Locks (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)

Garnet Crow has a sound that is familiar to those who fell in love with J-pop in the early 90s. Their sound has remained consistent over the years with their upbeat guitar-driven pop/rock tracks. Most recognizable of all is the voice of lead vocalist Yuri Nakamura, whose mid-pitch vocal brings a certain vocal intensity to all of the band's songs. As usual, the job duties for Locks are clearly divided, with Yuri writing all the music, keyboardist Azuki Nana writing all the lyrics, keyboardist Hirohito Furui in charge of the arrangements, and guitarist Hitoshi Okamoto in charge of the guitars. The big occasion on the album is Namida no Yesterday (track 2), which marks the group's 100th song. The track is a catchy pop/rock track with a fairly crowded arrangement that brings plenty of energy to the album. From the extended introduction to its outro, Namida no Yesterday effectively sums up the group's musical style in the last 9 years.

Like most J-pop albums, Locks is arranged in the style of a compilation of individual songs. However, with only one member of the group in charge of all the arrangements, the tracks all manage to come together and follow a similar musical pattern. Leading track Saigo No Ritou (Track 1), an upbeat rock track with an uplifting chorus, gets the album to an energetic start, despite a somewhat weak verse to start things off. As far as songs on the higher side of the energy spectrum go, doubt (Track 6) and Kaze to Rainbow (Track 7) rank as standouts on the album, thanks to their lively arrangements, as well as Yuri's strong vocals. Meanwhile, Mr. Holiday (Track 9) is the closest thing the album has to bubble gum pop, and while that's reflected in the composition and the arrangement, Yuri's vocal fails to carry its lighthearted energy across, making it a successful song on paper, but not in execution.

Locks also has its share of successful ballads. Sekai wa Mawaru to Iukeredo (Track 3) is a mid-beat ballad with an affecting chorus that matches well with Yuri's voice. While the verse seems to suffer from a bit of underwriting due to Yuri's need to get to the chorus as a songwriter, Sekai shows that Garnet Crow can also do Karaoke-friendly ballads with quality. Kono Te wo Nobaseba (Track 5) is a simple mid-beat ballad that again relies on simply but memorable songwriting to make a lasting impression. The song recalls memories of inspiring theme songs for charity shows without becoming a parody of them.

Garnet Crow's strongest asset is their way of evoking collective nostalgia. While today's J-pop thumps with bombastic bass lines and bangs with loud guitar-driven arrangements, the band reminds listeners that sometimes outstanding vocals and a composition that leaves an impression are all it takes. Garnet Crow has no need for gratuitous guest vocals or expensive studio production, and they can still continue to produce the type of rock-pop music that will always find an audience. Ten years and more than 100 songs later, the band continues to thrive in an established system that has worked ever since their indie days. As the saying goes: if it isn't broken, why fix it?

Recommended Tracks: Saigo no Rido (Track 1), Namida no Yesterday (Track 2), Sekai wa Mawaru to Iukeredo (Track 3), Kono Te wo Nobaseba (Track 5), doubt (track 6), Keze to Rainbow (Track 7)

by Kevin Ma