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J-Pop Moment: Salyu x Salyu

February 18, 2011

The togo wearing Salyu has had her tasers set to “impress” these past few months. First her triumphant return to Lily Chou-Chou in December and now her forthcoming Cornelius produced album s(o)un(d)beams. On ただのともだち (Just A Friend), Salyu sheds her J-Pop princess persona for something a little more mature (with handclaps!). I guess that’s why she’s releasing this album under the name Salyu x Salyu and not Salyu.

s(o)un(d)beams will be released March 23. Pre-order at CD Japan. Another interesting footnote, this album was co-written by Shintaro Sakamoto of the psychedelic rock band Yura Yura Teikoku. All this talent! If the above video wasn’t enough, there’s three more versions below.

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Wednesday Live: ATATA THE DEBU IN

February 16, 2011

Atatatata performed live at Kashiwa ALIVE on February 11 (my birthday!) with buddhistson, aie, and The Shuwa. And what better way to start a show (besides teaching us how to spell the f-word) than with a cover of At the Drive-In’s “One Armed Scissor”? The second song is an Atata original, “Fury of the Year.”

So who is Atata? It looks like we got another supergroup on our hands. Comprised mostly of ex-Holstein members, they are joined by the singer of hardcore band Bandwagon and a few others who played in post-rock bands. Side project or not, they did At the Drive-In proud. You can download “Fury of the Year” and “Recito” for free here (Warning: LARGE file size).

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Sorrys!

February 15, 2011

myspace band of the week

Sorrys! is a 3-piece indie rock band from Koenji. They formed in 2006 with vocalist Kikuta and drummer Teppei. Bassist MKT joined in 2008. They released their first mini-album Sou Ima Sugu, Sou Zenbu (So Right Now So Just All) February 2.

There’s a lot of praise heaped on Sorrys! myspace page from such bands as Asian Kung-Fu Generation and Analog Fish. And it seems like Sorrys! learned a lot  indie rock mentors. They put up Sou Ima Sugu, Sou Zenbu in its entirety  on myspace. Vocals are loud and proud with a slight rap edge in “satisfAction” and “ONE 2 People” and there’s a cool fire siren in “Bet It.” Things gets a little more mellow in 僕らが今日も探し逃がしてしまうもの and ジャンボ, though. There’s also a demo for “Royal Straight TEENAGE flash” that’s a bit more playful than the rest of these songs. Sorrys! is off to a good start.

Buy Sou Ima Sugu, Sou Zenbu at CD Japan or download it for $6 at Amazon.com.

http://www.myspace.com/sorrysxclamation

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The Shanghai Restoration Project- Miss Shanghai

February 14, 2011

Thank you random Chinese CD my brother bought at Starbucks for introducing me to The Shanghai Restoration Project, solo project of Chinese-American Dave Liang. “Miss Shanghai” is one of two Shanghai Restoration songs on the World is China compilation. My brother’s favorite was “Lu Xun (Watch Me Dance,” whose vocals sound like they were ripped out of some British porno. I’m more into the smooth sound of  “Miss Shanghai” with vocals by the Dutch Dez and adequately lip-synced by model Masson Ge.

“Miss Shanghai” is a great song for Valentine’s. It was even featured on the season 6 premiere of The L Word, which I promise I’ll never watch. Both songs come from The Shanghai Restoration Project’s self-titled album.

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Wednesday Live: miila and the geeks @ One

February 9, 2011

Miila and the Geeks is Miila of Love and Hates and her two friends on drums and screaming sax. These are three songs that they performed live at One Koenji in Tokyo. It’s supposed to be some kind of bar but those curtains and lamps more resemble a funeral home to me. Regardless that’s some amazing saxophone work.

“Cigarette & Water, “You Don’t Lier,” “Super Hero” come from their 6 Songs 7″ + CD-R.

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Gekitetsu

February 8, 2011

myspace band of the week

Most bands these days I discover through my YouTube subscriptions. But every so often I bump into an album cover so ridiculous I have to click on it. So when I saw the man-animals of Gekitetsu (撃鉄) whilst browsing the “Far East & Asia” MP3 section on Amazon.com, I knew what I had to do.

Gekitetsu formed in 2007 in Tokyo. Their name translates to “Hammer” and that’s exactly what they do, pound out aggressive punk songs. They made a name for themselves with their appearance at Fuji Rock ’09. Their debut mini-album Geki was just released and was produced by former Number Girl bassist Kentaro Nakao.

As for the man-animals bit, it doesn’t appear they dress as centaurs on stage, but the vocalist is wearing wicked leopard print pants in the videos I found below.

Buy Geki at CD Japan or download it at Amazon.com or HearJapan.

http://www.myspace.com/gekitetsu

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Stuff To Look Forward To, February 2011

February 7, 2011

After two months of soul searching I’ve decided that the only way I could keep up with this column is to not blog about it. So from now on all you’re getting are links and maybe a video or two. Sorry! Bolded my top picks in case anyone’s interested.

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2/02 aie- Hikarika (myspace, CD Japan)

2/02 FUNKIST- Pieceful (myspace, CD Japan)

2/02 Rotten Graffty- FAMILIARIZE (myspace, CD Japan)

2/02 Sorrys!- Sou Imasugu Sou Zenbu (myspace, Amazon MP3, CD Japan)

2/02 winnie- Synchronized (myspace, CD Japan)

2/04 HNC- Witches Party EP (myspace, Jet Set)

2/08 Hystoic Vein- FAKE (myspace, CD Japan)

2/09 Akihiro Namba- Punk Through The Night (myspace, CD Japan)

2/09 [Champagne]- I wanna go to Hawaii. (myspace, CD Japan)

2/09 Gekitetsu- Geki (myspace, Amazon MP3, CD Japan)

2/09 HALCALI- Tokyo Connection (myspace, CD Japan, Play-Asia)

2/09 V.A.- Second Royal Vol. 6 (CD Japan, Jet Set)

2/15 Asobi Seksu- Fluorescence (myspace, Amazon.com, Polyvinyl, CD Japan)

2/15 Shugo Tokumaru- Port Entropy [US Release] (myspace, Amazon.com, Polyvinyl)

2/16 BACK-ON- Hello World (myspace, CD Japan)

2/16 coldrain- The Enemy Inside (myspace, CD Japan, Play-Asia)

2/16 Galileo Galilei- Parade (myspace, CD Japan)

2/23 Boom Boom Satellites- EXPERIENCED Live DVD (myspace, CD Japan, Play-Asia)

2/23 sleepy.ab- Mother Goose (myspace, CD Japan)

2/23 TsuShiMaMiRe- Giving Blood (myspace, CD Japan)

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J-Rock Fridays Vol. 38

February 4, 2011

What a week.

Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai- まごパワー

This one goes out to my grandparents.

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Posted in aie, Heavenstamp, J-Rock Fridays, Metro-Ongen, NITES, Oorutaichi, PLASTICZOOMS, Satanicpornocultshop, Sebastian X, suzumoku, the band apart, The Marshmallow Kisses, TsuShiMaMiRe, Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai, uhnellys | 1 Comment »

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The Marshmallow Kisses

February 1, 2011

myspace band of the week

London/Hong Kong based Chinese tweepop duo The Marshmallow Kisses formed in 2001. Living on opposite continents, the “non lover duets of Peter and Edine intertwine bittersweet poetry with nostalgic melodies reminiscing a hybrid of French pop, Swedish pop, Bossa Nova, Semi-Classical and Shibuya-kei.” Their debut single was released in the Japanese music magazine Beikoku Ongaku and they released their debut EP  I wonder why my favorite boy leaves me an EP in 2004. Their first full-length album Ciao!Baby was released January 27 in Hong Kong.

The Marshmallow Kisses gravitate toward tweepop and shibuya-kei (French influenced J-Pop). Lyrics are mostly in English, but they dabble in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and Italian. “Alapati,” “Broke”, “Memories Swirling Dance,” and “Mercy Mercy, To My Melancholic Journey,” included on the charity compilation PEACE, are the newest songs on their myspace. “Mercy…” is a catchy pop song while “Alapati” and “Memories Swirling Dance” are very much classic shibuya-kei and appear to be in French and Cantonese. The rest of the songs reflect sweet melodies and nostalgic feelings.

The Marshmallow Kisses are as sweet as their name implies. In the words of Kaji Hideki, “…really pleasant and nostalgic”, and “absolutely charming.” Their new album will only lead to more success. Get their EP at Amazon.com or their website.  Ciao!Baby is available at YesAsia.

http://www.myspace.com/themarshmallowkisses

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Wednesday Live: Satanicpornocultshop at ArtYardStudio

January 26, 2011

Sometimes all it takes to put a smile on my face is three dudes goofing off in dog masks. Members of Satanicpornocultshop did some rapping at ArtYardStudio in Osaka January 22th, 2011. The three-song set includes “mi2yo”, “coyote”, and “skull buddah.”

If you haven’t heard their new album Kesalan Patharan e.p. download it for free here.  Buy more at Amazon.com and JAAPAN.

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