Archive for the ‘myspace band of the week’ Category

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Dropping like world

April 13, 2010

myspace band of the week

Let’s be honest, the only reason I clicked on this band was that awesome tophat.  It reminds me of a certain Dir en grey photo, but thankfully they’re no visual kei band.

Dropping like world formed in Nagano in 2007.  They sound like your typical garage band, influenced by grunge and other alternative music.  These songs are mostly of demo quality but definitely show some promise.  “Bleed” and “d.l.w.” have some tight riffs while songs like “The Backbone,” “vision of despair,” and “Leukemia”  head into post-hardcore territory.  With a little bit of work I’m sure they’ll be signed soon.  Choice track: “The Backbone”

http://www.myspace.com/dlw3594

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arcana arcade

April 6, 2010

myspace band of the week

I’m always on the lookout for good J-folk bands and arcana arcade fits the bill just fine.  The band consists of Seiji Suga, Satoko Moriyasu, and a dozen other support members on saxophone, flute, trumpet, etc.  They are influenced by 60s and 70s psychedelic and folk rock and hope to revive the “old but good” feeling.

The first three songs on myspace come from their upcoming album And Jersey.  The first song has a positive folk rock feeling and a lot of flute, while the second is on the sadder side of folk but exposes Satoko Moriyasu as a great vocalist.  “30/30” definitely has more of a hillbilly feel, but I’m loving the variety here.  “Starmine” is an older song that feels more shoegazey than folk.

If you enjoy bands like Turntable Films and 4  Bonjour’s Parties you’ll dig this band.  Arcana arcade is currently finishing their debut album, which they describe as “a curry well stewed with some citrus fruits, coffee, miso and bean jam.”  Honestly, who doesn‘t want to listen to that?

http://www.myspace.com/arcanaarcade

Download a free mp3 at bandcamp.

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kuh

March 29, 2010

myspace band of the week

I first discovered kuh through their cover of “Under the Sea” on the Disney Rocks!! compilation.  Seeing as it was one of maybe two tracks that didn’t make me feel homosexual, I decided it might be a good idea to check these guys out.

Surprisingly, they have a ton of songs up on myspace, mostly from their first album KY! Perhaps more of a surprise, they are signed to Captain Haus Recordings, home of GALLOW, polyABC, and other cool shit.  Considering their cover of “Under the Sea” was basically hipster electronica, I was expecting more of the same from this band.  But strangely most of the stuff on their first album is downer indie rock.  In fact, “J.U.N.O.” and “Tokio Nomad” from the catch one’s breath compilation are the only other hints of kuh’s electronic direction.  But overall I’m impressed by both their electronic and indie rocks tracks.  There is, however, one song named “水在月” that doesn’t fit the mold.  This song has a heavy post-rock vibe and I just love it. I expect good things from these guys in the future.

http://www.myspace.com/kuhtronica

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The Crater

March 23, 2010

myspace band of the week

The Crater is a three-piece rock band from Setagaya.  Shinsuke Kikunaga and Shimose (ex-HiGE) formed the band in 2001, and Kana joined on bass in 2010.

The band’s website says they put out a few EPs, but I can’t find proof anywhere that these releases exist.  However, in the process I discovered a bad-ass looking Osamu Tezuka manga of the same name (ATTN Vertical Inc, I expect this on my bookshelf next year!).  Right now, The Crater has 10 songs up on myspace of varying quality, but I do like most of them.  Choice track: “I Love You”

http://www.myspace.com/thecraterjapan

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USK

March 16, 2010

myspace band of the week

It seems like every Japanese music blog has their favorite chiptune artist.  So today I decided to make USK my bitch.

I first discovered USK a few years ago when I downloaded Pico Pico Disco from 8bitpeoples.  Up to that point, the only other chiptune artist I listened to was YMCK, and let’s just say USK was much more chaotic/danceable. I can’t find his real name, but USK was born in 1984 and began making electro music on his PC in 1999.  In 2005, USK started experimenting with Game Boys and here we are now.  USK’s latest song “I AM A FUCKOKA RAVER” is USK at his best.  Don’t start the rave without him.

http://www.myspace.com/chipdisko Read the rest of this entry ?

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upstairs

March 9, 2010

myspace band of the week

I’ve heard plenty of Japanese punk bands try to sing in English, but this is the first I’ve heard Spanish.  Upstairs are three girls from Tokyo, or as their EP is called, Tres Chicas Punks.

I never mentioned this, but I did complete four years of Español classes in high school. It’s been a while so I was eager to see if I retained anything.  It should come as no surprise that both the band’s English and Spanish vocals are near indecipherable.  If I wasn’t so used to gibberish vocals in my punk rock I would be disappointed.  So I was crushed that I couldn’t test my Spanish comprehension.  But I can say “Espero el fin semana” is definitely sounds grammatically incorrect.

If you’re into female pop-punk bands, upstairs is the band for you.  They briefly got me interested in picking up Spanish again.   Choice track: “Que Sera Sera”

http://www.myspace.com/upstairs

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nego

March 2, 2010

myspace band of the week

Nego is a jam/post-rock band that formed in February 2008 when Mukaiyama Toshitaka left sgt. Ever since they have preformed rigorously around Japan and released their first single Imperial Dub in 2009.  Their first album Dub Phalanx was released in Februray 2010.

At first listen, nego sounds like a cross between the last sgt. album, a Rastafarian band, and a jazz festival.  The previews for their latest album Dub Phalanx are kind of weird. But later on, it becomes familiar.  A lot of these songs sound like sgt. I guess that should come as no surprise considering Mukaiyama played guitar with sgt. from 2003-2008.  The main difference between the two bands is nego’s jazzier, sometime uplifting, take on some songs and the use of bongos.  Not to say that nego can’t make a dark, brooding post-rock tune in the vain of Mono.  Dub Phalanx is kind of hard to find and is unavailable to purchase on my usuals.

http://www.myspace.com/negosound

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Elomaticmill

February 22, 2010

myspace 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.

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A Mad Tea Party

February 15, 2010

myspace 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.

http://www.myspace.com/amteaparty

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GALLOW

February 1, 2010

myspace 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 ?

Posted in Beat Crusaders, GALLOW, myspace band of the week | 4 Comments »

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