Is Make Up City a good place to start with Casiopea?

Yes, Make Up City is recommended as a starting point for new Casiopea listeners. A vibrant fusion of jazz and funk, blending intricate musicianship with a light, melodic sensibility. Released on November 21, 1980, Make Up City was Casiopea's third studio album, following their self-titled debut in 1979 and the sophomore effort, The Soundgraphy. By this time, the band had begun to establish themselves as pioneers of the jazz fusion genre in Japan, gaining significant attention both domestically and internationally.

Who is Make Up City for?

Make Up City works well if you're into steady mid-tempo groove exploration, vibrant melodies for focus sessions and intricate rhythms for attentive listening.

How many songs are on Make Up City?

Make Up City has 8 tracks, running approximately 39 minutes.

Make Up City

Casiopea · 1980

39 min · 8 tracks · funk

A vibrant fusion of jazz and funk, blending intricate musicianship with a light, melodic sensibility.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Gypsy Wind Start here — Opening the album with an infectious groove, Gypsy Wind sets a high-energy tone featuring intricate guitar work and dynamic rhythms that exemplify Casiopea's signature style.
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Life Game — This track showcases the band's ability to blend complex arrangements with accessible melodies, highlighted by expressive solos that reflect their jazz influences while maintaining a pop sensibility.
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Make Up City — As the title track, it captures the essence of the album with its catchy hooks and vibrant instrumentation, embodying the playful spirit of Casiopea’s music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album blends intricate musicianship with melodic sensibility, showcasing strong compositions and cohesive flow.

What we noticed

The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Gypsy Wind', featuring intricate guitar solos and syncopated rhythms that set a vibrant tone.
The final track, 'Twinkle Wing', slows down the tempo significantly, creating a reflective conclusion that contrasts with the album's energetic start.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo groove exploration
vibrant melodies for focus sessions
intricate rhythms for attentive listening
uplifting background for creativity

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced instant gratification
seek standout singles over cohesion

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Helped popularize jazz fusion in Japan and gained wider audience recognition.
Themes: Tokyo nightlife· vibrant jazz fusion· dynamic improvisation
Moods: Chill· Focus
Career context: Released on November 21, 1980, Make Up City was Casiopea's third studio album, following their self-titled debut in 1979 and the sophomore effort, The Soundgraphy. By this time, the band had begun to establish themselves as pioneers of the jazz fusion genre in Japan, gaining significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Stylistic neighbors: Chick Corea· Weather Report· Pat Metheny Group