// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was the long season sad? It was a stretch.
| Long Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | July 1996 | |||
| Studios |
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| Genres | ||||
| Length | 35:16 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producers |
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| Fishmans chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Pitchfork | 9.3/10[2] |
Long Season (subtitled ...we are not four seasons) is the sixth studio album by Japanese band Fishmans, released on October 25, 1996 in Japan through Polydor Records.[3] Regarded as a landmark of Japanese rock music, it consists of a single 35-minute composition based on the band's earlier single "Season".
The album initially achieved modest success within the Japanese alternative scene but remained relatively obscure internationally until the 2010s. It has received acclaim from critics and online music circles since then, with Paste ranking it as the seventh-greatest album of all time in 2024.[4] Notably, Fishmans performed the entire Long Season album as one piece during their final live shows in December 1998. A recording of one of these performances was later included on the album "98.12.28 男達の別れ" ("98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare"), further cementing the album's legacy.
Background
[edit]The idea for Long Season originated on tour in 1996. While chatting amongst themselves, someone suggested, "Wouldn't it be fun to make a song that never ends?"[5] This idea led to multiple recording sessions from July to August 1996, during which the band developed the album's singular composition, "Long Season". They built upon their earlier work, "Season", which was released in September 1996. The demo that Sato initially brought to the group was "Backbeat ni Nokkate".[6]
Collaborating with co-producer ZAK at their studio, Waikiki Beach, Fishmans refined their ideas, with ZAK occasionally experiencing eye strain due to prolonged screen time, humorously referred to as "shedding blood from his eyes".[5]
Fishmans collaborated with several guest musicians for the recording of Long Season. Notably, support member Honzi contributed keyboards and violin to the album. J-pop singer MariMari, who maintained a continued association with Fishmans in subsequent years, also lent her talents to the project. Michio "Darts" Sekiguchi as a guest guitarist, a role he fulfilled until the band's final concert. Singer UA provided vocals. Additionally, Asa-Chang contributed an extended improvised tabla passage, accompanied by various percussive elements, further enhancing the album's sonic texture.[7]
Track listing
[edit]The album comprises a single 35-minute composition, which has been divided into five parts across multiple releases.
All tracks are written by Shinji Sato.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Long Season" (part 1) | 8:43 |
| 2. | "Long Season" (part 2) | 5:24 |
| 3. | "Long Season" (part 3) | 6:33 |
| 4. | "Long Season" (part 4) | 4:47 |
| 5. | "Long Season" (part 5) | 9:49 |
| Total length: | 35:16 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Long Season" | 35:16 |
| Total length: | 35:16 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Long Season" (parts 1–3) | 20:40 |
| 2. | "Long Season" (parts 4–5) | 14:36 |
| Total length: | 35:16 | |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
- Fishmans – production, arrangement
- Shinji Sato – vocal, guitar, lyrics, composition
- Yuzuru Kashiwabara – bass
- Kin-ichi Motegi – drums
- Honzi – keyboards, violin, accordion, Organette20, chorus
- Michio "Darts" Sekiguchi – guitar, chorus
- Asa-Chang – percussion
- Taito Sato – guitar
- UA – chorus
- MariMari – chorus
- Masaki Morimoto – whistle
- Butchy – chorus
- Naoko Ohmiya – chorus
- Yoshiko Ohmiya – chorus
- ZAK – production, programming, recording, mixing
- TAK – recording
- Yuka Koizumi – mastering
- Ichiro Asatsuma – executive producer
- Yoshiyuki Okuda – executive producer
- Tadataka Watanabe – executive producer
- Phonic (Mooog & Mariko Yamamoto) – art direction, design
- Ayako Mogi – photography
- Crion Yamamoto – photography
- Junko Ishiwata – styling
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[8] | 100 |
References
[edit]- ↑ Simpson, Paul. "Long Season – Fishmans". AllMusic. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ↑ Kim, Joshua Minsoo (May 12, 2024). "Fishmans: Long Season Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ↑ "LONG SEASON | フィッシュマンズ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ↑ "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time". Paste. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- 1 2 Onoshima, Dai. "佐藤伸治（フィッシュマンズ）（後編） | 音楽偉人伝 第15回". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ↑ "Fishmans official website ｜ フィッシュマンズ公式サイト". Fishmans official website ｜ フィッシュマンズ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ Kim, Joshua Minsoo. "Fishmans: Long Season". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
- ↑ "LONG SEASON | フィッシュマンズ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
