Chai (album)

Chai
Studio album by
Chai
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2023 (2023-09-22)
GenreCity pop[1]
Length29:49
Language
  • English
  • Japanese
Label
Chai chronology
Wink
(2021) 		Chai
(2023)

Chai is the fourth and final[2] studio album by Japanese rock quartet Chai, released on September 22, 2023. It is their second album on Sub Pop, and received acclaim from critics.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
And It Don't StopA−[5]
Clash8/10[6]
Exclaim!8/10[7]
NME[1]
Pitchfork7.4/10[8]

Chai received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[3] Sam Walker-Smart of Clash wrote that Chai "embrace and update 80s city pop" and "by merging this effortlessly smooth blueprint with their own punk lyrics and ethos, Chai has created an album that's warmly inviting yet still exciting".[6] Marko Djurdjic of Exclaim! called Chai "sleek" and "rousing" and opined that "the band subvert these traditions and expectations to deliver one of the most exciting, well-produced and bold pop albums of the year".[7]

NME's Erica Campbell described it as "an intentional ode to city pop, [...] all with the goal of digging into their heritage and identity filtered through a Western sonic lens. The result isn't at all dated go, as the quartet revel in modern beats, swirling soulful '90s arrangements under lyrics they associate with nostalgia".[1] Amanda Farah of The Quietus found that "whereas their previous album, Wink, had some laidback grooves and opportunities to properly croon, Chai bounces along at a high energy clip, honing a polished and effervescent pop record".[9]

Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Ryo Miyauchi stated that Chai "evolve their perspective and sound, exploring the decadent grooves of city pop as they contend with growing up", also writing that "at its best, the peppy dance production can sound as invigorating as their old punk music".[8] Tim Sendra of AllMusic found that Chai "imbue their city pop with a healthy dose of giddy energy along with loads of non-preachy empowerment, dancefloor-filling rhythms, and shouted choruses", concluding that "as long as they make records as carefree and positively joyful as this, they will always be worth checking out".[4]

Track listing

[edit]
Chai track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Matcha"Yuuki Mizutani
  • Mana Obata
  • Kana Obata
  • Ryu Takahashi
  • Takahashi
  • Paul "BaeBro" Wilson
3:26
2."From 1992"Mizutani
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • Masayuki Hirano
  • Wilson
  • Hirano
  • Takashi
  • Wilson
3:20
3."Para Para"M. Obata
  • M. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • Hirano
  • Mathias Hatleskog Tjønn
  • Chai
  • Hirano
  • Takahashi
  • Tjønn
2:50
4."Game"Mizutani
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • Tjønn
Takahashi2:45
5."We the Female!"Mizutani
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • Tjønn
  • Takahashi
  • Tjønn
3:04
6."Neo Kawaii, K?"Mizutani
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • K. Obata
  • M. Obata
  • Takahashi
2:34
7."I Can't Organizeeee"M. Obata
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Yuna Matsui
  • Hirano
  • Takahashi
  • Hirano
  • Alex Mackay
  • Takahashi
2:57
8."Driving22"Mizutani
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Hirano
  • Takahashi
  • Mackay
  • Takahashi
2:52
9."Like, I Need"Mizutani
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • Hirano
  • Wilson
  • Hirano
  • Takahashi
  • Wilson
2:43
10."Karaoke"M. Obata
  • M. Obata
  • K. Obata
  • Takahashi
  • Hirano
  • Wilson
  • Hirano
  • Takahashi
  • Wilson
3:18
Total length:29:49

Personnel

[edit]

Chai

  • Kana – vocals, guitar
  • Mana – vocals, keyboards
  • Yuuki – bass guitar, chorus
  • Yuna – drums, chorus

Technical

  • Ryu Takahashi – production
  • Paul "BaeBro" Wilson – production (tracks 1, 3)
  • Reuben Cainer – production (3)
  • Alex Deturk – mastering
  • Chris Soper – mixing (1, 3, 5–8)
  • Jesse Singer – mixing (1, 3, 5–8)
  • Chris Wang – mixing (2, 4, 9, 10)
  • Collin Davis – engineering
  • Febe Esquerra – engineering (2, 4–10)
  • Jake Lummus – engineering (3)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Chai
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[10] 96

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Campbell, Erica (September 21, 2023). "Chai – Chai review: glittery, innovative city pop". NME. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (January 18, 2024). "Chai Break Up". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Chai by Chai Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Sendra, Tim. "Chai – Chai Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (October 11, 2023). "Consumer Guide: October, 2023". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via robertchristgau.com.
  6. ^ a b Walker-Smart, Sam (September 19, 2023). "Chai – Chai | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Djurdjic, Marko (September 19, 2023). "Chai's Self-Titled Album Is Sweet and Sticky but Never Saccharine". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Miyauchi, Ryo (September 28, 2023). "Chai – Chai Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Farah, Amanda (September 19, 2023). "Chai – Chai". The Quietus. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 27, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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