Ongaku (Music)
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 9, 2021 (2021-06-09)
Genre
Length45:10
LabelEMI
ProducerUni Inoue, Tokyo Jihen
Tokyo Jihen chronology
News
(2020)
Ongaku (Music)
(2021)
Singles from News
  1. "Aka no dōmei"
    Released: 12 August 2020
  2. "Ao no ID"
    Released: 6 November 2020
  3. "Inochi no tobari"
    Released: 13 November 2020
  4. "Yaminaru shiro"
    Released: 23 January 2021
  5. "Ryokushu"
    Released: 30 March 2021

Ongaku (音楽; literally Music) is the sixth studio album by Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen, released on 9 June 2021 through EMI Records. The album was produced by the band and recording engineer Uni Inoue.

Background

Tokyo Jihen had dissolved in 2012 and had only briefly unofficially reunited on December 31, 2016, as Shiina Ringo's backing band in the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. On January 1, 2020, Tokyo Jihen released a surprise digital single, "Erabarezaru Kokumin", and announced a tour of Japan titled "Live Tour 2020 News Flash", beginning February 29.[1][2] In February, the band announced their 5-song EP News would be released on April 8, 2020.[3]

On April 23, 2021, it was announced that the band would release their first full album after resuming activities on June 9, which is "Rock Day". At the same time, the album art and new artist photos of the band members were released, and a special site for the album was opened.[4] On May 13, the music video of "Ryokushu", which was pre-distributed at the end of March, was released on YouTube. On June 3, as the album's release was approaching, a teaser video of the album was released.

Recording

The recording of the album itself started in 2018, before the announcement of the band's reunion, and "Ryokushu" and "Aka no dōmei" were completed first. Recording continued intermittently after that until the band announced their reunion on January 1, 2020. Shiina wrote the lyrics for the new songs from January to March 2021, and recorded the songs to finish the whole thing.

This album includes various genres such as hip-hop, funk, soul, and rock.[5][6] Additionally, Shiina said the album's chord work as "may be more jazz than funk", citing Miles Davis and Roy Hargrove as similarities.[7] As with previous releases by the band and Shiina Ringo, the track listing has certain symmetries. Tracks 6 ("青のID", "Blue Period") and 8 ("赤の同盟", "Red Alliance") are both named after colors, while odd-number songs all feature male vocalists.

Chart performance

In the first week of its release, the album reached the second place in CD sales (43,599 copies) and the 1st place in digital downloads (4,363) at Billboard Japan and its comprehensive "Hot Albums" chart.[8] In addition, according to the Oricon "Weekly Album Ranking", Ongaku sold 42,904 copies in the first week, and made its debut in 2nd place.[9] It also made its debut in 2nd place on "Oricon Combined Albums" with 49,886 points.[10]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Shiina Ringo. All tracks arranged by Tokyo Jihen except for "Ippuku", arranged by Shiina Ringo

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Kujaku" (孔雀, "Peacock")1:59
2."Dokumi" (毒味, "Foretaste")Seiji Kameda4:03
3."Shiden" (紫電, "Lightning")Ichiyo Izawa3:38
4."Inochi no tobari" (命の帳, "Veil Of Life")Ichiyo Izawa3:38
5."Ōgonhi" (黄金比, "The Golden Ratio")Ukigumo4:17
6."Ao no ID" (青のID, "Blue Period")Shiina Ringo3:44
7."Yaminaru shiro" (闇なる白, "Whiteout")Ichiyo Izawa3:03
8."Aka no dōmei" (赤の同盟, "Red Alliance")Ichiyo Izawa4:09
9."Ginga-min" (銀河民, "The Galactic Man")
  • Ukigumo
  • Ichiyo Izawa
4:08
10."Kemono no kotowari" (獣の理, "View Of Life")Seiji Kameda2:56
11."Ryokushu" (緑酒, "Awakening")Ichiyo Izawa4:06
12."Kusurizuke" (薬漬, "Overdose")Ichiyo Izawa3:08
13."Ippuku" (一服, "Breather")Shiina Ringo2:14
Total length:45:10
Disc 2: Aka no dōmei (赤の同盟, Red Alliance) (first press limited edition)
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Aka no dōmei" (赤の同盟 "Red Alliance")Ichiyo Izawa4:09
2."Meijitsu tomoni" (名実共に "Sweetie Reasons")Ichiyo Izawa3:20
3."Gyokuza no wana" (玉座の罠 "The Lost Throne")Ukigumo3:09
Total length:10:32

References

  1. "東京事変、閏年に"再生"(動画あり)". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  2. "Tokyo Jihen drops surprise single and announces 2020 Japan tour". J-Generation. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  3. Cirone, David (11 February 2020). "Tokyo Jihen to bring you the News starting April 8". J-Generation. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. "東京事変"ロックの日"に10年ぶりオリジナルアルバム「音楽」リリース". 音楽ナタリー. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  5. "東京事変、MAN WITH A MISSION、和楽器バンド……6月9日リリースより新譜5作をレビュー". Real Sound. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. "東京事変、ポップミュージックの概念を鮮やかに覆す10年ぶりのフルアルバム、その名も『音楽』徹底合評". rockin'on.com. June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  7. "東京事変「音楽」発売記念 椎名林檎インタビュー|10年ぶりのフルアルバムで、たどり着いた"音楽"". 音楽ナタリー. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  8. "Billboard JAPAN HOT ALBUMS(6/16公開)、TOMORROW X TOGETHER「The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE」が総合首位 東京事変「音楽」が2位に続く". Billboard Japan Hot Albums. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  9. "週間 アルバムランキング 2021年06月21日付". ORICON NEWS. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  10. "週間 合算アルバムランキング 2021年06月21日付". ORICON NEWS. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
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