P-POP-HIGH SCHOOL

アルバムレビュー

P-Pop-High School finds Peelander-Z continuing to develop their unique brand of Japanese joke-punk-pop, and maybe starting to branch out just a little bit. Fans will immediately recognize and be comforted by the Clash-meets-Ramones-meets-Shonen Knife stylings of "Pho!," "P-Pop-High School," and "Let's Go! Karaoke Party!" ("Don't worry pitch and rhythm/We need your energy"), as well as the only slightly goofy hardcore punk onslaught of tracks like "Super Health" and "Duct Tape" (complete lyrics: "Duct tape/I love you/I need you/I want you/Don't I?"). Those same fans will probably be a bit baffled by "Give Me Your Smile," which is reportedly the band's first attempt at a ballad and a pretty miserable one — it has no detectable melody (which is fine on tunes like "Ninja-High Schooool" but less effective on a love song) and it goes on for over six minutes. "Super Health" comes along immediately afterward and saves the day, and not a moment too soon. Non-fans who are hearing Peelander-Z for the first time may be baffled by all of it, but the band's energy and silly humor are ultimately pretty hard to resist.