Tokyo Jukebox 2

Tokyo Jukebox 2 is a strongly concept-driven sequel that powerfully inherits the direction of the well-received cover project, on which Marty Friedman again translates classics of Japanese pop and anime music into his own guitar sound. It further refines the approach established on the previous work and widens the selection even more. His outstanding skill of playing the songs’ familiar melodies richly and emotively with guitar, as if singing them, has not dimmed in the least. Rather than viewing it as a mere selection of songs, it is truly intriguing to listen to how Marty Friedman replaces external songs with his own spacing, tone and guitar resonance. Rather than relying on the songs’ fame, his own character vividly emerges through the powerful push of the rhythm, the rich thickness of the arrangement and the delicate air around the solos. An even more assured interpretation than the previous work shines. A record on which one wants to turn an ear to the sure unity born within the album’s sequence, rather than the origin of each included song. His exotic sensibility and happy encounter with Japanese kayōkyoku again come richly to fruition. Though a concept work a little apart from the flow of his major works, his sure aesthetic strongly appears precisely in the way he interprets. An engaging record showing Marty Friedman’s mature interpretive power — a record where the guitarist’s appeal shines.