Ride on Time
Tatsurō Yamashita · 1980
16 min · 5 tracks · pop music
A vibrant fusion of smooth melodies and infectious grooves that epitomize the city pop genre.
Top tracks — play these first
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Ride On Time (Single Version) — This track serves as the album's title song and features an irresistible melody paired with polished production, capturing the essence of city pop.
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あまく危険な香り — The lush instrumentation and romantic lyrics make this track a perfect representation of Yamashita's ability to blend pop with soul influences.
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Ride On Time (Karaoke Version) — Highlighting the song's infectious hook without vocals, this version showcases the track's strong melodic foundation that invites audience participation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production typical of city pop, with engaging grooves and rich instrumentation.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the fourth track, 'Ride On Time', introduces a more upbeat tempo that carries through to the end.
- Each song features layered instrumentation with prominent use of brass and synthesizers, creating a rich sonic texture characteristic of city pop.
- The album includes several key changes and unexpected melodic shifts, particularly in the choruses, which enhance its dynamic feel.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- energetic bursts of joy
- for lively gatherings
- short and catchy anthems
- playful vibes for sunny days
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy immersive albums
- seek deep emotional introspection
Where this album fits
- Career context
- In 1980, Tatsurō Yamashita was already an established artist in Japan, having released several successful albums. 'Ride on Time' is notable for being one of his standout works during the peak of the city pop movement, following his critically acclaimed album 'Mizu no Naka no Sora' released in 1979.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Anri· Mariya Takeuchi· Haruomi Hosono
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Ride On Time (Single Version) 4:26
- 2 あまく危険な香り 3:24
- 3 Ride On Time (Karaoke Version) 4:31
- 4 あまく危険な香り (Karaoke Version) 3:38
- 5 Ride On Time (A Cappella, Hidden Track) 0:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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