Working their way into venerability, Japanese rockers
Spitz released
Togemaru in 2010, on the heels of the
Kimi Wa Taiyo mini-album. The sound is fairly eclectic, meeting the basic requirements for a
Spitz album. There's simple American country music represented in "Hana no Shashin," power pop with a minor ska bent in "Enishi," and lightly plucked pastoral strings in "Wakaba." The variety of sound in a
Spitz album is always the key to its success -- though they can veer toward bland pop/rock combinations, they also constantly explore new ideas. It's that exploration that catches the listener, and makes
Togemaru a bit more than the average Japanese rock trio's output. Worth a listen for ingenuity alone.