Kumi and Naoki Sato, the Tokyo superstar duo have spent quite a bit of time lately positioning themselves to be one of the first J-pop bands to break into the American mainstream. They've toured extensively throughout the heartland, and lyricist Kumi, who spent part of her childhood in San Francisco, crafts English lyrics that say more than the typical slogans spouted by most of her Japanese compatriots. "I wanna be cowgirl," she sings on "These Days." This is Love Psychedelico, their first American release, intends to set their down roots permanently in the Wild West, and it's a heady land claim.

The twosome has always known their riders, and the resulting sixties pop song-craft, with smatterings of R&B, has gone over huge in Japan. Many of the album's songs, including "Lady Madonna" (U-Utsu-Naru 'Spider')," their biggest hit in Japan, recall the poppy-yet-abrasive anthems of Tuesday Night Music Club-era Sheryl Crow. There's no doubt, despite the infusion of Sato's impressive guitar work, especially the garage-rock licks on "Fantastic World," that Kumi's infatuation with the riot-grrrl legacy is what's driving the day. "Everybody Needs Somebody" is vintage Joan Jett, and on tracks like "Unchained" and the pretty "Your Song" pays nods to Sleater-Kinney and other '80s-era female-driven rock. Kumi's not a belter, but her voice flaunts a kaleidoscope of textures, ranging from J-pop sweet to sex-kitten growls.