Third album: Variety [News]

[ShadyNook]

For better or worse, this is an Ukigumo album. Ringo must be really comfortable with his songwriting style. She started giving him the spotlight starting with Oiran. or even further back than that.

Its a bit interesting that Izawa wrote the black cat song.

[Op2]

There is an inteview on Tokyo Jihen's EMI official website: ( http://www.emimusic.jp/vmc/artist/do...iew_070821.php ).

Here is a loose translation while I skimmed through parts I understood. Please note that I have only taken Japanese for 3 years in high school, and 1 year in university (starting my 2nd university year this fall), so I can understand it fairly well but I am sure the native speakers in this forum can give a broader perspective and add the interview topics I missed.

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Izawa never created Killer Tune with the intention of it becoming a single. The main changes to Killer Tune from Izawa's "demo" version was the key of the song. The song benefited from each member in the band. Ukigumo is noted to have a unique "swing" sound with the guitar. Sometimes Ukigumo's tune is the opposite of what they expected when making a song, but it usually works out to be good.

BB.QUEEN was written 4 years ago. Shiina Ringo likes the chorus. It has similar twisting lyrics such like OSCA. You can't really judge what Variety will be from the two singles, they talk about. It will be full of many things. OSCA and Killer Tune sum up the general contrast that will be found in the album.

They go to talk why they used the kanji "Amusement" but gave it the katakana "Variety"... Shiina agrees that this has been the creation of a very good concept album. They (Shiina) confirm the television concept of each album. Adult and Education were constructed for narrow audiences, but the "Variety channel" will have something for everyone.
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There is also more upcoming promotion. Tokyo Jihen will be on both upcoming Music Station and Countdown TV television shows.

A comprehensive list can be found on my blog: http://ringoran.wordpress.com/2007/0...ety-promotion/

[Op2]

The cover is out!
(Yet, it doesn't say "Variety" on it... Will there be confusion?)

[fluffiethesock]

Thanks for the translation and cover, Op2mus! Is that really the cover though..? It looks like two people wearing Shiina Ringo and Izawa masks...

[ChickShhh]

^ Yippieee someone's absent on the coverrr

[whitetap]

Thank you very much Op2!!

[fluffiethesock]

You don't like Hata, ChickShhh?

[freackled]

Is that Uki with the long hair and blue sweater in the upper left corner? If it is, I wonder if they purposely had him writing something down like that as if to show he wrote many of the songs. And they have Shiina holding up the sign, as if she's simply presenting the band, rather than leading it as much this time. Or maybe I'm just nitpicking and spewing out a lot of BS haha

[frecklegirl]

Oh, that's a really cute cover. Yeah, it doesn't say 'variety' or even 'baraeti', so there's going to be some confusion/indignant people... but oh well. I wash my hands of it.

[fluffiethesock]

What does it say on the card?