It’s that time of the week.
Comeback My Daughters- “Why”
CBMD have crafted a fine piece of indie rock in NYC. More pics and diary entries here.
kowloon
May 10, 2011myspace band of the week
Kowloon is not just a city in Hong Kong. It is also the name of an instrumental band formed by Keisaku Nakamura who has worked with toe and Kimura Kaela.
The trio formed in 2005. Kowloon is led by Teppei Takahashi on bass and guitar, Keisaku Nakamura on synthesizer, rhodes, and piano, and Umeki Taichi on drums. They released their first EP the fever in 2006 and first album infection in 2007. Their newest album metallic, exotic will be released later this May. It was recorded and mastered by Takaki Mino of toe with guest musicians Ryo Iwamoto (we are time), Yoshida Ichirou (Zazen Boys), and Mariko Yamamoto.
Kowloon’s style of instrumental rock blends together post rock, jazz, and funk. Their math rock sound on songs like “Jetblack” calls to mind toe while the jazzy piano textures have a mouse on the keys feel. Then there’s songs like “Kokoro to Kokoro” and “New Town” that are similar to the the instrumental funkiness of 9dw. Kowloon can rock hard and then slow down like a lover.
Pick up metallic, exotic on May 25.
Stuff To Look Forward To, May 2011
May 4, 2011What do you know, I actually posted this early for a change. A lot of great stuff coming out this month. Such as new capsule, which was postponed and renamed. Other releases of interest: debut PeopleJam, full length 0.8秒と衝擊。, new Monobright with Toru Hidaka as a full-fledged member, the return of macdonald duck eclair, and Vampillia again. And I’m sure I’ll be bumping Perfume.
05/04 TOTALFAT- World of Glory with Joe Inoue (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/11 Analog Fish- Ushinau Yoi wa Aru? Soretomo Houtteoku Yuki wa Arunokai (CD Japan)
05/11 BYEE the ROUND- バイザラウンド (CD Japan)
05/11 END OF START- From The Small Room
05/11 functioncode- Terror (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/11 Heavenstamp- Stand By You + Remixes (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/11 macdonald duck eclair – Kono Tokimeki Imasugu (CD Japan)
05/11 MONOBRIGHT- ACME (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/11 PeopleJam- Dirty Groove (CD Japan)
05/11 The Salovers- Band Wo Hajimeta Koro (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/11 School Food Punishment- RPG (CD Japan)
05/11 toddle- the shimmer (CD Japan)
05/11 Tokyo Jihen- Sora ga Natteiru / Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo (CD Japan)
05/11 Towa Tei- Sunny (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/11 Unison Square Garden- Orion wo Nazoru (CD Japan)
05/18 0.8秒と衝擊。- 1 Bo 2 Bo 3 Bo 4 Bo 5 Bo 6 Bo, Toyo Techno. (CD Japan)
05/18 9mm Parabellum Bullet- Atarashii Hikari (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/18 Camel Rush- Life Is Once
05/18 eastern youth- Kokoro no Soko ni Toka Tomose (CD Japan)
05/18 Homosapiens- Dead Girlfriend (CD Japan)
05/18 LM.C- Super Duper Galaxy (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/18 MONGOL800 – etc. works2 (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/18 Perfume- Laser Beam / Kasukana Kaori (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/24 Vampillia- Rule the World + Deathtiny Land (Amazon)
05/25 BACON – 月が朝日に變わるまで
05/25 capsule- World of Fantasy (CD Japan, Play-Asia)
05/25 COLD KITCHEN- Danzai no Feedback (CD Japan)
05/25 EDDY- Asterism (CD Japan)
05/25 FLiP- Michi Evolution (CD Japan)
05/25 ivory7 chord- Luminously (CD Japan)
05/25 kowloon- metallic, exotic (CD Japan)
05/25 Kuroneko Chelsea- Nude + (CD Japan)
05/25 LAZYgunsBRISKY- LAZYgunsBRISKY (CD Japan)
Your Last Chicken
May 3, 2011myspace band of the week
Your Last Chicken is a folk rock trio from Tokyo that formed in the summer of 2009. Originally a solo project of Makito Chikatsu who wrote and recorded these songs at home, he was later joined by guitarist/vocalist Cayske Hinami and percussionist Yumi Kudo. Their first EP Your Last Chicken was released April 2011 by CGCG.
Musically they are similar to the coffee house stylings of Predawn and the more folky songs of Turntable Films. Makito’s English is very clear, it’s easy to forget you’re listening to a Japanese band. Your Last Chicken comes off as a bit Americanized but a solid folk band all around.
Pick up Your Last Chicken at Jet Set Records.
J-Rock Fridays Vol. 44
April 29, 2011Royal wedding weekend so exciting.
NEW ROTE’KA- “Iraira Everyday”
Call in the clown jester! I first heard of NEW ROTE”KA when Toru Hidaka’s super group TV Murders did a song for their tribute album but never got around to listening to it. I guess they’ve been around a while. Who could hate the clown?
SHO ~Shokun Hellharmonic Orchestra~
April 27, 2011myspace band of the week
Slipknot meets classic? Not two words you expect to hear in the same sentence. But the fine folks of Shokun Hellharmic Orchestra (SHO) have successfully fused metal and hip hop to the world of classical music.
Very little can be found out about SHO online. Who makes up the orchestra? Who is the conductor? Despite the mystery SHO has released two internationally available albums, Overture and Symphony No. 0, filled with metal covers of the classics. Their myspace includes renditions of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Pachelbel, Rachmaninoff, and Mendelssohn. It’s filled with heavy guitars and DJ sampling, but the violins and orchestra still make the pieces classy.
Download SHO MP3s at CD Baby.
http://www.myspace.com/shokunhell Read the rest of this entry »
FLOW to appear at Anime Central, Fanimecon
April 22, 2011Dear Chicagoans. With under a month til convention time, Anime Central has announced FLOW as their musical guest. You may know them from Naruto, Eureka Seven, or Code Geass. They will be supporting the May 10 US release of FLOW ANIME BEST (digital only, boo—grab the CD here). It’s kind of ridiculous they have enough anime themes to fill up an entire album but that’s staying power for you.
Anime Central will take place in Rosemont, IL May 20-22. FLOW will also return to San Jose’s Fanimecon May 27-30.
Beatful
April 20, 2011myspace band of the week
Beatful is an electronic rock band that formed in 2008. Vocalist Miyuki joined the band May 2009 after a series of auditions. Their original keyboardist left in August 2009 and was replaced by Akio. Beatful incorporates synthesizers with dance rhythms, “a horror movie with catchy pop rock and roll.”
At this time their myspace only includes live clips. Most of their songs lean towards the anime side of J-pop but the keyboardist keeps things interesting. Beatful are currently recording their first album. ORGASMLiveNet uploaded a video of their performance of two new songs “Aa Ha Wa” and “Jet” a few days ago. I got to say I’m getting major Tokyo Jihen vibes from this. Miyuki is definitely exuding Shiina Ringo spunk, especially with the new haircut. These songs are a lot of fun and I can’t wait to hear more.
J-Rock Fridays Vol. 43
April 15, 2011J-Rock J-Rock J-Rock
The Cigavettes- “(Just Need Some Changes, It’s Gonna Be) Alright”
You can tell by the band’s vintage Smiths t-shirts where exactly they get their inspiration. Classic rock for the masses.
MotherMAN
April 13, 2011myspace band of the week
MotherMAN is an unsigned band from Tokyo. Before I say anything else I should address the elephant in the room. After the meatspin wars of 2006 I thought my days of shock sites were over. Until I Googled this band’s name. To spare your curiosity, motherman.com shows a video of a dude getting anal and oral from a pair of transvestites. Cocks all over the place.
It’s a shame I have to associate MotherMAN with dick now since I can see them being the next big mainstream rock band. Most of MotherMAN’s songs are the easy going, maybe ballad kind. The vocals are very pleasant and the guitars dreamy. I wouldn’t quite call it shoegaze but if that’s what they want to call it. They do have an epic post rock vibe in “Peaceland” though. MotherMAN is a good pop rock band comparable to bands like UNCHAIN and the equally bad named Bump of Chicken.
MotherMAN CDs are only available at their shows. If you’d like some free music they have a zip file with two songs on their website.
J-Rock Explosion 