Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee

"Jubilee" is the third album by indie, alternative act Japanese Breakfast which was released in June 2021.  I only discovered this band in the last few weeks through some You tube music reviewers who rated the album highly.  It seems "Jubilee" is a different kind of album to the first two albums, as main songwriter Michelle Zauner topics for the first two albums were about grief but this album is more about joy which shines through in the music.

 

I think one of the most striking things about this album is the complex arrangements which come across in such a simple way. Let's take first track "Paprika" for example.  You've got synthesisers, percussion, viola, violin, cello, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.  All instruments coming together to create such wholesome and uplifting track.  Not forgetting Michelle’s amazing vocals. This is just track one on the album and sets you up for what is such a wonderful listening experience.  "Be Sweet" is the next track on the album and for me is the obvious single which I think was the lead single.  Like a few other tracks on the album, it does have an 80s vibe and I definitely feel Madonna esque vibes from that period.  But with all the arrangements Japanese Breakfast do have that stand out factor.

 

Other songs like "Slide tackle" do have that uplifting vibe too. But there are many songs on here which have this nice chill out vibe to them for example the combo of "Posing in Bondage" and "Sit".  Also "In Hell" which I find ironic having a song on here with the title "Hell" because the music on here is much more representative of heaven but I know lyrically its the darkest moments on the album.  It's blissful music which will take you on a different journey with every track.  There is a loop on "Posing for Bondage" which exemplifies this which I think is created through programming or engineering.  If you listen to it, you'll know instantly the part I mean.

 

Another track which is worth a mention is closing track "Posing For Cars" which is probably my 3rd favourite track behind "Be Sweet" and "Paprika".  With "Posing For Cars" they have allowed the track to naturally expand into a 6 minute 38 second closer which has one of the most magical outros to an album you will hear all year.  It's a slow-moving track which doesn't try and be epic but does try to be beautiful and my, my it is.   When the electric guitar slowly comes in after the first few versus, for me the track goes up a level and is so soothing. But again, it's not just one instrument taking centre stage, there are so many combining and somehow, they have managed the perfect mix which is hard thing to accomplish.

 

Overall Japanese Breakfast wanted to create an album about joy and what they delivered is an unbelievably moving and joyous album which gets better and better with every listen.  When you first listen to this it is a good album. But as you pick apart everything that is going on here you realise just how much depth and how many instruments are intertwining to make this absolute gem of a record.  Straight out the top drawer.