Exit (Shugo Tokumaru album)
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Exit is the studio album by Shugo Tokumaru. It was originally released via P-Vine Records on October 19, 2007 in Japan.[1] It peaked at number 239 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[2]
| Exit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 19, 2007 | |||
| Genre | Indie pop | |||
| Length | 35:21 | |||
| Label | P-Vine Records | |||
| Producer | Shugo Tokumaru | |||
| Shugo Tokumaru chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
Tokumaru plays more than fifty different instruments on the album, and claims that he "drew inspiration" for its music from Japanese pop and a pile of old Beatles cassettes. Both of these were very influential music styles. He attained the album's experimental sound using everyday household objects such as a fork, ashtray, doorbell, wind-up toys; along with more traditional instruments such as acoustic guitar and wooden flutes. Most or all of the instruments were played in major key in a clipped, almost clockwork cadence. The album was mixed and recorded on his laptop, using the popular digital audio program Pro Tools.[3]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 88/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10[6] |
| PopMatters | 9/10[7] |
| Spin | [8] |
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, Exit received an average score of 88 based on 7 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[4]
The Boston Globe's Matthew Shaer praised Exit as "a tribute to the unexpected beauty of everyday things" and "a defense of playful digression for digression's sake alone".[3] Chris Dahlen of Pitchfork wrote, "[Tokumaru is] gently mining 1960s pop from around the globe and capturing it with a soft production and a sense of humor."[6] Dan Raper of PopMatters said, "Irrespective of biography and language, the album has a sunny, refreshing optimism that hardly feels out of date."[7] In UR Chicago, Bob Nanna wrote that the "curious whimsy" of opener "Parachute" is enough to "beg repeat listens and intense curiosity for what's to come".[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Parachute" | 3:04 |
| 2. | "Green Rain" | 4:53 |
| 3. | "Clocca" | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Future Umbrella" | 2:04 |
| 5. | "Button" | 4:02 |
| 6. | "Sanganichi" | 2:37 |
| 7. | "D.P.O." | 1:51 |
| 8. | "Hidamari" | 4:37 |
| 9. | "La La Radio" | 5:28 |
| 10. | "Wedding" | 3:16 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Shugo Tokumaru – all audio
- Itoken – drums (on "Clocca" and "La La Radio")
- Kei Tanaka – double bass (on "Clocca" and "La La Radio")
- Yumiko – accordion (on "La La Radio")
- Machida Shizen Kindergarten – chorus (on "Button")
- Mandy Parnell – mastering
Charts
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | October 19, 2007[1] | P-Vine Records | CD | PCD-18518 |
| United States | September 2, 2008[10] | Almost Gold Recordings | CD | 31960 |