venti y cuatro
UNCHAIN- “Don’t Stop The Music”
“If my life could be like a television show it would be like Glee. Cause on Glee you can sing and dance and no one will look at you funny.” Read the rest of this entry »
Satanicpornocultshop
July 7, 2010myspace band of the week
When I run across bands with the words “satanic,” “porno,” and “cult” in their names, I tend to think of sacrificial goat slaughter, pig rape, the screams of dying maidens, equivalent exchange, and tofu burgers. You proved me wrong Satanicporncultshop.
The randomly named Satanicpornocultshop formed in 1997 and have released many albums on their label NuNuLaxNulan and others. They started off as a breakcore/hip hop unit and then proceeded to throw everything else in the mix. Listening to their material on myspace is enough to give you whiplash. “Feed me w) your kiss” lives up to the breakcore label, with nice boy-girl vocals leading up to a chaotic chorus of failing machines, with movie quotes and Hawaiian music filling out the background halfway in. “Summer Quest” and “Tnnoji Zoo” have some of the same breakcore elements but nothing else here is really loud or abrasive.
I wasn’t expecting shibuya-kei from this band, but they gave us the very pretty “Suicidal Empire.” “Asakichi” and “Closer, club mix” have the same pop elements, but with a dance beat. Then we have “Beast Must Die, autumn” that could’ve been on the Memoirs of Geisha soundtrack. But my favorite of the bunch is easily “Pinky,” one of their ridiculously cute covers of Missy Elliot’s “Get Your Freak On.”
So far Satanicpornocultshop released Arkhaiomelisidonophunikheratos through The Genepool and Catholic Sunspot Apron on their own label this year. Which is a lot. If you’re looking for original music take your porno to the cultshop.
Stuff To Look Forward To, July 2010
July 7, 2010Whenever I try to start a new column I procrastinate like mad. So here’s Stuff To Look Forward To one week late. Stuff I want to listen to in July.
Mizca- ♡UFUFU♡
This is not Masami Mitsuoka’s first album, she released one album and four singles under her real name. But that was a failed project so she became the electro-pop princess Mizca. Mizca’s debut album contains all of her singles, including the erotic “Robotics.” The first press edition from CD Japan comes with a trading card and a a piece of paper with her lipstick smear. That’s worth forty dollars.
Turntable Films- 2steps 7″
Turntable Films is finally coming to vinyl. This was supposed to come out in May but has been repeatedly pushed back. The 7″ contains “2steps” and “Welcome To Me” from their latest mini-album Parables of Fe-fum and a remix from Handsomeboy Techninque. It’s quite catchy, listen/pre-order here. (myspace)
gutevolk- Sun Chandelier
The shoegaze gods have smiled on us. First a new Luminous Orange album in June and now new gutevolk. How blessed are we. I need more pretty music to get me through the day. This would be her first album since tiny people singing over the rainbow in 2007. Make sure to download the free album sampler at Rallye Label. (myspace)
LITE- Illuminate
I’m not used to post-rock bands putting out mini-albums. But hopefully the shorter time frame won’t let their creativity spread too thin. It was recorded by John McEntire at the famous Soma Studios in Chicago. “Image Game” was a lot of fun and you can already get it at HearJapan if you want. (myspace)
Various Artists- Let’s Talk About Origins-A Tribute To LAGWAGON-
Back in the day I used to be able to count on at least one great pop-punk album each summer. Those days are gone. So now I’m going to put in a little faith in the Japanese tribute album of Lagwagon featuring bands such as dustbox, Sorry For A Frog, and locofrank. The samples have as much Engrish as expected, but it’s all in fun right.
High Speed Boyz- are u docono Softpunk!?
I used to think of these guys as the new, more consistent, Back-On until their new single for that movie with the skull masks. It was a little more epic than I expected. Maybe they have a future as a legitimate rock band instead of a trendy dance band. In any case, it’ll be interesting to see how the softpunk’s debut album turns out.
Sandy Beach Surf Coaster- Private Beach
So I forgot about this before I wrote about Lagwagon. Their E.P.s were a lot of fun and there’s no doubt in my mind their debut album won’t be. One of the things I loved about their previous releases where the random cover songs they’d throw on. This time we get Oasis and The Beach Boys and original songs of course. (myspace)
Paraele Stripes- feyz
The duo Paraele Stripes released their first album Phirst Tense in 2007. It sounded a lot like Owl City. Although that was a few years before “Fireflies” hit mall radio. The samples for this upcoming mini-album lean more towards electronic dance party, thankfully. (myspace)
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Stuff I don’t feel like writing about: Read the rest of this entry »
Urichipangoon ウリチパン郡
June 29, 2010myspace band of the week
It’s good to know halfway across the globe there are still bands that are willing to wear neon phallic objects on top of their heads.
Urichipangoon formed in 2003 in Osaka with just two members. Their first album was recorded at home and released on a small indie label. The following year, two more people joined, including the drummer from Boredoms. Their 2008 album Giant Club received high praise from Shugo Tokumaru and Ryuichi Sakamoto of all people. “I’ve never set ears on music by such gentle pervs,” so says UA. If Shugo Tokumaru says Urichipangoon is “one of the best pop groups around” I better listen.
The first four songs on their myspace come from Giant Club. “Paya Paya” sounds a bit like OOIOO in the beginning, but the violin jigs liven it up. “Zenon” is the best of the bunch even at eight minutes. I enjoyed the random folk instruments, jungle sounds, and banjo “FunaUta” and “TowaNoAi” come from their first album SEN. “FunaUta” has a minimalist, ambient vibe while “TowaNoAi” sounds more like their newer stuff, with the bird calls and vocals.
If you enjoy Boredoms or Shugo Tokumaru it’s safe to say you’ll like Urichipangoon. It’s nice to see folk pop make a comeback. You can also order both their albums and a t-shirt via PayPal on the band’s myspace.
J-Rock Fridays Vol. 23
June 25, 2010Michael Jackson died a year ago today. There is no moonwalking here.
group_inou- “Zyanose”
Finally a techno-rap unit that hasn’t been raped by Mobile Suit Gundam hey.
recoride レコライド
June 22, 2010
Strap some neon glow sticks on your moped and ride on down to the Tokyo raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave.
recoride レコライド formed in 2009 and is fronted by the Cyndi Lauper looking chick in the middle. Their myspace features one and half minute samples from their debut album Zekkyo Midare Rally Land and a couple demos. “Baseball Murder” has a nice 8bit intro and quickly morphs into electro chaos. The rest of the samples follow suit with a mix of electro and new wave happiness.
Their album Zekkyo Midare Rally Land came out last November. Buy it at Play-Asia now!
Frida
June 21, 2010Leave it to Japan to give an unknown Swedish pop singer a major label contract. Frida, known as Frida Sundemo everywhere else, will release her debut album Dear, Let It Out this week from Victor Entertainment. “Towers” is the first single from the album and it’s sublime. Her voice is blissful and nostalgic and even evokes the “pleasant feeling of floating” as the video description promises. Samples from the album can be heard here and on myspace.
Stompin’ Riff Raffs
June 15, 2010myspace band of the week
Oh look, it’s the Japanese Charlies Angels. No, it’s the Stompin’ Riff Raffs! And before you ask, the girls are actual members of the band, not play things…you know you wanna.
Let’s travel back to the 60s with the coolest rockabilly act in Tokyo. Stompin’ Riff Raffs formed a few years ago with slick-haired Nao in the center and his “shimmy shimmy banditas.” The four songs on their myspace are taken from their out of print 2008 demo and they’re a rocking good time. Nao could definitely keep up with Chubby Checker and Chuck Berry if he was born in that generation. If you slipped “Horror Show” on a best of the 60s mixtape I don’t think anyone would notice.
Fans can buy a 45 RPM record featuring “Horror Show” and “Parabellum” at Pacifiction Records. Rock n’ Roll on vinyl. That’s how it should be.
Love Will Guide You
June 15, 2010Your electronic disco moves have knocked me off my feet. Rocking all around the floor you never lose a beat. Bodies moving back and forth closer feel the heat. Our electro robotic love started in the street.
A few people liked the Bradberry Orchestra’s video the other day so I thought I’d post Shinichi Osawa’s latest single “Love Will Guide You.” It will be released on his upcoming album SO2 later this month. The single starts off as many of his songs do, with a 3-minute intro. By the time the vocals hit, you’re already so absorbed in the electronics it comes off as more jarring than anything else. Thankfully the vocals aren’t too repetitive so it doesn’t matter.
J-Rock Fridays Vol. 22
June 11, 2010tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok tok
James Kobe- “Happy”
Boku wa happy! It scares me when I can understand a lyric in Japanese. But damn did this video make me happy.
J-Rock Explosion 