that foreign music blog🌎

So I got it! Got it!

But of course I did. So, as you probably know (or don’t), Mrs. Green Apple’s single was released 8/30! With my work hours, I had to wait until the weekend to even consider buying it. And although I usually wait it out until the album, I ended up buying NOT only Mrs. Green Apple’s single, but 04 Limited Sazaby’s as well! Which shows you how little self-restraint I have when I walk into Tower Records. But honestly, if I had a Japanese iTunes, it’d probably be much, much worse.

That’s right, I don’t have a Japanese iTunes. Why? Because I only have an American credit card and a Japanese atm card. If getting credit cards for foreigners in Japan was simpler, I’d be broke, so I suppose the inconvenience is a blessing in disguise. But anyway, back to the bands! I’ll go into Mrs. Green Apple first because that was the album I had gone to get.

So, the Wanted Wanted! single, Mrs. Green Apple’s 5th, features three songs:

1) “Wanted! Wanted!” which is the opening to the drama, 「僕たちがやりました」(Bokutachi ga Yarimashita)
2) “On My Mind“, which is the opening to the anime,「ナナマルサンバツ」(Nanamaru Sanbatsu)
3) “光のうた“

Of the three songs featured on the single, I might like the title track the most. Mrs. Green Apple has always hinted at musical influences from Sekai no Owari. I don’t know if this is INTENTIONAL, or if pop music is simply changing to sound more theatrical like Sekai no Owari, but…yes, “Wanted! Wanted!” is very theatrical.

From the teaser, you get the feeling it’s an energetic pop song, and while it is, one of the verses feature an Irish flute and violin. There were times where the song reminded me of “Hey Ho“! I think the song’s strength is its’ constant changes in energy. I like ballads, but most of the time I prefer fast songs, and “Wanted! Wanted!” gives you both!

If you’re like me and can’t wait for the full album, the physical album is 1,700 with a free poster and DVD. Since there’s a DVD included, I didn’t find it terribly expensive. In fact, with the 5000 yen I had, its price gave me the confidence (oh no) to shop more.

At the entrance to Tower Records, I immediately encountered a display advertising 04 Limited Sazaby’s new single. I’d liked ‘Squall’ when I heard it on Youtube and wasn’t against the idea of buying it, but I didn’t think I actually would. HOWEVER, since the Mrs. Green Apple’s “Wanted! Wanted!” had been reasonably priced, as stated above….I guiltily returned to the display and watched the video playing at the side of the CD rack.

Funny enough, the song that got me to get the single wasn’t “Squall”, BUT the third song “capture”, which was featured in a clip of the band members running outside. It’s the shortest song on the single, being a mere minute and 48 seconds, but it’s the one with most energy. 04 Limi (a common abbreviation) is usually placed in the punk sections of the record store. I never really considered them ‘punk’, but you can definitely hear punk influences in songs like ‘capture’, ‘Days’, ‘monolith‘, “Now here, No where“, “horizon“, and ‘knife‘. To put it simply, though, they’re a solid rock band. And since they’re Nagoya-based, I can feel their presence here more than anywhere else I’ve been in Japan. Although I’m not Japanese, they do make me kind of proud in a weird way. Hahaha!

All in all, this trip to Tower Records cost a grand total of 5000 yen. Which was probably my cheapest trip to date. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for ‘2’s album, and I’ll HOPEFULLY be good for the rest of the year! Assuming Mrs. Green Apple doesn’t release another single……