Review Summary: A splendid debut from one of Japan's brightest up-and-comers.
In Japan, shoegaze is a style that has progressively gotten more popular over time. With groups like Cruyff in the Bedroom and The Novembers on the forefront of the scene, many up-and-comers in the indies scene are starting to embrace the scene. Sugardrop are one of those many up-and-comers. With a style rich in nostalgia, Sugardrop released their 2012 debut album, "Sundaysunday", which concocts their shoegaze-influenced style and laces it with 90's-esqued alternative rock.
"Girl Friend" has a shoegaze tone to it, with the vocals of the group sounding very reminiscent of The Pillows. This opening track exemplifies what the group is essentially all about
: noisy, shoegaze melodics with drony vocals and a severe 90's alternative sound. "You Need Someone" has a sound that is similar to that of early-day Smashing Pumpkins, and has a droned rhythm, and over-amplified guitars carrying the song's vintage-sounding tone to the top of its potential. A fantastic song, and can also be compared to Supercar, more specifically their "Three Out Change" album. "6, 7, 8" follows a progressive-alternative bass line and flickering guitar riffs, equipped with a rather upbeat sound. The sheer melody shown within this specific track makes it a catchy one, with the crashing chorus being specifically memorable. "Two Four Six" has a sound that can be compared to the Japanese shoegaze giants, Cruyff in the Bedroom, and its introverted attitude gives the album an interesting edge. The down-and-out feel of the song gives the album even more emotion to work with, and winds up being a memorable track on the album.
In short, "Sundaysunday" ends up being a true diamond-in-the-rough in the Japanese indies department. Its fantastic mixture of nostalgic 90's alternative rock and noisy shoegaze gives the album a truly diverse and entertaining sound, and one that will win over even the most stubborn alternative fans. If you're a huge fan of 90's alternative rock (Smashing Pumpkins in particular), or are a fan of shoegaze in general, then give "Sundaysunday" a listen. The future of Japanese shoegaze is here, and it goes by the name of Sugardrop.
