JPN (album)

JPN
Studio album by Perfume
Released November 30, 2011
Recorded 2010-2011
Genre J-pop, electropop, dance-pop, electro, R&B
Length 55:10
Label Tokuma Japan Communications
Producer Yasutaka Nakata
Perfume chronology
Triangle
(2009)		 JPN
(2011)
Singles from JPN
  1. "Fushizen na Girl/Natural ni Koishite"
    Released: April 14, 2010
  2. "Voice"
    Released: August 11, 2010
  3. "Nee"
    Released: November 10, 2010
  4. "Laser Beam/Kasuka na Kaori"
    Released: May 18, 2011
  5. "Spice"
    Released: November 2, 2011
Alternative cover
CD+DVD cover

JPN is the third studio album (fourth overall) by Japanese girl group Perfume, released on November 30, 2011 by Tokuma Japan Communications, nearly two and a half years after their second studio album Triangle. The album sold a total of 268,414 after two weeks of release, making it the 24th best-selling album of 2011 according to Oricon.[1]

Contents

Background

The album was announced at Perfume's official website on September 5, 2011, along with a dance contest, their nineteenth single "Spice" and their third nationwide arena tour "Perfume Third Tour: JPN" starting in January 2012.[2] The album will be released as a CD-only version and limited edition CD+DVD version featuring promotional videos and commercial spots.

Composition

The album includes all of the group's past four singles: "Fushizen na Girl/Natural ni Koishite", "Voice", "Nee", and "Laser Beam/Kasuka na Kaori". It also includes the singles' corresponding B-side songs. The only song out of all the singles that did not make it to this album was "Fake it" from the single Nee.[3]

The group's nineteenth single, "Spice", serves as the album's lead single. It was released on November 2, 2011. A special version of its B-side song, "Glitter", is also included in the album.

Many of the other tracks are brand-new songs such as "My Color", ""Toki no Hari" (時の針), and "Have a Stroll".

"Fushizen na Girl" was slightly edited from the original single version for this album, however, is uncredited.

Commercial performance

The album debuted at #1 in the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 227,000 copies sold on its first week of release, their highest debut week sales than their previous albums in their career to date. This also made them the second female Japanese group to achieve three consecutive number one albums, a feat first achieved twelve years ago by veteran pop group SPEED.[4][5] The album sold a total of 268,000 after two weeks of release, making it the 24th best-selling album of 2011.[6]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Yasutaka Nakata. 

CD
No. Title Length
1. "The Opening"   1:12
2. "Laser Beam (Album-mix)" (レーザービーム) 3:10
3. "Glitter (Album-mix)"   5:41
4. "Natural ni Koishite" (ナチュラルに恋して; Fall in Love Naturally) 3:08
5. "My Color"   5:04
6. "Toki no Hari" (時の針) 2:30
7. "Nee" (ねぇ; Hey) 4:27
8. "Kasuka na Kaori" (微かなカオリ; Faint Fragrance) 4:49
9. "575"   4:27
10. "Voice"   4:13
11. "Kokoro no Sports" (心のスポーツ) 4:08
12. "Have a Stroll"   4:36
13. "Fushizen na Girl" (不自然なガール; Artificial Girl) 3:59
14. "Spice" (スパイス) 3:53
Total length:
 55:10

Charts

Release Chart Peak position Debut sales (copies) Sales total (copies)
November 30, 2011 Oricon Daily Charts 1[7] 96,286 268,414
Oricon Weekly Charts 1[8] 226,858
Oricon Monthly Charts
Oricon Yearly Charts 24[9] 268,414

Recognitions

References

  1. ^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2011/musicrank1219/index03.html#topphoto
  2. ^ http://www.perfume-web.jp/information/
  3. ^ http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/09/perfume-to-release-a-new-single-and-album/
  4. ^ http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/12/perfume-becomes-2nd-girl-group-to-achieve-3-consecutive-number-1-albums/
  5. ^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/2004418/full/?cat_id=tw
  6. ^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2011/musicrank1219/index03.html#topphoto
  7. ^ (Japanese) "Perfume、2年4ヶ月ぶり新作が初日首位". Oricon. November 30, 2011. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/2004266/full/. Retrieved December 1, 2011. 
  8. ^ (Japanese) "【オリコン】Perfume、3作連続アルバム首位　女性グループではSPEED以来12年ぶり". Oricon. December 6, 2011. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/2004418/full/. Retrieved December 6, 2011. 
  9. ^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2011/musicrank1219/index03.html#topphoto
  10. ^ http://www.spin.com/articles/spins-20-best-pop-albums-2011?page=0%2C1
Perfume
Studio albums
Game · Triangle · JPN
Compilation album
Singles
Non album
"Sweet Donuts" · "Monochrome Effect" · "Vitamin Drop" · "Linear Motor Girl" · "Computer City" · "Electro World"
Digital releases
Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow
Other songs
Secret Secret · Juicy Fragrance · Night Flight
DVDs
Akihabalove  · Fan Service (Bitter)  · Perfume First Tour "Game"  · Budōkaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!  · Perfume in Happy de Ki ni Naru Chandelier House  · Perfume Second Tour 2009 "Chokkaku Nitohen Sankakkei Tour" · Perfume Live @ Tokyo Dome "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11"
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