MARTY FRIEDMAN

(UNITED STATES)

TOKYO JUKEBOX 3

(2020)
LABEL:

MASCOT LABEL GROUP

GENRE:

GUITAR HERO

TAGS:
Guitar-Hero, Instrumental
"In the third volume of his "Tokyo Jukebox", Marty Friedman continues to revisit popular Japanese music with his heavy guitar."
NUNO777 (07.06.2021)  
3/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
Expatriate in the land of the rising sun since 2003, Marty Friedman fell in love with his host island, its culture and its way of life. Grateful, the Japanese made Marty Friedman one of their own by offering him important media exposure and by naming him an official ambassador of Japanese heritage. As a result, Marty Friedman was able to perform four times at the opening of the Tokyo Marathon and is rumored to be a potential participant in the ceremony of future Olympic Games. For more than ten years he has been playing Japanese standards in "Tokyo Jukebox", the third volume of which has just been released.

This volume 3 continues the principle of the two previous discs by revisiting songs of the Japanese culture under the rock and instrumental form. Only the title 'The Perfect World', based on the composition 'B: The Beginning' of Marty, is sung by the star of J-pop Alfakyun for a rhythmic and catchy result. For the rest we hear a Marty Friedman visibly at ease to play songs with a refreshing playful approach but seriously worked and arranged. It must be said that the marriage of the naive melody proper to the popular Japanese musical culture and the heavy sounds works well. But there is especially the pure and direct touch of Marty Friedman which does not alter the authenticity of the played themes.

Marty Friedman offers energetic formats, sometimes heavy ('Ikuze Kaitou-Shoujo', the twilight bridge of 'Makenaide') and pop ('Shukumei', 'Makenaide') fortified with groove ('Senbonzakura', 'Echo') or crossed by epic flights in the soft 'Sazanka' or the superb 'Kaze Ga Fuiteiru' which sees Marty's lyrical fingering work wonders. Extravagant, the record is certainly, but Marty's commitment and sincerity avoid the fault of taste, even when the disco mixes with the big sound and Marty's guitar exaggerates the Japanese expressiveness of its notes ('U.S.A'). It is in any case a testimony of perfect assimilation of the Japanese spirit in the simplicity to mix the genres and the codes which allows to make cohabit the lightness of the anime music ('Gurenge') with the seriousness of the local traditional folklore ('Japan Heritage Official Theme Song ').

The album is interesting for its reading of Japanese themes with an American heavy optic. Marty's attachment and respect for the culture of his host country shines through on this record and makes it truly endearing. There is also, and it is not the least of the virtues of this album, the intact pleasure to hear the so unique play of the American. Whether one adheres to the project or not, there is little equivalent in the guitar-dominated instrumental genre.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Don't lose (Zard cover)
02. Senbonzakura (WhiteFlame cover)
03. Gurenhua (Lisa cover)
04. Wind Blowing (Ikimonogakari cover)
05. Echo (Little Glee Monster cover)
06. The Perfect World
07. USA (Da Pump cover)
08. Fate (Beard Man Dism cover)
09. Go! Kaito Shoujo (Momoiro Clover cover)
10. Sasanka (Sekai No Owari cover)
11. Time Goes By (Every Little Thing cover)
12. Japan Heritage

LINEUP:
Marty Friedman: Guitares
Alfakyun: Chant / Invité
Anup Sastry: Batterie / Invité
Kiyoshi: Basse / Invité
   
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