This is where I decide I am f-ing sick and tired of staring at my history notes and decide, instead, to indulge in some band-whoring.

I think I've been extremely explicit with my complete awe/crazy love/slutdom for Tokyo Jihen/Shiina Ringo, so I will not talk about them in this entry. Will, instead, talk about other Japanese bands I have a great endearment towards, so if people singing about things you can't understand isn't your cup of thing, you might want to pass on this one. =)



YUKI

I will admit I was never a fan of the band she used to be in (Judy and Mary), but that hasn't stopped be from being in total love with pretty much about every single damn solo album she's released thus far (her 4th drops in September). She started off drying to do a bit of that grunge/garage rock thing in her first album, digressing liberally to trips of folk and electronic sounds. Her second album "Commune" sees that folk/country vibe explored in greater depth; but her real strength, really, I think, lies in beat-heavy pop music, which her third album "JOY" is chock-full of. Seriously, once you get past her nasal wail of a voice, you'll be wanting to get up to do that silly dance in the music video for "joy". Incidentally, her music videos are a delight to watch; music shouldn't be about the visuals but it really doesn't hurt that her videos are about as endearing as her music. Check some out here: Nagai yume, joy, DRAMATIC

GARNET CROW

What first drew me to this band was the irresistibly pretty melody of this "Kimi no uchi ni tsuku made zutto hashitte yuku" off their first album. That, and composer/vocalist Nakamura Yuri's deep, resonant voice; I don't believe I've heard anyone else sing quite like her. The uninitiated listener might find them bland, but I really enjoy the honest, vanilla quality in their music. Lyricist/keyboardist Azuki Nana also writes some of the loveliest lyrics, too. It also doesn't hurt that Yuri is extremely pleasing to the eyes. Vids (these are mostly live; their music videos make George Eliot novels seem exciting so I'm not gonna bother too much): Kimi no uchi ni tsuku made zutto hashitte yuku (live), SPIRAL, last love song (truncated version), Sayonara to tatta hitokoto de (live)

Tommy february6

Oh my goodness, where should I start. Also known as Kawase Tomoko (aka the brilliant green's vocalist), Tommy february6's her 80s bubblegum pop persona. She's past 30 now, and still she looks like a geeky high school girl with her glasses and Sweet Valley High novels. And she takes the whole 80s parody act to the max, right down to the lip-synching during all her live performances (it has to be deliberate 'cos it's like she doesn't bother to try to hide that fact at all). Very happy stuff, and anybody who covers Kylie Minogue's "I should be so lucky" deserves props. Videos: Lonely in gorgeous, Kiss One More Time, je t'aime je t'aime

fra-foa

fra-foa is LOUD. It is my belief that lead vocalist/songwriter Mikami Chisako has more balls than many male rockers out there. I swear you can hear blood in her voice during their live performances. They've disbanded now, leaving behind two fucking awesome rock albums. Chisako's gone solo, too; I think she's doing some Bjork thing now, like most female rockers tend to do when they go solo. -muses. Anyway, videos: Mahiru no himitsu (live), Aojiroi tsuki (live), Sumiwataru sora, sono mukou ni boku ga mita mono.

THE BACK HORN

Probably my favourite Japanese rock band with a male vocalist after SPITZ and Mr.Children, I -think-. Incredibly visceral sound; the vocalist, Yamada Masashi has a great voice that sounds great whether he is crooning or screaming his lungs out. Vids: Kiseki, REQUIEM, SUNNY (live; ignore the irrelevant fluff at the start of this, the actual performance is great)

Love Psychedelico

Funky duo; vocalist Kumi has an incredibly cool voice (you know, like, attitude), and I am quite a sucker for the guitar playing they start many of their songs with. As you can tell I am getting a little tired thinking of what to say, so I will let the vids speak for themselves: Lady Madonna ~Yuutsu naru SPIDER~, Everybody needs somebody (live), Your Song (live; also, fucking awesome)

GO!GO!7188

I think the correct term is surfer rock; I distinctly get a surf vibe from many their songs though I suppose you could call them punk rock, too. What I absolutely love about them is how they sound so distinctly Japanese; I don't believe the songs would sound quite right in any other language. Anyway, 2 girls on bass and guitar respectively pussy-whipping their drummer? Hell yeah! They are an absolute joy to watch live, so I'm gonna go a little crazy with the vids here - Watch: THUNDER GIRL (live), JETTO ninjin (live), Tokage 3gou (live), Bungu (live), Otona no kusuri (live), Kunoichi (live), Ukifune (live), Kangae goto

And I lied, cannot resist slipping one Ringo video in, so - Kuki (live)

Studying sucks.