Japanese Cartoon – Crowd Participation / In the Jaws of the Lords of Death

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As far as creative side-projects go, Lupe Fiasco takes the cake. Japanese Cartoon is not another annoying Strokes or Jack White side band, but something that will keep Lupe Fiasco with us, because he is still planning to “retire” after LupEND drops sometime in the OH-9 (the oh so insightful Confusion pointed out that “retirement” is the new “rehab”). The little tastes Japanese Cartoon has offered us thus far have been noteworthy and somewhat satifying, but nothing mind-blowing, something that I use often to discribe Lupe Fiasco’s music. At least until now…

The first new Japanese Cartoon track to hit my inbox this weekend was “Crowd Participation,” a tip gratefully accepted from Newborn. Upon first listen, I fell in love with “Crown Participation.” At first I thought it sounded a bit like some of the great new music offered by Phoenix and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs this year. It’s Blitz! and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix are two of my favorite albums of 2009 so far, so in case you were wondering, yes, this is a really high compliment coming from me.
[rating:71/100]
[download#13]

It’s also great news to hear that Japanese Cartoon’s new album In The Jaws of The Lords of Death will be coming out very soon! No word on the release date, but I do have the album’s title track to share. “In the Jaws of the Lords of Death” isn’t as listener-friendly as “Crown Participation” (obviously), but I can see this song absolutely killing it live. After a few drinks, of course.

[download#14]

Also, is anyone still questioning Lupe Fiasco’s role as lead singer of this band? I mean other than the band itself, of course:

Percival Fats (born Percival Hindenburg-Fats) is NOT Lupe Fiasco (born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco). Although he is a dear friend. Lupe does finance the band but is not, I repeat, not, the singer in Japanese Cartoon. He is, however, the producer and we value his participation very much. (via)

Earlier today, I presented the band (via Twitter) with an opportunity to prove, once and for all, that Lupe Fiasco isn’t the lead singer.

Japanese Cartoons keep sayin Lupe isnt the singer. i invite them to play @ my house. ill record it and then we’ll see who’s singing.

I’ll be waiting for your email Percival.

by Luis Tovar on March 16, 2009 ‡ 1 reaction