Review of Japa Rico - Rico Rodriguez Meets Japan

So I got this album the yesterday from YesAsia...how appropriate that it arrives the day after I saw Rico himself perform live at the Glasshouse. So here's my track by track review:

Man from Wareika - Japa-Rico Super Session. Lots and LOTS of horns...it's like a super group featuring memebrs of Miceteeth, TSPO, etc., with Rico at the helm of course. Good song.

L-O-V-E - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. Probably my FAVORITE track of the album...Rico is providing the vocals (as well as playing the instrument he's most known for), and TSPO just makes such a great backing band. Great cover of a Nat King Cole song.

Monkey Man - ??????? (I think the English equivalent of this katakana is Oreska Band or something of that nature). Might be the second worst song on the album...it's a poppy third wave ska rendition of the Maytals classic..the singer from the band is the one singing, not Rico, so its an Engrish version of the song...they remind me a lot of Yum!Yum! Orange, though I'd have to say slightly better, since RICO is playing with them, and they're covering a song I know.

Cleopatra - The Zoot 16. I don't know how I feel about this cover of the Don Drummond song...it's really weird...seems like it'd fit in a dance club...very drums and bass-ish

More - Kodama And The Dub Station Band. Rootsy reggae track. I like it, but I can't listen to it too much...though I think it's the song where Rico does the most solos.

Quando Quando - The Miceteeth. Great song, and without Miceteeth's nasal voice to lessen my enjoyment, it's up there as one of my favorite tracks off this album. This is actually a contender as far as tracks with the most Rico solos go.

Ghost Town - Tucker + Afra & Incredible Beatbox Band. This is surprise n0 1 from the album. It's like Rahzel beatboxing to the Specials' Ghost Town. I like it, it's like a hip-hop version of the song....really sick...

Rico's Mood - Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmakers. My second favorite track! It's a great song...why is it called Rico's Mood instead of Soul of Africa? I don't know, but I do know this track is a winner.

Far East - Skaymate's. My second surprise...of this album. Song was written by Rico, with lyrics written by the band, so it's basically an original...I really like it...I guess it's because the singer's voice really goes well with the song...it's a really upbeat song, I'm going to look more into this band.

First Convention - Cool Wise Men. I expected more from this group...it's not bad, it just doesn't impress me much. It's also an original, written by Cool Wise Men themselves.

Enjoy Yourself - Scoobie Do. Without a doubt, the worst track on this album...it's like a bad funk version of the song sang in crappy Engrish...I really hate this song.

Moonlight Serenade - DUBSENSEMANIA. The most boring song on this album? Yeah, probably...i guess some would like it...not me, too slow, too boring, too...I don't know, I'd say Dub, but it doesn't have the usual echos and strong focus on drums and bass, but the BORINGNESS of dub has definately carried over into this song.

Danny Boy - Jungle Roots Band. You know, this song is slow, but for some reason, it doesn't bore me like the last song. Acoustic song, with Rico singing more than playing the trombone...it's a great song, actually, kinda relaxes you.