F-R-E-E-Z-E-P-O-P / Freezepop Forever. I never thought I'd fall for synthpop, and then Freezepop came along. With lyrics that can be described anywhere from "cute" to "annoying" but always "catchy", Freezepop has constructed something that makes you happy - whether you want it to or not. All of the music was constructed with two pieces of equipment: a Yamaha device called the QY-70, a gameboy-like device that can be used as a midi sequencer, and a vocoder, as no synth band is complete without being occasionally able to sound like a robot. The subject matter is varied with songs covering such subjects as cloning humans so they can join the band ("Science Genius Girl"), matchmaking ("Harebrained Scheme"), robots falling in love with humans ("Robotron 2000"), and unhealthy obsessions with 80s sitcom stars ("Tracey Gold"). The real gem of the album, however, is "Tenisu no boifurendo," a song written in Japanese about an attractive tennis playing life partner. The chorus is so ridiculously catchy that it nearly caused me to lose my mind as I listened to it non-stop for days and wrote it on random chalkboards throughout campus (anata wa taitei / zuibun ogenki desu ne / tenisu no boifurendo / totemo ii desu yo). If ever was there music that would make me consider investing in plastic pants, this would be it.
- Dave Wininger
