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J-Rock Fridays Vol. 97

May 17, 2013

385- “Koi Ga Wakaranai”

The hardcore jazz trio 385 finally released their first album earlier this month and it’s as crazy as its lead single. Don’t let the slow piano intro fool you!

sloppy joe- “Once and For All”

It’s hard to tell what’s going on in this video with all the washed out colors, but that’s not going to matter when euphoria strikes after the trumpet hits its stride.

Momo Kazuhiro- “Rock’n’roll Heart (Is Here To Stay)”

Mo’some Tonebender’s fearless leader is once again on the road in support of his second solo album. This extra long single has plenty of rock’n’roll staples, such as the never ending do-do-do’s.

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Posted in 385, HEY-SMITH, Hinomari, J-Rock Fridays, mitsume, Mo'some Tonebender, Momo Kazuhiro, Puffyshoes, Senkawos, sloppy joe, Smellman, The Face, VDX, Za Ningen | Leave a Comment »

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Curlys

May 15, 2013

myspace band of the week

curlys

Curlys (カーリーズ) is an all girl pop band from Nagoya. Tommy (guitar/vocals), Mayu (guitar/vocals), Manamin (bass) and Curly (drums) formed the band in the spring of 2009 after meeting in an American studies group at Nanzan University. Their first album Etiquette was produced by Akihiro Sugiyama from Doimoi and released in 2012. They announced their hiatus on March 15 before the release of their new 7″ single Baby Blue. You can grab their album at Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/bobandcurlys

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Watch Jake Shimabukuro’s Documentary on PBS Tonight

May 10, 2013

PBS will premiere Life on Four Strings, a documentary about Japanese-American ukelele master Jake Shimabukuro, tonight. Following Shimabukuro’s tour from New York to LA to Japan, the documentary reflects on the loneliness of life on the road and his newfound fame. The film is directed by Tadashi Nakamura and is a production of the Center for Asian American Media and Pacific Islanders in Communications in association with Paliku Documentary Films.

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Squeezemen

May 8, 2013

myspace band of the week

squeezemen

Squeezemen (スクイズメン) is an indie pop band from Hyogo that formed in 1998. The current lineup is Atsushi Inoue (vocals, guitar), Kei Miyoshi (keyboards), Kei Konno (bass) and Naoyuki Kageyama (drums). The original lineup, which included Inoue and Miyoshi who met as Kobe City University students, released three EPs and their first album La Pyramid on Shining April Records. After member changes and a hiatus, they released their second album Emeraldrum in 2011. This year they have released two singles, Alice and Forrest Bump. You can find their old albums at CD Japan and their new material at Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/squizmen

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J-Rock Fridays Vol. 96

May 3, 2013

Coming up next on J-Rock Fridays,

The Novembers- “Dogma”

“Dogma” is one of The Novembers most hard rocking singles and they invited the scariest looking dudes to pose for the PV. Are they in the mafia or do they just hate smiling? I wouldn’t want to cross them either way!

FoZZtone- “Go Way Go Way~No Way No Way”

A two part video from FoZZtone! “Go Way Go Way” is the new ED to Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal and is as fun as any other anime theme. “No Way No Way” is the darker of the two singles and gets a little weird in the middle.

CreepHyp- “Yu, Sansan”

Hey, mister. Thanks for putting the making of segment at the end instead of the middle of the video this time. Here we have a pregnant woman with an abusive boyfriend. Instead of fighting back, she takes it out on CreepHyp’s singer. Productive.

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Posted in broken little sister, Cantoy, cinema staff, CreepHyp, FoZZtone, GaGaGa SP, Happle, J-Rock Fridays, Keiichi Sokabe Band, Liaroid Cinema, Old Lacy Bed, Suneohair, The Novembers, The Rouges, unkie | Leave a Comment »

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Shotgun Runners

May 1, 2013

myspace band of the week

shotgunrunners

Shotgun Runners is a rock and roll band from Ishikawa. Formed in 1999 by rhythm and blues enthusiasts Kemmy Mojoworker (vocals, guitar) and Terry Shotgun (drums), Shotgun Runners infuses 60s British rock with Chicago blues and soul. After several member changes, Johnny Go joined the Runners on bass. In 2005, Majestic Sound Records released Shotgun Runners’ first album I Love You Rock’n’Roll. The label also released their second album Dedicated To the Rock’n’Roll Boy in 2011 and will release their third album The Two Face of Children’s Boogie on May 22. Preorder the album now at CD Japan.

http://www.myspace.com/shotgunrunners

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Stuff To Look Forward To, April 2013

April 30, 2013

4/02 30%Less Fat- Bejifujin (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Biidoro- Mata Ashita ne (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 [Champagne]- Forever Young (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Three Lights Down Kings- Brain Washing (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Dir en grey- The Unraveling (CD Japan)

4/03 DIV- Taste of Life (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 In 197666- (No) My Destiny (Video)

4/03 The Love Ningen- Songs (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 phatmans after school- Media Literacy (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 The SALOVERS- Yuka ni wa Kimi no Cardigan (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Sei with Master of Ram- A Sheep (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 SiM- EViLS (Video)

4/03 Scars Borough- Nineteen Percent (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 SiM- EViLS (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Super Beaver- Sekai ga Me wo Samasunonara (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Tamaki Roy- Lucky (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 uhnellys- Screamer EP (CD Japan/Video)

4/03 Vibedred- Ark (CD Japan/Video 1, Video 2)

4/05 Gellers- 咲きっぽ

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within the last wish

April 24, 2013

myspace band of the week

withinthelastwish

Within the last wish is a hardcore band from Yokohama. They formed in 2005 after the breakup of IRRIVALY and the current lineup is Ken (vocals), Hatano (guitar), Lin (guitar), Umehara (bass) and Yu-Ichi (drums). Their first mini-album The World Is Painted Out was released in April 2009 by Theory & Practice Records. In 2010 they released a split EP with screamo band IZP. Their new 4-track EP Still Talk About A Dream is due out sometime this month. Watch the lyric video for the title-track below.

http://www.myspace.com/withinthelastwish

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J-Rock Fridays Vol. 95

April 19, 2013

Although this week’s storms and floods continue to knock off my internet connection every few minutes, it’s Friday and I have a thick stack of new J-Rock videos for you!

Bugy Craxone- “Iikagenna Blue”

Hello, darlings. Bugy Craxone has a charming new video in which they spell out the lyrics in cue cards and t-shirts. A lot of work went into timing this just to make you smile!

Gotch- “The Long Goodbye”

It’s been a while since I’ve cared for Asian Kung-Fu Generation, but Masafumi Gotoh’s solo project Gotch is a pleasant surprise. “The Long Goodbye” has a more chill approach than AKFG’s stuff and will be released as a 7″ for Record Store Day. Hopefully he’ll have a more substantial release in the future.

illion- “Beehive”

In other solo news, Radwimps’ Yojiro Noda has released his second illion video. “Beehive” is a creative piece with exploding fruits that swirl around like paint in this dusty studio apartment.

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Posted in Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Bugy Craxone, D.I.D., Good Morning America, Gotch, GRAPEVINE, illion, J-Rock Fridays, KANA-BOON, Lady Flash, Record Store Day, Sister Jet, Taffy, The Midnight TV Programs, VIBEDRED | Leave a Comment »

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Hearsays

April 17, 2013

myspace band of the week

hearsays

Hearsays is an indie pop band from Fukuoka that formed in 2012. The members are Zebra (vocals, guitar), Taito (vocals, guitar), Mataro (bass) and Oie (drums). Vocal duty is split between male and female vocals, but mostly relies on the sweet female vocals. Their song “The Blind” was featured on Dead Funny’s first compilation earlier this year and the label released Hearsays’ first EP A Little Bird Told Me in March. You can buy it digitally on Dead Funny’s bandcamp or on cassette tape at Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/byhearsays

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