Kusabi

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.[1][2]

Kusabi
EP by
KAT-TUN
ReleasedNovember 27, 2013 (2013-11-27)
Recorded2013
GenrePop rock
Length49:56
LabelJ-One
ProducerJohnny H. Kitagawa (executive)
KAT-TUN chronology
Chain
(2012)		 Kusabi
(2013)		 Come Here
(2014)

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.[3]

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.[4] 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".[5] Limited Edition 2 contains five tracks, with "Fantastic Planet" as the only additional track, and a DVD containing the music video for "Gimme Luv".[6]

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.[7][8]

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.[9] In addition, a B2-size poster is given free when purchasing the bundled set of all three versions.[10]

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.[11]

Track listing
Regular Edition
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Kusabi" (楔-kusabi- "Wedge")RuccaKoudai Iwatsubo, Kinboom4:07
2."Gimme Luv"KahluaRock Stone, Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard4:08
3."On & On"Noyce'King of Slick, Laika Leon3:42
4."Fire and Ice"Forest YoungSteven Lee, Sebastian Thott, Didrik Thott4:00
5."Bless"RuccaYannis Constantinou, Kevin Charge, Claire Rodrigues3:58
6."4U"25→graffitiSteven Lee, Jimmy Richard3:58
7."Phoenix"Maiko Kawabe RiveraMaiko Kawabe Rivera4:43
Limited Edition 1
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Kusabi" (楔-kusabi- "Wedge")RuccaKoudai Iwatsubo, Kinboom4:07
2."Gimme Luv"KahluaRock Stone, Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard4:08
3."On & On"Noyce'King of Slick, Laika Leon3:42
4."Fire and Ice"Forest YoungSteven Lee, Sebastian Thott, Didrik Thott4:00
5."Boku Nari no Koi" (僕なりの恋 "My Own Kind of Love")IwatsuboIwatsubo5:22
6."Monster Night" (Vocal by Tatsuya Ueda)Ueda, Masami OkazaRAT-01244:09
7."Kusabi" (Video clip + Making clip)   
8."Monster Night" (Music Video)   
Limited Edition 2
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Kusabi" (楔-kusabi- "Wedge")RuccaKoudai Iwatsubo, Kinboom4:07
2."Gimme Luv"KahluaRock Stone, Steven Lee, Jimmy Richard4:08
3."On & On"Noyce'King of Slick, Laika Leon3:42
4."Fire and Ice"Forest YoungSteven Lee, Sebastian Thott, Didrik Thott4:00
5."Fantastic Planet"OriSimon Janlov, Shirose3:36
6."Gimme Luv" (Music Video)   

Charts
Chart Peak Sales
Japan Oricon Weekly Chart 1[12] 168,209
Japan Oricon Monthly Chart 1 168,209
Japan Oricon Yearly Chart 30 179,126
Billboard Japan Top Albums 1[13] __

References
  1. "KAT-TUN release mini-album 楔-kusabi-" (in Japanese). Johnny's net. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  2. "KAT-TUN新アルバム『楔-kusabi-』の収録曲判明!　ジャケも公開" (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan Inc. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  3. "【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" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  4. "kusabi [Regular Edition]". CD Japan. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  5. "kusabi [Limited Edition 1]". CD Japan. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  6. "kusabi [Limited Edition 2]". CD Japan. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  7. "ベストアーティスト2013｜日本テレビ" (in Japanese). Nippon Television. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  8. "Mステにガガ、嵐、AKB、きゃりー、KAT-TUN、ポルノら" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  9. "楔-kusabi- 通常盤". Seven Net Shopping. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  10. "kusabi [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] [Bundled Set of All 3 Editions]". CD Japan. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  11. "KAT-TUNが年末に大阪ドーム公演、新作リリースも決定" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  12. "2013年11月25日～2013年12月01日のCDアルバム週間ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  13. "Billboard Japan Top Albums Charts Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
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