:Kusabi
{{Infobox album
| name = Kusabi
| type = EP
| artist = KAT-TUN
| cover = Kusabiminialbum.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2013|11|27}}
| recorded = 2013
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Pop rock
| length = {{Duration|m=49|s=56}}
| label = J-One
| producer = Johnny H. Kitagawa (executive)
| prev_title = Chain
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Come Here
| next_year = 2014
}}
{{nihongo|Kusabi|楔-kusabi-||"Wedge"}} is the first mini album and seventh original album by Japanese boy band KAT-TUN, released in Japan on November 27, 2013, under the label J-One Records. The title track "Kusabi" was used as the theme song for the drama Henshin Interviewer no Yūutsu starring KAT-TUN member Yuichi Nakamaru and actress Fumino Kimura, while "Gimme Luv" was used in a Suzuki Solio Bandit television commercial.{{cite web|title=KAT-TUN release mini-album 楔-kusabi-|url=http://www.johnnys-net.jp/page?id=discoDetail&dataId=2101|publisher=Johnny's net|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Japanese}}{{cite web|title=KAT-TUN新アルバム『楔-kusabi-』の収録曲判明! ジャケも公開|url=http://tower.jp/article/news/2013/11/08/n01|publisher=Tower Records Japan Inc.|date=2013-11-08|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Japanese}}
Kusabi debuted at the number one spot top the Oricon weekly album chart, selling over 168,209 copies in its first week of release. The album is KAT-TUN's seventh consecutive album to achieve number one, putting them in a tie with singer Hikaru Utada for most consecutive album number ones in Oricon chart history. Kusabi sold 10,917 copies in its second week, 3,442 copies in its third week and 1,832 copies in its fourth week. The album has sold 189,338 copies so far.{{cite web|title=【オリコン】KAT-TUN、1stアルバムから7作連続首位 宇多田に並ぶ歴代1位タイ|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2031527/full/|publisher=Oricon|date=2013-12-03|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Japanese}}
Album information
Kusabi is the first mini album release from KAT-TUN, released approximately one year and nine months after their previous studio album Chain. All of the tracks included on the album are new, with none having been released in singles. The release comes in three versions - Regular Edition, Limited Edition 1, and Limited Edition 2.
All versions of the album include "Kusabi", "Gimme Luv", "On & On", and "Fire and Ice". The Regular Edition contains seven tracks, with "Bless", "4U" and "Phoenix" included.{{cite web|title=kusabi [Regular Edition]|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=JACA-5388|publisher=CD Japan|accessdate=2013-12-03}} The Limited Edition 1 has a total of six tracks, with "Boku Nari no Koi" and "Monster Night", a solo by KAT-TUN member Tatsuya Ueda, and a DVD containing the music video and making for "Kusabi", and the music video for "Monster Night".{{cite web|title=kusabi [Limited Edition 1]|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=JACA-5384|publisher=CD Japan|accessdate=2013-12-03}} Limited Edition 2 contains five tracks, with "Fantastic Planet" as the only additional track, and a DVD containing the music video for "Gimme Luv".{{cite web|title=kusabi [Limited Edition 2]|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=JACA-5386|publisher=CD Japan|accessdate=2013-12-03}}
Promotion
As the first release after former member Koki Tanaka's departure, the album was marketed as the group's first work as four members. This included KAT-TUN performing the title track "Kusabi" on television music programs Live Monster, Shonen Club Premium, Best Artist 2013, and Music Station which they were guests on.{{cite web|title=ベストアーティスト2013｜日本テレビ|url=http://best-artist.nittele.jp/|publisher=Nippon Television|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Japanese}}{{cite web|title=Mステにガガ、嵐、AKB、きゃりー、KAT-TUN、ポルノら|url=http://cdn2.natalie.mu/music/news/103701|publisher=Natalie.mu|date=2013-11-15|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Japanese}}
Special campaigns were held to promote the album. Each copy of the album contains a unique user code. From its release date until 1 December, people could use the code to sign up to receive a KAT-TUN New Year Greetings card in 2014, and together with it were given an option to ballot for invitations to an event, KAT-TUN 2014 The First Meeting.{{cite web|title=楔-kusabi- 通常盤|url=http://www.7netshopping.jp/cd/detail/-/accd/1301229031/subno/1|publisher=Seven Net Shopping|accessdate=2013-12-03}} In addition, a B2-size poster is given free when purchasing the bundled set of all three versions.{{cite web|title=kusabi [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] [Bundled Set of All 3 Editions]|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=NEOIKT-1007|publisher=CD Japan|accessdate=2013-12-03}}
In conjunction with the release of Kusabi, the group is also set to perform their first concert in almost two years, at Kyocera Dome on 30 and 31 December.{{cite web|title=KAT-TUNが年末に大阪ドーム公演、新作リリースも決定|url=http://natalie.mu/music/news/101348|publisher=Natalie.mu|date=2013-10-14|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Japanese}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Regular Edition
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = Kusabi
| note1 = {{nihongo2|楔-kusabi-}} "Wedge"
| lyrics1 = Rucca
| music1 = Koudai Iwatsubo, Kinboom
| length1 = {{Duration|m=4|s=7}}
| title2 = Gimme Luv
| note2 =
| lyrics2 = Kahlua
| music2 = Rock Stone, Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard
| length2 = {{Duration|m=4|s=8}}
| title3 = On & On
| note3 =
| lyrics3 = Noyce'
| music3 = King of Slick, Laika Leon
| length3 = {{Duration|m=3|s=42}}
| title4 = Fire and Ice
| note4 =
| lyrics4 = Forest Young
| music4= Steven Lee, Sebastian Thott, Didrik Thott
| length4 = {{Duration|m=4|s=0}}
| title5 = Bless
| note5 =
| lyrics5 = Rucca
| music5 = Yannis Constantinou, Kevin Charge, Claire Rodrigues
| length5 = {{Duration|m=3|s=58}}
| title6 = 4U
| note6 =
| lyrics6 = 25→graffiti
| music6 = Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard
| length6 = {{Duration|m=3|s=58}}
| title7 = Phoenix
| note7 =
| lyrics7 = Maiko Kawabe Rivera
| music7 = Maiko Kawabe Rivera
| length7 = {{Duration|m=4|s=43}}
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Limited Edition 1
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = Kusabi
| note1 = {{nihongo2|楔-kusabi-}} "Wedge"
| lyrics1 = Rucca
| music1 = Koudai Iwatsubo, Kinboom
| length1 = {{Duration|m=4|s=7}}
| title2 = Gimme Luv
| note2 =
| lyrics2 = Kahlua
| music2 = Rock Stone, Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard
| length2 = {{Duration|m=4|s=8}}
| title3 = On & On
| note3 =
| lyrics3 = Noyce'
| music3 = King of Slick, Laika Leon
| length3 = {{Duration|m=3|s=42}}
| title4 = Fire and Ice
| note4 =
| lyrics4 = Forest Young
| music4= Steven Lee, Sebastian Thott, Didrik Thott
| length4 = {{Duration|m=4|s=0}}
| title5 = Boku Nari no Koi
| note5 = {{nihongo2|僕なりの恋}} "My Own Kind of Love"
| lyrics5 = Iwatsubo
| music5 = Iwatsubo
| length5 = {{Duration|m=5|s=22}}
| title6 = Monster Night
| note6 = Vocal by Tatsuya Ueda
| lyrics6 = Ueda, Masami Okaza
| music6 = RAT-0124
| length6 = {{Duration|m=4|s=9}}
| title7 = Kusabi
| note7 = Video clip + Making clip
| title8 = Monster Night
| note8 = Music Video
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Limited Edition 2
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = Kusabi
| note1 = {{nihongo2|楔-kusabi-}} "Wedge"
| lyrics1 = Rucca
| music1 = Koudai Iwatsubo, Kinboom
| length1 = {{Duration|m=4|s=7}}
| title2 = Gimme Luv
| note2 =
| lyrics2 = Kahlua
| music2 = Rock Stone, Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard
| length2 = {{Duration|m=4|s=8}}
| title3 = On & On
| note3 =
| lyrics3 = Noyce'
| music3 = King of Slick, Laika Leon
| length3 = {{Duration|m=3|s=42}}
| title4 = Fire and Ice
| note4 =
| lyrics4 = Forest Young
| music4= Steven Lee, Sebastian Thott, Didrik Thott
| length4 = {{Duration|m=4|s=0}}
| title5 = Fantastic Planet
| note5 =
| lyrics5 = Ori
| music5 = Simon Janlov, Shirose
| length5 = {{Duration|m=3|s=36}}
| title6 = Gimme Luv
| note6 = Music Video
}}
Charts
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.johnnys-net.jp/page?id=discoDetail&dataId=2101 Kusabi product information]
{{KAT-TUN}}
{{authority control}}