Album Review: Nana Kitade — 18-eighteen
On the leadoff track of her album 18-eighteen, J-Rocker Nana Kitade sounds like some wonderful combination of Pizzicato Five, the Go! Team and the grooviest Target commercial one can imagine. With its infectious grooves, insistent beat and sticky melody, “KISS or KISS” casts a spell so wonderful it matters not a bit that the listener can’t understand her Japanese lyrics.
Admittedly, “KISS or KISS” does lose a slice of its allure when Kitade sings it in English (on the bonus track); she betrays very little of a Japanese accent. The English version is thus a bit ordinary, but only a bit.
The tunes unfold in a manner familiar to fans of rock’s more melodic side. And as a real bonus in the world of vocal-oriented rock/pop, 18-eighteen features actual musicians playing real instruments. The guitar solo on the opener is as melodic as anything to come out of the 70s rock or new wave movements, and the keyboard sounds run an effective gamut from cheesy 60s Farfisa sounds to hammering acoustic pianos to Cars-influenced monosynths.
The debut album was released in Asia in mid-2005 but saw a well deserved re-release in the west in late 2006. The overall mood of 18-eighteen is exuberance. It’s rock pop, but of a caliber several notches above most of what aspires to that label. 18-eighteen should be equally at home with dancing as with air guitar soloing. Prospective listeners should not be put off by the Japanese lyrics; this is fun, angst-free stuff that rocks.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.