The Greatest Albums of 2006

#6 - Asobi Seksu's Citrus

Occasionally, I wonder how someone would overcome suffocation in a looming megalopolis like New York City or Shanghai. Millions of people teem everywhere, like bugs in a bathroom. What’s more, with the metallic surfaces and grimy cold pavement around you, I would think city dwellers get the overwhelming sense that they just don’t matter. How else can you define self-importance in such a daunting atmosphere?
I found my answer amid the crushing, crunching guitars of Asobi Seksu’s oddly feather-light “Citrus”, the 6th record on our Best of 2006 list.
Headed by Yuki Chikudate, Asobi Seksu manages to deliver the first real album on our list. While both Owen and Dylan are notable entries in this year’s music scene, Citrus is the first album that leaves the listener with a distinct “residue”. A literal wave of sound, Citrus pulses underneath with a sense of rhythm. It has a heart.
Upon listening to and discovering that heart, our heartless world seems endowed with an ethereal quality. Yes, one’s day-to-day routine, so insignificant before, takes on a sense of epic import. It is this empowering, feel-good nature that elevates Citrus beyond a typical Shoegazer enterprise.
Tautly structured around a number of pop-songs and a pair of 5 and 7 minute epics, Citrus seems driven forward with a purpose. That purpose is anyone’s guess. This in itself might initially be seen as the one true fault of this album: a sense of motion without motivation.
Indeed, Chikudate’s vocals (buried, distorted and occasionally in Japanese) seem to be telling of a man trapped in a car beneath the sea, with only the lighting above to illuminate the murk. The same lyrics could also be about a boy and a girl.
Ultimately, Citrus isn’t about the motive or the purpose that defines the feeling, but rather the feeling itself. It is that sense of immensity that helps Citrus to transcends events. The music instead chooses to speak to the intuitive heart.
Tracks instrumental in this impression include “Thursday”, which beautifully echoes and sparkles across the progressive throbbing of Mitch Spivak’s drums. Elsewhere, “Goodbye” serves as a twangy gasp for air following the crushing might of “Red Sea”. Quite possibly the most singsong of the collection, Goodbye is also the only real distinctive love song. “New Years” is an unleashing of the band’s guitars, full blast…and it hits like a hailstorm of cheetoes.
As a result of these songs and others, the record leaves us with that distinctive residue that is often lost amidst other albums waxing on lost love, found love and everything in between. It is this residue of importance that seems to infuse even a drive across the freeway with some significance.

In an unimpressive life, that is impressive. -Brock

Brock, I meant to make a copy of this CD before I gave it up to you. I may not have liked it enough to keep it, but it was worth a copy for listening. Plus, it only leaves me with my faint memory as reference for review.

I was immediately taken aback when I first listened to Thursday, which I had downloaded. Often labeled "dream pop," it is clear to hear why. Guitars glimmer and grind with reverb, back and forth, over pop-coated rhythms and "new wave" bass. Top that off with Yuki's dreamy, high-pitched vocals.
From the song "Thursday" alone, I was eager to see them live, when I learned they would be playing in town. They did not disappoint. Many songs had crunching guitars and powerful drumming, tapered off with Yuki's keyboards and vocals. The only drawback I experienced, was that Yuki's vocals were sometimes a distraction, reaching high-pitch levels that seriously gave me imagery of a female chipmunk. However, their live performance was so impressive, I was drawn to purchase their album after the show. I discovered Yuki's vocals weren't so grating on record.
Though I appreciated the album overall, I couldn't really get it to envelop me. I had purchased a couple other albums at the time, and couldn't take myself away much from one of them. That may have pulled my needed attention away.
Brock, I'll need to get a copy. -Gabe

MP3: Asobi Seksu - Thursday