Two solid tracks. The rest...
David Goodwin | Westchester, NY United States | 08/11/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
""Xoo Multiplies" is, at best, a filler release, a way to buy time and push product into the marketplace. What else can you call a mini-album with only two "real" songs, intermittent comedy skits, and a centerpiece that consists of a endless, we-get-the-joke-already remake of the Drells' "Tighten Up?"
First, the good. "Nice Age" is a phenomenal tune, sort of like a proto-"Ballet" from BGM. It's an 80s pop song, but it's a really good 80s pop song. I really like Takahashi's voice. It has an interesting, slightly "slithery" quality to it, and I think he makes great use of it here. "Citizens of Science" is almost as good.
Oh, but its introduction is talked over. Because, you know, the album is half. Freakin'. Comedy skits. In Japanese. Now, the skits are by a group called "Snakeman Show" who show all signs of being very interesting and probably slightly out of the mainstream. Wonderful for them. They're mostly in Japanese, so I can't vouch as to their content. I should point out that the first two are in English, and are mildly amusing, although the language used in the second one becomes...well, pretty course (references are made to...uh, alleged Asian issues of endowment). Problematically, the skits run over into the songs. Thus, we get a hissed "CITIZENS...OF SCIENCE" introducing that track.
Oh, and "Tighten Up." It's a joke. Yes, it's catchy. Yes, it's well played. But there's also absolutely nothing to it, and the "funny" track announcer is problematic in mixed company. The band were probably attempting to be subversive with regard to the American vision of the Japanese, but still..."WE DON'T SIGHT SEE, WE DANCE! YOU UNDERSTAND! WE ARE THE NUMBAH ONE DANCE BAND IN TOKYO SING-SONG!" Oh, please, Japanese gentlemen, just stand up already...YMO miming this on "Soul Train" (a clip readily available on the internet) is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.
Verdict: Two songs are good. The rest of this probably isn't worth "full-album" sort of money. Find it used. Note also that there is an American version of the album that functions as an edited combination of this and "Solid State Survivor," but I'm unsure of its availability on CD."
Old & intresting
doddi jones | Iceland | 05/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This one is showcase of the diversity of japanese music.
Popular music, this band has been seen as an milestone for electricmusic.
Good humor is allso a way 2 descripe this album."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1