I think that Ovall really care about letting you know how awesome their new album “Don’t Care Who Knows that” really is…

Their twitter has been blowing up with updates.. the greatest being the release of the video for “Supalover” featuring 20syl and David Le Deunff of Hocus Pocus (see the video above).  This is a smooth R&B jam; an alternative and extremely hip number that oozes funk and incorporates the mightly clap beat.

You can hear samples from the whole CD over at their myspace page. Everything I hear off this album is extremely smooth. Listen to the full song of Take U Somewhere and be prepared to take a lady friend with you or a significant other. This is serious baby-makin’ music right here!

It’s hard to find good love-makin’ albums, but I’m predicting Don’t Care Who Knows that might be one of the BEST of 2010. (I know that Sade just released her album this year too) Anyway, I think this is a record you just gottsta buy at yesasia.com. Ovall drops their new album March 10th.

Tell me what is Punk these days, and then I’ll SHOW you what is fucking punk these days. Razors Edge is classic teenage punk. These headbangers have a band name roster that consists of Kenji Razors, Taka Beef, Missile and Krash.

Razors Edge single “Train Train Train” is a brilliant stab at establishment, a constant metaphorical profane train ride, and possibly a sexual euphemism, if you think about what it means to “ride a train.”

Do I dare repeat their chorus for fear of the twitter nazis? “Ride on Fucking Train Train Train!” I’ll have this song in my head all day. You should get it in your head too.

While you are at it, check out their new album Sonic! Fast! Life! dropping next week on March 10th 2010. This new CD from Pizza of Death records has 20 tracks! Preorder it from yesasia.com and amazon.jp.

Let’s Punk out and bang our heads with Razors Edge at their official website and myspace page.

It’s been a long time since Spangle call Lilli line has decided to release a single. The only other SCLL single “echo” was put out almost 7 years ago. So, when this incredible band decides to release another one, it’s important to take notice. As one might expect from the Japanese masters of low-key trip-hop, the stripped-down “dreamer” takes you to a wondrous place with the absolutely siren-like vocals of Kana Otsubo. The band really shows its full understanding of being able to pull listeners in with the minimal emphasis on overbearing instrumentation.

This year is apparently the year of SCLL as well with the upcoming releases of mini-albums “VIEW” and “forest at the head of a river” along with this single. I, for one, am in eager anticipation for everything they are willing to give us. You can find more material from SCLL on their MySpace and their official website.

Watch the youtube video above. If that makes any sense to you, you must be on drugs. Bergamot Velmail Sole have a solemn sound in their music, like they took the depressants instead of the uppers. But that is ok. BVS have a really unique sound. Kinda like the Doors meets Mazzy Star.

Bergamot Velmail Sole  sound less than happy in their debut single “Post Psychedelic Cinema”, but I gotta say this haunting song gets into your soul. Imagine slowing down “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve and adding more organs a’la the Doors, and you kinda understand where these guys are coming from. In fact the more I listen to the tracks on their myspace page, I think I love this band.

The first single Post Psychedelic Cinema will contain 3 tracks and comes out on March 5th through WhirlPool Records. That is rather soonish, so be on the lookout for it. Buy it from yesasia.com or CDJapan. Don’t forget to check out their official website, too.

–about me, Neaux (I’m new to sparkplugged.net, Shay asked me if I wanted to contribute, and of course I said yes. I run Neaux clicked on it where most of the site is about many things I like on the internet, mostly asian music, rock, hip hop, pop, and more. I hope I don’t bore you with my diversions.)

The latest from MONICA URANGLASS from their second EP, (CASE STUDY)CORELESS,BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!, which came out in February.

I love it! Like all their previous work, “CORELESS,BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!” is extremely danceable but at the same time it’s not nearly as face-punchingly intense as its predecessors. It’s fluid and lively in a way that’s fresh for the band.

Hooray for obligatory links to official sites and MySpace pages!

As we get our first grainy view into THE NOVEMBERS’ upcoming album “Misstopia”, the PV for the title track gives a much cleaner and crisper look than we might have been expecting. In comparison to past signature works such as “she lab luck” and “dnim”, “Misstopia” offers a floating world, complete with airy melodic guitar riffs and light vocals filled with reflective emotion. The reoccurring heavily-distorted phrase that begins at the start of the song is the single grounding element that keeps us from going headlong into the wondrous dream that THE NOVEMBERS presents. This is certainly one of the prettier videos I’ve come across so far this year.

You can find more information on THE NOVEMBERS at their official website and their MySpace.

I’m not quite sure how I should feel about フルカワミキ. She just released a new album “Very”, which contains this single “サイハテ”, a song made famous by the extremely popular Vocaloid. This material seems to demonstrate フルカワミキ’s intention to follow in the same path as artists like YUKI. Making a stronger move away from her alt-rock roots and leaning much more heavily towards the over-saturated world of quirky electro-pop definitely has me feeling conflicted. It’s not that the music is bad in itself. I also suppose it’s not as if there wasn’t material like this in SUPERCAR. What do you think?

In case this is your first introduction to フルカワミキ, you can check out her official website.

Just when you thought you thought garage rock was down and out, up-and-coming revival bands like Droog show you they still believe in that classic sound. Proudly wearing influences including Guitar Wolf and Ramones on their sleeves, Droog hits you over the head with heavy yet infectious guitar riffs and harsh, screaming vocals over and over again until you give up in submission. Just how it should be done.

“人類” (Jinrui, Mankind) can be found off Droog’s recently-released debut self-titled mini-album. You can find more info on the band at their official MySpace.

The somewhat disturbing music video of “天使の胃袋” (Angel’s Stomach) doesn’t seem to match the almost uplifting spirit of past videos from People In The Box. (See: “完璧な庭”) However, like the shift in video tone, the music of the band seems to be making a shift into a much more dark and mature setting. The stark, foreboding tone of the music matches the nature of the lyrics in that it has brief glimpses of light in the darkness.

“天使の胃袋” can be found off People In The Box’s recently-released first single “Sky Mouth”. More info on the band can be found at their official website and MySpace.

Formed in 2004, FLOPPY are prolific on the club scene and already have half a dozen releases under their synthetic leather (or plastic) belts. They’ve contributed to video game soundtracks and developed their trademarks looks into fashion.

Here is SparkPlugged’s fun interview with Sharaku Kobayashi (小林写楽) and Hiromu Toda (戸田宏武) of FLOPPY, thanks to the fine folks at JapanFiles.com

SparkPlugged: How do you describe your music?
SHARAKU KOBAYASHI: We read different terms for our music on the internet, but I just think of it as J-POP.
HIROMU TODA: Maybe you don’t even need the “J”. Just call it “Pop music.”

SP: Why do you choose to play ‘chip-tune’ style music?
SHARAKU: Simply because I’ve always liked the sound of it.
TODA: Because I didn’t have money to buy a guitar!

SP: What other types of music influence you?
SHARAKU: Techno-pop, punk.
TODA: I like to listen to folk songs and experimental music.
SHARAKU: Folks songs? Really?
TODA: Really.

SP: What’s the inspiration for your “cyber boy” costumes and visors? Where did you get the idea?
SHARAKU: I thought that if we eliminated our individuality, the true feeling of our music would come out.
TODA: Because I’m shy to show my face. I’m a little embarrassed sometimes.

SP: What are your favorite musical instruments?
SHARAKU: Laptop computer.
TODA: That’s right. That’s an instrument. For me, it’s Macintosh.

SP: 6. Are there any musical instruments you would like to learn to play better?
SHARAKU: I’d like to be better at guitar.
TODA: I’d like to learn Windows (PC) better.

SP: Is it difficult to create your studio sound in a live performance?
SHARAKU: It’s easy.
TODA: It’s pretty easy.
SHARAKU: The music in the studio is created with the live show in mind.
TODA: We bring the same instruments and computers on stage, so it’s identical.

SP: How has your music changed since you first started?
SHARAKU: There’s no noticeable change. The basic elements are the same
TODA: I don’t think there’s any particular change. The idea behind the music is very clear for us.

SP: What plans do you have for 2010?
SHARAKU: To be happy as much as possible.
TODA: It’s cold now in Japan. I want to relax in a hot spring.

Listen to samples of every song by FLOPPY and buy their albums on JapanFiles.com and check out their official website for more electrifying info.