Puffy Amiyumi - Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi

Sometimes I just want a change. I’ll just pick a new genre of music that I’m going to get into, no matter what. Past selections include electroclash, psych, and as soon as fourth wave ska comes around, you better believe I’m going to force myself to listen to it. One summer in college my plan was to really get into J-Pop. It’s just so fun, and crazy – like being beaten to death by teddy bears and sunshine and rainbows. Unfortunately, my J-pop phase never happened. And in a way, I think I’m less of a person because of it. So along comes the chance to review an album by Puffy AmiYumi, and all I can think is “This is it!” I thought it would be funny and make me want to watch anime. I was wrong… very wrong. Instead of the Happy Goodtime Fun Explosion Rocket I was hoping for, I got something more like a dumbed down Avril Lavigne/Kidz Bop. For those of you unfamiliar with Puffy AmiYumi, they are an admitted record company creation, bursting with all sorts of promotional potential. In Japan, they are actually known as simply Puffy, but one Mr. Diddy had issue with them using such a name here in the US of A. But they now have a weekly animated series on the Cartoon Network. I couldn’t make it through an entire episode, but think the Powerpuff Girls without super powers. So why did I subject myself to repeated listens of this album? Is it because I am a committed critic? A Masochist? To lazy to grab another CD for my car? No, it’s because I’m an idiot… this is that last time I try and like music because I think it might be funny. [www.puffyamiyumi.com]