Why does this look familiar?
Oh.
Archive for February, 2010
Elomaticmill
February 22, 2010myspace band of the week
Elomaticmill was the last band to leave a comment on my wall (even though I couldn’t read it), so this week they get the honor of myspace band of week.
For the most part, Elomaticmill is your typical female fronted indie rock band. If you’re familiar with bands like LiN CLOVER and Swinging Popsicle, you know what you’re getting yourself into. But despite the averageness, they have the small town charm that have earned them over 22,000 fans on myspace. Choice track: “Synchronicity”
Download their Pilot film DEMO at last.fm or the love below.
J-Rock Fridays Vol. 14
February 19, 2010I was considering skipping J-Rock Fridays for the Olympics, but that wouldn’t be much of excuse considering all I’ve been watching are Yes, Dear repeats and my History Channel shows. So here’s this week’s half-hearted J-Rock Fridays column.
Sinsei Kamattechan- “ロックンロールは鳴り止まないっ”
Who is that dorky punk rocker who sings of the Sex Pistols? The world may never know.
J-Pop Moment: Monochrome Effect
February 18, 2010Usually it takes me a few weeks to catch up on the latest Seth Macfarlane shows, but I found myself watching Sunday’s American Dad late last night. It was going swimmingly mediocre until Future Stan breaks out some “Japanese Funk.” Yes, Perfume makes their American debut on a Fox animated sitcom. I knew the song sounded familiar but couldn’t put my finger on it. Luckily Japanator already pointed out who it was.
Perfume is of a course the J-Pop trio produced by Yasutaka Nakata of capsule. The song is cute and the beat is catchy, even if it’s very reminiscent of a certain Supercar song. It’s a nice mixture of techno-pop and shibuya-kei.
A Mad Tea Party
February 15, 2010myspace band of the week
In honor of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland opening next month, here’s a completely unrelated band of the week. A Mad Tea Party is a new band (only 6 listeners on last.fm including yours truly). They just released their first mini-album A.M.T.P.E.P last week on No License Records.
When a band has two synth players, you know it’s time to get down on the dance floor. A Mad Tea party kind of sounds like a punk version of Boom Boom Satellites. The beats are faster, and there’s a fair bit of screaming, but it’s the same dance rock formula. If you’re in the mood for edgy dance tunes, join the tea party.
J-Pop Moment: Birthday
February 11, 2010In honor of my 23rd birthday, J-Pop Moment is highlighting “Birthday” by Abe Fuyumi. Unfortunately, the full length video I favorited on YouTube months ago was deleted so here’s the abridged version. But I assure you the rest of the video is more of her walking in the snow.
“Birthday” is taken from Abe’s mini-album Birthday which was released last December. This song fits in the “beautiful but depressing” genre. Of course it doesn’t help that the entire video is Abe walking around in complete darkness with the occasional snow flake falling. It makes me sad dammit. And the same goes for the other songs on this mini-album. Abe lists Sarah Mclachlan as in influence, which is no surprise to me as she very much sounds like a Japanese version of Sarah Mclachlan.
J-Rock Fridays Vol. 13
February 5, 2010Welcome to J-Rock Fridays the 13th. Unfortunately, it didn’t land on Friday the 13th, but at least I didn’t feel compelled to compile another “scary videos” column. A little less videos this week. Get used to it.
Turntable Films- “2steps”
This song is so bright and happy. There’s nothing else I can say. If you like a little folk in your indie-pop this is your new favorite song of the year.
mouse on the keys worldwide release in 2010
February 2, 2010
German label Denovali Records will release mouse on the key’s Sezession and An Anxious Object worldwide on vinyl and CD in 2010. Sezession is already available for pre-order and will be released on CD and CD+vinyl combo (I ordered the black haze 10″). The price is in euros, put Paypal will convert it for you. Keep an eye on my Twitter to find out when An Anxious Object goes up for pre-order.
Mouse on the keys is an instrumental trio from Tokyo consisting of former members of Nine Days Wonder. Their sound can be described as jazz infused post-rock. They will be Read the rest of this entry ?
GALLOW
February 1, 2010myspace band of the week
GALLOW is one of those bands that I’m shocked no one has heard of. Why is that? It’s the “neo-acoustic” side-project of Toru Hidaka of BEAT CRUSADERS fame.
GALLOW is essentially a revamp of Pesela-Quesela-In, Hidaka’s side project with thai (ex-BEAT CRUSADERS) that released one album in 2002. That same year GALLOW formed. Likewise, GALLOW has had a rotating cast of current and past BEAT CRUSADERS members, most notably kato and Yukio Iwahara. Their first album Parkest! was released in 2006 and kato left the year after that. Their next album Too Virgin!! was released in 2008 and Iwahara left the year after that. GALLOW is yet again Hidaka’s solo project.
Hidaka describes his music as a “mixture of black music & white music with Asian feelings.” Read the rest of this entry ?
J-Rock Explosion 