Southern All Stars "Budou" (Victor / Taishita)

Southern All Stars don't need to try. Japan's music media and industry decided the rock quartet was historically important long ago. A 2003 poll by retailer HMV named them the most influential Japanese group ever, and plenty of praise came before that declaration.

"Budou," their 15th original album and first in 10 years, doesn't have to feature anything special other than the All Stars themselves, the greying music consumers of Japan will take care of the rest. And, for the most part, "Budou" is a lackadaisical collection of mid-tempo pop numbers about relationships and ballads about unrequited love.