Southern All Stars - DIRTY OLD MAN

This is my first encounter with the Southern All-Stars, which might also be the case for some of you. They’re a big name in Japan, however a lot of overseas fans have no idea who they are.

Their latest single feels great and it really has a lot to offer if you enjoy good instrumentation and composition skills.

•01 - DIRTY OLD MAN～Saraba Natsu yo～
Wow, this one begins like something I’d expect to hear on vacation. Even has great string arrangements throughout, which hit me as soon as I pressed play for the first time. The excellent muted strumming and accompanying piano are only trumped by the maracas and tambourine that share the spotlight. Very refreshing, save for the recycled chorus that (just like every other recent J-pop release) sports the recently-overused 70s disco sound to get its audience up and dancing.

A great song with an uninspired-yet-most-excellent chorus.

•02 - BREEZE
The first thing you’ll notice about this one is the fabulously eclectic mix of instruments found within: acoustic guitars, bongos, flutes, strung out “spaghetti western” guitars and piano all melt together to create a great piece that manages to get you through some of the harder days you might encounter. I wouldn’t exactly “relax” to it, although some people might enjoy the “rainy day” aspects it has to offer.

Great composition skills are witnessed and felt when one listens to this tune!

•03 - Taiyô ni Hoeru !!
Blues, blues and more blues. Eric Clapton himself would probably cover this song if he had a chance; it’s that good. Chock full of great guitar work, organ solos and omnipresent bass, it really sounds amazing as a whole. Just wait for the four minute mark, when the bongos kick in and take this Godsend to new heights.

It’s a fantastic little ditty that ends the single on a high note, complete with a chorus that will ring through your skull for hours and a solo that could make an air guitar player out of ol’ “Slow Hand” Clapton himself!

This single really caught me off guard but made a believer out of me. I’ll be going back in time to find their older releases, that’s for sure. As for you guys, pop this one in your player. You won’t regret it.

•OVERALL SCORE: 9/10 for being extremely accessible to anyone and everyone. Taiyô ni Hoeru !! gains many points for being overly cool, especially since it’s a b-side. However, it better find its way onto a full-length release or there’ll be hell to pay.