Genre: new wave, indie Song style: somewhat high-pitched and really happy!
This video and band looks so cute and happy, just makes you want to join the party! These guys are somewhat new - starting out in 2007 but getting their first real break into the music industry last year as a part of the big Summer Sonic 2009 tour, and releasing their first real album. I haven't heard any of their other songs yet, so hard to say much else but they seem like a fun "safe" band. Now back at home and relaxing (I slept something like 13 hours last night!) Hope you're all enjoying the beginning of spring (finally some 50 degree weather)!
This song is in commemoration of the "Liar Game" movie coming out in theaters today in Japan. I really regret not being in Japan right now to be able to see it. I'm not usually much one for trance and I wasn't sure if I liked Capsule as much as Yasutaka Nakata's other projects, but I really like this song. It appears in the last episode of the "Liar Game 2" tv show (whose soundtrack came out March 3rd). As I listen to this song (and the most recent Rin Toshite Shigure album), I clean this room and pack my bags, my windows thrust open to the first 50 degree weather for the year. For the whole day I've been indecisive about whether to go to New York early or stay here. Either way, today is a sort of lonely day. I usually leave early on breaks, so it is strange seeing this town so deserted. Hopefully tomorrow's fun will make up for today's emptiness.
Genre: visual kei, electronic punk Song style: catchy, industrial
I've held out for so long, not putting any visual kei music on this blog! For those who don't know, visual kei is like Japanese glam-rock, where artists usually have crazy hair and makeup, there is an emphasis on androgyny, and there is usually a similar vocal style. Many people seem to think Japanese rock = visual kei, and in my opinion, too many foreigners worship visual kei more than the credit it deserves. With that said, there are still catchy tunes (and bands) within the visual kei sphere that can still be appreciated along with (or in spite of) the wacky visuals. It is also an important part of the Japanese rock music scene, so I can't ignore it completely. A friend sent me cali≠gari about half a year ago and I found their musical style very unique and experimental. This is their first single after a long, six-year hiatus, which came out last summer.
Genre: pop-rock, alternative Song style: rock-and-roll shamisen, elements of soft alternative, melodic singing, and mild white-dude rap
I had a warped perception of this song for the first couple of months I knew it. This was thanks to my Latvian friend who would always put this awesome song into the karaoke register, and we'd all sing along not at all knowing how it went. Despite this, the catchy melody made it through our slightly off-key voices and I liked the song so much I went to download the album. The real thing is better! Though I have to say Monkey Majik is a bit too soft for me, this song is amazing (especially with the complex shamisen back-up provided by the awesome Yoshida Brothers). This band is a "hybrid band," consisting of two Canadian brothers (who can handle Japanese) and two Japanese members. The band earns special props from me for their name "Monkey Majik" - in reference to the song of 1970s Japanese rock god Godiego (expect to see them on here!)
凛として時雨 (Ling Tosite Sigure / Rin Toshite Shigure) - Telecastic Fake Show
Genre: Post-hardcore Song style: Heavy guitars with wispy high-pitched female and male vocals.
This is one of those really impression-making songs that never gets old to me (it's been maybe 1 year now?) but I haven't managed to get fully into the band, even after listening to two of their albums ("#4" and "Inspiration is Dead"). If you like this song you may just like them though - it's a very similar sound. I have yet to hear their new album which holds this single (entitled "Just a Moment", came out 5/13/2009) and I look forward to checking it out. Their style is very unique and their sound somehow reminds me of Thursday mixed with The White Stripes. They do a good job of combining the female and male vocalists, and their similar-but-not-quite-the-same voices create an androgynous and surrealistic sound. Many people who like the heavier side of "Japanese Indies" (specifically, 9mm Parabellum Bullet) tend to also like this band.
EDIT (3/4/10): Their newest album "Just a Moment" is a MASTERPIECE. My opinion on this band has skyrocketed. Was a great song to reminisce while at the gym.
Genre: hard rock Song style: pretty depressing, builds up to a strong and heavy climax
Okay, so I know the video is really 90s and has iguanas for no reason, but please listen through the whole song. This band really lasts through the ages - even though it was the mainstay for highschoolers about two decades ago (the band operated from 1989 - 2001), the songs are still catchy and relevant to listeners today. This band has had an incredible impact on the Japanese music industry and is in some ways reminiscent of America's Nirvana (both in sound and impact). This would have to be one of my favorite Japanese bands. My sister discovered them first, randomly buying a discounted CD in a Book-Off in Tokyo. Many years later, I was wandering through a Kyoto thrift shop and heard a song that I liked so much that I jotted down the lyrics on my cellphone to look up later. It turned out to be The Yellow Monkey's old single "Morality Slave", a slight twist off the Phantom of the Opera theme. My sister and I compared notes, and realized we had this random band overlapping on our playlists. Ever since, The Yellow Monkey has become a mainstay in our karaoke repertoire (hehe).
They recently had a tribute album released on December 8 2009, with covers from amazing bands including many covered here so far (9mm Parabellum Bullet, The Back Horn, Fujifabric, 椿屋四重奏) so if you get a chance please check it out. It's called "This is For You".
Genre: 8-bit techno Song style: dancey video game music mixed with old Japanese folk singing
So this is one of the artists playing Japan Nite that's coming up in a couple of weeks. It's called Omodaka, a project by video game music composer Soichi Terada. I've gotta say I'm a fan of some of these songs (namely this one, and kyoteizinc) and they make very interesting "video art". It's very reminiscent of quirky Wii/DS microgames. I also like the mix of the traditional style of Japanese singing mixed with the 90s video game sound. But song after song, it gets a little old. This group really has potential and I'll be interested to see how they deliver at Japan Nite (and to see if this stuff is truly danceable!)
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