Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2014

It’s Not About You, the debut album from Tokyo-based English songwriters James Davis and Nic Scanlan-Dyas, ranges from the artfully to emotionally jagged, held together by a dark thread of lust and paranoia. If that sounds oppressive, it’s not. This is a rock album that’s not afraid of a bouncy pop tune (“Something Like That”) or an electro riff (“Electric Sheep”). But while the melodies beguile the ear, the words intrigue the mind; irony and self-deprecation underwrite every track. Special mention has to go to the gorgeous “Never Need”—a tingle-inducing love song—and the last track, “Kawaii Tokyo,” which is guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone who loves Tokyo’s bright lights and shady bars.

May 31, O-Nest. See concert listings for details.