Search - Judy & Mary :: Miracle Diving

Pop Energy

N. Marrone | Los Angeles | 05/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first Judy and Mary album I ever heard, which I originally downloaded on MP3 after hearing the song "Sobakasu" (The Power Source). With such a fabulous album to back up my first impression, JAM soon became the band I listened to most. I burned this album to CD and listened to it far, far too much. I played it for my friends, I played it for my brother, I played it for my parents. There is nothing about this album that I don�ft like. I cannot name my favorite tracks because every single track on the album is an anthem. My favorite activity while listening to this album is running around my bedroom, jumping up and down, and singing along (with the blinds open, of course). "Anemone no Koi" is the first Japanese song I learned all the lyrics to, and I love to play and sing �gKaerenai Futari�h on my acoustic guitar at every opportunity. If I could only keep one JAM album, maybe even only one album in the whole world, this might be it. This album makes me feel good about myself, so I am happy to be alive. I am glad that music so beautiful exists.I cannot leave out that later on I actually bought the album, not so much because I feel obligated to purchase every single song I have on mp3 but because this album has an excellent montage of photographs in the liner notes. That, and I cannot stand the sound quality of MP3. The photographs were taken informally around Las Vegas, in color and black and white. In particular, there are some black and white shots of the band playing slots which are worth the cost of the album alone. Yuki has a first class smile, Takuya is vivid, Onda is awkward but good natured, Kohta is cool. I highly recommend you purchase this album, the liner notes are irreplaceable."

Utter Brilliance

cindy baldwin | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN United States | 09/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like everything else JaM does, this album is brilliance. While not the best Judy and Mary album, the difference is like winning cash million as opposed to cash million in the lottery. Either is awesome. The music is extremely bouncy and happy, except for Kyoto and the final track whose name I forget, which are these beautiful, wistful songs. Very good all around. Buy this. You feel inexorably drawn to Yuki's entrancing lyrics. Kono arobamu wa totemo ii desu...buy it...buy it..."

Dive a little deeper...

Jay Roberts | Atlanta | 06/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Miracle Diving



If you really care about music, and aren't just looking for the theme song to your favorite animated Japanese TV show...then you owe it to yourself to listen to this album. Most people in the US only know Judy and Mary from their single "Sobakasu", which was used as an opening for a popular Japanese TV show.



Although more than ten years old, this is still a very good pop record. The opening tune, "Miracle Night Diving" will change your opinion of Japanese rock guitarists, and Yuki's vocals will remind you of genres much more passionate than mere "pop". Other great tracks on the record include "Overdrive", another nice display of Asanuma Takuya's guitar work, and "Kyoto", a lovely sentimental ballad. Also check out "Oh!, Can Not Angel" for an example of how the best J-pop seems to be so derivative from so many different musical traditions, and still produces something entirely new.



I can't help but notice the interest in the great little Japanese duo called "Puffy" after their contribution to the "Teen Titans" TV show in the US, and the Cartoon Network show that is *very* loosely based upon their music. If you like Puffy, you'll love JAM. I have read elsewhere that Onuki-san and Yoshimura-san have said Yuki's delightful singing is the inspiration for their own careers. Try a JAM record and see for yourself...



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