Zazen Boys!

Although for some reason I like the brief moment when his voice gets very John Lydon like on this.

I have to admit "Morning of Bursting Sound" is growing on me a bit. It has an epic feel to it.

I'm liking this a bit more at this point, but possibly because I am letting it sit in the background more when I listen to it. And since "Ankokuya" just came on, let me mention that it reminds me, particularly in its rhythm section, really specifically of parts of Fred Frith's Speechless.

this record is so good. starting to consider it my favorite of theirs

oh hell this is on spotify http://open.spotify.com/album/1g3QRORSzdLU6E00Iuo2wG

people get on this!

I know there is at least a handful of people here who would like this if they checked it out. Getting them to check it out is another matter.

Re-listening to 4, why don't these guys make more records?? They tour all the time, tsk....

When you revived this I hoped it was because they'd announced something :(

Sorry! :) This is the closest thing of late anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8WU-Jx3Ha0

Yes, they're one of the groups you've introduced me to, I don't listen to a large amount of hiphop but I like how awkward and lopsided their beats can be (I know the above isn't the best example of that)

miss these dudes. from what i can tell from their website, the bassist left the band (again) :\

still the greatest music video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsuyY5MTM_E

first NUMBER GIRL thread, i think?

spending today remembering how rad stories is

i like to think i am constantly checking their youtube for new material but i guess i'm not? because kimonos did this remote cover of "this must be the place" a month ago that is absolutely destroying me rn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwk165YkJuo

there are also some live videos they uploaded last year ;_;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcu19bg9CIc

god that live performance is fucking phenomenal

zazen boys ranked:

4 / i don’t wanna be with you
stories
2
3 / himitsu girl’s top secret
1

New album!!!

Translation warning but you'll get the gist.

ZAZEN BOYS ' new album "Land" will be released on January 24, 2024.

This album, released for the first time in 11 years and four months since the previous album ``Stories'', includes a total of 13 songs, including new songs ``Barracuda'', ``Greetings to Tchaikovsky'', and ``Eternal Girl''. Regarding this work, Hidenori Mukai (Vo, G, Key) commented, ``The title of ZAZEN BOYS' new album is ``Land''.Here is a song about a person who continues to be haunted by the sunset of the turbulent world.'' There is.

Additionally, additional performances for the currently ongoing tour “ZAZEN BOYS TOUR MATSURI SESSION 2023” have been decided. A total of 5 new performances have been added, from Kumamoto B.9 V1 on February 3rd to DIAMOND HALL in Aichi on March 20th. TICKET FROG is currently accepting official advance reservations for tickets until 23:59 on November 12th.

ahh!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh2K_JorLIM

i should've posted the official video bc it's awesome!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6C8wFKd1t0

Today's the day!

this album is soooooo freakin good

their most relaxed. which sounds really good on them!

Had no idea they had a new album coming out. What a treat! "Barakuda" is funky as hell

Does it sound like a very early Chili Peppers, or am I mad.

I thought it sounded like Remain in Light-era Talking Heads, or otherwise Fela-influenced. But I am loathe to compare anything I like to RHCP.

Even (and maybe especially) when the comparison is warranted

I was thinking like, the first two RHCP records but idk. I love how the arrangments are slightly more stripped down, there's an openness I don't often hear.

One thing I'm hearing (and it might be my imagination) is an increased weariness in Mukai's voice. He sounds ever-so-slightly older & sadder...? It absolutely doesn't help that I don't know Japanese.

here are the translations:

ZAZEN BOYS らんど LEO今井による歌詞対訳
ZAZEN BOYS - Rando Lyrics english translations by Leo Imaihttps://t.co/dNaxhhbZXs pic.twitter.com/8bJGfxrJiS

— Matsuri Studio (@MatsuriStudio) January 24, 2024

really gorgeous lyrics but yeah a pretty melancholy record

btw i have come pretty close to comparing zazen boys to rhcp in the past, just haven't quite had the courage

By Leo Imai no less!