98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare (98.12.28 男達の別れ, 98.12.28 Otokotachi no wakare) is the third and final live album by the Japanese band Fishmans. It would be the last live performance the band would ever undertake. It marked a huge turning point in the band's career, and is widely considered to be a prominent and notable album of their discography. It was recorded and filmed at Akasaka Blitz,[3] a Japanese music venue based in Minato, Tokyo, on December 28, 1998, and was later released as a live album titled 98.12.28 男達の別れ, under the record label Polydor Records.
This concert would be the last live appearance Fishmans would make before frontman Shinji Sato's death. Fishmans performed a multitude of their most beloved songs and singles, including "ひこうき", "いかれた Baby", "ナイトクルージング", "Melody", "Walking in the Rhythm", and "ゆらめき in the Air". They even played their sixth studio album Long Season in its entirety. The concert showed how the band progressed stylistically from playing music heavily influenced by reggae and dub, to finishing their careers playing dream pop and neo-psychedelia.
Underground recognition
While Fishmans received only scarce international recognition during their active years, 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare has become lauded among several online music communities. User ratings on the website RateYourMusic (RYM) have made the album chart as the 82nd greatest album of all time, as well as the second-best album of 1999.[4] Also, exclusively considering live albums, it ranks first of all time, passing Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York.[5] The high ranking is despite significantly fewer ratings than the other albums in RYM's overall top 100.
Track listing
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| 1. | "Oh! Slime" (Lead-in) | None | 7:52 |
| 2. | "ナイトクルージング" | Kūchū Camp | 6:25 |
| 3. | "なんてったの" | King Master George | 6:26 |
| 4. | "Thank You" | None | 2:58 |
| 5. | "幸せ者" | Kūchū Camp | 4:05 |
| 6. | "頼りない天使" | King Master George | 4:53 |
| 7. | "ひこうき" | Chappie, Don't Cry | 9:11 |
| 8. | "In the Flight" | Uchu Nippon Setagaya | 6:49 |
| 9. | "Walking in the Rhythm" | Uchu Nippon Setagaya | 7:44 |
| 10. | "Smilin' Days, Summer Holiday" | Neo Yankees' Holiday | 4:57 |
| 11. | "Melody" | Orange | 5:50 |
| Total length: | 67:17 |
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| 12. | "ゆらめき in the Air" | Single only | 16:00 |
| 13. | "いかれた Baby" | Neo Yankees' Holiday | 5:38 |
| 14. | "Long Season" | Long Season | 41:31 |
| Total length: | 63:15 |
Personnel
- Fishmans
- Supporting guest musicians
- Honzi – keyboards, violin, chorus
- Michio "Darts" Sekiguchi – guitar, chorus
- Technical personnel
