Puffy Amiyumi - Splurge

Now in their thirties, Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura have lost none of the baby fat that defined J-pop ten years ago, when they were discovered in a talent contest and paired for the duo “Puffy,” known in the states (due to P-Diddy’s monopoly on the word) as Puffy Amiyumi. “Splurge” is a varied and exciting album that is as much a rock and roll retrospective as a history of Ami and Yumi’s personal interests and styles. It opens with references to the Knack and Def Leppard in Butch Walker's "Call Me What You Like,” a swaggering rejection of people who listen to music other than solid rock. It echoes Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll” and sets the tone for what is to follow. There is more English on “Splurge” than earlier Puffy albums, not just in language but in sensibility. “Missing You Baby” recalls the way Blondie handled the 50’s rock ballad, and Jon Spencer’s “Go Baby Power Now” weaves the bass line of Elvis Presley’s “Baby I Don’t Care” into a Do Biddley backbeat. Their cover of the Marvelous 3’s “Tokyo Radio” sounds like David Bowie one minute and ELO the next. Some of the songs are just plain fun. “Tokyo I’m On My Way” is bubblegum bliss at its dizziest. With Stateside girl groups divided between the all-media appropriation of Idol-mania (Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson) and stale attitudizing of hard rock chicks (The Donnas, Sleater-Kinney), Puffy reminds us of the many levels of fun and seriousness that are possible in a simple rock and roll song. [www.puffyamiyumi.com]