Review by kupo

Flawless, super-speedy performances of virtually all of the standout tracks (and there are many of those!) from the RODEO TANDEM BEAT SPECTER album. I would've loved to see a slightly longer setlist, though :)

It's been years since the band released their first album, but unfortunately I didn't get to hear them before this one. I'm really glad I took time to listen, as this is one of the funniest and most energetic punk rock bands I've ever stumbled upon! By now I also know what their other releases sound like, but "Bikkuri!!" is definitely their strongest effort this far. My favorite tracks are probably "Tama ni wa love song wo" and "SURFIN' GIRL", as they're just plain fun and entertaining to listen to. The vocals are especially great, and are guaranteed to get pretty much anyone into a good mood. Great album.

Radio Caroline keeps on doing what they've done since their first album "Dead Groovy Action" -- playing all-out-attack music. "DEATH or GLORY" is to me just as great as "extremes" from last year was. There are several great tracks here, such as a very powerful gunslinger-ish instrumental track named "RUSSIANO" and "I WANT YOU", which is also typical for Radio Caroline, being about love, lust and rock and ROLL. For fans of the band, this is a lovely album -- they haven't strayed from their known style at all, but the tracks are all new and fresh.

I'm not exaggerating when saying that this is one of the best live albums I've ever heard. I've probably listened more to this than to the studio versions of the songs that are performed here. Very powerful stuff -- Asai at his very best.

Just like Hiroto and Marcy's sound changed when going from THE BLUE HEARTS to THE HIGH-LOWS, it has changed again. While their music is still punk rock, the tracks on this debut album sound happier and softer than most of their work while in THE HIGH-LOWS. There is no pianist in THE CRO-MAGNONS, and this contributes to making their music simpler, but still very catchy. Overall, this is a great band debut album which shows that Hiroto and Marcy still have what it takes to make great music. Upbeat and happy all the way.

THE CRO-MAGNONS' second album doesn't contain a lot of surprises, which is great if you liked their first, self-titled album, and bad if you couldn't stand the simple, happy style featured in that album. CAVE PARTY is more of the same stuff. Most of the tracks are still very simple, upbeat and happy, but there's also a couple of slower songs here. Not too heavy, not too soft -- a great album.