How are they not bigger???
boo boo tannenbaum | los angeles, ca United States | 06/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't know how this band has flown under the radar. They are so much better than blonde redhead, the obvious comparison. female front girl, standing about 4.5 ft tall, has one of the most amazing voices i have ever heard. haunting, beautiful, primal, passionate, backed by crescendo guitar work (some smashing pumpkins hidden in there), retro synthesizer sound, a bit of joy division, but truly unique. saw them live recently, and that is an experience. this is a no brainer."
Asobi Seksu
Andrew Vice | Plano, TX | 10/08/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Asobi Seksu's self-titled debut is a solid record from an excellent band, and though it is overshadowed by their sophomore record, Citrus, it's still a worthwhile album and something that any shoegaze fan should consider. The most obvious reference point for Asobi Seksu is My Bloody Valentine, and while no band can do shoegaze as well as the genre's creator, Asobi Seksu do it better than most other MBV wannabes. The band's singer main singer, Yuki Chikudate, has a beautiful, haunting voice that works flawlessly with the swirling atmospherics of the guitar work. Unfortunately, the band's lead guitarist, James Hanna, shares singing duties on some songs, and he is vastly outclassed by Yuki's gorgeous vocals.
Yuki Chikudate sings in both Japanese and English, with some songs featuring solely one language or the other, and others a blend of the two. Amongst the modern indie bands fronted by luscious Japanese singers, Asobi Seksu definitely outshines both Blonde Redhead and Deerhoof for style and songwriting. This is a good record, but newcomers should definitely check out their follow-up, Citrus, first."