Wednesday, April 16, 2014

"Instant Money Magic" by Japanther

Japanther has been around in some form or another since 2001. Formed by Ian Vanek and Matt Reilly in New York City, they have been taking their act on the road for some time.

Over the course of the years, collaborations with a great number of artists have come and gone and they have been involved with some interesting things, like the "Don't Trust Anyone Over Thirty" puppet rock opera.

I'm sure just hearing those words interested you. I know good and well I'm upset that I only just heard about it, so I missed it.

On the stage is where they have made their reputation. Tales of their shows are legend. On top of a bridge. With a cadre of synchronized swimmers. With puppets. With giant puppets. With shadow puppets. The list of the things they have put on stage with them goes on.

Ah...yes?
Frankly, I'm not precisely sure what release this is for them. Their discography is fairly, uneven. It is safe to say that they have been writing and recording music for sometime, and this certainly isn't their first rodeo.

This album is full of space and that is meant in all forms of the word.

The music isn't packed full of notes. There is a lot of room to breathe between the sparse instrumentation.

It's very fuzzed out and trippy. For lack of a better term, they're art rock and there's definitely some art going on in here.

The music doesn't have the classic rock art sound of bands like Pink Floyd and the rest, but a very phased out sound. If the Floyd were a totally punked out band, it might come out sounding a bit like Japanther.

This music isn't all out rocking, but mellow and easy going. Over the course of this short record, you won't find yourself banging your head, but you will be tapping your foot. The rhythms are infectious.

The music, vocals, and writing are all delicate, but upbeat and heartwarming. There is a reason they've been at this for well over a decade.

Release: 4/15/14
Genre: Punk rock

Run time: 24:11
Facebook link

Tracklist:
1. Take me in
2. Vicious
3. Wigman
4. Song of the Sun
5. Green Juice
6. Guns Guns Guns
7. Onadoga
8. Dreams Come True
9. Green Jug Intro
10. Common Born
11. Do It
12. Breb
13. Centralia
14. All We Got


1 comment:

  1. I like this one, need to find this album, thanks, Nik!

    ReplyDelete