Happy End of the World
Happy End of the World | ||||
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![]() Matador issue | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 21, 1997 | |||
Genre | Shibuya-kei | |||
Length | 62:40 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Pizzicato Five chronology | ||||
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Pizzicato Five US chronology | ||||
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Singles from Happy End of the World | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
![]() 2006 reissue |
Happy End of the World (ハッピー・エンド・オブ・ザ・ワールド) is the tenth studio album by Japanese pop band Pizzicato Five. The album was released on June 21, 1997, by Readymade Records.[3] In the United States, it was released by Matador Records on September 9, 1997, and peaked at number 32 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.[4][5] A companion remix album, Happy End of You, was released in 1998.[6] Happy End of the World was reissued by Readymade on March 31, 2006.[7]
Composition
On Happy End of the World, Pizzicato Five incorporated influences from contemporary styles of electronic music, including breakbeat, downtempo and drum and bass, into their trademark Shibuya-kei sound.[8][9] Tokyo Weekender writer Ed Cunningham found that the album saw the band expanding on the "beat-driven experimentation" that had been hinted at on previous albums such as Sweet Pizzicato Five (1992) and Bossa Nova 2001 (1993).[9] He describes it as having "both the density and adventurousness of a plunderphonics record (despite much of it being performed live) and the chilled, featherweight listenability of lounge and easy-listening pop."[9]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[11] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.4/10[13] |
Select | 4/5[14] |
Matt Diehl of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Japan's favorite avant-lounge duo, Pizzicato Five, returns with a more club-oriented set, but their blend of '60s kitsch and savvy pop-culture references remains intact in Happy End of the World, giving the Cardigans a run for the retro-hip money."[11] Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club said, "It's an excellent addition to the duo's expansive canon, and a must for any pop fan who thinks mainstream dance music can and must be better than the 'Barbie Girl' drivel that populates Top 40 radio playlists."[15]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said, "It's a surprisingly laid-back album, but that's not necessarily a bad thing – the lush arrangements have an engaging, low-key charm, and the beats are nice and subtle."[10] He added, "Happy End of the World runs a little too long, and no song stands out as a single, but it's an engaging record that suggests there may be more to the Pizzicato Five than kitsch."[10]
In 2007, Rolling Stone Japan placed Happy End of the World at number 64 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".[16]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Yasuharu Konishi, except where noted; all music is composed by Konishi, except where noted
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "World Is Spinning at 45 RPM" (世界は1分間に45回転で廻っている) | 4:40 | ||
2. | "The Earth Goes Around" (地球は回るよ) | Michio Yamagami | Osamu Shoji | 2:55 |
3. | "Trailer Music" | 1:50 | ||
4. | "It's a Beautiful Day" (イッツ・ア・ビューティフル・デイ) | 4:26 | ||
5. | "Love's Prelude" (愛のプレリュード) | 2:18 | ||
6. | "Love's Theme" (愛のテーマ) | 4:16 | ||
7. | "My Baby Portable Player Sound" | 5:05 | ||
8. | "Mon amour Tokyo" (モナムール東京) | 4:55 | ||
9. | "Collision and Improvisation" (衝突と即興) | 4:35 | ||
10. | "Porno 3003" | 9:51 | ||
11. | "Arigato We Love You" (アリガト WE LOVE YOU) |
| 5:15 | |
12. | "Ma vie, l'ete de vie" (私の人生、人生の夏) | 5:05 | ||
13. | "Happy Ending" (ハッピー・エンディング) |
| 7:29 | |
Total length: | 62:40 |
Notes
- "Porno 3003" is divided into the segments "Music for Sofa" (ソファのための音楽), "Galaxy One" and "It's All Too Beautiful".
Charts
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] | 15 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] | 32 |
References
- ^ "イッツ・ア・ビューティフル・デイ | ピチカート・ファイヴ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "モナムール東京 | ピチカート・ファイヴ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "HAPPY END OF THE WORLD | ピチカート・ファイヴ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "Pizzicato Five". Matador Records. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "Pizzicato Five | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Happy End of You – Pizzicato Five". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ "HAPPY END OF THE WORLD | ピチカート・ファイヴ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ Rosean, Samuel (December 29, 2018). "A Beginner's Guide: Shibuya Kei". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Cunningham, Ed (March 31, 2020). "A Complete Guide to Shibuya-kei: Tokyo's '90s Music Revival". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Happy End of the World – Pizzicato Five". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Diehl, Matt (September 12, 1997). "Happy End of the World". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (October 24, 1997). "Pizzicato Five: Happy End of the World (Matador)". The Guardian.
- ^ Schreiber, Ryan. "Pizzicato Five: Happy End of the World". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (November 1997). "Pizzicato Five: Happy End of the World". Select. No. 89.
- ^ Thompson, Stephen (March 29, 2002). "Pizzicato Five: Happy End Of The World". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ Lindsay, Cam (November 14, 2007). "Finally! 'The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time' Listed". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Oricon. ISBN 978-4-87131-077-2.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. September 27, 1997. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
External links
- Happy End of the World at Discogs (list of releases)