TERIYAKI BOYZ
Beef or Chicken
(Def Jam/(B)ape Sounds/Universal)

This kind of CD is easy to dismiss as a celebrity backslapper. Four Japanese rap stars, including Ilmari and Ryo-Z from Rip Slyme along with Verbal from M-flo and Wise, team up with hip-hop fashion impresario Nigo. Their record label shells out to hire producers like the Neptunes and Beastie Boys, and presto, instant disposable Number One. Yes, this is throwaway pop, but like junk food it goes down so easy you’ll be back for more. Standouts include Daft Punk’s tweaky electro audio stylings on the tribute to a cocktease, “HeartBreaker,” and the Neptunes’ sly, salacious production on “Cho Large featuring Pharrell.” The Teriyaki Boyz may be just a bunch of celebs having fun, but at least we’re included in the party. DG

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Café Bossa
(Hearmusic/Syn)

As music distribution channels proliferate, Starbucks is now selling CDs. Café Bossa follows albums by Bob Dylan and Herbie Hancock, and it marks the first Japan-based release by the coffee chain. Compiled and including songs by Tokyo-based Syn Music’s Nick Wood and Sebastian Mair, it looks at the globalized future of Brazilian bossa nova. Leading lady of the neo bossa movement, Bebel Gilberto, is present with the mellow vibes of “Winter,” while Intuit’s lifts the pace with “O Preguiçoso.” Wood teams up with local breakbeats outfit Coldfeet (producer Watusi and singer Lori Fine) for the uptempo “One Not Samba/Mas Que Nada,” and even Syn partner and Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon chips in with “Save A Prayer.” DG

TODDLE
I Dedicate D Chord
(Disk Union)

After a decade of playing supporting roles in Number Girl and Bloodthirsty Butchers, Hisako Tabuchi has finally stepped out of the shadow of her male bandmates. Leading post-hardcore quartet Toddle on their maiden voyage, Tabuchi makes I Dedicate D Chord among the most confident and cohesive debuts this year. Toddle waste no time on artful experimentation or pretentious presentation. This is no-nonsense, earplug-recommended rock. In 39 charged minutes, Toddle move with energy that many veteran acts (including Bloodthirsty Butchers) fail to match. Tabuchi sings with an understated sass to counterpoint the fiery Fugazi-like riffs. It’s
a compelling first act for a freshman band, though given Tabuchi’s punk pedigree, that’s no surprise. Sebastian Roberts

YAN-ZI
A Perfect Day
(Warner)

Back in May 2005, a limousine pulled up to the MTV Video Music Awards in Chiba, and out onto the red carpet stepped a slight and graceful figure. Rapturous applause immediately followed from all of the two people in the audience who actually recognized her. It was Stefanie Sun (aka Yan-zi), Singapore’s most celebrated singer, who would win the award for “Best Buzz Asia from Taiwan,” where she is based. Over five years Yan-zi has become one of Asia’s most talented and popular singers. On her latest, she’s ditched the harder-edged sounds of Q for a blend of melodic and adventurous pop, her soft, homely voice conveying the emotion in ballads that language barriers can’t hinder. The range of influences incorporated with such ease puts the vast majority of single-minded J-pop artists to shame. Robert Poole

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