Finding Puffy in Tokyo

Got back from Japan a couple of weeks ago.  In short: Japan was everything I thought it would be and more.    I would go back again for a vacation without question.  I know what you are asking, did I find any Puffy items.  My first stop was in Kyoto but it  was not my first choice, my wife wa snot in the mood to go to a music shop when we were walking to the Nishi Honganji Temple.  There was a store called Book Off which probably would have been great as I suspect a used store might have more Puffy stuff.  But not worth pressing as the vote was 3 to 1 against me.

As we were walking up to Kiyumiza-dera Temple, which is basically a pedestrian mall filled with tourist stuff.  There was a store that catered to Japanese celebrity type items.  No dice, simply the young clerk giving me the X sign with his hands.  Which to me was about the only off putting thing in Japan, but that seems to be a young people thing and they can be just as annoying no matter where in the world they are. :)  Now my last chance was the final leg of the trip back in Tokyo.

In Tokyo stayed at the Marriott in Ginza (great location, three major subway lines right outside the door) and then time was running short.  Luckily the plucky hotel staff helped me out and pointed me to Yamano Music on Chuo Dori.  A five minute walk from the hotel (well for me... the advantage of being tall).  So we stopped by while looking for dinner and I met with some success.

(via Google Street View)

It was a bit of a bummer to only have recent singles to choose from but I try to make the best of a situation.  So I got the Sweet Drops and Datsu Dystopia singles.  It was a nice way to end the trip as the following day was our flight back to the States.

If anyone is interested I can post some travel pics and I promise I will keep them to a reasonable amount.

Wild Girls On Circuit Rarity

Once in a blue moon I find a fun rarity on Youtube. Not exactly sure where and why this version of Wild Girls On Circuit was used as the official PV is very different. It looks a notch above normal TV appearances, but there are some little items (like a car jump off the track and veering towards Ami's feet) that suggest this was a limited take (perhaps even one) performance.

Your guess is as good as mine (I would hunch Pa-pa-pa-pa-Puffy....).

P.S. Due to leave for Japan tomorrow via Singapore. Sadly the J-Music selection in Singapore has trickled down to nothing over the past years, so I am not surprised.  Not a lot of down time, but music shopping is on the list. If I get inspired or see Puffy related stuff I will post up.

P.P.S. More thinking about an expanded blog, now just a matter of starting the graphics work with another freelancer I know.

Datsu Dystopia Single Review

After a modest hiatus Puffy is back with the Datsu Dystopia single.  The album cover(s) are nicely shot but do not really convey much beyond Puffy is back.  The upside is both Ami and Yumi look terrific and their new look works.  Hopefully this is a sign they have stepped away from the hobo fashion culture that they have been sporting for a few years (to be fair that just may be a Japanese fashion trend they were compelled to follow).  This review is covering the regular single, but almost everything is applicable to the deluxe version.

Datsu Dystopia is not a bad song, it simply is not the song I wanted.  Not like I get to vote. There are a lot of elements I like and the electronic influences and over the top synthesizers are fun changes.  Unfortunately the things I do not like about the track balance out the things in the positive column.  The pace of the song feels staggered and a touch manic, which doesn't quite work for me.  Ami and Yumi do a decent job singing, but at points it feels like the instruments overwhelm their performance.

My Journal is a solid b track and probably closer to what I like hearing from Puffy.  It probably is not as well engineered song as the title track but the weird part is that it is probably the better song and were it tightened up a little it probably should have been the a track.  I found myself enjoying the guitar focused instrumentation more than the synth heavy lead track.  More importantly there is a throwback feel to My Journal which is a better feel for what Puffy has done musically over the past decade and a half.

Ultimately after the hiatus Datsu Dystopia is not what I was waiting for and it doesn't leave me wanting for more.  I think the contracts with Dareka Ga in that was a single most of us can agree was a great single and created an enthusiasm for Thank You.  As with Dareka Ga I would be surprised if Datsu Dystopia made it onto the next album. If it does I won’t mind but I also do not want the that album to sound like Datsu Dystopia either.

Scorecard
Music: C+
Singing: B-
Instruments: B
Engineering: A-


P.S.  Have a happy Independence Day.  

P.P.S. I will hopefully post something up before I leave for Singapore and Japan, but I just might post up while I am overseas if I find some fun Puffy inspirations.  No luck on reaching out to Puffy, but I did not have high hopes to begin with.

P.P.P.S.  Strong odds I will be spinning another blog from Amiyumidas,at some point. Not am issue with Puffy at all, just that there is so much more I would like to talk about regarding Japanese music that is not Puffy.  You'll still see me kicking out content here, I promise. :)  

Teen Titans Go Remix

This one has been sitting on my shelf for a while, so I over looked it with the Datsu Dystopia singlke release. Cartoon Network is rebooting the animated "Teen Titans" series and the theme song by Puffy is getting a bit of a face lift via a remix by DJ Mix Master Mike.  He is well known for his work with the Beastie Boys in-particular.



Anything that keeps a lifeline from Japan to the US in regards to Puffy is a good thing, but my view on re-mixes is not a secret either.

P.S.  I have booked a trip to Japan this summer.  It looks like I am not lucky for any performances by Puffy.  Honestly were it in my power I would like to figure out some way to interview them for the site... but that is basically not going to happen.

Datsu Dystopia Full PV

Here is the now full video for the new Datsu Dystopia video. We had gotten a snippet of the song for the HIS advert a while back and I liked what I heard. I am not entirely sure after an extended listen what I think. Datsu Dystopia reminds me of the on of the songs on "Bring it!" penned by Shiina Ringo, specifically Hiyori Hime). Is it a good song for the composer, but I am not sold on it being a good song by Puffy.


So far as the video goes I have a couple of random thoughts. Yumi's hair was redone between parts of Datsu Dystopia so the shaved side of her head and blonde tones are only in the travel agent set. It makes for an interesting contrast and puts some distance between the scenes. Secondly the Travel Agent scenes seem very thrown together, which kinda works. To me it feels like a call back to a cheesy 80's music video, which I thought was fun(or that the budget from HIS was not huge).

Overall I think I find myself wanting something different than what Datsu Dystopia is offering. I wanted more of an "uh oh here comes Puffy" type song as a lead off from their (well deserved) hiatus. Not to sound too negative, I am keeping an open mind on this. There are songs that did grow on me over time like Ai No Shirushi or Hiyori Hime.

h/t to tbb for filling us in with this find and some other great info in the below covers thread. Thanks for being our fan club insider!  Also h/t to Mike for the full link.  I found another source a couple days ago, but that was a d/l.
P.S. Also Youku fixed its embedding codes, so I did not have to spend a half hour trying to embed the video.