This is what I wrote after listening to his first album, Hanataba to Suisou (Bouquet and Burial at Sea), which he released as Hachi. This is day one, my first impression of him:
I found this immediately compelling. I’ve got a feeling, I think Kenshi Yonezu is gonna fly to high ranks. I think I’m gonna like and rank well J-Pop in general, but I think Kenshi Yonezu in particular is gonna be great. I can feel it. His songs in this album all go long, for my 3 minute rule of thumb, but it always feels appropriate to me, it always feels like it makes sense to the flow and the feeling of the song. The time is used to develop and explore, and I’m interested and engaged in what’s being developed and explored. I’m in.
Honestly, I think that says it all, ‘cause everything I said there either stayed true or became truer as I listened through the rest of Kenshi’s discography. I’m interested and engaged in what’s being developed and explored. I think it’s enjoyable and good. I’m in. I think there’s one telling thing I can say to explain how I feel about Kenshi’s music, about why I like him so much and why I’m making him an A+ out of the gate. As I listened to his most recent album, LOST CORNER, on the last day of this week and change of listening to him, gaining an increasing appreciation for his music and for him, I realized– this is what I would want to make.
Not necessarily exactly– I don’t think I’m drawn so consistently to the same themes and stylings that he is. But, I think I’m drawn to themes and stylings in the same way that he is. I imagine myself in command of the same depth and variety of texture, of rhythm, of sound, while still maintaining a clear focus and coherent listenability. There are other artists I love that sound very different; there are other artists I love more than Kenshi Yonezu that sound very different from Kenshi Yonezu. But he is the one who I listened to and thought, “This is what I want to be able to do. These are the types of choices I want to be able to make.”
Kenshi Yonezu complete, now listening to: Hazlett
tunafruitsandwitch 