[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to RANKIN TAXI - Shinumade Ikiru
- 17th April , 2008 by KNDY in WORLD GROOVE: MUSIC REVIEWS
- 0 comments
ARTIST: RANKIN TAXI
ALBUM: Shinumade Ikiru
LABEL: Riddim Zone
CATALOG #: RZCD-45811
DURATION: 1:04:3
RELEASED ON February 27, 2008
- Intro: お父さんは変化球投手 (Rankin Taxi Feat. 実の娘2号
- One Love Punch
- ギミサム・スレンテン
- 職質246
- 非暴力で行けるかい?
- Interlude: ワン
- バグダッドからの手紙
- Catch & Release
- Crazy Heart
- 反則Interlude: 男の哀愁 (Rankin Taxi feat. Nodatin)
- 悲しき工作員
- Interlude: 多麻連者とは…
- 人身事故
- オドロ
- ヤセガマン
- Interlude : 渚の逆ナン
- Daydream Believer (Rankin Taxi feat. MOOMIN)
- アニキ～
Rankin Taxi (55) is known for being the primary person introducing reggae to Japan. Having embraced reggae music back in 1983 and owning a sound system called Hi-Fi Taxi and also producing the works of upcoming Japanese reggae artists through his own personal label BASS KULCHA.
Still showing no signs of slowing down since his debut back in 1989, the BOYOYON OYAJI is back with his 14th album “Shinumade Ikiru”.
RANKIN TAXI has a unique approach compared to other Japanese reggae artists as he tends to be more humorous and radical.
“Shinumade Ikiru” features a total of 18 tracks with several interludes and something different with each track.
The Intro. is interesting as he sings about a father who is a pitcher throwing a breaking ball and then talking to a woman (Sahori of Disco Berry).
The intro leads to the track “One Love Punch” which is more or less the Rankin Taxi style of reggae music but then the third track “Gimme Some Surenten” which is a rock song.
The fourth reggae style track which talks about “職質246″ (or Job Quality 246) is a humorous reggae track which but then gets very serious with the fifth track “非暴力で行けるかい?” as he sings about peace and trying to do things without violence.
And then leading up to “Interlude: Wan” which starts out with sounds of planes, machine guns and bombs and then giving a message.
This clearly goes to the next track “バグダッドからの手紙” which is more or less a letter from Baghdad and showing Rankin Taxi’s feeling of the Iraq War.
Of course, not all songs are political as he does have some pop-inspired tracks such as “Catch & Release” and “Crazy Heart”.
My favorite track is actually one of the interludes where RANKIN TAXI teams up with WADADA’s Nodatin who I enjoy his guitar playing on lecca’s album, the collaboration with Rankin Taxi is a bit humurous as he wants to do some blues and Nodatin plays some blues and then a little of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and both just jam and have fun. That’s pretty cool to see included on this album.
And the remaining track on the album continue a reggae theme but then you start to hear a pop-influence or electric guitar influence in some tracks.
My favorite tracks on the album include “Odoro” which was more or like RANKIN TAXI’s hip hop/reggae song on the track and “Yasegaman” which is humorous and hilarious but has a really tight groove courtesy of Hase-T. And also a reggae style version of “Daydream Believer” which features a collaboration between RANKIN TAXI and cool reggae vocalist MOOMIN.
The CD insert features the lyrics and track production credits.
RANKIN TAXI is a respectable man for being blunt and also having fun in his music. The humor is almost the type of humor I can find in some anime drama soundtracks but how would non-Japanese understanding music listeners take in RANKIN TAXI’s music?
Well, let’s say that you enjoy the music from artists such as lecca, MOOMIN, MEGARYU, PANG and you are looking for something in the similar vein, well RANKIN TAXI is not about his vocal ability, he’s loved because of his lyrics and his humorous take on his music.
I kind of liken them to one of my favorite American bands “FISHBONE”, a group that incorporates reggae and ska and punk music and can be very humorous on stage, the delivery of their music but at the same time, can become very serious with the lyrical content of their music. I love the group for that.
The same with Japanese and RANKIN TAXI. Fans are always interested to hear what RANKIN TAXI has in his mind and on “Shinumade Ikiru”, he has a lot to vent about especially on what’s going on in Iraq.
So, with that being said, If you understand Japanese, then you will truly treasure the lyrics that RANKIN TAXI has and also when he’s goofing off.
But if you want straight on, smooth vocals and Japanese reggae, you may want to look elsewhere.
Nevertheless, if you are a fan of Japanese reggae music and understand Japanese, then definitely give RANKIN TAXI’s “Shinumade Ikiru” a try!
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Tags: RANKIN TAXI, Shinumade Ikiru