98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare
| 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by Fishmans | ||||
| Released | September 29, 1999 [1] | |||
| Recorded | December 28, 1998 [2] | |||
| Genre | Dub, dream pop | |||
| Length | 130:32 | |||
| Label | Polydor Records | |||
| Fishmans chronology | ||||
| ||||
98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare (98.12.28 男達の別れ 98.12.28 Otokotachi no wakare) is the third and final live album by the Japanese music band known as Fishmans. It would be the last live performance the band would ever undertake. It marked a huge turning point in the band's career, and is widely considered to be a prominent and notable album of their discography. It was recorded and filmed at Akasaka Blitz,[3] a Japanese music venue based in Minato, Tokyo, on December 28, 1998. And was later released as a live album titled 98.12.28 男達の別れ, under the record label Polydor Records.
Performance
This concert would be the last live appearance Fishmans would make before the frontman's death. Fishmans performed a multitude of their most beloved songs and singles, including "ひこうき", "いかれたBaby", "ナイトクルージング", "Melody", "WALKING IN THE RHYTHM", and "ゆらめき In The Air". They even play their sixth studio album Long Season in its entirety. The concert showed how the band progressed stylistically from playing music heavily influenced by reggae and dub, to finishing their careers playing dream pop and neo-psychedelia.
Track listing
| Side 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Oh Slime" | 7:52 |
| 2. | "ナイトクルージング" | 6:25 |
| 3. | "なんてったの" | 6:26 |
| 4. | "Thank You" | 2:58 |
| 5. | "幸せ者" | 4:05 |
| 6. | "頼りない天使" | 4:53 |
| 7. | "ひこうき" | 9:11 |
| 8. | "IN THE FLIGHT" | 6:49 |
| 9. | "WALKING IN THE RHYTHM" | 7:44 |
| 10. | "Smilin' Days, Summer Holiday" | 4:57 |
| 11. | "MELODY" | 5:50 |
Total length: |
67:17 | |
| Side 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "ゆらめき In The Air" | 16:00 |
| 2. | "いかれたBaby" | 5:38 |
| 3. | "Long Season" | 41:31 |
Total length: |
63:15 | |
Personnel
- Fishmans
- Shinji Sato – vocals, guitar
- Yuzuru Kashiwabara – bass guitar, chorus
- Kin-ichi Motegi – guitar, drums, chorus, sampler
- Supporting guest musicians
- Honzi – keyboards, violin, chorus
- Michio "Darts" Sekiguchi – guitar, chorus
- Technical personnel
Underground recognition
While Fishmans received only scarce international recognition during their active years, 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare has become lauded among several online music communities. User ratings on the website rateyourmusic.com (RYM) have made the album chart as the 158th greatest album of all time, as well as the second-best album of 1999.[4] The high ranking is despite significantly fewer ratings than most of the other albums on RYM's top chart. The album has also become a recurring talking point in the music section of the online image board 4chan.