Originally released in Japan last October, but first released in the U.S. earlier this year, the four-piece pop-punk band CHAI might have released the most fun record of the last 12 months – Pink.
Twin sisters Mana (vocals and keys) and Kana (guitar) joined up with high school classmate Yuna (drums) and college pal Yuuki (bass) to create music that is cute, catchy, and crunchy all at the same time. It’s the aural equivalent of Pocky, and I mean that in the best possible sense.
Beginning with “Hi Hi Baby,” a song about babies being goofy, CHAI puts down infectious cowbell-heavy beats, post-punk bass, and even steel drums to produce something so fun that you’re almost not sure how to process it.
“You are so cute. Nice face, oh yeah! We are so cute. Nice face, oh yeah!” starts off “N.E.O.”, which is nearly three minutes of pop-punk laced with psychedelia and has maybe the sickest drum and bass groove of the last year. This is the kind of track that makes you think, “Where the hell have these women been all my life?” when you hear it. The bass gets fat and the guitars and synths get fuzzy on “Boyz Seco Men” while the dual vocals between Mana and Kana bring to mid early 1990’s glam-pop love songs.
“Horechatta” adds reverb and downright sexy vocals that remind me of late 1970’s yacht rock. I’m fairly certain “Fried” is about how great fried fish is, but I could be wrong. I doubt it, because a lot of songs on Pink are about food. Tempura fish, when done well, is great, as are Mana’s bright synths on the track. “She Is Kitty” bounces like a kitten looped on catnip and chasing a butterfly, and the psychedelic touches make you think the kitten has knocked over a lava lamp in the process.
Not weird enough for you? Then try “Gyaranboo,” which I won’t even attempt to describe. “Kawaii Hito,” a song about double standards of beauty, is almost as strange. “Walking Star” is lovely pop-punk with some of the toughest guitar riffs on the record. “Sayonara Complex” is a bass-driven song that seems to produce sunlight from your speakers. The closer, “Flat Girl,” strolls along like a happy tourist on a Japanese beach. By the way, it’s about women with small breasts.
This is one of the catchiest and surprisingly trippy records released in the U.S. this year. It’s the perfect antidote for these modern, angry times.
Keep your mind open.
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