The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 40,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 15 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
One of my favorite releases of the year comes from 6eyes. The 5-piece originally formed as a quartet in 2002 in Nagoya. Their current members are Chikara Tsuchiya (vocals), Yuichi Hori (guitar), Yoshitaka Kuwayama (drums), Ren Satou (bass) and Kei Satou (sax). Both Satou boys (brothers?) joined sometime after the release of 6eyes’ second album Blank In Black in 2008. In total 6eyes has released 3 albums and a mini-album.
Just like Miila and the Geeks, 6eyes makes above average J-Rock made great by the addition of the saxophone. Their newest album Flush is available at CD Japan.
Ho ho ho! It’s that time of year when people give out presents to people they like. And since I’d probably get in trouble for uploading music on my own, I’ll just link you to the bands who want you to take their holiday tunes. Hurry! Most of these links expire by the end of the year.
the guitar plus me- Decemblues
Side project of Arai Tasuku and nica.
Otokaze & hafuka- Sound of North
Various Artists- Season’s Greetings
world’s end boyfriend- Xmas Song 2011
EeL- “Snow World Under the White Moon”
Jintana & Emeralds- “Last Christmas”
Love and Hates- “I Wanna Kill”
Shonen Knife- “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
Posting this in the AM for a change. Is it still Friday in Japan? Last new J-Rock Fridays of 2011!
Christmas is in a couple of days. Why not start off with a couple of Christmas songs? SKAYWAY loves ska and Christmas songs so much they just released an entire album of ska Christmas covers (get Jingle belling). This band doesn’t seem to exist elsewhere on the internet so maybe they’re Santa’s little helpers after all.
Love and Hates is a twee/rap duo consisting of Yuppa (HNC) and Moe (Miila and the Geeks). The girls joined up in 2008 as a DJ unit for the fanzine Twee Grrrls Club’s party events. They self-released a number of cassette tapes through Moe’s label Pit Pony and released their debut album L.A.H. on December 7 on Yuppa’s label White Lily Records.
L.A.H. is a delightful mix of kindergarten hip hop cuteness. You can pick it up at CD Japan or on vinyl at Jet Set Records.
The last month of releases for the year. Maybe I’ll be able to put up these lists on time next year! December isn’t the best month to release your music with end of the year lists coming out, but there’s still some good stuff here such as Nujabes’ final album and the debut of supergroups The Dekits and Love and Hates.
12/01 umbrella- Samidare (CD Japan)
12/03 Nujabes- Spiritual State (CD Japan)
12/07 BALZAC- Deranged (CD Japan)
12/07 Black Borders- Rush (CD Japan)
12/07 The Dekits- DE KIT 4 KEY’S (CD Japan)
12/07 EeMu- Nothings (CD Japan)
12/07 FLiP- Hoshii Mono Ha (CD Japan)
12/07 Galileo Galilei- Asu He (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
12/07 Geeks- Punklassic
12/07 HiGe- Soredeha Minasan Yoi Tabi Wo (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
12/07 Left- Kimi to Uchu to Boku no Koe (CD Japan)
12/07 lego big morl- Re: Union (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
12/07 LITE- Approaches (CD Japan) Read the rest of this entry ?
ZeZeZaZa is a three piece psychedelic dance band from Tokyo. The three members are Shun K.D. (vocals and guitar), Baku-san (bass, key and electronics) and Shuji Onishi (drums). They made their debut at this year’s Fuji Rock Festival’s Rookie A G0-Go. They have released two demo EPs, one of which is still available at Jet Set Records.
Party time at the maid cafe with ONE BUCK TUNER. Bring your own coke!
The John’s Guerrilla is a psychedelic rock band from Shibuya. The foursome formed in 2004 and includes Leo Imamura (vocals/guitar), Ryoji Tonegawa (guitar), Kaname Ishii (bass) and Junichi Kamegaya (drums). In recent years Naoki Matsuda has joined them live as their support synth player. The John’s Guerrilla is inspired by the modern UK and US indie rock scene and the culture and art of the 60’s and 70’s. They are currently signed to CRUX.
In 2009, The John’s Guerrilla released their first ablum Seize the Time followed shortly by a live album. You can pick up their newest mini-album United Diamond featuring production by Shigekazu Aida at CD Japan. Their song “Don’t Get Down Bitch” is featured on the Free Throw Compilation.
J-Rock Explosion 