I’ve always found it intriguing how Japan harbors an entire music industry of bands and artists who, despite their immense success in their native land, remain virtually unknown here. Of course, there are exceptions (What self-respecting headbanger doesn’t enjoy Loudness?), but they are far and few in between. One such artist who supports this hypothesis is one Mr. Tak Matsumoto. As one half of the hard rock duo, B’z, Matsumoto has accumulated sales upwards of over 100 million units and is regarded as his country’s premiere guitar hero. Yes, you read that correctly. Not 10 million units, but over 100 million units. What kind of a rock have I been sleeping under?
During this storied run, Matsumoto has made the occasional foray into the world of western rock n’ roll. Come 2004, aided by the good folks at Frontiers Records, Matsumoto assembled an all star band and released the eponymous debut from Tak Matsumoto Group. Joining him for this affair were Mr. Big singer Eric Martin, Night Ranger bassist Jack Blades, and journeyman drummer Brian Tichy. In the 20 years since, this album has gained quite the cult following amongst the melodic rock crowd, which probably got Matsumoto thinking, “Who says lightning can’t strike twice?” Well folks, exactly two decades later, Matsumoto, Martin, and Blades are back, this time with Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses fame behind the kit, for TMG II.
For the most part, TMG II feels like a throwback to the guitar-driven arena rock albums of the ’80s. The solos are fiery, the choruses are larger than life, and the overall aura is one of simplistic hard rockin’ fun. Lying somewhere between Whitesnake and Michael Schenker Group, cuts like “My Life”, “Endless Sky”, and “The Great Divide” carry themselves with swagger and attitude. Martin is no David Coverdale, or Gary Barden for that matter, but he gets the job done on this husky tracks. Another highlight in this vein is the dynamic “Jupiter and Mars”, arguably my favorite cut, which sounds like a Japanese spin on classic Purple.
As Matsumoto is more than “just” a hard rock player, TMG II tends to veer off from its parent genre, the results varying. Everyone’s favorite J-metal export, Babymetal, makes a guest appearance on the disco metal banger, “Eternal Flames”, which is too damn catchy to dismiss. There’s also a guest appearance from LiSA of current K-pop stadium stars, BLACKPINK, on “The Story of Love”, which is far too “idol” sounding for my liking. The Beatles-esque balladry of “Color in the World” and “Faithful Now” should do the trick for this diehard Beatlemaniac, but fall short amidst the more energetic cuts. That said, the occasional misstep here and there ain’t bad for a band who’s been dormant for 20 years.
Come the closing “Guitar Hero”, an autobiographical rocker if there ever was one, I found myself headbanging at my desk with a grin on my face. If nothing else, Matsumoto is damn good at tearing up a six string and crafting lighthearted arena rock anthems. Assuming it’ll be another 20 years before the third installment from this Frontiers creation, I’ll have to be cranking TMG II until 2044. By then, I’ll be 45 and Matsumoto will be 83, with likely another 100 million albums sold under his belt. All in a couple decades’ work!
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: B’z, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker Group
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