Reviewers: Utadamaru (rapper, radio personality) / Kitani Tatsuya (singer-songwriter, producer) / Shibata Satoko (singer-songwriter, poet) / Keiichi Tomita (musician)
creation
Utadamaru
The bouncing drums are a manifesto!
This first track seems to energetically declare that this time, "the beat is the main focus!" There's also a subtle "YMO vibe" that I think is a common element throughout the album.
Kitani Tatsuya
A killer track with a skillful arrangement and composition that will get your heart racing.
Although a variety of sounds are used, the orchestra's composition and arrangement are so skillful that all the tones sound beautiful. When I first listened to it, I was struck by the high quality.
Satoko Shibata
A masterpiece that pays homage to past and future productions
The single version has been re-arranged, making it even more enjoyable to listen to. The lyrics express respect for those who have created something and encouragement for those who will follow. It's encouraging to hear Hoshino say this.
Tomita Lab
The perfect groove with DAW and live performance
This is the best song in terms of the balance between the editing sense that comes from revision and the physical performance. I like how the GameCube startup sound part sounds like Frank Zappa.
Star
Utadamaru
I want to rap using two intros!
Stevie-esque funk with an uncompromising groove throughout. The lyrics, which include passages that cannot be fully understood through hearing alone (but do rhyme), also have a lovely Japanese philosophical quality.
Kitani Tatsuya
Achieving the ideal coexistence of rich and niche
The best song on the album. Hoshino-san took the lead in the studio work and edited it using a DAW. The balance is excellent. The string movement at the end of the chorus is really cool.
Satoko Shibata
I'd love to hear this live in the future. A new anthem is born.
Shun Ishiwaka's drumming has a sense of excitement and urgency, like the night before a typhoon. I also love how the mysterious string phrases add to the excitement. I'd love to hear it live.
Tomita Lab
A unique interpretation of mellow AOR
It's a song with an AOR-like groove that I'm personally familiar with. I really like this style of music. I also make songs with a similar groove, but Hoshino-san has his own unique approach that's interesting.
comedy
Utadamaru
A life affirmation sung by someone who knows true loneliness
If the question of how to digest neo-soul in one's own way was one of the driving forces behind Gen Hoshino 's evolution, then this is clearly the definitive version. The remixes are also great!
Kitani Tatsuya
How to create an ideal family as envisioned by a proper adult
The two phrases, "There's nothing stronger than blood" and "The miracle of being with you." I was moved by how family is depicted in these words. I think they are words that came out as a result of properly growing older.
Satoko Shibata
A singing voice that transcends intentions and reaches straight to the heart
The skillful arrangements and compositions are amazing, but the diverse sense of melody is truly wonderful. The melody of "Ano Hi Koushita" is heartbreaking and really hits home. It's one of my favorite songs.
Tomita Lab
A song I got hooked on while searching for a trick
I also like the electric piano sound that sounds like a chord sample before the hook, with a 2/4 beat and no dominant, which sounds like a key change. It's skillful in that it doesn't sound like a gimmick.
Overview of the album "Gen"
Utadamaru
The album title is always impressive. This time, it's even more amazing. It seems extremely straightforward, but in fact it can be interpreted in many different ways... This balance is the very essence of Gen Hoshino. That determination is borne out in this album.
Kitani Tatsuya
While production know-how utilizing DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) has been accumulating in recent years, the number of people unfamiliar with rich studio work is on the rise, and I, too, am troubled by this. In "Gen," the two are organically intertwined, effortlessly blending high-quality acoustic instruments with casual home recording to create high-quality music. I believe this will serve as a textbook for future musicians.
Satoko Shibata
It's a massive album with 16 tracks, but there are so many great songs that it's enjoyable to listen to from the very beginning. As I listened to it over and over again with headphones, I realized that it was an incredibly well-crafted original album, including the arrangements and mix. New arrangements have been added to previously released songs that I'm familiar with. I was amazed at the way he took the time to pursue his interests and ideals.
Tomita Lab
These are challenging tracks that appear to have been created through repeated revisions using a DAW. Even when the melody of tracks like the sixth one, "2," is sung by someone else, it's clear at a glance that it was written by Hoshino. Not only the voice, but the melody as well, feels more distinctive. I felt that the physicality of the performance and the editing sense of the DAW coexisted in an exquisite balance.
