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Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk review
John Cafiero, the creative force behind Osaka Popstar and this Pop Punk album, has worked for a long time with Punk legends The Misfits as producer, he produced their highest charting album ever: Project 1950. Cafiero grew up in the New York Punk scene with bands like The Ramones. On Osaka Popstars debut album he is backed up with the American Legends Of Punk featuring Jerry Only (Misfits), Dez Cadena (Black Flag), Ivan Julian (The Voidoids) and Marky Ramone (The Ramones). With a line-up like that you’re bound to do something right!
Released through indie label Misfits Records the album saw the day of light May 23 2006. Not only a CD, but a bonus DVD containing the extremely funny videos for “Wicked World” and “Insects” are featured as well.
According to Osaka Popstars press release “Punk is alive and well”, and indeed it is. With all the New School and Melodic Punk around today, it’s a thrill to listen to this album. Real old school, feel good Punk. This album is dedicated to Cafieros love for Japanese anime and toys, Punk and Pop culture, and the 1970s New York Punk bands. And finally his love for The Ramones.
The album kicks of with the amusingly “Wicked World”, a classic Punk Rocker with “I don’t care about anything” lyrics. Next out is “Astro Boy”, a song about a super hero with the ability to fly and who is amazingly strong. The song is short, catchy, and very funny. Continuing the tribute to Japanese anime “Sailor Moon” is a song about Sailor Moon, a 14 year old junior high school girl who receives special quest from a talking cat, her Sailor Scout. Again a very amusing catchy tune and funny lyrics!
”Man Of Constant Sorrow”, yes, a Punk remake of the song from O’ Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack. “Does that work?” you may ask yourself. The song has never sounded better, and with guest vocals from music icon Daniel Johnston, it’s one of the many highlights on this album. “Insects”, fifth tune out got a classic Ramones feel to it with great riff and sing-a-long lyrics. And the best thing about this song is the lyrics, apparently they are written by The Kids Of Widney High class of ‘89. The Kids Of Widney High are a group of students from Widney High School, a special ed. high school in Los Angeles, who writes and performs original songs. The group started in 1988 as a song writing class and changes as the students come and go from Widney. “Bugs are in the trees and their watching you, you better watch out or the insects will get you.” Got to love it.
Another song that stands out on this album is “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t”; the song is actually the opening title track from an obscure Christmas movie of the same name, released in 1966. Two Richard Hell songs are also featured here: “Love Comes In A Spurts” and “Blank Generation”, with Ivan Julian handling bass and guitar, and Marky Ramone trashing the drums you almost got The Voidoids featured, the darkest songs on the album, but still catchy vocals, best guitar solos are featured on these songs as well. “Blank Generation” also sounds a bit like Arctic Monkeys. The three last songs, “Monsters, Where’s The Cap’n?” and “Shaolin Monkeys” are all new material written by John Cafiero, his writing is very entertaining and funny. A song about your cereals gone, got to be funny, and it is!
Listening to Osaka Popstar and the American Legends Of Punk you notice that
The entire album just makes you feel good, no fillers, all killers. 13 songs, 28 minutes of Punk!
For more info on Osaka Popstar visit
www.osakapopstar.com or
www.misfitsrecords.com
Originally written for www.metalexpressradio.com
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