Originally published in Verbicide issue #4

Hyperactive, distorted punk rock from three fun-loving dudes playing fast-paced, three-chord songs. Though I’d never heard them (or heard of them) before this album, it seems that they are quite big in their former home of Japan, and seemingly taking off in North America with lots of tour dates and a gig in 1999 on Comedy Central’s “Upright Citizen’s Brigade.” Rocketgoldstar is their first full-length album, and though I can’t understand a damn thing vocalist Kengoswee is saying (because the vox are rather muffled, and I’m not even sure it’s English he’s speaking), I like the lyrics from reading the inserted sheet — the songs basically revolve around sushi, monkeys, tanks, and skydiving. I got a kick out of this album.

(Eat Rice Records, 151 Allen St. #4C, New York, NY 10002)