the Shiina Ringo thread

http://blog.naver.com/delico4u/70010525142

http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=747236124

(This thread does not come up in ilx search, incidentally.)

usually, the happier her music, the more devestating the lyrics are. it's the way in to her relentlessly perky new material -- she's singing about double suicide, betrayal, ghosts, the end of the world, graphically uneasy sex with someone she can't trust, etc.

and this new single is incredible. I'm playing it over and over. once again, after a brief intro in japanese, all in english. the bittersweet harmonies going into the chorus, it's actually as sad as it is happy. it's so good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR_OzfBeiSU

- sampled on O.lamm's new "Monolith" album.
- field recorded on Sarah Peebles' "Walking Through Tokyo At The Turn Of The Century" album

Things I have belatedly noticed on her sleeve art: On Gibusu she is cutting her hand & on Mayonaka wa Junketsu she is a mannequin. I had to see them in person to notice.

Actually, I found it by searching Google and finding it in someone else's bookmarks, which I now do have bookmarked.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
#What is the band actually called, Tokyo Jihen or Tokyo Incident?
The real name is Tokyo Jihen (actually the exact transliteration would be Toukyou Jihen), but in some Western sites, and sometimes in TJ's official site, they are called Tokyo Incident, which is none other that the translation of the original name.

01 - Gamble (ƒMƒƒƒ“ƒuƒ‹)
02 - Kuki (Œs)
03 - Sakuran (TERRA ver.) (ö—)
04 - Hatsukoi Shoujo (ƒnƒcƒRƒC©—)
05 - Papaya Mango (ƒpƒpƒCƒ„ƒ}ƒ“ƒS[)
06 - Ishiki (ˆÓŽ¯)
07 - Yokushitsu (—Žº)
08 - Meisai (–ÀÊ)
09 - Poltergeist (ƒ|ƒ‹ƒ^[ƒKƒCƒXƒg)
10 - Karisome Otome (TAMEIKESANNOH ver.) (ƒJƒŠƒ\ƒ‰³—)
11 - Oiran (‰ÔŠ@)
12 - Yume no Ato (–²‚Ì‚ ‚Æ)
13 - Kono Yo no Kagiri (‚±‚Ì–é‚ÌŒÀ‚è)

Further updates (and a new PV) here:

http://ringoran.wordpress.com/

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/pictures/s/16/34/TOCT-26210.jpg

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957980.html

(This drastically reworks an earlier song, with typical aplomb. With a little help from Saito Neko, her George Martin, perhaps.)

I'm still completely addicted to 'Konoyo Yo Kagiri'. Seemingly so happy but with some real poison in the lyrics and the harmonies. The other two songs are an alt arrangement & an instrumental of tracks from the new album -- the instrumental of 'Temporary Virgin' is on the soundtrack of what R_S just linked, sounds like an ultra-ornamented take on Astor Piazolla circa the late 80's Kip Hanrahan productions like Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night.

Apart from the first verse of 'Konoyo', all the lyrics are in English. And this is the first ever single of hers that's been available on iTunes UK. The five clips of songs from the new album are mostly in english. The push is coming. All those people too busy complaining about the lack of substance with Norah Jones, this album is looking right over your shoulder waiting for you to turn around.

Those five clips are something -- the whole album is arranged for 70 piece orchestra by Saito, but there's still some strange KZK-ish production on the third clip, 'Firstlove Prostitute'. I am counting the seconds until 2/21.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ej5t2vC7E&eurl=

You can’t get enough of abusing others
That is, you have to serve your opponent
I REALLY REALLY DO

I'm into this version of 'Sakuran'. She's playing it straight, so her style sticks out, not a smooth fit. I'd be scared if it were a smooth fit though, and I like the song (if it's not her best).

I don't listen to the first album much at all. 'Tsumiki Asobi' is grade A inexplicable pop though, playing it for my friend Keith & his comment when it got to the middle: "well I guess you could call that a guitar solo"

Straight, huh? To me it just seems too mannered (though no doubt you could make that complaint about her singing in lots of songs by her that I like).

I sent a link for the "Konoyo Yo Kagiri" video to someone at work on whom I have historically inflicted a certain amount of unwelcome music sharting (we were kind of friends at one point) and I was relieved that she liked it. I was pretty sure she would though.

if the other stuff measures up, or even tops this (as apparently it does), i'll be extremely impressed

amazed at how prolific she is, still being under 30 and all.