The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 38,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 9 Film Festivals
The last J-Rock Fridays of 2012! Just because the year is ending doesn’t mean Japan has slowed down their music video production.
Is it too late for Christmas songs? Oh well, I was never in the holiday spirit to begin with. Not the cheeriest version of the song anyway. This cover is actually a couple of years old, but I’m glad miila (from Miila and the Geeks) got around to making a video for it.
Can you believe Yamanaka’s on his third solo album already? Just like his other side project The Predators, I can’t differentiate “Answer” from a standard pillows track. That’s great if you’re a fan of the pillows, but I would like to see him do something different for a change. This is his chance to do something new and he blew it again.
DOLL$BOXX is Fuki from Light Bringer and all of the gals from Gacharic Spin. Although their other single and individual projects lean towards girly pop rock, Gacharic Spin’s keyboardist spends half of “Loud Twin Stars” screaming and it’s awesome.
The China Wife Motors is an Osaka rock n’ roll trio founded in 2001. Tsunehiko Kajita (vocals, guitar), Masaki Noda (bass) and Toyoaki Nagai (drums) released their first album Hello, Motor City in 2007. Over the next few years they opened for a bunch of overseas punk bands in Japan and toured the USA twice, once with hellcat records band Left Alone who they released a split 7″ with. Last year The China Wife Motors released their second album In the Motor City.
Tour the motor city at CD Japan and Interpunk.
The day after Christmas! Time to use that holiday money on some J-Rock CDs. I also made a calendar page for the new year but if I don’t see views every day I can’t promise it’ll be around long.
12/05 androp- One and Zero (CD Japan)
12/05 The Bohemians- For Life (CD Japan)
12/05 the dresscodes- the dresscodes (CD Japan)
12/05 a flood of circle- Fuck Forever (CD Japan)
12/05 The Inrun Publics- Public Core (CD Japan)
12/05 Itsue- Yasahii Shikitachi (CD Japan)
12/05 Keytalk- Ktep3 (CD Japan)
12/05 Negoto- Greatwall (CD Japan)
12/05 NINGENCLUB- Each Time EP (CD Japan)
12/05 Polysics- Weeeeeeeeee! (CD Japan)
12/05 Ototoi Group- Avalon
12/05 Sakanamon- Na (CD Japan)
12/05 Siamese Cats- Takarajima (CD Japan)
12/05 Snare Cover- Pilgrim (CD Japan)
12/05 SpecialThanks- Campanula EP (CD Japan)
12/05 Take Ambulance- The Proof of our Sailing Days (CD Japan)
12/05 tricot- Bakyun EP (CD Japan
12/05 The Valves- Albiontique (CD Japan)
GOLD&SAINT is the electronic rock duo of Yo Asai (vocals, synth) and Tommy (vocals, key). They formed in Tokyo in 2008 and performs as a full band and as a techno unit. Their first album I Am You Are Me was released earlier this year in cooperation with sound mastering engineer Yoshiaki Kondoh who has worked with Iggy Pop and Kahimi Karie. You can get it at Amazon and CD Japan.
Christmas and New Years are coming up. There may be an end of the year wrap coming up soon but for now new videos!
Another ano(t)raks band decided to make a music video this week, this time Post Modern Team with one of my favorite songs of the year. “Never Let You Down” is a sweet, simple little tune aptly put to video with a girl running through the flower fields.
Take Ambulance are rather proud of their cuss storm that takes place in the middle of this video. Not only is it the only line they bother to subtitle, but they even printed out t-shirts to wear in the video. Hilarious!
Dreamy music and a sleeping girl. After releasing three albums in six months, kindan no tasuketsu deserves a nice rest.
Thatta is a five-piece dance rock band from Tokyo. They formed in 2006 and their current lineup is Hiroki Oda (vocals, synth), Hiroshi Morishima (guitar, synth), Toshitsugu Tanaka (guitar, synth), Yujiro Chikayama (bass) and Shun-Yeah!! Nakaso (drums). Pulling in influences from the UK and American 90s alternative rock, thatta is known for their energetic live performances and trademark three synthesizers on stage.
Viva la Majority! is their first mini-album released in 2011. They have also been included in several compilations, including this year’s Free Throw Comp #2. Their latest release is a split EP Party Talk Affair with The Keys and Christopher Allan Diadora.
After Tonight is a pop punk band from Tokyo that formed in 2010. Their current lineup is Ken (vocals), Paul (bass), John (guitar), Ryota (guitar) and Manabu (drums). Influenced by bands like New Found Glory and The Starting Line, After Tonight aims to bring pop punk back to Japan and their English is pretty decent too. Their first EP The Lenses was released in November 2011 from the indie label Ice Grill$ and they will release a 7″ record in early 2013.
You can buy After Tonight’s EP and shirts at their worldwide Big Cartel store and preorder their new 7″ Statues from Ice Grill$.
J-Rock Explosion 