The compilation Disney Rocks! officially came out on February 27th and though it took a while, we were finally able to give it a listen (again & again) and it’s amazing.
Cover albums aren’t always known for being stellar or improving upon the orginal tracks, yet all nine artists on Disney Rocks! take the essence of classic Disney and morph it, to varying degrees, into something that’s remarkably fresh and fun. Okay, I’m starting to gush…I like Disney AND I’m a fan of the artists that participated in this release. Here’s a track-by-track:
avengers in sci-fi kicks things off in a fashion that’s surprisingly unmysterious when compared to some of their original stuff. The Mickey Mouse Club theme’s iconic spelled out lyrics are relatively discreet and avengers take the song in a new creative direction.
I was a bit worried about GOLLBETTY’s ska/pop/rock take on this beautiful ballad but then I actually heard the song. “A Whole New World” by GOLLBETTY is an awesome stand-out track that maintains the wonderful melody while kicking it up a couple dozen beats-per-minute and adding a whole lot of horns.
the chef cooks me shines in this song that’s rough at first before shifting into something more complete. A dancing guitar and all sorts of synth instruments are sprinkled throughout the track that really brings the chef cooks me’s “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” to life.
This is probably my personal favorite cover and that’s probably because I’m already a big fan of The Telephones. The playful, almost tongue-in-cheek nature of The Telephones and their music lends itself incredibly well to this remake and the falsetto segments are like gold.
I wasn’t familiar with Rufus before hearing “Kiss the Girl” but afterwards, I must hear more. His take on “Kiss the Girl” surges with a Beach Boys-esque, oldies rock vibe. The dynamic track starts slow but really gets going a quarter of the way through.
OTOGIBANASHI’s “When You Wish Upon a Star” made me realize how good Disney songs can sound in Japanese. It’s a pretty vanilla cover that’s true to the original sound and tempo of the song. The warm tone and purposefully unrefined vocals make for a very pleasant and mellow listen.
The →Pia-no-jaC↠version of “Main Street Electrical Parade” could be a cover or just a demo in how awesome of musicians this piano/cajon duo really are. A delightful exhibition fit for the streets of Disney. It’s “instrumental awesomeness” indeed.
With instrumentation and a singing-in-unison chorus, “It’s a Small World” by riddim saunter is exceptionally faithful to the original song and very fun. Despite being draped in signature riddim saunter sound, it’s so unswerving that it needs to be played on the It’s a Small World Ride at Tokyo Disneyland!
The light and acoustic medley from the great Keiichi Sokabe himself is a outstanding bonus track. It’s a rough cut and the noticeably loud, ambient hiss make it an add-on track, production wise. Despite that, Keiichi Sokabe’s performance and simple touch is charming.
Listen to a sample of “A Whole New World” by GOLLBETTY
[audio:http://sparkplugged.net/wp-content/uploads/music/awholenewworld.mp3|titles=A Whole New World|artists=GOLLBETTY]
Listen to a sample of “Heigh-ho” by The Telephones
[audio:http://sparkplugged.net/wp-content/uploads/music/heighho.mp3|titles=Heigh-ho|artists=The Telephones]
Village Vanguard produced the outstanding compilation and you can check it out here: http://vgvd.jp/vv/goods/00000CD205/
If you’ve listened to Disney Rocks!, what’s your favorite cover?
By Jimi on March 18, 2009 at 12:53 am
As a person who loves animation (so much so to have made a career out of it) AND a person who passionately loves jp indie rock, Disney Rocks is truly a gift from the heavens.
The only other time I’ve felt this kind of elation was when Bump of Chicken did a cover of the pillows’ Hybrid Rainbow. One of my fave bands of all time covering another fave band’s flagship song? Aural seizure ensues.
As for faves off this album, I’d have to say its a toss up between GOLLBETTY’s cover and →Pia-no-jaC→s cover. Their so unique but equally awesome I can’t just choose one. The rest of the album comes in a very close second :3
By Andrew on March 20, 2009 at 9:17 pm
There’s something about “Main Street Electrical Parade.” It was my favorite cover on House Disney, too. Also loved “Heigh Ho” and “Mickey Mouse March” but I was already a huge avengers in sci-fi and the telephones fan. I also loved how Keiichi Sokabe perfectly transitioned “When You Wish Upon A Star” to the Japanese version of “It’s A Small World.”
By Shay on March 21, 2009 at 12:51 am
@Jimi: That’s awesome that Disney Rocks! achieves that sort of level of awesomeness. I definitely agree =)
@Andrew: “Main Street Electrical Parade†is pretty magical and I’m with you on the avengers in sci-fi and the telephones ^^. I love the simplicity of Keiichi Sokabe’s track and that transition is delightful.
By GOLLBETTY - 「99%〠- SparkPlugged - Japanese Music Culturetainment & More on March 22, 2009 at 4:50 pm
[...] were also one of the many fantastic contributors to the Disney Rocks! compilation Tagged as: [...]