If you’re reading this you’re probably not down in Austin watching a ton of great bands and films. Like me. But don’t fret, this week’s J-Rock Fridays is SXSW themed. This is not a complete list of all the Japanese bands playing at SXSW. Just the ones who had their video uploaded to SXSW’s YouTube page. Plus a few I’d be remiss not to post.
Tornado Boyz- “Ich Bin Auslaender”
German rap? Really? I don’t know how foreigner Daisuke met up with this Berlin-based band but this video is endlessly amusing.
Just in time for this week’s release of Fluorescence, one of my favorite albums so far this year. Watch Yuki trailing through decrepit buildings and forgotten train stations.
Programming the common people’s subliminal orchestra to wake up and say yes. Rocknrollas let out a doggie howl that’s wasted on Scarface’s shining head. You’re in treble, boy. Tonight’s forgotten story.
Pay Money To my Pain- “Deprogrammer”
PTP added disco to their screams. Turns out pretty good, even the old man in the top hat is dropping balls over it.
Let’s start the new year off right with Shugo’s new shadow-play video for “Linne.” It’s from his excellent 2010 album Port Entropy, which is *gasp* coming out in America next month!
Hey, those polls meant something! Here’s your top voted videos for 2010. The final 14 videos had a total of 5 votes or more. I felt sorry for those with only 4 votes so they made the runners-up list. Honestly, there were a lot of great videos with even less votes than that so I decided to make a personal list in the future. Vote for your top 3 videos of the year and I’ll give the winner a “fan favorite” award!
0.8秒と衝撃。- ビートニクキラーズ
The pants-dropping 0.8syooogeki had the most voted video. Definitely one of the craziest videos I’ve seen this year. If no one votes this week consider them the default winner!
Looks like my J-Rock Fridays playlist that I never advertised or mentioned to anyone hit 500 views the other day. Good to see I’m doing better on YouTube than here.
OCEANLANE- “Submarine Volcano”
Well this is the first time I’ve seen Kay Naoe sing lead in a single. It’s about time they used his boyish good looks.
So after last week’s Halloween excursion (which had a low turnout—last time I’m doing anything special), I had a surplus of videos. Maybe they’ll spill into next week, cause I’m tired.
noughts and exes- “The Start Of Us”
Noughts and exes adapt a childhood art-class assignment for the title-track of their sophomore album. It’s somewhat unsettling but strangely fits this beautiful track. Let’s hope Pepsi doesn’t get wind of this.
J-Rock Explosion 