Whatever else you might say about idol trio Perfume's new album, "JPN" is a title fraught with possible meanings. Is it a postquake rallying cry? A doomed attempt to reach out to overseas audiences following the use of "Polyrhythm" in Pixar's pointless "Cars 2" flick? A kick aimed at the waves of Korean idol groups who have recently stolen Perfume's electropop crown?
Taken in context with producer/songwriter Yasutaka Nakata's other work in 2011, "JPN" is without doubt unwittingly symbolic of the malaise afflicting mainstream Japanese pop. Where Nakata's own band capsule's "World of Fantasy" was a frequently ridiculous but undeniably energetic riot of hedonistic dance beats, and his work with Harajuku style-icon Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was a paint splatter of bubblegum-pop absurdity, Perfume, with no subcultural niche from which to draw energy, are left to flounder in no-man's land, little more than a dumping ground for used advertising jingles.
It's probably unfair to pick on "Kasukana Kaori," because it really is the worst thing in Perfume's back catalog, with its wishy-washy balladry recalling the worst elements of dreary, bloated late-1990s J-pop, but problems remain even among the more uptempo tracks. "Nee" and "Glitter" bounce along nicely enough, but they are melodically insubstantial and, like the four new tracks on "JPN," feel like something Nakata could make in his sleep. Listen to it back to back with Girls' Generation's self-titled album and it's clear which album is the more melodically dense.