to the album in the store. haha
I don't think it's really worth 3,000 yen.

There were two catchy songs on there, I guess. My favorite was the reggae one. haha

Generally I thought that all of the songs felt empty since there was no vocals. All of the songs just sounded like karaoke tracks. They didn't feel like instrumentals.

Track 1: Grace to You
It was a nice relaxing song. There was violin. That's about all I have to say. haha

Track 2: Rutile:
This was the most interesting track, I think. I didn't like some parts of it though. It just didn't seems to blend well. The verse and chorus and other parts didn't lead into each other very well. I was jarred every time it changed. It wasn't very plesent to listen to, but it was cool, I guess.

Track 3: Day Breaker
This one had a blues or classic rock kinda of feel. I would have liked this song a lot if had vocals. It builds up really well.

Track 4: Child of Wheat
It was very happy sounding and up-beat, but it was boring. I skipped most of it because it was basically the same thing over and over.

Track 5: All Creation
Starts out with a simple, but catchy bassline. The song as a whole feels really predictable and bland though. It reminded me of a Sonic the Hedgehog level or something. It was really repetative. I thought the solo was nice though. I think it would have been a good solo for the pillows

Track 6: Gemini
This is the Reggai song I was talking about. It was really fast, and fun. Not much happens though. It's stays the same basically the whole time, but I don't mind. This is the only one that didn't feel really empty without vocals. The solo was really cool.

Track 7: Sweet Little Deal
The drums on all of the songs sound really cheezy, like they were pulled of some random jam track, but it is especially noticable on this one. It has a sad mood. A bit repetative at first, but it takes an interesting turn around the middle of the song.

Beautiful Struggle:
You know this one. Empty, but ok.

Where Do You Go:
This was probably my least favorite. I culdn't stand it. It sounded like a late 80's song.

Then the last track is the Karaoke version of Beautiful Struggle. I don't understand...the song already sounded like a karaoke track. All he did was take away the lead guitar. You could use it as a jam track or something, I guess. But I could get those for free. Why would I pay 3,000 yen for one.




Yeah I didn't really like this Solo Album at all. I think I just hold Manabe to a higher standard because of the pillows. That may be why I don't like it so much.
I really don't recomend listening to this album, to be honest. I did catch myself humming some of the songs after I left the store though.

Best case scenario: You tolerate it, and maybe occasionally let some songs play when your MP3 player is on shuffle.
Worst case scenario: It completely shatters your image of Manabe.

I don't want to sound like a hater

but that's my opion of the album.

If anybody else has heard it, let me know what you think.

Not to hate on you or your review [b]or anything of the sort[/b], not even really directed at you in particular, thanks for giving your input actually, I always like to read what other people think track by track: but it doesn't seem like you'd be the target audience to begin with...as with many others in this thread before the album dropped, you're not going to like this album if you don't like power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental music in the first place. Just because it's Manabe doesn't mean you will or that you should like it...if you don't really listen to/enjoy big band music, per se, and Manabe came out with a big band album, you probably won't like it. It's not bad, but it's worse if you were to like it just because it's Manabe IMO.

That being said, the pillows have wrote some kick ass instrumentals. I would hope Manabe could maintain that vain melody-wise.

I've yet to hear any tracks but I'd like to eventually...

I agree MyFoot, but who exactly was this album aimed for other than fans of the pillows? Yoshiaki Manabe is virtually an unknown name except to fans of the pillows. I have a hard time believing that many fans of the pillows are power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental music fans in the first place. I mean, I guess it's cool that Manabe is moving out of his usual zone, but it still confuses me.

[quote="MyFoot"]you're not going to like this album if you don't like power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental music in the first place.[/quote]

You're exactly right about that. It's not really my style, I guess.
I like a lot of instrumental band though, and I really like the pillows instrumentals. I guess I was expecting something more like that.


[quote="[Mr. Lostman]"] who exactly was this album aimed at then other fans of the pillows? Yoshiaki Manabe is virtually an unknown name except to fans of the pillows. I have a hard time believing that many fans of the pillows are power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental music fans in the first place. I mean, I guess it's cool that Manabe is moving out of his usual zone, but it still confuses me.[/quote]

"confused" is a pretty accurate description of how I feel. haha

Maybe I should listen to some more power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental so I can compare and have more of an opinion.

[quote="[Mr. Lostman]"]Yoshiaki Manabe is virtually an unknown name except to fans of the pillows.[/quote]
[i]How dare you.[/i]

[quote="[MyFoot]"]power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental music[/quote]

Well the problem is that he's not really bringing any amazing chops or anything interesting sonically do this. It's the typical simple Manabe lead from pillows tracks (Works here!) but set against sterile porn jams (BAD). I'm sayin that maybe Rutile isn't the best example of power-trio/jam/guitar rock/instrumental. Big fuckin' shocker, I know.

Yeah I understand that, though still I haven't heard anything, I'm not expecting Vai/Satriani type chops here. Which is disappointing for sure that it's clear this album isn't living up to what it could be...if the album was full of Paper Triangles and Thunder Whale Picnics, which obviously Manabe is capable of (unless it's Sawao behind it all, which we all know is plausible, though I always hoped Manabe had a lot to do with the guitar compositions)....if the album featured songs like these, we would all love it.

[url=https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11787501/Rutile.zip]Here you go.[/url]