Album Review
Title:  BLACK LIST
Artist:  Acid Black Cherry
Release date:  February 20, 2007
www.acidblackcherry.com/    

      Why is Acid Black Cherry such a guilty pleasure?  Yasu, formerly of Janne da arc, pleads to my ears with his siren voice, scaling effortlessly up and down the upper ranges.  Acid Black Cherry doesn't rely on Yasu's voice alone though, calling in support and collaborating with well known musicians such as Shuse (La'cryma Christi) and Sugizo (Luna Sea).  This collaboration makes all the difference on the debut album, Black List.

     The fast, metal influenced guitar riffs and prolific use of keyboards works so well with Yasu's tenor.  From '70s funk to '80s style hair metal and pop rock, Acid Black Cherry incorporates influences from Japan's musical history.  The influences even show up as cover songs on his singles, evidenced by his cover of Shizuka Kudo's "Koi Hitoyo." Don't think this album is a bad time machine though.  It takes you back but in the way a modern museum displays the best of past works.

     Catchy pop choruses that would make Debbie Gibson proud , Van Halen-esque guitar solos and mid tempo ballads; Black List may just have it all, all of the things that Yasu (and his fans) love about music.

Track List

 1. sins

 2. shoujo no inori

 3. SPELL MAGIC

 4. scar

 5. aishitenai

 6. Bit Stupid

 7. rakuen

 8. Black Cherry

 9. Murder Licence

10. fuyu no maboroshi

11. DRAGON CARNIVAL

12. Prologue End