Review Summary: Now I don’t know why but Ska just seems even more fun when you don’t understand what the hell they’re saying most of the time.
Yum!Yum!ORANGE is a J-ska(Japanese Ska) band with lyrics in both English and Japanese naturally. Yum!Yum!ORANGE also features a female vocalist. Enough with the back story of these guys/gals… Yum!Yum!ORANGE(who will be referred to as YYO! In the future) Let’s delve into this J-ska!
The opening track Sunny Sunday opens up the CD with a blast from the horn section, which gives you immediate fun vibes. Then you hear YYO!’s vocalist Kumi singing in her natural Japanese language which could turn some people off. Now I don’t know why but, Ska just seems even more fun when you don’t understand what the hell they’re saying. This track is just incredibly fun, and features the use of the horn section more prominently than some other tracks. A great opener, although there is a chance some people will immediately dismiss the CD right away because of the vocals. Don’t.
Perhaps the best track on the CD is the second track Hoshi no Kakera. Which I believe in Japanese means “Crazy super fun time track.” Of course I could be way off base here(really translates to Pieces of Stars). This song opens with a steady punk beat, that’s right punk beat which leads into it’s horn section and bass. The bass which is prevalent throughout the CD is incredibly solid. In fact the bass almost drowns out the guitar at times. What makes this track arguably the best is its catchy as hell chorus. Again this song is in Japanese, but the chorus is just…. crazy and catchy. Around the 2:10 mark there is a simple(and short), change of pace solo that just fits where it is used, and sets up the horn section beautifully. Chorus:(In japanese)
Kizu tsuitari ochikondari namida ***a ato ni wa
Kitto daiji na mono ga nani ka kizuku koto dekiru kara
Miageta yozora te wo kaza***e
Ichiban tooi hoshi tsukamae ni ikou
Now to hear a song in English…. Track seven entitled Don’t Worry! Is in English. The track opens up with some steady guitar work before leading into some barely understandable English, stick with it though it gets more understandable. The chorus is simple but fun and effective.
“Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna sing?
Let’s go! Right now enjoy your life
Shake your hip! Sing in a loud voice!
Din di du du di la lu lu, feel this beat!”
To which I Respond: “Yes, I would indeed like to do all of that. Why wouldn’t I want to? With your soaring horn solo, preceded by a guitar solo, there is literally nothing that wouldn’t make me want to dance!”
Overall this CD is just a plain good time. The guitar/bass solos that are used never feel out of place. The horn solos never feel out of place. The bass is…really pretty damn good. If you can get past the crazy Japanese lyrics, and Kumi’s vocals then you’ll uncover a pretty good ska… err…. J-ska CD. Not too mention a ridiculous cover of Cartoon Heroes.
