Yes that's a great album. I still remember how absolutely caught off guard I was the first time I heard the middle bit of Star Love!
I like YMM too, I think their albums are probably a bit long for what they are but the last track on their 2015 album is fucking incredible. Speaking of alt-idol stuff I've been really digging Sora Tob Sakana over the last year or so, given that they're essentially the new Haisuinonasa (who might be still going? I'm not sure).
― obnoxious pun (ultros ultros-ghali), Saturday, 1 September 2018 13:59 (five years ago) link
Also while I'm at it, this is one of my albums of the year:
https://kikuo.bandcamp.com/album/kikuo-miku-5
Not sure how much appeal it has around here but if you want odd electro pop fronted by a piece of software Kikuo's got your back
― obnoxious pun (ultros ultros-ghali), Saturday, 1 September 2018 14:32 (five years ago) link
wow that Kikuo Miku album is bonkers. it's not really my thing (often too carnival-esque) but still fascinating.
I haven't been keeping up with Gesu no Kiwami Otome but they're usually enjoyable so I'll check out their recent stuff.
my favourite japanese album this year is of Wednesday Campanella's Galapagos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_epnF4YjQo
― ufo, Sunday, 2 September 2018 05:12 (five years ago) link
That Kikuo album is great. Like OPN at a computer games circus, with sweet vocals.
― tangenttangent, Monday, 3 September 2018 08:38 (five years ago) link
I'm listening too. It's pretty crazy!
― imago, Monday, 3 September 2018 09:11 (five years ago) link
Unfortunately, I think a lot of this really good stuff doesn't crossover to US audiences as easily as stuff like Polysics, Boredoms, etc. because it's more "serious" and doesn't fall in line with our stereotypes about "wacky japanese people." It's a shame.???
― stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Monday, 3 September 2018 14:28 (five years ago) link
That crazy talk
― MaresNest, Monday, 3 September 2018 15:22 (five years ago) link
the biggest difference is that Polysics and Boredoms both actively sought out US audiences by signing to US labels and Zazen Boys never have
― ufo, Monday, 3 September 2018 16:03 (five years ago) link
Yeah, distribution in the West and a bias towards singing in English are the main factors, see also P5, Cibo Matto, Plastics, Sadistic Mika Band, YMO, Buffalo Daughter and so on.
― MaresNest, Monday, 3 September 2018 16:13 (five years ago) link
Enjoyable listicle thingy -
https://overblown.co.uk/top-20-japanese-albums-of-all-time/
― MaresNest, Monday, 10 September 2018 18:58 (five years ago) link
Long Season is great and all but it's really overrated compared to Uchu Nippon Setagaya which is the real best Fishmans album
― ufo, Tuesday, 11 September 2018 00:06 (five years ago) link
but I'd never heard of Quruli and the blurb there sounded very promising so I gave a few tracks a listen and they're pretty great so I'm looking forward to diving in
― ufo, Tuesday, 11 September 2018 00:28 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icCgF5UFoNo
this rules so much
― ufo, Tuesday, 11 September 2018 00:45 (five years ago) link
that song is great, quruli are also new to me. i was disappointed by the list not containing pale cocoon, but then i saw there was a list of 20 more. but pale cocoon isn't on that either!
― milkshake duck george bernard shaw (rushomancy), Tuesday, 11 September 2018 01:16 (five years ago) link
That’s a bizarre list that could only have been put together by a foreigner
― F# A# (∞), Tuesday, 11 September 2018 06:11 (five years ago) link
yeah obviously it's pretty pretentious to call it the Best Japanese Albums Ever but i'm thankful for the Quruli rec from it, i'm loving Team Rock a lot
― ufo, Tuesday, 11 September 2018 08:10 (five years ago) link
― F# A# (∞)
the fact that it's in english probably a giveaway there
― milkshake duck george bernard shaw (rushomancy), Tuesday, 11 September 2018 13:40 (five years ago) link
listening to the kikuo album nowthis is super fun
― nxd, Wednesday, 12 September 2018 08:19 (five years ago) link
one of these days I'll start a Mitsume thread, they are my fav japanese indie stuff for sure, vibe is similar to Real Estate, but they're super precise and effective in their playing, here's their latest jam:
https://open.spotify.com/album/66wH8kDC79uNWsphS5OM8p
anyone recommend a spotify list to follow/shuffle?
― niels, Wednesday, 12 September 2018 09:30 (five years ago) link
Here's one entry point: https://open.spotify.com/user/thesoundsofspotify/playlist/0ZvU7A9di2xjWA5b8Z9x3u?si=zcvHPJHXQjCP_qTa1VLXNA
― glenn mcdonald, Wednesday, 12 September 2018 19:32 (five years ago) link
oh fuck how did i miss quruli getting mentioned in this thread, unbelievable band
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 September 2018 19:49 (five years ago) link
incorrect number girl and supercar picks on that list imo
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Wednesday, 12 September 2018 19:51 (five years ago) link
(i prefer num-heavymetallica and futurama respectively, but also every number girl and supercar album rules so why am i even complaining)
i thought there was a japanese band called "incorrect number girl"
― milkshake duck george bernard shaw (rushomancy), Thursday, 13 September 2018 00:01 (five years ago) link
xp thanks will check it out!
― niels, Thursday, 13 September 2018 08:29 (five years ago) link
co-signing Wed Camp and Gesu No Kiwame Otome.
liked this from earlier this year, reminds me of a more laid-back Studio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ORo2y4pQnY
the always enjoyable Paellas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buabL8wjMmQ
― Roz, Thursday, 13 September 2018 10:18 (five years ago) link
another band i really like is Sakanaction who are basically the proper dance-rock band I wish Bloc Party had turned into. i think they're supposed to finally release a new album later this year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I25AFSBm2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Maq09mKVnQ
― ufo, Thursday, 13 September 2018 10:28 (five years ago) link
Sakanaction rules! My favourite band of the past five years at least - seeing them at Summer Sonic two years ago was some of the most fun I've ever had at a festival. tried and failed to get them on the EOY 77 several times lol.
"Music" is basically an early-to-mid 00s indie dance track and its own Jacques Lu Cont remix at the same time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVstp5Ozw2o
― Roz, Thursday, 13 September 2018 10:42 (five years ago) link
i also enjoy the fact that a band as outre as sakanaction are considered a huge mainstream pop act in Japan, with endorsements for everything from beer to space robots.
― Roz, Thursday, 13 September 2018 10:54 (five years ago) link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_(band)
Heard about Toe after they had just played a DC show that I missed.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 September 2018 15:18 (five years ago) link
one of these days I'll start a Mitsume thread, they are my fav japanese indie stuff for sure, vibe is similar to Real Estate, but they're super precise and effective in their playing, here's their latest jam:https://open.spotify.com/album/66wH8kDC79uNWsphS5OM8p― niels, Wednesday, September 12, 2018 5:30 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― niels, Wednesday, September 12, 2018 5:30 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― ciderpress, Thursday, 13 September 2018 15:32 (five years ago) link
Just got around to listening to Quruli - it's amazing!!
― tangenttangent, Saturday, 17 November 2018 21:38 (five years ago) link
Listening to Piana's _Snowbird_ this morning, came here to ask if she'd followed up her three albums with a fourth. Did a quick search first, though, and yes! _Muse_ out in 2014, available on Bandcamp. Will be downloading tonight myself, but FYI for any other fans.
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Monday, 7 January 2019 18:16 (five years ago) link
Really looking forward to mitsume's new one. New single is fantastic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=eOc_Z4G-hWo
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 27 March 2019 16:09 (five years ago) link
Not strictly indie but here's some lovely eclectic art-pop
https://open.spotify.com/album/66sWn3QHTYhNIPuCOL8RfK
― like him hate us? Sure you are. Its in the cool aid. (ultros ultros-ghali), Thursday, 28 March 2019 17:56 (five years ago) link
Digging the hell out of this. Can't easily find the album that just came out, unfortunately. Any good?
https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=od7FH9dlfok
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 1 April 2019 14:03 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od7FH9dlfok
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 1 April 2019 14:09 (five years ago) link
I like the way Japanese indie bands all seem to be heavily influenced by The Sea And Cake. Or is it some other, more obvious influence?
― Zeuhl Idol (Matt #2), Monday, 1 April 2019 14:29 (five years ago) link
That Ai Kamano record is sounding great, thanks uug.
Even though they're not exactly "indie" (more psych rock), this is probably a good thread to encourage UK ilx0rs to go see Kuunatic when they come back over here this summer.
― emil.y, Monday, 1 April 2019 15:17 (five years ago) link
Forgot that it's good practice to actually say what the links are, but anyway, glad someone likes it!
I keep meaning to bring up Jyocho as well so I'll do that now, they're sort of math-rock with a strong influence from Midwest emo. That's not particularly unusual but they do it in a way that make my eyes moist, their album from last year is lovely stuff
https://open.spotify.com/album/7mRW1P9lDdXC47czngKQ2F
― like him hate us? Sure you are. Its in the cool aid. (ultros ultros-ghali), Tuesday, 2 April 2019 14:07 (five years ago) link
are eX-girl indie?
just found out they're a thing again. there's a single. guess i'm gonna have to buy it.
https://i1.wp.com/exgirl.lolitapunk.jp/info/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/28DC7929-1D6A-4B50-B927-EA57B1645D2B.jpeg?resize=724%2C1024
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 2 April 2019 19:47 (five years ago) link
whoa, I was listening to them just yesterday. I wonder if it's the same line-up
― like him hate us? Sure you are. Its in the cool aid. (ultros ultros-ghali), Tuesday, 2 April 2019 20:05 (five years ago) link
this is what the official page says:
http://exgirl.lolitapunk.jp/info/
It is a pleasure to be able to announce everyone on eX – Girl reunion today.Last summer, when I returned from Mt. Hakusan, which was opened for climbers 1,300 years ago.Suddenly, I thought I wanted to play again as ‘eX-Girl’, which was the rock band consisted of three women who were playingmainly in overseas for 10 years since 1997.At that time, I did not tell anyone that story.But the next day, suddenly from the US record label called Secret Records contacted me and told they were interested in releasing the sound sourcefrom old ex-Girl on a vinyl.Yes! All of a sudden!And we released it in the US at the end of last year.Also, I received a message asking for having a live concert tour in the US.I answered, “If I could find a new member.”To find someone who can sing, play musical instruments, with atmosphere and mental strength, and also can do performance must be quite difficult, I thought.However, I found them!Both of them are beautiful women who “love Mother Earth”.I am so delighted and am thinking this must be heaven’s discretion!We will be playing in the US in the next spring, and in Europe in the summer.As we are a new member, and in 11 years absence, we are going to have several live performance in Japan, and will continue topower up.The first reunion live concert will be held at Kichijoji GB on Thursday, 18th October, 2018!We are psychedelic, spacious and unique rock band with the concept of “Came to save the Earth from the Planet Kero Kero!”Please do come to the first celebration live concert of our reunion!
Looks like they were at SXSW. I honestly had no idea. Been listening to them a bit lately as well and just assumed they were totally defunct.
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 2 April 2019 20:13 (five years ago) link
new mitsume album, ghosts, is out today
it's a keeper
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 14:41 (five years ago) link
I'd like to actually hear what it sounds like before spending $8, but eX-girl's new single is being released Stateside by Alternative Tentacles:
https://alternativetentacles.com/product/the-crown-of-dr-keroninstein/
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 15 April 2019 19:25 (five years ago) link
Their last album was on Alternative Tentacles, and is fantastic
tbh I only know their last 2 albums - are the first 5 similar cos I should probably listen to those at some point
― Colonel Poo, Monday, 15 April 2019 19:32 (five years ago) link
Yes, pretty much. One is almost entirely acapella. Kero Kero Kero is really good and less 'proggy' than the last two albums.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 15 April 2019 19:41 (five years ago) link
New Yogee New Waves album is really good, particularly this track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2a2Z5mRfRw
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 16 April 2019 13:08 (five years ago) link
Does Shintaro Sakamoto count, or is he too popular/western
― Dan I., Tuesday, 16 April 2019 13:17 (five years ago) link
new Sakanaction double came out last month without me realising. great video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxqYUbNR-c0
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Tuesday, 16 July 2019 14:10 (four years ago) link