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J-Rock Fridays Vol. 99

June 14, 2013

Primetime 99. Only one more column until we hit triple digits!

Language- “Hikari”

It’s the end of the world and only two people are left alive! It’s easy to forget that this is a video about the undead apocalypse once the gorgeous vocals of “Hikari” fade in and the girl wanders off into rural Japan, but the lovers’ tragic fate is just as beautiful as everything before it.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra- “Diamond In Your Heart feat. Takeshi Hosomi”

Long-running Japanese ska band Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, who I just found out played Coachella a couple of months ago, has teamed up with the HIATUS’ Tekeshi Hosomi for their latest single. It’s the kind of positive song Hosomi used to sing back in Ellegarden, but with a with a lot of great horns in the background.

SOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS and Shiina Ringo- “Koroshiya Kiki Ippatsu”

Two epic J-Rock collaborations in one week! Shiina Ringo is free to do as she pleases now that Tokyo Jihen is done and here she is jazzing it up with the SOIL&”PIMP” boys on a boat. Everyone’s an assassin and we might not make it to dinner in the captain’s quarters.

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a picture of her

June 12, 2013

myspace band of the week

apictureofher

A picture of her is a mostly instrumental post-rock group from Minamihoncho. Tono Shogo (guitar) and Kikuchi Hiroshi (bass) formed the band as a trio in 2004 and Tago Wataru (guitar) and Kameyama Yuzo (drums) joined in 2008. They released their first EP A Fanatic Socialist Looked Up At the Stars… a year later. Their first album titled C, was released in May and was mixed by Takaaki Mino from toe. It’s available at CD Japan and Amazon.

http://myspace.com/apictureofher

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GalapagosS

June 5, 2013

myspace band of the week

galapagoss

GalapagosS is a new wave/punk band from Tokyo. Formed in 2010, the trio includes Sharaku Kobayashi (vocals, guitar) and Shintaro (drums), who have played in metronome and FLOPPY together, and Gokimi. (bass). Although their get up is very similar to Polysics, their sound is more influenced by chiptune and video game music. The band is named after the Japanese term “Galápagos Syndrome,” which refers to a current phenomenon where Japanese people seem to be evolving inwards instead of being affected by globalization.

Their second album Run Like Fury will be released on July 3. The rest of their music is already available at CD Japan.

http://www.myspace.com/galapagoss
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J-Rock Fridays Vol. 98

May 31, 2013

Pirates, astronauts, pizza, oh my!

Comeback My Daughters- “Alone in the Dark”

The boys of Comeback My Daughters are back in NYC recording their major label debut for Columbia. Look familiar? That’s because they reshot the exact same scenes in the exact same locations as their for video “Why” in reverse order. New hairdos, great new song.

DQS- “Rescue featuring Kondo Tomohiro”

How many drummers does one band need? This supergroup has 10, plus a guitarist, bassist and keyboardist, all from bands I’ve posted about before that I’m not listing off here. Of course, it kind of takes the wind out of DQS’ sails when only 4 of them show up to film a PV that mainly features their special guest vocalist, but I’m sure it’s amazing when they all perform live!

The Cherry Coke$- “Drunken Pirate”

A little late for St. Paddy’s Day, but The Cherry Coke$’s swarmy pirate theme has finally been realized. Grab your accordions and flutes and join them at the Jolly Roger.

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J-Rock Archives: May 2013

May 31, 2013

Toodaloo Stuff To Look Forward To

5/01 CreepHyp- Yu, Sansan (CD Japan/Video)

5/01 Hey Smith- Now Album (CD Japan/Video)

5/01 Jun Fantaheater- Cosmic Walk (CD Japan/Video)

5/01 Kinoko Hotel- Marianne no Gyakushu (CD Japan/Video)

5/01 Sekai no Owari- RPG (CD Japan)

5/01 Sister Jet- 3-1=2/No Limit EP (CD Japan/Video)

5/01 Straightener- 21st Century Rock Band (CD Japan/Video)

5/02 Electric Lunch- Shujutsushitsu e Mosugu Boku wa Hakobarete Atama wo Sawarareru (CD Japan/Video)

5/02 Happle- Drama wa Tsuzuku (CD Japan/Video)

5/02 Say My Name.- Let It Out (CD Japan)

5/02 Squeezemen- Forrest Bump (Jet Set Records/Video)

5/08 385- Ningen (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 The cold tommy- The crime to mme, your tommy (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Expo- Epotion (Jet Set Records/Video)

5/08 fifi- Banquet! (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Good Morning America- Mirai e no Spiral (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Jinn- Rizing (Video)

5/08 Kameleo- Now! (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Qooland- Soredemo Hiko Telecast (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Sanzen- Kasaneru (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 unkie- Forest Vamp (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Yoshiharu Abe- R (CD Japan/Video)

5/08 Red Sneakers- Swimming 7″ (Jet Set Records)

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Hideki Yoshimura passes away

May 30, 2013

hidekiyoshimura

Hideki Yoshimura, lead vocalist and guitarist of bloodthirsty butchers, passed away on May 27 from acute cardiac failure at the age of 46. He had completed production on the newest bloodthirsty butchers album, who celebrated their 25th anniversary last year. An official statement from their label is available here.

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unkie

May 29, 2013

myspace band of the week

unkie

Unkie is a math rock band from Tokyo. They formed in 2006, originally intending to play one gig together, but decided to stay together permanently releasing their first album The Price of Fame a year later.  The trio consists of Tokie (bass), Yutaka Aoki (guitar) and Hiroshi Kido (drums) who have all played in established Japanese rock bands such as downy and Rize. Their second album Too Many Secrets was recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini of Nirvana fame and released in 2008. Their latest album Forest Vamp was released earlier this May and is available at CD Japan and digitally worldwide at Amazon and iTunes.

http://www.myspace.com/unkieofficial

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Andymori to break up

May 28, 2013

andymori

Andymori have announced on their website that they will be breaking up after six years at the end of this summer. Their last performance will take place on September 24 at Nippon Budokan with a nationwide tour “All You Need Is Love” preceding it. But before then, they will be releasing their 5th and final albumUchu no Hate wa Kono Me no Mae ni, on June 26. Watch the PV for the title track below, in which the band pokes fun at their upcoming demise by playing in instrument-shaped coffins.

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drawing4-5

May 22, 2013

myspace band of the week

drawing4-5

The musical collective drawing4-5 formed in 1999 and is based in Tokyo. The band is lead by Hamada Satoshi aka mcatm with an average of 5-7 members performing live, although over a dozen members participated in their latest release Thorn. Their songs are usually improvised live and chopped together with samples on the computer. Ranging from lo-fi rock to folk to ambient noise, you never know what you’re going to get with drawing4-5. You can find all of their albums at their bandcamp page.

http://www.myspace.com/magicnumberingarchestra

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Envy to release massive 14 LP boxset

May 22, 2013

https://soundcloud.com/temporary-residence-ltd-1/envy-pure-birth-and-loneliness/

Envy is celebrating their 20th anniversary with the release of Invariable Will, Recurring Ebbs and Flows, a massive career-spanning 14 LP boxset. To be released on July 16 by Temporary Residence, the boxset will include all of their albums, EPs and b-sides for a total of 95 songs. In addition, it will also include a 100-page coffee table book and two DVDs. The boxset is limited to 1000 copies, including two color varients, and is available for preorder here with a special 20% off discount until June 1.

 http://shop.temporaryresidence.com/trr200