TMG 1

If you haven't been listening to music for over fifty years you would probably rate this disc higher. It is good and well done so don't get me wrong but I grew up listening to John McLaughlin, Johnny winter , Hendrix, Wishbone Ash , Rory, Santana, ect. , ect, ect Some of the true pioneers of ROCK.. Nothing wrong with this music. I think they could take it to another level though.

I hesitated looking into this album when I was completing my Jack Blades collection (except for Rubicon, I have all his studio and some of his live albums with the different groups he's been in). I thought the cover indicated that it would be in Japanese. I watched some videos on YouTube and fell head over heels in love with them! They are awesome live and on record. I now think Eric Martin is the greatest vocalist in rock and roll too. I hope they will make a second album. These guys come together and make good old fashioned and real rock and roll. The guitarist is one of the best I have ever heard. He doesn't use gimics just real talent and competence. Jack Blades is just as fun live as he always has been and with the exception of the background vocals on several songs, you might forget he is on it but his bass is always there keeping the beat. Eric and Jack vocals are great together. I thought Tommy Shaw was Jack's perfect partner but Eric is too! Go on YouTube and listen to these guys and you'll be hooked too! Use the full name if you are getting crap showing up "Tak Matsumoto Group" or "TMG Jack Blades" or "TMG Eric Martin." Some of the videos are of just the title of the song. It is well worth the time to listen and watch! You'll want a live DVD!

Although Japanese musicians and rock lovers have similar music taste as those of Americans, in corporate music world it was really rare that Japanese musicians ever break out in American music scene with the exception of ....KYU SAKAMOTO...Sukiyaki song in 1963 still has the record of biggest selling single from the Japanese musicians.YMO...Yellow Magic Orchestra did break a bit of US chart during late 70s.PINK LADY...Japanese pop sensation during late 70s had the one Top 40 hit. They appeared on the TV show as well.LOUDNESS...Thunder In the East is no doubt biggest selling album from Japanese musicians to date.UTADA...Her career is still in the making in the U.S. EXODUS made minor dance hits.Now I am sure Tak Matsumoto Group would be the next if such rare breakout ever happen to Japanese musicians.Supporting Tak Matsumoto great guitarist of the popular Japanese rock band "Bz" is Jack Blades known for the leader of both Night Ranger and Damm Yankees. And Eric Martin known as the lead vocalist of Mr. Big does excellent work on its vocals.As the CD jacket implies their music inside is themed with exotism of Japanese beauty and mascular straight rock Americans are proud of. Sword the kimono woman has is the cutting edge sound it has and the music inside really live up to the cover image.OH JAPAN is the pop rock anthem but influenced a bit by J-pop. EVERYTHING PASSES AWAY is borrowed from the very theme of Tale of Heike Clan an epic of Rivalling two major clans Heike and Genji during 11th and 12th century Japan. It has a hint of Zen Bhuddism but the awesome trio expanded its theme into a grand scale song. Just wonderful. KING FOR A DAY is another J-popish rock anthem and I WISH YOU WERE HERE sounds fit to Mr. Big very soulful but edgy and cathy song. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH is themed on circus world. No doubt the live concert highlight. SIGN OF LIFE has Jack Blades feel to it, reminding me of some of late 90s Night Ranger material. NEVER GOOD-BYE is no doubt the best of all tracks. Bon Jovi and Mr. Big fans would surely love this power ballad.Verdict: Solid and Catchy Rock Masterpiece with high commercial potential.Rating: 90 out of 100.Recommended for: Eric Martin and Mr.Big fans, Jack Blades fans and wide range of rock fans.

At the time I write this review for TMG I there are three others posted, two give the album a 5 star rating, the other gives it a 4. I based my purchase of this album on these reviews, plus the excellent review it received at [...] (a great website if you haven't already seen it). However I must say that I don't think the album is as good as the other reviewers think it is.I disagree with the reviewer who said it sounds like rock of old. Old school rock to me is AD/DC, Krokus, Motley Crue, older Warrant etc. This album sounds nothing like that, I think it sounds more like modern rock. It's also been said in a review that it sounds bluesy. Well again I disagree. Blues-rock is Walter Trout, or old ZZ Top, and bluesy is Whitesnake or old Aerosmith. This album sounds nothing like that either.I don't think it's a bad album, in fact I think it is a good album, but it is not brilliant. Nor is it a master piece by any standards. I rate it as a good, solid, easy to listen to rock album.There is some good guitar work from Tak Matsumoto, and Eric Martin does a good job on vocals. None of the 14 songs on the album are very long in duration (all except the last two are under 5 minutes), and nor are they very complex. Instead they are just straight-ahead rock songs and ballads, with a Japanese influence that pops up now and again. This hint of Japanese music actually sounds quite good, and does blend well into the songs. It gives the album the Japanese feel/theme to it, which is no doubt what they were aiming for. The packaging is quite good and the album cover is a perfect choice to complement the theme.There are no bad songs on the album, but by the same token there is nothing new, exciting or innovative about it either. The best songs in my opinion are as follows:1. "Oh Japan". A good opening rocking track with that hint of Japanese and a good chorus. It's easy to sing along with this song.2. "Everything Passes Away". Again the Japanese music, but also good hard rocking guitar. This song sounds a bit more powerful and aggressive than most on the album. (The aggression is a good thing).3. "Kings For A Day". A faster rocker with a great chorus and rocking guitar. Another to sing along with, this is my second favorite song on the album.5. "I Wish You Were Here". This is my favorite song on the album. It has a great chorus, a good guitar solo and sounds more like old school rock. It's a shame there aren't more like it on the album.11. "Wonderland". Another good rocker which sounds more like old school rock.The song I like the least is track 10 "My Alibi". I just don't like the style of it and reckon it sounds lame compared to those I've mentioned above. The other nine songs on the album are just average.In general, it's not a bad album of hard rock that's easy on the ear. You can play this album anytime, anywhere and no one is gonna get offended or hate it. I just wish that there were more songs like the five best that I listed above. There are not many good rock albums released these days, and this is a good one, but I think it could have been better. In saying that, it's still worth buying. As I said earlier, it's definitely not brilliant or a masterpiece, but it is still a good album. Just don't expect too much, which perhaps I did after reading the other reviews.

thanks

Se juntan 4 bestias de la música . Lástima que no haya un TMG II. Enormes canciones y gran trabajo de guitarras y composicion de Matsumoto

Great hard tunes and number of hits from this Super group!! Do not miss one!!

TAKが得意とする和のテイストとMR.BIGの洋ロックソウルを融合した一枚MR.BIGファンにはお馴染みのAndre Pessisも参加しています！CDが擦り切れるまで聴きました。これからも聴き続けます。そしてTMG IIをいつまでも待っています...

高校生の時に聞いていましたが、それから幾星霜。当時のMDも無くして、再び巡り会いました。昨今の音楽に乗れなくなった懐古厨ですが、MR. BIGからのEric Martinのボーカルはマジで良い。良いものは何時聞いても良いと思わせる逸品です。ただ、Eric Martinも御年61歳かと思うと時の流れの非情さを感じます。