Kiiiiiii’s Top 10

Portrait courtesy of Kiiiiiii

Kiiiiiii—one k and seven i’s—hail from Tokyo, Japan and is best described as a “two-girl hip-hop-punk-pop unit. Utako Tayama (a.k.a. u.t.) sings and sometimes plays a toy keyboard while Reiko Tada (a.k.a. Lakin’) plays drums, sings harmony, and keeps time with a crocodile puppet. (Do bands really need a guitar or bass anyway?)

Best friends since middle school, Tayama and Tada claim that the concept behind Kiiiiiii is that they are playacting D.J. and Kimmy from “Full House” singing out rock songs in their suburban bedroom. Accordingly, they litter the stage with toys and streamers, never acknowledge the audience, and only speak English during their set.

Their influences range from pop gods Michael Jackson and Queen to idiosyncratic favorites Neu! and the Nolans, but their idea of tribute and inspiration is a bit different from that of other bands. Instead of just covering Queen songs with real instruments, they would rather play out the Queen experience on stage in a more streamlined, primary-school way.

Although Kiiiiiii is nominally a rock band, their total activity transcends mere music. Perhaps this is why they elected to debut with a multimedia DVD rather than a conventional CD. Gold and Silver (2006) feels like a high-intensity “Sesame Street” episode for the postmodern girl. In just thirty minutes, the girls run through historic live performances, horror-film parodies, hand puppets tangled in yarn, mysterious animal costumes, and weird sketches. But now, thanks to the help of esteemed remixer DJ codomo, they will make their formal music debut in June with the full-length album AL & BUM.

Kiiiiiii’s minimalist sound and high-energy stage antics have earned the girls a dedicated fan base on both sides of the Pacific. In March, they will make an appearance at SXSW and kick off a U.S. tour to give American audiences a real-life version of what they have been seeing on YouTube and other hidden corners of the Internet.

Here we present Kiiiiiii’s top ten favorite albums of all time, in their own words.

u.t.

1. Michael Jackson Off The Wall
This is the greatest album because it’s got Michael’s emerging talent but still has his Motown soul. There are times when I can’t listen to it because Michael’s vocal power is too intense, but generally it’s a record I want to listen to whenever, wherever. I love “Rock with You,” because it feels like Michael is holding back this strong feeling that something amazing is about to happen.

2. Michael Jackson HIStory
Disc one of this two-disc set is the best of, but I like the original tracks on disc two. There’s his duet with sister Janet on “Scream,” and “Tabloid Junkie” is quintessentially Michael. The bitterness on “Tabloid” is more Scream!!! than “Scream.” And it’s got his human beat-boxing, so it has to be great.

3. Michael Jackson Thriller
I don’t have to mention that this is the best-selling record in the history of the world, but it’s seriously a monster album. All the hit singles are lined up, but I recommend “Human Nature” and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” since they have that ’80s club feel.

4. Michael Jackson Bad
If I think of the film Moonwalker when I listen to this, it’s double the pleasure. When I put on “Speed Demon,” my bad feelings just fly away. Actually, my favorite song is the duet with Stevie Wonder “Just Good Friends.” You know on “Smooth Criminal” how Michael has those anti-gravity shoes that let him lean back but not fall over? Michael has the patent for those.

5. Michael Jackson Dangerous
The first half runs along with modern synthesized tracks, but you should listen to the second half again. It’s full of soulful songs like “Keep the Faith” and “Will You Be There.” The big hits are “Black or White” and “Remember the Time.” Lately I have started to like the loneliness of David Fincher’s short film for “Who Is It.” Whatever – I just love Michael Jackson sooooooooo much!

Lankin’

1. Queen Queen II
If I died, I want this album placed with me in my coffin. Axl Rose said the same thing, so we must be on the same page. This record just pulls you into a fantastic world. I love the majestic “The March of the Black Queen.”

2. Queen A Night at the Opera
Thanks to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” this is Queen’s most representative album, but I especially love the track “Love of My Life.” No matter how many times I hear it, I start bawling. As a whole album, I probably like A Day at the Races more, but I really, really love “Love of My Life.”

3. Queen Jazz
This is the first Queen album I ever bought. I like the balance of this album, including the cover. I really like the progression from “In Only Seven Days” to “Dreamer’s Ball.”

4. Queen The Miracle
Truly a miracle! I love the terrible design sense of the cover. As the years went by, Freddie, Brian, John, and Roger’s amazing talent really came to fruit. This album proves that it can only be Queen with these four guys. And I love all four of them.

5. Freddie Mercury Mr. Bad Guy
A rapid procession of Freddie’s beautiful and catchy melodies, and an explosion of Freddie’s unique bad taste. The album does not really call up the feelings of a Queen album, but it’s a pleasant record that I could listen to daily.