Quitting while they're ahead! More Big Hits And Jet Lags!
J. Lund | SoCal, USA | 04/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The R.I.P. alludes to the fact that Pizzicato Five have thrown in the towel after roughly sixteen years (the last ten or so featuring lead vocalist Maki Nomiya). Even though Maki's recent solo album was a great success, there's something unique about her pairing with Yasuharu Konishi that will nonetheless be missed. At least the P5 quit while they were ahead...the tracks here (covering 1998-2001) compare favorably to the two previous BIG HITS AND JET LAGS collections that collectively cover the years 1991-1997. Except for the long version of DARLIN' OF DISCOTHEQUE, this anthology moves along at a fast pace, tossing out seventeen tracks in 78 minutes. Included are a number of singles (e.g., SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GIRL LIKE YOU, NONSTOP TO TOKYO, A PERFECT WORLD, A TOKYO, PLAYBOY PLAYGIRL, etc.), plus album tracks that fit right in with the hits. Note that some of the tracks here are CD-single versions with Maki in the foreground, as opposed to album revisions with her sometimes in a lesser or non-existent role (this is particularly true of the recent CA ET LA DU JAPON album). The packaging is typically creative, featuring dozens of small photos and a mini-lyric book (this time in Japanese only). However, even were the album housed in a standard jewel box format, this anthology would be no less recommended, since the bottom line is the music, not the packaging. If indeed this is their final bow, R.I.P. sends the P5 into the history books with one thinking that they quit too soon, rather than too late!"
They've done it again!
Brock Brown | Phoenix, AZ United States | 05/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's a shame Pizzicato five is quitting after an 18+ years together. Their final CD, including new takes on The Night Is Still Young (my favorite) and Such A Beautiful Girl Like You, is definitly worth buying. This is 77:52 minutes of non-stop classics from records such as Playboy & Playgirl to Fifth Release from Matador. Also included are pictures of the band over the years. A must have for any die-hard Pizzicato Five fan such as myself. We'll miss you Pizzicato Five!!!"