The Blue Hearts (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)

Originally released in 1987, The Blue Hearts' self-titled debut is one of those albums that inspire teenagers to go out and start a band, as echoed in the leading track The Future is in our Hands. This hyperactive rock anthem complete with fierce drumming, guitar riffing, and healthy screaming kicks off the album with fighting spirit. An Endless Song (Track 2) maintains the energy level with a catchy punk melody and even catchier chanting refrain plus guitar underlay. The clean acoustic guitar interlude in the middle of the track adds a nice touch to the mayhem. For more noisy cheer, there's the sporadic beats and funky guitar riffs of Machi (Track 5) and the feverish mix of frantic beats and rushed lyrics that is Dance Number (Track 10), which seriously sounds like a conga line punk number.

Punk Rock (Track 4) slows down the tempo for a punk tribute that elicits smiles with its simple, almost innocent declaration of "We like punk rock". Power ballad Kimi no Tame ni (Track 11) also has a distinct 80s mood of simpler times and simpler places thanks to its non-self-conscious emo lyrics and Kohmoto Hiroto's husky, raw vocals. Simple lyrics don't always mean simple thoughts though, as mischief hides message in "The Naked Emperor" (Track 9) and the incredibly fun A Boy's Song (Track 6) which seems be constructed from on-the-whim sounds and thoughts. Less positive, though no less rocking are NO NO NO (Track 3) and When the Bombs Fell (Track 7) whose dark imagery remind that the band members came of age in the Cold War era.

Closing out the classic album is its most famous track, Linda Linda (Track 12). Opening with guitar strumming and husky singing, the song starts off on folk rock chords with this memorable line: "I want to be beautiful like a sewer rat" (me too!). After four lines, moody acoustic suddenly and completely bolts into jumping beats and loud, repeating outcries of "Linda Linda". Catchy, rousing, and unabashedly fun, the song makes a great finale to a brilliant album that rocks as much today as it did 20 years ago.