Artist: The Tempters

Album: First Album

Country: Japan

Genre: Group Sounds, Garage Rock, Beat, Psychedelic Rock

Release: 1968 (2003)

Quality: FLAC | lossless



Out of the group sounds roster, these guys are by far my favorite, excluding The Mops, but they were psychedelic and uncommercial enough to be separated from that crowd. The opener "Kamisama Onegai" leaves a very strong first impression, an intense minor-keyed rocker. Their "Let's Live For Today" is the definitive version of this track for me, much better focus on energy than the Grass Roots version, and they carry on with their strong fuzzy covers on "Valleri". I also really enjoy their orchestrally stripped version of "Holiday". "Always Call Your Name" is a semi-psychedelic pop track, no doubt mostly being achieved through the sitar lines and sleepy vocals, but still very strong. "Boom Boom" is probably the most appealing track to the straight garage heads, a fantastic bluesy, fuzzy, anguished version. While very cover-heavy, the band's garage band sound for the most part makes them very enjoyable, though at times it verges into sloppy. Kenichi Hagiwara also proves himself as a very strong emotional vocalist, I imagine in conservative 60's Japan it would've been tagged as sexually provocative. Very recommended for garage fans who have some tolerance for pop and some covers.



Tracklist:

1. Kamisama Onegai

2. Summertime

3. Stop the Music

4. Birdy Told Me

5. Namida o Egaoni

6. Let's Live for Today

7. Valelli

8. Holiday

9. Always Call Your Name

10.Boom Boom

11.Lady Jane

12.Wasure Enu Kimi

Bonus Track:

13.Let's Live for Today [alternate vocal]