TMG, Vol. 1

Track Listings

1. Oh Japan (Our Time Is Now)

2. Everything Passes Away

3. Kings for a Day

4. I Know You by Heart

5. I Wish You Were Here

6. Greatest Snow on Earth

7. Signs of Life

8. Red, White and Bullet Blues

9. Trapped

10. My Alibi

11. Wonderland

12. Train, Train

13. Two of a Kind

14. Never Good-Bye

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Takahiro Matsumoto (B'z) solo project TMG's 1st album. Contains 14 songs collaborated with non-Japanese artists (Eric Martin, Jack Blade, Brian Tichy, et al). Frontiers. 2004.

TMG, Vol. 1,Tak Matsumoto Group,Frontiers,Contemporary Instrumental,Ethnic Fusion,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

TMG, Vol. 1

Tracks:

Oh Japan (Our Time Is Now)
Everything Passes Away
Kings for a Day
I Know You by Heart
I Wish You Were Here
Greatest Snow on Earth
Signs of Life
Red, White and Bullet Blues
Trapped
My Alibi
Wonderland
Train, Train
Two of a Kind
Never Goodbye

Album Description

Japanese limited edition debut album on Vermillion Records includes bonus DVD featuring ''Oh Japan-Our Time Is Now'' (promo video), documentary film and members profile. The DVD is 20 mins. One-half of B'z Takahiro Matsumoto's long-cherished project, TMG (Tak Matsumoto Group) has kicked off with 'TMG 1.' With a line-up that includes Takahiro Matsumoto (guitar), ex-Mr. Big frontman Eric Martin (vocals), ex-Night Ranger Jack Blade (bass) and Brian Tichy (drums), you should at least have a fair idea of what they sound like: hard, heavy and oriental rock. 2004.

Album Details

Solo Project Fro Guitarist Tak Matsumoto (Of B'z) with Eric Martin, Jack Blades, Trian Tichy, and Cindy Blackman. Features a Bonus Dvd (Ntsc/Rc-2) with Promotional Footage.

Customer Reviews:

This Should Get 20 STARS!!!!.......2004-12-06

What can I say about how AWESOME this disc is?!!! If you like ANY kind of 'hard rock' music,then order this RIGHT NOW!! Eric Martin sounds TONS better than his Mr. Big days (and he sounded GREAT in that band!)Together with fantastic songwriter Jack Blades of Nightranger,and virtually unknown Japanese shredder Tak Matsumoto (at least here in the States-he's HUGE in his native land)this is one CLASSIC MONSTER of a disc! I'm not quite sure where drummer Brian Tichey is from,but his talent must be mentioned here as well. Overall,this sounds like a 'BAND' that's been around for a long time. And even tho this is a 'supergroup' project of sorts,it would be extremely hard for these 4 guys to top this! Hope I've convinced you to look this disc up-you won't be sorry at all!! ( PS-shop around,as it's quite expensive here.)

yeah!!!.......2004-08-15

hav'nt heard it yet but just about to order it!
ERIC MARTIN KICKS ARSE! and i'm sure this album will in fact
KICK ALOT OF ARSE! buy it! all of you! buy it!!!!
arrgh.

Average customer rating:

Tak can shred!
From Sukiyaki to TMG
Need to correct a previous review
Not Brilliant, No Masterpiece, But A Good, Solid Album
A true masterpiece of a hard rock record.

TMG, Vol. 1
Tak Matsumoto Group
Manufacturer: Frontiers Italy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00064JTA2
Release Date: 2004-11-15

Tracks:

Oh Japan (Our Time Is Now)
Everything Passes Away
Kings for a Day
I Know You by Heart
I Wish You Were Here
Greatest Snow on Earth
Signs of Life
Red, White and Bullet Blues
Trapped
My Alibi
Wonderland
Train, Train
Two of a Kind
Never Goodbye

Album Description

Takahiro Matsumoto (B'z) solo project TMG's 1st album. Contains 14 songs collaborated with non-Japanese artists (Eric Martin, Jack Blade, Brian Tichy, et al). Frontiers. 2004.

Album Details

Formed by Tak Matsumoto with Jack Blades (Night Ranger/Damn Yankees) and Eric Martin (Mr Big).

Customer Reviews:

Tak can shred!.......2006-11-05

I'm very excited to say... that I learned from 2002 B'z Okinawa, Japan tour with Billy Sheehan as a guest bass player, Tak can really shred. If you haven't noticed, Tak is also from Osaka, Japan and a good friend with Akira Takasaki (Loudness). In his young career day, Tak actually recorded a full instrumental solo album called "Thousand Wave"(not sure if you can purchase in States) and Higuchu Munetaka (drummer from Loudness)also played as a guest musician. Tak always played Rock and Blues, however, in project with B'z he tends to be more of a Pop/Rock taste. They actually did pretty good selling tons of their piece of work. I believe very recently Tak started to experiment with solo work, and even trying out with new musical instrument. In this TMGI album,Tak did very well. If you haven't checked out other TAK's solo work, I strongly urge you to check it out.

From Sukiyaki to TMG.......2005-09-24

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.

Need to correct a previous review.......2005-08-10

Jack Blades did NOT write Sister Christian. That was written by his Night Ranger bandmate Kelly Keagy.

Blades however has written or cowritten many other ballads so the reviewers point is still well taken.

Not Brilliant, No Masterpiece, But A Good, Solid Album.......2005-03-05

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 www.melodicrock.com (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.

A true masterpiece of a hard rock record........2005-02-21

This CD is an absolute masterpiece. If you are reading this review it's probably because you heard of this CD and are inquiring about it. Do yourself a favor and buy it. You won't go wrong. The music on this CD is highly addictive.

Eric, Jack, Tak, Brian, Cindy and Chris... if you read this review please do me a favor and release a follow-up. The chemistry that all of your bring to the table is incredible.

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