Part Four of Four – Buddha Rock 1997-1999
LOUDNESS – Buddha Rock 1997-1999 Music Clips (1999 Rooms DVD, from the box set Buddha Rock 1997-1999)
The complete Buddha Rock 1997-1999 set comes with the three Loudness albums from that brief era, and also a bonus DVD with the accompanying music videos. On the back some are listed as “full size” and others “short size” — let’s find out what that means and what Loudness videos looked like in the late 90s.
“Ghetto Machine” opens, with Loudness including a shaven-headed Akira Takasaki performing in a darkened room. The added static interferance reminds us we are in the 90s when bands like Loudness didn’t have much budget and covered it up with tricks like this. Masaki appears cold with his big fur hat, but it’s fun to see this version of Loudness on video. “Evil Ecstasy” has cleaner production, but this is one of the “short size” videos — it’s only about 90 seconds of a pretty cool song. Too bad because this video is much more watchable. The funkier “San Francisco” is also one of these short versions, as is “Creatures”. All of these videos appear to be taped at the same time. The section of “Creatures” used focuses on the guitar solo. That’s cool at least. “Katmandu Fly” is the “full size”, but it’s also only a minute-long instrumental so to call it “full size” is kinda cheatin’.
Moving on from the Ghetto Machine album, all the rest of the videos are “full size”. From Dragon, it’s two of the best tracks: “Dogshit” and “Crazy Go Go”. This time Loudness are playing in a huge, uber-clean garage. As “Dogshit” demonstrates, Akira was now into his “fly sunglasses” phase. It looks like the band are having fun here, which makes it an enjoyable watch. Great song too. “Crazy Go Go” is more straight ahead, with lights and struttin’ stage moves instead of goofing around.
Apparently they only did one video for the final Masaki album, Engine. “Black Biohazard” is that song; not a tune that impressed on prior listens. (Also strange how “Black Biohazard” is the only song not in capital letters on the cover.) This video is made from grainy outdoor concert festival footage. From this we can ascertain that live, Masaki was a capable frontman with a cool rock star stage persona.
At 25 minutes, this DVD can not be considered more than a bonus for buying the Buddha Rock box set. It is not the main draw. The fundamental reason to get Buddha Rock is to acquire the three albums Ghetto Machine, Dragon and Engine in one place with ease. As a bonus feature, the Music Clips disc does what it does. “Dogshit” is the best video by a wide margin, and it remains unclear why “short size” videos were included, unless that’s all that was ever made for those particular songs?
The Buddha Rock box set also comes with photos, complete lyrics (in English) and liner notes (in Japanese). It’s the obvious way to go to cover those years, an era which ended with the Engine album in 1999. At Masaki’s urging, Akira Takasaki reunited the original Loudness lineup and released Spiritual Canoe with Minoru Niihara at the microphone. That put an end to the Masaki Yamada era, which started with member turnover before solidifying on these three albums with Naoto Shibata and Hirotsugo Homma on bass and drums respectively. Great musicians both who helped Loudness explore new and weird directions at the end of the 90s.
Music Clips DVD: 3/5 stars
Buddha Rock 1997-1999 box set: 3.5/5 stars (the sum of the whole is greater than its parts)
You know at a distance, the redhead looks like a young (asian) Axl Rose, or that could just be me!
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That’s Masaki Yamada! You should see what he looked like when he was in E-Z-O!
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Here ya go Lana — incidentally this album is VERY hard to find, and expensive now.
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Wow, brilliant guitar solo and I like Masaki’s voice. Definitely was not expecting that voice. Watching EZO upclose, they look like a mix of Kiss and Motley Crue. Oddly enough that album was co-produced by Gene Simmons. Thanks for showing this Mike!
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Interesting stuff Mikey. Kudos for you going into the foxhole with these guys. I think it’s safe to say you own the most Loudness product in Canada!
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Hopefully getting there. I have two more incoming in the mail, and one more review on deck for next week.
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At least we went out with a bang. The package seems like they did it right and it is definitely one of those things that is better as whole package as all the albums weren’t great, but together worth it. Great set of posts as I feel like I am learning more about Loudness than I ever planned to and that isn’t a bad thing.
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The education continues on Sunday with a special short Sunday Screening!
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Good on you for seeing this one out in style. 25 minutes is a toss-in (even if that’s everything they did at the time), but cool for the completists out there (you know any?) :)
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Nah I’ve never met a completist in my life ;)
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Suuuuure…!
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Nice set. Thanks for taking the time and spreading the word on Loudness. Such a cool band. These reviews are fun to read. For me it’s been Yngwie I have dug into lately. Listening to Magnum Opus. That’s kinda related since Vescera is on vocals.
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NICE ONE KK. I don’t have it but I do have The Seventh Sign and I Can’t Wait EP with Mike Vescera. Definitely look for reviews of those two this year. Both are really great!
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u have seventh sign? Blimey. I had a chance of getting it this year but foolishly believed the folks that say only the albums upto Odyssey are good. Then I got Magnum Opus kinda on base of your Loudness kick since I read that Vescera has been in Yngwie’s band. And now I can’t stop listening to Magnum Opus. Thank u! And Magnus Opus is highly recommended. Looking forward to those Yngwie reviews.
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