Archive for the ‘myspace band of the week’ Category

« Newer Entries
Older Entries »
h1

purple bloom

September 7, 2011

myspace band of the week

Purple Bloom is a female fronted shoegaze band from Tokyo formed by Linden (vocals) and Tsuyoshi (guitar). Their first album purple bloom, self-produced and recorded in their tatami room, was intended for March release but was pushed back due to the earthquake. The album will see worldwide release September 13. Their song “Kisses Bloomed” was featured on Patetico Recordings’ Rock Back for Japan Vol. 1, a compilation series benefiting disaster relief.

As typical of shoegaze bands, purple bloom blends noisey guitar with Linden’s high-pitched whispered vocals. “Kisses Bloomed” happens to be the one with most distortion while songs like “Hyades” and “Star Is Mine” bring the sunshine.

Pre-order purple bloom at Darla Records.

http://www.myspace.com/purplebloomroom

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in myspace band of the week, purple bloom | Leave a Comment »

h1

Miila and the Geeks

August 31, 2011

myspace band of the week

One of the more exciting up and coming bands I haven’t featured on this column yet is Miila and the Geeks. Miila was originally the solo project of guitarist/bassist/vocalist Moe Wadaka, who is also a member of Twee Grrrls Club and the duo Love and Hates with HNC’s Yuppa. The project was expanded to a band in 2007 with the addition of drummer Kaoru Ajima and Ryota Komori on screaming sax. Their first 7″ EP 6 Songs was released in December 2010 and sold out in a few days as did their second EP 3 Songs earlier this summer. Their debut album New Age was released by Niw! Records last week.

Miila and the Geeks is associated with the “riot grrrl” movement of the 1990s. They list PJ Harvey, Bikini Kill and Kim Gordon among their influences. “Want,” “Cigarette & Water” and “Super Hero” are simple, yet aggressive punk songs punctuated by some crazy awesome saxophone. The sax is back in “Trouble,” which isn’t as fast but is still catchy with it’s one-line lyric.

New Age is available from Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/miilamiilamiila

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in miila and the geeks, myspace band of the week | 1 Comment »

h1

Wolfgang McCartney

August 24, 2011

myspace band of the week

Wolfgang McCartney is a Hiroshima based duo comprised of brothers Eiji and Kazuki Suehiro. They formed under the name London in 2004 and changed their name to Wolfgang McCartney in February 2010. The Beatles and The Monkees, who they cover regularly on their YouTube channel, are a major influence on their music. Wolfgang McCartney has self-released two albums and several singles.

Their new single “I Don’t Care” is the most rocking song on their myspace. The rest of their songs seem to be more pop based with a lot of synthesized instruments. I don’t much care for “Magic Tree,” which sounds like it was recorded at the Renaissance Faire. “Bye Bye Rain” and “Chance Again” manage to be decent pop songs if a little off key.

Download Wolfgang McCartney songs Amazon and iTunes.

http://www.myspace.com/wolfgangmccartney

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in myspace band of the week, Wolfgang McCartney | Leave a Comment »

h1

Nekocats

August 17, 2011

myspace band of the week

Nekocats is a female fronted pop rock band from Tokyo. Guitarist Seigo Minegishi put the band together in the summer of 2010. Vocalist Erina Kawamoto was the first to join followed by Ernesto Salinas, a Puerto Rican drummer. Katsutoshi Tsunoda is their new bassist. The band’s name comes from Erina’s love for cats. They didn’t know whether to choose an English or Japanese name so they just wrote it both ways (“neko” is Japanese for cat).

GeeDes records released Nekocats’ first single She Loves You (no relation to The Beatles) in June. “She Loves You” is a fun pop song with a catchy chorus. It’s b-side “Utsusemi” isn’t up on myspace but they have a few more demo tracks up there. “Stray Cat” has the same amount of energy but has more of a bluesy feel. Meanwhile 鼓動 and 世界go for the cute factor.

Download She Loves You at Amazon or CD Baby. Physical copy is available from CD Japan.

http://www.myspace.com/nekocats

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in myspace band of the week, nekocats | Leave a Comment »

h1

ANYO

August 10, 2011

myspace band of the week

ANYO (あんよ- “footsie”) is a female fronted post rock/shoegaze band from Osaka. The band consists of 4ho (vocals), Yamashita (guitar), Teppei (bass) and Tama (drums). They have released two EPs, O in 2008 and iro in 2010. Musically they have been compared to bands like downy or Mogwai.

“A to Z,” 水鏡 and  白い夜 come from their second EP iro. “A to Z” and 水鏡 are massive tracks that get a little shoegazey in the middle but are still ferocious. Meanwhile  白い夜 is quieter and focuses on 4ho’s vocals. 声from their first EP starts out slow but builds into something as powerful as “A to Z.”

http://www.myspace.com/anyospace

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in ANYO, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

h1

Hi-KING BEAR

August 3, 2011

myspace band of the week

Hi-KING BEAR is a melodic punk band from Yokosuka. The band formed in 2003 and their first live was held in 2004. Their first single MAISON DE CARPILLON was released in 2009 and their second single この素晴らしき日々の中で  was released in July 2011.

All of the songs on myspace come from their first single and demos. Highlights include “Take A Walk With You,” a fun punk song with some flute and their female drummer contributing vocals in the second half. パリ☆パリ (“Paris Paris”) and “Big Boy” are equally fun summertime pop songs. Unfortunately, I can’t find their two singles for sale anywhere so this is the only way to get your fix for now.

http://www.myspace.com/hikingbearband

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Hi-KING BEAR, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

h1

Chuck G. & The Napkins

July 26, 2011

myspace band of the week

Chuck G. & The Napkins is a R&B/soul band from Tokyo that formed in March 2010. They named their band after Booker T. & The MG’s, the house band of Stax Records in the ’60s. The band consists of Chuck Goto on vocals, Yusuke Mori on guitar, Takehiro Mikami on bass and Hideaki Baba on AKAI MPC sampler. Yusuke Mori is also a member of Plastic Soy Sauce, a Chicago based band formed by four Japanese students at Columbia College. Chuck G. & The Napkins released their second EP in June.

There’s not a whole lot going on on Chuck G. & The Napkins’ myspace page (time to drop myspace from this column’s title?) except for some bandcamp links. Their demo EP has more of a standard indie rock/pop feel while their newest lays down the funk. You can buy their music at  bandcamp or CD Baby. The first EP is free!

http://www.myspace.com/chuckgandthenapkins/

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Chuck G. & The Napkins, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

h1

Super Cool Bucket Relay

July 20, 2011

myspace band of the week

“I am a bucket. As yet I have no name. I’ve no idea where I was born.
All I remember is that I was miaowing in a dampish dark place when,
for the first time, I saw a human being.”

Super Cool Bucket Relay (スーパークールバケツリレー) combines video game chaos with anime cuteness. Kind of like Shinsei Kamattechan but with chibi mascots. The band originally formed in 2003 but dissolved in 2007. Original members Mukikofu and Tatsuya put the band back together in 2009. They are currently a three-piece and drumless.

Download Noを探す旅 and Ninja for Nothing at CD Baby.

http://www.myspace.com/super-cool-bucket-relay

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in myspace band of the week, Super Cool Bucket Relay | Leave a Comment »

h1

hemlock

July 14, 2011

myspace band of the week

Hemlock is the type of band that left a few comments on my profile but whose advances I largely ignored. Until they decided to make a Durarara!! MAD (now airing on adult swim!!).  Hemlock formed in October 2009 around Shimokitazawa. Naturally their band name comes from the poison Socrates was sentenced to drink in prison. Their first mini-album Shinokosho came out in June.

The song used in the Durarara!! MAD, ” ブルーローズ (Blue Rose),” is a nice aggressive rock tune. The rest of the songs on myspace are samples from Shinokosho. Although “Blue Rose” is absent from that mini-album, the songs here are in the same vain. “メコノプシス・ホリドゥラ” is especially rocking, while “君と宇宙と愚かな僕と” and “君と宇宙と愚かな僕と” are slow numbers. I would like to see Ms. Tomiki do more vocals but I’m okay with her being eye candy for now.

Buy Shinokosho at CD Japan. Download “Blue Rose” here.

http://www.myspace.com/hemlock6969

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in hemlock, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

h1

Ashley Scared The Sky

July 6, 2011

myspace band of the week

Ashley Scared The Sky is a hardcore band from Tokyo that formed in June 2010. Julian (6strings) comes from America and Kentaro (screams), Moo (4strings) and Nori (drums) round out the band.  Their first release The Prayer EP was released via Garimpeiro Records last week.

Their myspace includes samples of all four tracks from The Prayer EP. “The Ark Sailing Through Truth” sounds like your typical screamo song with some cool electronics thrown in the last third of the track. “Separation Anxiety Will Never End” sounds like a real raver and the rest of the songs follow suit. Pretty similar to Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas or even Blood Stain Child with the heavy electronic parts. They remind me of the days when I used to freak out every time Tooth and Nail/Solid State signed a new hardcore band. If you need another reason to check out their new EP, Hiro from FACT calls it “perfect.”

http://www.myspace.com/ashleyscaredthesky

Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Ashley Scared The Sky, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Entries
Older Entries »