Bar None Records
2003
Nice.
About This Album
Puffy AmiYumi have never released a record that is less than wonderful, and Nice is no exception to the rule. In fact, it just might be their best record. From the smashing opener, "Planet Tokyo," to the last track, "Red Swing" (which has the same music as "Planet Tokyo" but different lyrics sung in Japanese), Nice is a blast. The record genre-hops like a jet-propelled frog, touching on swoony '70s disco-pop (the candy-coated "Tokyo Nights"), sweet ballads ("Angel of Love," the White Album-styled "Thank You"), jangling power pop ("Sayonara," a dreamy tune with a nice nod to Blondie in the chorus), hard rockers ("Invisible Tomorrow," the ultracatchy "Your Love Is a Drug"), ska-punk ("K2G"), and cartoon theme music (the actual theme for new cartoon series Teen Titans called, strangely enough, "Teen Titans Theme"). Despite the mash up of styles and genres, the record hangs together extremely well. Besides, any record that can bring to mind both Marshall Crenshaw's debut album (the peppy, handclapping "Long Beach Nightmare") and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (the ironically sad "Shiawase [Happiness]") is sure to be manna from heaven to pop music fans.
Track List (try tracks 8 and 12)

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