If anyone cares here’s my thoughts.

This is lovely, it’s childlike, dreamy and mesmerising, it’s good, very good and deserves your time.
What it is not is the 15th greatest album of all time.
A distinct lack of anything new and exciting in the internet age has left people gasping for any hint of something which they can call ‘their own’ and can fly the flag for. As a result a remnant of the past which was overlooked at the time for reasons that at the time it offered nothing new has been unearthed and is viewed as a a hidden gem because there is absolutely fuck all to be similarly gained from the present crop of bullshit bands on offer.

The insinuation that the band were unique and special is further mythologised by the untimely death of the singer and adds a sense of heroism to what was achieved by the band and a gravitas to the tunes which themselves have been done a trillion different times in a billion different ways.

People have made comment that this is better than Floyd in Pompeii which is obviously fucking ridiculous.

Album Rating: 5.0

Very interesting perspective, but the premise that this album is only praised as highly as it is because popular music in the modern internet age is terrible by comparison is a criticism that is predicated on the quality of *other* music, not the quality of this album in itself. Which I find a little problematic - even if I partially agree.



I can't think of anywhere in the real world where you get 'cred' for repping for Fishmans. RYM, /mu/, and Sputnikmusic, sure - but those are just forums. I live in a trendy city and attend(ed) a lot of concerts, and never once have I received comment on my Fishmans apparel, seen others wearing any, or heard anyone bring up the band in any context. If Shinji Sato were a hipster Kurt Cobain type figure for the modern day I think we would hear more people actually discussing him.



But to your point, there are plenty of modern albums, and fairly popular ones at that, that strike that same childlike, dreamy, mesmerising chord as 98.12.28. M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming springs to mind. So I'd agree with you that this album isn't wholly unique in its sound or approach. But I've never heard another album that reaches for this aesthetic and succeeds so spectacularly. It's practically tear inducing in its beauty and character.



There are a lot of amazing live albums out there - I didn't declare 98.12.28 the GOAT flippantly. I wouldn't have done so if I didn't believe that Long Season at Akasaka Blitz could go toe to toe with Echoes at Pompeii. And, at least for me, it absolutely does.

"The insinuation that the band were unique and special is further mythologised by the untimely death of the singer and adds a sense of heroism to what was achieved by the band and a gravitas to the tunes which themselves have been done a trillion different times in a billion different ways."

they arent nirvana zak

I saw M83 when they were touring Saturdays = Youth. They were impressive but I’ve never listened to Hurry Up We’re Dreaming. I’ll give it a whirl.

You’re right as well with the lack of recognition outside forums. I just have a feeling it’s only the start, give it 5-10yrs and you’ll be having ‘Long Season saved my life’ T-Shirts on clothes racks.

Album Rating: 5.0

Maybe. If that means more people listen to this masterpiece, I'd consider that a good thing. But as of right now, I feel like the merit of this album speaks for itself.



Definitely check out Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. I've been digging on it a lot lately: another incredible album.

Album Rating: 5.0

Zak, I see where you're coming from. I will say that, for me personally, there is something special here so far that I'd rank it pretty damn high in my best of all times. I know what you mean, theres hive minds and internet cults that 100% affect the way people consume music. this album definitely fell into my lap through being a "you're supposed to love this" album, and its perpetuated as being that hidden gem like your saying and maybe its become a snowball effect of people looking for something to call a hidden gem. but even all that aside, i do think this deserves all the acclaim its gotten.



I understand having a reluctance to compare things to the "public knowledge all time bests", but I'm sure someone out there would tell you that Live at Pompeii is trash that shouldn't be mentioned out there among the best albums of all time (they'd be wrong, but opinions be like that). its just hard to recognize why some people hold a candle to some things and not others.





glad you shared your thoughts with this one!

I fucking love you space ✊🏼

Album Rating: 4.5

so is this not allowed on the all-time charts because it's a live album? or what's up with that

Well, it might be because it's clearly not an all-time greatest. Yeah, it gives nice vibes and they are professional musicians but clearly they're no Led Zeppelin.

Also, their singer died a tragic young death a couple of months after this recording, and we know how death makes all kiddos be emotional and overrate music... - look at Blackstar having a bigger than 3.4 rating for example, what's up with that?

Album Rating: 3.0

I never really got what's so amazing about this band tbh

The band sparked some interesting discussion on 4chan some five years ago (when they were still partially obscured from Western view) and everyone thought they found the "next big band". It's hype. The band is quite great, but no way it deserves most of the accolades it receives.

With Reefa here unfortunately

Album Rating: 3.0

lol I was going to comment about nirvana. Damn it ryus

Album Rating: 4.5

idk this is the some of the best japanese dream-pop i've ever heard (and trust me i've heard quite near a shitton of it) and i understand why people think this is overrated, considering it's almost pretentiously long. but at the same time there's no feeling of pretension in a single moment of this whole set. really just a beautiful and unique listening experience unmatched by anything else. also zeppelin is a bit shit besides like maybe a dozen or two songs, the rest is overhyped dad-rock worship; i don't know why you'd even compare them since theyre not even in the top 20.



also if i see anymore Blackstar slander again, i'll go full Robespierre and pull some Reign of Terror type shit

Album Rating: 4.5

"they aren't Nirvana" [3]

Album Rating: 3.0

Can we agree though that dude can't sing? Or is being out of tune a style choice here?

Album Rating: 3.0

"it offered nothing new"

Not true.



" fuck all to be similarly gained from the present crop of bullshit bands on offer."

Not true. Music didn't die in 99



"overlooked at the time"

They weren't. Do an ounce of research

"this is the some of the best japanese dream-pop i've ever heard (and trust me i've heard quite near a shitton of it)"

When I hear that argument I know there's no point to this comment, but I'll write it anyway. I sincerely believe there are no "shitton" of Japanese Dream Pop that is worth mentioning, no matter how you spin it. In fact, you can count their decent Dream Pop bands on one hand's fingers. But hey, if you want to save face and list us some of these great Dream Pop bands from Japan you can do it now. I assume they're great because otherwise what's the point in saying Fishmans are the regional best of this genre, they must have some real competition right? Name some, I'm curious!

Album Rating: 4.5

@Baseline, you have to look up "Deathdream", it's essentially this sorta obscure subgenre that simply put is a dark take on dreamy ambient pop that a lot of Japanese artists/producers are spearheading and experimenting with under different pseudonyms. Sangam is prob my favorite rn because they were who got me into the genre and doing research on it. No Death is also a great project, i have a ridiculous amount on my Spotify and computer in general that i could recommend a few more artists from if you wind up digging it !!

Album Rating: 4.5

oh and 아버지 is def top tier and a fan favorite among the small community