Limited 180 gram audiophile vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket including insert and PVC protective sleeve. X00 Multiplies was released as an EP in 1980. Now this album is something different. Filled with humor, catchy commercial tunes, instrumentals, computerized vocals and two versions of the Soul classic 'Tighten up' by Archie Bell & The Drells, YMO took a break from their serious side and decided to have a go with a more poppy sound mixed with humor and fun. Still, having said this, X00 Multiplies is phenomenally played. This album will make you want to get up and dance to 'The Number One Dance Band In Tokyo'.
I**D
It was difficult to afford the vinyl albums in college
It's a joy to have them in CD
A**R
Five Stars
Great!
A**.
2 Different Releases Available: Mini-album & Hits Compilation
There are 2 distinct versions of this release. The mini-album with the pink border has 12 tracks, including skits between songs, and originally was released as a 10" on vinyl. The compilation (Hits) releases all lack the pink border and only include 8 tracks. ASK SELLER WHICH YOU ARE PURCHASING, AS THE ARTWORK & TRACKLISTINGS DON’T ALWAYS MATCH.
D**N
Two good songs. The rest...
"Xoo Multiplies" is, at best, a filler release, a way to buy time and push product into the marketplace. What else can you call a mini-album with only two "real" songs, intermittent comedy skits, and a centerpiece that consists of a endless, we-get-the-joke-already remake of the Drells' "Tighten Up?"First, the good. "Nice Age" is a phenomenal tune, sort of like a proto-"Ballet" from BGM. It's an 80s pop song, but it's a really good 80s pop song. I really like Takahashi's voice. It has an interesting, slightly "slithery" quality to it, and I think he makes great use of it here. "Citizens of Science" is almost as good.Oh, but its introduction is talked over. Because, you know, the album is half. Freakin'. Comedy skits. In Japanese. Now, the skits are by a group called "Snakeman Show" who show all signs of being very interesting and probably slightly out of the mainstream. Wonderful for them. They're mostly in Japanese, so I can't vouch as to their content. I should point out that the first two are in English, and are mildly amusing, although the language used in the second one becomes...well, pretty course (references are made to...uh, alleged Asian issues of endowment). Problematically, the skits run over into the songs. Thus, we get a hissed "CITIZENS...OF SCIENCE" introducing that track.Oh, and "Tighten Up." It's a joke. Yes, it's catchy. Yes, it's well played. But there's also absolutely nothing to it, and the "funny" track announcer is problematic in mixed company. The band were probably attempting to be subversive with regard to the American vision of the Japanese, but still..."WE DON'T SIGHT SEE, WE DANCE! YOU UNDERSTAND! WE ARE THE NUMBAH ONE DANCE BAND IN TOKYO SING-SONG!" Oh, please, Japanese gentlemen, just stand up already...YMO miming this on "Soul Train" (a clip readily available on the internet) is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.Verdict: Two songs are good. The rest of this probably isn't worth "full-album" sort of money. Find it used. Note also that there is an American version of the album that functions as an edited combination of this and "Solid State Survivor," but I'm unsure of its availability on CD.
G**U
A trippy Japanese synth-pop band that has become our favorit
We first found this album on LP at a used record store. Going by nothing other than the interesting cover art and a few seconds of listening at the store we decided to buy it. This gamble turned out to be the best purchase in several months and one of the greatest records of our collection. It blends a 1980's synth style with robotic voices and a slow beat. The end product provides for good party music that ranges from a Japanese "Running Man" show to futuristic space music. After many listenings we wondered whether or not there was more music of this genre out there. The search continues. Antonio comments: I agree with all of the above. This is definitely the star of our extensive album collection. It's somewhat remniscent of early Devo with primitive synthesizers but more mellow and poppy. Definitely worth checking out.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
1 week ago