Wikipedia

Kessoku Band (album)

Kessoku Band (Japanese: 結束バンド, Hepburn: Kessoku Bando, lit. 'Unity Band' or 'zip tie') is the debut studio album by Kessoku Band, a fictional rock band from the anime television series Bocchi the Rock!. It was released digitally by Aniplex on December 25, 2022, and physically on CD on December 28. Featuring vocals from voice actresses Yoshino Aoyama, Sayumi Suzushiro, Saku Mizuno, and Ikumi Hasegawa, the album consists of songs featured in the anime series, including a cover version of Asian Kung-Fu Generation's "Rockn' Roll, Morning Light Falls on You", as well as newly recorded material; nine singles preceded the album's physical release.

Kessoku Band
Studio album by
Kessoku Band
ReleasedDecember 25, 2022
Studio
  • Catapult (Tokyo)
  • Victor (Tokyo)
  • Onkio Haus (Tokyo)
  • Sony Music (Tokyo)[1]
Genre
Length54:01
LanguageJapanese
LabelAniplex
ProducerGen Okamura
Kessoku Band chronology
Kessoku Band
(2022) 		Kessoku Band Concert: Fixed Star at Zepp Haneda (Tokyo)
(2024)
Singles from Kessoku Band
  1. "Seishun Complex"
    Released: October 9, 2022
  2. "Distortion!!"
    Released: October 9, 2022
  3. "Karakara"
    Released: October 30, 2022
  4. "Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet"
    Released: November 6, 2022
  5. "That Band"
    Released: November 27, 2022
  6. "What Is Wrong With"
    Released: November 27, 2022
  7. "Never Forget"
    Released: December 25, 2022
  8. "If I Could Be a Constellation"
    Released: December 25, 2022
  9. "Rockn' Roll, Morning Light Falls on You"
    Released: December 25, 2022

Kessoku Band received positive reviews for its composition and vocal performances. Commercially, it peaked at number one on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart and the Oricon Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Background and release

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Kessoku Band is a fictional rock band in the anime television series Bocchi the Rock!, consisting of lead guitarist Hitori Gotō (voiced by Yoshino Aoyama), drummer and leader Nijika Ijichi (voiced by Sayumi Suzushiro), bassist Ryō Yamada (voiced by Saku Mizuno), and guitarist and vocalist Ikuyo Kita (voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa).[2][3] In November 2022, it was announced that the band will release a self-titled album, consisting of 14 tracks including those featured in the anime series.[4] The musicians in charge of Kessoku Band, Osamu Hidai (drums), Yūichi Takama (bass), Akkin [ja] (guitar) and Ritsuo Mitsui (guitar), were selected by music director Gen Okamura through personal connections, with Hasegawa performing the vocals for most of the songs.[5] Mitsui, who also handled the arrangement of 12 tracks in the album,[5] was approached for the project in early 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The mastering of Kessoku Band was completed a few days before the airing of the anime.[6]

"Secret Base", "I Can't Sing a Love Song", "The Little Sea", and "Flashbacker" are newly recorded songs for the album, while "Rockn' Roll, Morning Light Falls on You" is a cover version of Asian Kung-Fu Generation's song of the same name, and served as the ending theme of the anime's twelfth and final episode.[7] Several Japanese musicians have contributed to the album's songs, such as Ai Higuchi [ja], Otoha [ja], Ikkyū Nakajima of Tricot and Genie High, Maguro Taniguchi [ja] of Kana-Boon, Yūho Kitazawa of the Peggies, Kayoko Kusano [ja], and Zaq.[8]

Nine singles debuted prior to the album's physical release: "Seishun Complex" and "Distortion!!" on October 9, 2022;[9] "Karakara" on October 30;[10] "Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet" on November 6;[11] "That Band" and "What Is Wrong With" on November 27;[12] and "Never Forget", "If I Could Be a Constellation", and "Rockn' Roll, Morning Light Falls on You" on December 25.[13][14] Kessoku Band was distributed in advance on digital music and streaming platforms on December 25, 2022, before releasing in CD format on December 28.[15] A limited edition of the CD included a Blu-ray containing the opening and ending sequences of the anime series.[16] Kessoku Band performed the album's songs at their Fixed Star concert, held at Zepp Haneda in Tokyo on May 21, 2023.[17] The album was also released as a two-disc vinyl LP on December 27, 2023,[18] and as a cassette tape on August 16, 2024.[19]

Critical reception

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In a review for Mikiki, Shi called Kessoku Band "a truly exceptional piece of music that does not get stuck in the usual 'anime song style'". The reviewer stated that the album is in the vein of Japanese rock music, and that the "metal-like" lead guitar creates a unique structure that "did not seem to exist at the time of the 2000s and 2010s". Shi praised the vocals, particularly of Hasegawa and Aoyama, and the album's cohesiveness, but described the transition from the beginning to middle as "rough".[20] Tomonori Shiba [ja], writing for Nikkei Marketing Journal, described the music as high-quality and "filled with the essence of Japanese guitar rock from the 2000s onward", which originated in Shimokitazawa, the primary setting of Bocchi the Rock!.[21] Z11 of Real Sound [ja] opined that the album's sound corresponds to the theme of the series; the vocals "give a sense of a world connected to the story" and the texture of the songs evokes the presence of the main characters.[22]

Accolades

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Awards and nominations for Kessoku Band
Award Year Category Result Ref.
CD Shop Awards 2024 Grand Prix (Blue) Nominated [23]
Finalist Award Won

Commercial performance

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Kessoku Band debuted at number one on Billboard Japan's Download Albums chart dated December 28, 2022, with 5,877 recorded downloads from December 19–25,[24] and has remained at the top for seven non-consecutive weeks.[25] It also entered atop the Top Albums Sales chart dated January 4, 2023, with 73,244 sales recorded from December 26, 2022, to January 1, 2023.[26] The album opened at number six on the Hot Albums chart dated December 28, 2022, but rose to number one the following week.[27][28] The album debuted atop the Oricon Albums Chart dated January 9, 2023, recording 72,553 sales in its first week. It also topped the Digital Albums Chart (17,756 downloads) and the Combined Albums Chart on the same issue date.[29][30] Kessoku Band remained at number one in the Digital Albums Chart for four consecutive weeks, marking the first time a female group achieved that record.[31] It ranked in the top 10 of the chart for 25 non-consecutive weeks.[32] In February 2023, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for reaching 100,000 shipments.[33] In June 2024, it was certified platinum for reaching 250,000 shipments.[34]

The album topped Billboard Japan's 2023 year-end Download Albums chart and ranked 11th in the year-end Hot Albums chart.[35] It also topped Oricon's year-end Digital Albums Chart with 70,132 downloads, which is the first time a female group took first place in the ranking.[32]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]

Kessoku Band track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicVocalsLength
1."Seishun Complex" (青春コンプレックス, Seishun Konpurekkusu)Ai Higuchi [ja]Otoha [ja]Ikumi Hasegawa3:23
2."Hitoribocchi Tokyo" (ひとりぼっち東京)HiguchiMasamichi Nagai [ja]Hasegawa3:52
3."Distortion!!"Maguro Taniguchi [ja]TaniguchiHasegawa3:23
4."Secret Base" (ひみつ基地, Himitsu Kichi)ZaqDaichi YoshiokaHasegawa3:52
5."Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet" (ギターと孤独と蒼い惑星, Gitā to Kodoku to Aoi Hoshi)ZaqOtohaHasegawa3:48
6."I Can't Sing a Love Song" (ラブソングが歌えない, Rabu Songu ga Utaenai)ZaqKōhei Tsukada [ja]Hasegawa3:08
7."That Band" (あのバンド, Ano Bando)HiguchiKayoko Kusano [ja]Hasegawa3:33
8."Karakara" (カラカラ)Ikkyū NakajimaNakajimaSaku Mizuno4:25
9."The Little Sea" (小さな海, Chiisana Umi)OtohaOtohaHasegawa3:43
10."What Is Wrong With" (なにが悪い, Nani ga Warui)Yūho KitazawaKitazawaSayumi Suzushiro3:47
11."Never Forget" (忘れてやらない, Wasurete Yaranai)ZaqYoshiokaHasegawa3:43
12."If I Could Be a Constellation" (星座になれたら, Seiza ni Naretara)HiguchiHidemasa NaitoHasegawa4:18
13."Flashbacker" (フラッシュバッカー, Furasshubakkā)OtohaOtohaHasegawa4:35
14."Rockn' Roll, Morning Light Falls on You" (転がる岩、君に朝が降る, Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu)Masafumi GotohGotohYoshino Aoyama4:31
Total length:54:01
Kessoku Band – limited edition Blu-ray bonus
No.TitleLength
1."Seishun Complex" (non-credit opening video)1:32
2."Distortion!!" (non-credit ending video)1:32
3."Karakara" (non-credit ending video)1:32
4."What Is Wrong With" (non-credit ending video)1:32
Total length:6:08

Personnel

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Credits adapted from The First Times and the album's liner notes.[3][1]

Fictional line-up

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  • Ikuyo Kita – vocals, guitar
  • Hitori Gotō – lead guitar, lyrics
  • Ryō Yamada – bass, backing vocals, composition
  • Nijika Ijichi – drums

Musicians

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  • Osamu Hidai – drums (all tracks)
  • Yūichi Takama – bass (all tracks)
  • Akkin [ja] – guitar (all tracks), arrangement (5–6)
  • Ritsuo Mitsui – guitar (all tracks), arrangement (1–4, 7–14)
  • Ikumi Hasegawa (as Ikuyo Kita) – vocals (tracks 1–7, 9, 11–13), backing vocals
  • Yoshino Aoyama (as Hitori Gotō) – vocals (track 14), backing vocals
  • Saku Mizuno (as Ryō Yamada) – vocals (track 8), backing vocals
  • Sayumi Suzushiro (as Nijika Ijichi) – vocals (track 10), backing vocals

Technical

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  • Gen Okamura – director
  • Gendam – recording, mixing
  • Yūji Kamijō – recording
  • Mitsuyasu Abe – mastering
  • Masaharu Yamanouchi [ja] – production
  • Ken Kobayashi – production cooperation
  • Shunsuke Arai – production cooperation
  • Naomi Kobayashi – production cooperation
  • Yūji Kimura – production cooperation
  • Keigo Mikami – production cooperation
  • Yōko Shimane – production cooperation
  • Kōhei Yamada – production cooperation

Design

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  • Kerorira – key frame
  • Asuka Yokota – coloring
  • Tsubasa Kanamori – photography
  • Yasunao Moriyasu – background
  • Tomoyuki Uchikoga – product design

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Certifications and sales for Kessoku Band
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[43]
Physical 		Platinum 186,784[42]
Japan
Digital 		— 76,336[44]

Release history

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Release dates and formats for Kessoku Band
Region Date Format(s) Edition(s) Label Ref.
Various December 25, 2022
Standard Aniplex [15]
Japan December 28, 2022 CD Limited
December 27, 2023
Standard [18][45]
United States August 16, 2024 Cassette Milan [19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Kessoku Band (2022). 結束バンド [Kessoku Band] (Liner notes) (in Japanese). Aniplex. UPC 4534530140937.
  2. ^ 青山吉能、鈴代紗弓、水野朔、長谷川育美ら“結束バンド”キャストが生出演！ 『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』特番が放送決定. Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). December 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. ^ a b アニメ『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』から飛び出した《結束バンド》とは？「ギターと孤独と蒼い惑星」歌詞解説やメンバー紹介、おすすめ曲まで徹底解剖. The First Times (in Japanese). June 7, 2024. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  4. ^ 「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！」結束バンドの活動を振り返る第2弾PV公開、アルバムも発売. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 6, 2022. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  5. ^ a b 結束バンドの神アルバムはこうして生まれた！TVアニメ『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』長谷川育美×三井律郎×岡村 弦スペシャル座談会（前編）. LisAni! [ja] (in Japanese). December 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b ギタリスト 三井律郎、THE YOUTH以降の出会いと歩み　『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』での“答え合わせ”とは. Real Sound [ja] (in Japanese). Blueprint Co., Ltd. November 26, 2023. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  7. ^ アニメ『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』最終話EDはアジカンカバー “ゴッチ”も感謝. Kai-You [ja] (in Japanese). December 25, 2022. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  8. ^ 「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！」結束バンドのアルバム配信スタート、アジカンのカバーも収録. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  9. ^ オープニング＆エンディング情報＆映像公開︕ 豪華クリエイター陣が結束バンドへ楽曲提供！. Aniplex Newsbox (in Japanese). Aniplex. October 9, 2022. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  10. ^ ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！：テレビアニメ新ED「カラカラ」公開 ボーカルは山田リョウ 中嶋イッキュウが楽曲提供. Mantan Web (in Japanese). October 30, 2022. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. ^ ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！：結束バンドのアルバムが12月28日発売 「ギターと孤独と蒼い惑星」配信開始. Mantan Web (in Japanese). November 6, 2022. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  12. ^ 「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！」新ED「なにが悪い」と8話劇中曲「あのバンド」が配信開始. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 27, 2022. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  13. ^ 第12話劇中曲「忘れてやらない」「星座になれたら」配信スタート！リリックビデオ＆ライブ映像も！. Aniplex Newsbox (in Japanese). Aniplex. December 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  14. ^ 第12話エンディング楽曲「転がる岩、君に朝が降る」解禁！ 結束バンドによるカバー楽曲！. Aniplex Newsbox (in Japanese). Aniplex. December 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  15. ^ a b 「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！」結束バンドのアルバム、サブスク配信開始. AV Watch (in Japanese). Impress [ja]. December 26, 2022. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  16. ^ 最終回のライブ演奏曲も収録！『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』結束バンドのアルバム情報解禁. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). December 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  17. ^ 「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！」結束バンド初ワンマン、ぼっちのギターソロ再現で観客沸かす. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 21, 2023. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  18. ^ a b 『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』ライブイベント「結束バンドLIVE-恒星-」BD＆DVD発売決定！ アルバム「結束バンド」LP盤も発売. Animate Times (in Japanese). September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "BOCCHI THE ROCK! - Kessoku Band - Cassette". Milan Records. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  20. ^ 結束バンド『結束バンド』超一流かつ新鮮な邦楽ロックの傑作 話題のアニメ「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく!」劇中バンドのファーストアルバム. Mikiki (in Japanese). December 28, 2022. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  21. ^ （柴那典の新音学） 今年の注目株、アニメ発「結束バンド」. Nikkei Marketing Journal (in Japanese). Nikkei, Inc. January 13, 2023. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  22. ^ 『ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！』結束バンドが持つ楽曲の魅力は？ アニメ＆ロックファンを惹きつける邦楽バンド特有の“青臭いエモさ”. Real Sound [ja] (in Japanese). Blueprint Co., Ltd. May 20, 2023. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  23. ^ 『CDショップ大賞』“神アルバム”＜赤＞はミセス、新人部門＜青＞は新しい学校のリーダーズが大賞 (in Japanese). Oricon. March 8, 2024. Archived from the original on March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  24. ^ 【ビルボード】結束バンド『結束バンド』がDLアルバム首位、ELLEGARDEN『The End of Yesterday』が続く. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 28, 2022. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  25. ^ 【ビルボード】結束バンド『結束バンド』、通算7度目のDLアルバム首位. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 1, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  26. ^ Singh, Surej (January 12, 2023). "Fictional band from Bocchi The Rock! anime outsell Stray Kids and NCT Dream on Billboard Japan charts". NME. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  27. ^ 【ビルボード】すとぷり『Here We Go!!』が総合アルバム首位獲得 ELLEGARDEN／INIが続く. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 28, 2022. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  28. ^ 【ビルボード】結束バンド『結束バンド』が総合アルバム首位獲得. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  29. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (January 6, 2023). "BOCCHI THE ROCK! Kessoku Band Album Dominates Oricon's Three Weekly Charts". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  30. ^ ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！：アルバム「結束バンド」 音楽ランキング3冠達成. Mantan Web (in Japanese). January 6, 2023. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  31. ^ オリコン週間デジタルアルバム1/9〜1/15、結束バンド「結束バンド」女性グループ初の4週連続1位. Musicman [ja] (in Japanese). January 18, 2023. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  32. ^ a b c 結束バンド、史上初の女性グループによる「デジタルアルバム」年間1位 青山吉能「歴史に名を刻んでいます」【オリコン年間】 (in Japanese). Oricon. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  33. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (February 16, 2023). "BOCCHI THE ROCK! Kessoku Band 1st Album Receives "Gold" Certification in Japan". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  34. ^ 2024年5月度GD認定、Aぇ! group「《A》BEGINNING」がトリプル・プラチナ. Musicman [ja] (in Japanese). June 10, 2024. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  35. ^ ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！：アルバム「結束バンド」　年間DLアルバムチャートで首位. Mantan Web (in Japanese). December 8, 2023. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  36. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-01-09" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  37. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-01-09" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  38. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of January 4, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  39. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-01" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  40. ^ "Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2023" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  41. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – 2023 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  42. ^ Cumulative physical sales figures for Kessoku Band:
  43. ^ "Japanese album certifications – ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！ – 結束バンド" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 10, 2024. Select 2024年5月 on the drop-down menu
  44. ^ Cumulative digital sales figures for Kessoku Band:
  45. ^ 結束バンド【通常盤】 (in Japanese). Aniplex. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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