ZB's A-Z of J-Music

Japanator Radio 111

2009-11-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome back from your left-over candy hangover. I hope it was worth it. Oh look, we are still handing out free Japanator Radios, and you don't even need to be dressed up to get one! Aren't we nice?

This week, new music from Kalafina, exist-trace and LITE, and the always fun-time Kiiiiiii in the Artist Spotlight.

Remember. Eating leftover candy is a privilege, not a right. Treat it with respect and you will live to eat another day.

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 111 AT JAPANATOR

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-list and links after the jump!

00:00 OP: Denki Groove - Dark Red Sofa - 20 [BUY]

00:55 LITE - The Sun Sank - Turns Red EP [BUY]
06:23 Mass of the Fermenting Dregs - Ameiro no Heya - Quruli Tribu-te [BUY]
11:15 The Heiz - Don't Let Me Down - The Heiz [BUY]

14:32 BREAK: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

15:32 exist-trace - RESONANCE - Ambivalent Symphony [BUY at JapanFiles.com]
19:50 The Questionmarks - Boo! I'm A Ghost - Boo! I'm A Ghost [BUY]
23:13 goomi - Seijaku no Ie - Me ga Mittsu [BUY at HearJapan.com]

27:27 BREAK: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

Artist Spotlight: Kiiiiiii
28:37 Kiiiiiii - KK-LaLa - AL & BUM [BUY]
30:46 Kiiiiiii - Kiiiiiii For Any Occasion...Or Just For Fun! - AL & BUM [BUY]
33:41 Kiiiiiii - Great Escape-Omake Song - demo [BUY]
36:29 Kiiiiiii - Hammock - demo [BUY]

38:00 BREAK: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

38:51 Kalafina - Progressive - Single [BUY]
44:31 Fantastic Plastic Machine - Quruli Tribu-te [BUY]
51:25 Ambassadors of Funk - Super Mario Land - Super Mario Compact Disco

56:36 ED: Denki Groove - Nanamaida? - 20 [BUY]

Videos of the Week 11/1/09

2009-11-01T18:32:00.005-06:00

OMODAKA "Plumb Song"

What a way to start a new month! Here's a new video from OMODAKA for "Plumb Song." As usual, it's pretty incredible. Also, it might be very slightly not safe for work, but you shouldn't be wasting time watching videos at work in the first place! Anyway, this video is pure neon eye-candy. Make sure to watch it in HD if you can. So, when is OMODAKA going to release a DVD? Hmmm?!

Hit the jump for more of this week's video picks!

Moja "High Speed"

Here's a great, moody, DIY video from the two piece rock band Moja. The very dark, black and white treatment perfectly fits the music, and the chaotic camera work matches the chaos of the band.

Electric Eel Shock "Metal Man"

After you watch this video, there's no doubting the thrill of a live Electric Eel Shock show. Not only will they rock your face off, but check out the drummer! Not every has the courage to wear nothing but a really, really, really long sock.

Usotsuki Barbie "Konai Insects"

Here's a somewhat random pick from Usotsuki Barbie. There's no much going on here, but when you're band is already pretty weird, you don;t need to worry about adding much. And hey, dancing girl. What more do you need?

Dazzle Vision "Metsu"

If you're unfamiliar with Dazzle Vision before going into this one, then you're in for a treat. Oh look, the singer looks like your standard J-pop idol. OK, so this is going to be a cute pop some about cake. Guess what? You're wrong.

That's it for this week! See you next time!

OMODAKA T-Shirt

2009-11-01T18:30:00.000-06:00

Awesome.

Explore the Unexplored 12

2009-10-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

Time for another top 10 picks from the new barrage of releases from HearJapan!

This week on Explore the Unexplored, a couple of excellent shoegazy, muzzy, sonically intense bands. Both Psysalia Psysalis Psyche and NIZ are rather new bands, but they each bring their own unique sounds to the table. Hideyoshi is another dreamy rock band that you arty indie rock types should listen to. Then there's new thrash metal from Rightbrian, some interesting anime cover songs on Anisomania-2 and more punk, hardcore and even a bit of hip-hop flavor.

Check out the whole post here.

Calendar '09 - Psydoll - UK Tour

2009-10-28T20:45:00.000-05:00

Oct 31 - Nov 11
Psydoll
Through the Spyglass Tour 2009 - UK

Oct 31st - The Resolution, Whitby, UK
Nov 2nd - Cafe Drummonds, Aberdeen, UK
Nov 5th - The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
Nov 6th - 13th note, Glasgow, UK
Nov 11th - The Wellington, Leeds, UK

Source: Site

Calendar '09 - Kiryu - Oni-con / Pacific Media Expo

2009-10-28T20:30:00.000-05:00

Nov 7th
Kiryu
Oct 30-Nov 2 - Houston, TX
Nov 7 - Pacific Media Expo - Los Angeles, CA

Source: MySpace

Japanator Radio 110

2009-10-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Bleh!

In case you didn't notice, the best holiday of the year is coming up this Saturday. Halloween! I mean they named holidays "holiday" because of Halloween. More like halloday, am I right?

Wow, that was terrible. More like terror-able! *high-five*

Anyway, this will be the third time the dead have walked the Earth since the start of Japanator Radio. This year I felt it might be best to highlight those two thrilling shows, especially since the old direct download links have rotted away into dust. And because I put a bit of work into both of them, and because they are pretty awesome. They are perfect for blasting throughout your neighborhood as the poor unsuspecting little tykes go gallivanting around in death masks and Sexy-Zombie-Billy-Mays costumes. Neither show has my stupid voice to break up the gloomy mood, just non-stop aural chills and thrills. Oh, and not exactly a lot of Japanese music. That's because death is for everybody.

So, this week, please to be re-enjoying Japanator Radio episodes 08 and 60.66. Because when October dies, all we are left with is, *shudder*, cheer and good will toward men. And that's the real horror.

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 110 AT JAPANATOR

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-lists after the jump!

Silent Hill - Sirens / Sun
Lareine - Knight and Priest
Vincent Price - All Saints Eve - A Hornbook For Witches: Stories And Poems For Halloween
Akira Yamaoka - Rain of Brass Petals (Three Voices Edit) - SH3 OST
Psycho le Cemu - Love is Dead - ~Epilogue~ Kataritsuga Reru Monogatari
The Creeping Horror - A Hornbook For Witches: Stories And Poems For Halloween
Yutaka Minobe - Bullying - Rule of Rose OST
Byeongwoo Lee - Lullaby - A Tale of Two Sisters OST
Kuniaki Haishima - For the Love of Life - Monster OST
Akira Yamaoka - Hometown - SH3 OST
Gackt - Lust for Blood - Crescent
176BIZ - Meivi no Aoi Shinju - Atelier
Saito Tsuneyoshi - Ayakashi no Izanai - xxxHolic Manatsu no Yoru no Yume OST
Hellraiser - Hellraiser OST
Hoshingoeika - Siren OST
Kounagihishouka - Siren 2 OST

???

60.66

Trick Or Treat! - Silent Hill 3
Alfred Hitchck's Music to Be Murdered By
sirens
Mutyumu - 存在の確率 - Mutyumu
Mike Harding - Premature Burial - BBC Records
Lakeside Dream - - Silent Hill 3
A Love Suicide - The Theme of Rule of Rose
Gershon Kingsley & Peter Waldron - The Sound of Bones - Ghostly Sounds
Mayhem 1 - Silent Hill 4
Matryoshka - Evening Gleam Between the Clouds - Zatracenie
Another Puzzle - Hellraiser
Kônagi Hishôka - Siren 2
奉神御詠歌 (Kaiko Edit) - Siren: New Translation
Wade Denning & Frank Daniels The Tourture Chamber - Sounds of Terror!
Ghouls Glide - Music for Monsters
Count Chocula, Frankenberry & Boo Berry - Monster Adventure in Outer Space
Louise Huebner - Introduction/Gods - Seduction Through Witchcraft
Ritual - Siren: New Translation
Hometown - Silent Hill 3
Rain of Brass Petals (Three Voices Edit) - Silent Hill 3
Wade Denning & Kay Lande - Halloween - Halloween: Games, Songs and Stories
Byeongwoo Lee - Lullaby - Tale of Two Sisters
The Surfactants - A Tale of Two Sisters - Diminishing Returns [NOTE: This is my band. BUY it here!]
Trick Or Treat! - Silent Hill 3
?

Calendar '09 - The Heiz - US Tour

2009-10-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Oct 23 - Dec 12
the heiz
U.S. tour

FRI 10/23 - Philadelphia : JRs
SAT 10/24 - Pittsburgh : 31st St. Pub
SUN 10/25 - Charlotte : Milestone
MON 10/26 - Hickory, NC : Drips
TUE 10/27 - Richmond : The Triple
WED 10/28 - Richmond : Wonderland
THU 10/29 - DC : Comet Ping Pong
FRI 10/30 - Baltimore : Sidebar
SUN 11/1 - Live on WKDU Philadelphia 91.7 FM @ 7pm
TUE 11/03 - New Haven, CT : Cafe 9
WED 11/04 - Asbury Park, NJ : Saint
THU 11/05 - Wilmington, DE : Mojo 13
FRI 11/06 - NYC : Don Pedro's
SAT 11/07 - NYC : Santos Party House
SUN 11/08 - Cleveland : Now That's Class
SAT 11/14 - Indianapolis : Local's Only
SUN 11/15 - Cincinnati : Blue Rock Tavern
TUE 11/17 - St. Louis : The Way Out Club
FRI 11/20 - Minneapolis : 7th Street Entry
SAT 11/21 - Milwaukee : Linneman's
SUN 11/22 - Ames, IA : Ames Progressive
TUE 11/24 - Wichita, KS : Kirby's Beer Store
WED 11/25 - Denver, CO : Hi-Dive
FRI 11/27 - Salt Lake City : Burt's Tiki Lounge
SUN 11/29 - L.A. - Whisky A Go Go
MON 11/30 - L.A. - The Cat Club
TUE 12/1 - Phoenix - The Ruby Room
WED 12/2 - Las Vegas - Double Down Saloon
FRI 12/4 - Austin - Beerland
SAT 12/5 - New Orleans - Saturn Bar
THU 12/10 - St. Petersburg, FL : Emerald Bar
SAT 12/12 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero

Source: Tokyo no Records

Otaku USA Magazine - Dec 2009

2009-10-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

The new sparkly issue of Otaku USA Magazine is out now!

That's right. You can now pick up the December 2009 issue and read my review of the new Vola & the Oriental Machine album Sa Ka Na Electric Device in all its glory.

And that's all that I've got this time around, but there's more great music coverage to be had in the form of Brian Camp's huge interview with the members of Morning Musume. (Did you read my interview with group leader Ai Takahashi in August?) And there's also a special Cosplay Cafe interview with the Anime-Song Girl's Club.

Then of course there's the usual barrage of video game, film, anime, manga and general otaku spazoid greatness. Check it out!

6eyes

2009-10-22T14:45:00.000-05:00

On first listen, 6eyes sounds like a band fronted by a stumbling drunk with a mouth full of marbles. Upon further listening, that's not an opinion that's likely to change, at least not entirely. But the method to their madness becomes a bit clearer and things start to make a bit more sense.

6eyes formed around 2002. Since then they've released three albums featuring their particular brand of lethally tight, dirty, post-punk indie rock. Their early sound (that being from 2002 to 2007) is open to exploring brighter and more upbeat ideas. "I'm So Free" could very easily be mistaken for an early Supercar song, for instance. But these occasional forays into indie-pop territory are quickly beaten back by their insistence on returning to the dark and dingy sounds over and over. In either case, the band never wastes a single note in dressing up the songs or making them in any way ornate. "Efficient" comes to mind.

More recently the band has distilled its sound down into a razor sharp post-punk laser, while at the same time they've managed to highlight their simple yet infectious melodies. Blank in Black sheds the fuzzed-out guitar rock in favor of focusing on the raw and tight sounds. The songs are also more rhythmic, almost dance oriented, which makes them all the more irresistible, albeit quite dark. Almost goth-like at times. Think The Police meets Bauhaus (or maybe Molice meets Plasticzooms if you want to keep it Japanese)...fronted by a stumbling drunk with a mouth full of marbles.

BUY 6EYES RELEASES HERE

"Return"

Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Tsuchiya Chikara - Vocal, Guitar
Matsuda Kouichirou - Bass
Hori Youichi - Guitar, Backing Vocal
Kuwayama Yoshitaka, Drums, Backing Vocal

Albums:
Blank in Black - 2008
Pirates Music - 2007
6eyes - 2005

"Crystal Boy"

Explore the Unexplored 11

2009-10-20T20:10:00.002-05:00

Check out my top ten picks from the HearJapan archives on this week's Explore the Unexplored post!

This time around, some really cool stuff from Goomi, Molice and The Local Art. Oh, and there's a really interesting release from uhnelly that features a track with Mike Doughty.

But that's just the beginning. Make sure to check the full list. You're sure to discover something interesting!

Japanator Radio 109

2009-10-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yes. On time this week and with loads of great new music, it's another Japanator Radio!

This week, new music from Electric Eel Shock, People in the Box and MEG, as well as the always indispensable The Pillows in the Artist Spotlight.

Don't delay! Rush over to the download link and get ready for another hour of music that is obviously not any good and totally derivative crap! Woo!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 109 AT JAPANATOR

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-list and links after the jump!

00:00 OP: Denki Groove - Dark Red Sofa - 20 [BUY]

01:04 Electric Eel Shock - Metal Man - Sugoi Indeed [BUY]
04:24 PINKY DOODLE POODLE - Spectacle - PDP [BUY at JAPANFILES]
07:23 Moja - Weny Weny - Moja [BUY]

10:47 Break: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

12:17 Haisuinoasa - Heinetsu no Machi - Machi ni Tsuite [BUY at HEARJAPAN]
16:28 People in the Box - Tuesday / Sora Shitsu - Ghost Apple [BUY]
19:33 Shonen Knife - Bear Up Bison - Let's Knife [BUY]

21:35 Break: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

Artist Spotlight: The Pillows
23:38 The Pillows - Lemon Drops - OOPARTS [BUY]
27:00 The Pillows - Life Size Life - OOPARTS [BUY]
29:53 The Pillows - Our Love and Peace - Happy Bivouac [BUY]
33:59 The Pillows - Hybrid Rainbow - Little Busters [BUY]

37:49 Break: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

39:05 Noelle - Dance on the Horizon (80kidz Remix) - Love Electro 2 [BUY]
43:47 Perfume - Night Flight - Triangle [BUY]
48:59 Meg - Journey - Journey [BUY]

53:49 ED: Denki Groove - Nanamaida? - 20 [BUY]

Calendar '09 - Molice/Moja/Royalinserts - The Big Jugs Experience UK Tour

2009-10-15T08:42:00.006-05:00

Dec 28-30
Molice - Moja - Royalinserts
The Big Jugs Experience UK Tour
With Bo Ningen, Elohym, and Elmor on selected dates

12/28 Windmill Brixton - http://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk
12/29 Bull and Gate - http://www.bullandgate.co.uk
12/30 The Good ship - http://www.thegoodship.co.uk

Source: MySpace

Molice

Moja

Royalinserts

Explore the Unexplored 10

2009-10-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

The new Explore the Unexplored listing is up on HearJapan. This week there's a lot of some slightly more experimental groups, like Haisuinoasa, style-3! and Z, as well as the usual Hatsune Miku/Vocaloid awesomeness, a new single from instrumental rockers Unkie and even some Latin flavor from Linda Corazon.

Check out the full list here. You're sure to find a lot of new things you didn't know you couldn't l live without!

Japanator Radio 108

2009-10-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

Delay be damned! Here, finally, is your new episode of Japanator Radio! Huzzah!

This week, lots of new goodies from the likes of School Food Punishment, Scandal and Shoko Nakagawa, as well as a look at the new album from Ogre You Asshole in the Artist Spotlight.

These words are only creating more delays! Grab the show now!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 108 AT JAPANATOR

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-list and links after the jump!

00:00 OP: Denki Groove - Dark Red Sofa - 20 [BUY]

01:02 Dazzle Vision - Eternity - Crystal Children [BUY it at JAPANFILES.com]
04:26 Inugami Circus Dan - Kago no Tori - Kago no Tori Tenkuu o Shirazu [BUY]
10:28 6eyes - Blank in Black - Blank in Black [BUY]

14:17 BREAK: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

15:45 Walrus - Glide - Walrus [BUY]
21:11 Scandal - Daydream - Yumemiru Tsubasa [BUY]
24:55 Base Ball Bear - Dramatic - 17sai [BUY]

28:56 BREAK: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

Artist Spotlight: Ogre You Asshole
29:57 Ogre You Asshole - Fog Lamp - Fog Lamp [BUY]
34:03 Ogre You Asshole - Pinhole - Pinhole [BUY]
37:25 Ogre You Asshole - I'm Gentle - Shiranai Aizu Shiraseruko [BUY]
41:48 Ogre You Asshole - Headlight - Fog Lamp [BUY]

45:29 BREAK: http://ff4.ocremix.org - Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption

46:44 Immi - Fell In Love With A Girl - Alice EP [BUY]
49:15 School Food Punishment - Fiction Nonfiction - Sea-Through Communication [BUY]
52:31 Shoko Nakagawa - Rainbow Forecast - Arigato no Egao [BUY]

57:40 ED: Denki Groove - Nanamaida? - 20 [BUY]

Calendar '10 - Dazzle Vision - Sakura-Con

2009-10-12T22:12:00.005-05:00

April 2-4, 2010
Dazzle Vision
Sakura-Con - Seattle, WA

Source: JapanFiles

Calendar 09 - Marble Sheep - US Tour

2009-10-12T22:05:00.004-05:00

Nov 3-11
Marble Sheep
US Tour

NOV.3- THE WHISTLER - CHICAGO
NOV.4- DETROIT CONTEMPORARY - DETROIT
NOV.5- THE NERVE - PITTSBURGH
NOV.6- THE SECRET ART SPACE - BETHLEM
NOV.7- THE BLACK LODGE - PHILADELPHIA
NOV.8- KNITTING FACTORY - NYC
NOV.9- MATCHLESS - NYC
NOV.10- GOLDEN WEST CAFE - BALTIMORE
NOV.11- NOW THAT'S CLASS - CLEVELAND

Source: JapanFiles

Calendar 09 - Pinky Doodle Poodle - UK Tour

2009-10-12T21:58:00.004-05:00

October 31 - Nov 7
PINKY DOODLE POODLE
UK Tour

OCTOBER 31: LONDON In-store signing session - Tokyo Toys at The Trocadero
OCTOBER 31: LONDON, Blow Up @ Peter Parker's Rock'N'Roll Club
NOVEMBER 3: EXETER, The Cavern
NOVEMBER 5: BRISTOL, The Mothers Ruin
NOVEMBER 6: BRIGHTON, The Prince Albert
NOVEMBER 7: HASTINGS, The Crypt

Source: JapanFiles

Videos of the Week 10/12/09

2009-10-12T20:29:00.005-05:00

Polysics - Rock in Japan Fest 2009 Live (1/3)

This week's videos all have something in common, Rock in Japan Fest 2009! In particular, the full set from Polysics, which you'll find in the first three clips, as well as a general overview of the entire festival in the three clips that follow. Make sure to check out the awesome costumes that Polysics put together. I think it's their best theme yet, although the boy-scout uniforms for a few years back were also rather incredible...

What more can I say? Sit back and enjoy the mayhem!

Polysics - Rock in Japan Fest 2009 Live (2/3)

Polysics - Rock in Japan Fest 2009 Live (3/3)

Rock in Japan Fest 2009 Digest (1/3)

Rock in Japan Fest 2009 Digest (2/3)

Rock in Japan Fest 2009 Digest (3/3)

FLOPPY

2009-10-09T11:13:00.000-05:00

FLOPPY is a chiptune/8-bit/electro project from Sharaku Kobayashi of Metronome and Hiromu Toda of Shinjuku Gewalt. Since 2004, they've been producing some of the best and craziest chip-fueled electro mayhem around. Their somewhat retro-futurist sound is highlighted by their goofy no-budget sci-fi costumes and the music's dreamy yet chaotic atmosphere.

Their songs are mostly made up of fast beats and stuttering lo-bit bleeps, burbling with video game blasts and arpeggiated bass-lines. FLOPPY has always put a little extra effort into their programing, never relying too heavily on loops and factory pre-set sounds. This serves to give their songs a more organic feel, though it can be hard to hear through all the electronic cross-talk. They are able to restrain themselves at times, occasionally achieving something along the lines of a grand Susumu Hirasawa epic. Most often though, they stick to their usual cartoon cat chasing a cartoon mouse sort of vibe. Stompy, silly and fun. Of course thought it all Sharaku Kobayashi's voice adds another level of geek-pop, what with his whiny pitch and pouty delivery.

FLOPPY managed to transcend the usual chip-tune stereotypes. They make genuinely good music using tools more often used to make much more trendy and obviously niche tunes. It proves its members are actually songwriters and musicians, rather than gamers who just happen to be able to mash a few notes together.

BUY FLOPPY RELEASES AT JAPANFILES, HEARJAPAN and CDJAPAN

"Everything"

Official Site

Members:
Sharaku Kobayashi - Vocals, Programming
Hiromu Toda - Programming

Albums:
Deus Ex Machina - 2009
Sine Wave Orchestra - 2006

Explore the Unexplored 09

2009-10-07T10:55:00.004-05:00

Lots of great stuff on this week's Explore the Unexplored post. Stuff like the new sgt. album, a new mega-collection from Inugami Circus Dan, some fun new Vocaloid music, trance and even some more anime-metal from ex-Animetal member Eizo Sakamoto. Also make sure to check out the shoegaze sounds of SCARLET.

Check out the full post here. As always, comment here to let me know what you think!

Review: Polysics - Absolute Polysics

2009-10-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

It's another year and time for another album from Polysics, a band that's been releasing a new album every year since their first release in 1999 (not to mention a constant stream of singles, EPs, compilations and DVDs along the way). Their profile has been constantly on the rise, hitting its peak in 2006 with the release of the "I My Me Mine" video featuring the robotic dancing of Strong Machine 2. (Oddly enough, aside from the Now is the Time! album, the song was only released as a 7" vinyl single in the UK.) They went on to sign with MySpace Records and go on progressively growing tours overseas.

For the uninitiated, Polysics is a highly energetic surf-rock guitar driven, new-wave band. They augment their four member line-up with with plenty of digital playback, lead vocals from three of its members as well as plenty of robotic, vocoded lines, making their digital material something of a fifth (or even sixth) member of the band. While the songs are pure pop at their core, the outer shell is abrasive, jagged, sweaty and very very loud. This is no gang of posing '80s fashion throwbacks playing pillowy soft-core synth pop or ecstasy-fueled chiptune children's music. This is a hard rockin' punk/synth monster. It's essential to experience Polysics in a live setting as their performances are non-stop mayhem. Front-man Hiro is usually drenched in sweat by the end of their opening song. Their visual look is equally unique, with all four members wearing matching neon-colored jumpsuits and sunglasses that are little more than a large black bar across their faces, a direct and very intentional nod to the band's biggest influence, Devo.

Ever since National P in 2003, arguably the band's strangest and most adventurous album, they have been dialing back the craziness. From Now is the Time! to Karate House and then on to We Ate the Machine, each album has become progressively less noisy and insane in favor of cleaner production and less jagged song structures. (For, again arguably, their best production, one must got back even further to 2002's For Young Electric Pop.) Even their reliance on Kayo's synths and other digital tracks has gone down. On Absolute Polysics she has a much more traditional role, playing less grating sounds and more straight up harmony to Hiro's guitar. She only has one song in which she has a lead vocal part, the album closer "Wasabi," but she is, for all intents and purposes, silent on the other 13 tracks.

By contrast, Fumi has been taking an increasingly dominant role on the band. While Hiro still takes on the lion's share of the song and lyric writing, Fumi has been getting more of a chance to take up this role, almost seeming to become a second band leader at times. This is a role that, in the past, Kayo seemed to fill. Fumi has been writing both lyrics and music more often and has been filling more of the alternate singing roles as well. This isn't exactly new, and probably isn't a major factor in the band's slow sound shift, but it's also worth taking note of.

Absolute Polysics starts off very strong with “P!,” the usual brief, instrumental introduction full of enegertic synths and even a marching band whistle counting off the measures. This is followed up with the album's two singles, "Shout Aloud" and "Young OH! OH!," both of which are among the album's strongest songs. The former is certainly the most intense track on Absolute and contains all of Polysics' signature moves. It has a practically non-stop metal-industrial beat, complete with blinding fills from Yano on the drums, frantic guitar arpeggios and ascending scales all over the place. There are three vocal treatments as well. Hiro's usual, chirpy delivery, a bridge from keyboardist Kayo, a vocoded chorus and even a massive crowd chant mid-way though. "Young OH! OH!" pulls the tempo down just a bit, but it's just as energetic and infectious. The silly, whispered "young oh oh!" breaks and straight-ahead beat make it impossible to not both smile along with and bob along to.

"Hypnotized GO" keeps the fast beats going, but this time in a much more electro/industrial vein. It's actually a bit of a departure for the band, being dark like a late P-Model track than their usual new-wave rock. The songs doesn't really do much more than pound along like a robot hammering out miles of sheet metal.

This is followed by the short instrumental "Time Out." An obvious homage to Devo's "Timing X," it severs as an early break in the album's frantic pace.

"Bero Bero" is the first strange track on the album, which is what most long-time Polysics fans will be expecting. It has all the de-tuned and jagged synths that are missing from the first part of the album. It also has some pretty bizarre vocals from Hiro who, for what seems to be the chorus, simply goes something like "blublublublubulbulbulbulbulbuuyeah!" That's followed by “Cleaning,” the most straightforward and radio friendly track, written entirely by Fumi. It's much like "You You You" and the Polysics of Die reworking of "Black Out Fall Out." It's a simple, poppy rock song devoid of anything too harsh or wacky. In a way, it's one of the standout track just because it's so “normal.”.

"E.L.T.C.C.T." is another example of what Polysics does best. Sung by Fumi, it has an odd time signature, stuttering syncopation and lots of chaotic noise in the background. Then all of that is cast aside as the shining, sing-along chorus breaks though, bringing back the pure pop-bliss, before then dropping back into the oddly timed "Every girl knows, Every boy knows this, Every thing can cause trouble" chant (again, with a possible nod to the beat in Devo's version of "Satisfaction.")

"First Aid" and "Fire Bison" are again something of a 1-2 punch. They fill in the requisite amount of raw, distorted rock, similar to "Hard Rock Thunder" and "We Ate the Machine" from previous albums. The band simply turn up the amps and fill the air with noise. "Fire Bison" mixes it up a bit, using a more electronic base. Both Fumi and Yano chugging along though most of the song and there's even a heavily effect violin, played by Yuji Katsui (of Bondage Fruit) at the end. Yet both of these songs are a little unremarkable due to their being pretty basic and surrounded by so many other memorable and quirky songs.

In a sort of mirror to the beginning of the album, "Eye Contact" is something of a break from all the rocking. It's totally electronic, featuring a very basic electro beat and bass line. Hiro's vocals sound a bit like the rhythm from Devo's "Redeye Express" and the synths seem to be taken straight from Kayo's version of "Saraba Siberia Tetsudou" from her solo album, neither of which is a bad thing. Overall, it's a nice break in tone, but it's another example of a song that seems to be either half finished or just stuck on the album for filler.

"Beat Flash" is a return to the same clean and fast sound on "Shout Aloud," which isn't a surprise since it was the b-side to that single.

"Speed Up" is the one real clunker on the album. It's almost as if it missed getting mastered, sounding totally flat, muddy and quieter than the rest of the album. It does have a nice, catchy chorus, again like "You You You," but the rest of the sing just seems dull and phoned in. Again, this could simply be a result of the piss-poor production. Any of the other b-side releases from the singles would have been a better fit.

The final track "Wasabi," is the real hidden gem. It's the most unique song on the album, featuring Kayo singing in a high voice that has a feel of the Buggles' "Video Killer the Radio Star." The song itself feels a bit like "Miss Donuts" off of the Kaja Kaja Goo EP. It's very poppy, with twinkling xylophone sounds and a nicely dissonant bridge thrown in. Plus, it's the only song to really feature Kayo, something that is sorely missing from the rest of the album. The very end of the song, and the album, features some backwards screaming and other chaos that quickly fades out, providing a very unceremonious and abrupt end.

The overall lack of variance to the album's production, the sameness to the feel of every track, makes Absolute Polysics a bit of a disappointment in the “wow” department. There are a some great songs and interesting ideas, but they seem to be spread very thin. "Shout Aloud" and "E.L.T.C.C.T." are packed with exactly the right amount of catchy song writing versus zany structuring. "Bero Bero" and "Wasabi" provide the strangeness and playfulness that really defines the band. Everything else? Certainly not bad, but also not so great. The lack of Kayo's lead vocals and the way in which her usually squelchy and abrasive synths are pushed far into the background in favor of the cleaner production also leaves the songs sounding a little too even. On the other hand, it's much easier to make out what everyone is playing, something that was lost on the band's earlier, and more noisy, releases.

Maybe that is what's missing. That sense of the band playing live in a big room. The feeling that everything is on the verge of falling apart and exploding. That dirty new-wave punk sound. Now they are clean and precise. Once again there is the feeling that this album has been churned out at break-neck speed, written more to meet a contractual deadline than for the fun of playing loud and fast. It's still a work of occasional genius, packing more material into most songs than other bands use on an entire album. Absolute Polysics is an album that only becomes more awe-inspiring on repeat listens. Yet it's tough to not see how the band is evolving (or, of course, DEVOlving) toward an almost clinical, assembly-line method of song writing.

As an added bonus for fans, there is also a special edition version of the releases that includes a DVD. In that disc are the videos for “Shout Aloud” and “Young OH! OH!.” But the real attraction is the six, yes six hour documentary of the band recording in the studio. In this film, we get to see the band recording a new, and very short, song from beginning to end. Hiro brings the song in as an all electro demo, playing it off of a computer a few times for the band to hear and take notes. They then gather together and play the song through a few times, working out exactly what to play. It's all pretty self explanatory, really. The band play the song though together, then they individually go back and re-records their parts until the song is done. The entire session is shot without a break, give it a sort of impossible-to-look-away feel since there are never any obvious gaps. Oh, and as a gimmick, when a band member walks off-camera to go into another room, they almost always return wearing a different t-shirt. It's a surprisingly effective way to keep people watching, since the actual action in the studio is about as dull as you may expect. Fans will no doubt find it interesting to see the band at work, regardless of having to hear a 30-second song hundreds of times.

In the end, Absolute Polysics isn't the best thing Polysics has ever done, but it's not bad by any means. The songs will likely translate better in a live setting, which is where people should be seeing the band anyway. If nothing else, Absolute Polysics is simply a good excuse for the band to go out on tour and tear up stages around the world. Who could blame them for that?

"P!"

"Shout Aloud"

"Beat Flash"

"Young Oh! Oh!"

Calendar 09 - Asakusa Jinta - UK Tour

2009-10-05T23:07:00.003-05:00

Oct 15-25
Asakusa Jinta
UK Tour

Oct 15 - Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club - London
Oct 18 - “In The City” at Studio - Manchester
Oct 20 - Hatters - Manchester
Oct 21 - The Hare & Hounds - Birmingham
Oct 22 - “Gaz’s Rockin Blues Club” - London
Oct 25 - “Optimo” at Subclub - London

Source: MySpace [Thanks to b-chan for the tip!]

Calendar 09 - Peelander-Z - US/UK Tour

2009-10-05T22:57:00.002-05:00

Sep 23 - Nov 15
Peelander-Z
US and UK Tour

US Tour
Sep 23 - Sluggos - Pensacola, Florida
Sep 24 - One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, Louisiana
Sep 25 - Red7 - Autin, Texas
Sep 26 - Fitzgerald’s - Houston, Texas
Sep 27 - The Warehouse - San Antonio, Texas
Sep 28 - Rubber Gloves - Denton, Texas
Sep 29 - The Conservatory - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sep 30 - Knickerbockers - Lincoln, Nebraska
Oct 1 - Jackpot - Lawrence, Kansas
Oct 2 - Turf Club - St Paul, Minnesota
Oct 3 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, Illinois
Oct 4 - Magic Stick - Detroit, Michigan
Oct 5 - Melody Inn - Indianapolis, Indiana
Oct 6 - Cafe Bourbon Street - Columbus, Ohio
Oct 7 - Howler’s Coyote Cafe - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Oct 8 - North Star Bar - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 9 - Maxwell’s - Hoboken
Oct 10 - The Studio at Webster Hall - New York, New York

UK Tour (Some of these shows are with Electric Eel Shock)
Oct 20 - O2 Academy Oxford - Oxford, UK
Oct 21 - O2 Academy Liverpool - Liverpool, UK
Oct 23 - O2 Academy Sheffield - Sheffield, UK
Oct 24 - O2 Academy Newcastle - Newcastle, UK
Oct 25 - Moshulu - Aberdeen, UK
Oct 26 - Bannermans - Edinburgh, UK
Oct 28 - O2 Academy Glasgow - Glasgow, UK
Oct 29 - Rock City - Nottingham, UK
Oct 30 - Guildhall - Cheltenham, UK
Oct 31 - The Cooler - Bristol, UK
Nov 1 - Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth, UK
Nov 5 - Josephs Well - Leeds, UK
Nov 11 - The Rambler - Eindhoven, Netherlands, Noord-Brabant
Nov 12 - Paard - Den Haag, Netherlands
Nov 13 - Het Bolwerk - Sneek. Netherlands
Nov 14 - Mezz - Breda, Netherlands, Noord-Brabant
Nov 15 - TBA - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Source: MySpace [Thanks to b-chan for the tip!]

Japanator Radio 107

2009-10-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! Here is another glorious Japanator Radio for you to roll up into your life!

This week, new music from sgt.., 9mm Parabellum Bullet and Vamps, as well as a look at the always fun good times Pine AM in the Artist Spotlight.

Together, we will create a sky full of stars, and a hard drive full of Japanator Radio!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 107 AT JAPANATOR

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-list and links after the jump!

00:00 OP: Denki Groove - Dark Red Sofa - 20 [BUY]

01:08 9mm Parabellum Bullet - Punishment (Live) - Cold Edge EP [BUY]
04:53 Melt Banana - Spider Snipe - Babmi's Dilemma [BUY]
07:05 Vamps - Sweet Dreams - Single [BUY]

12:37 Break: Katamari Forever OST [BUY]

14:13 Mono - The Flames Beyond the Cold Mountain - Live Mpls 2006
27:18 sgt. - Ant's Planet - Capitol of Gravity [BUY at HearJapan]

32:00 Break: Katamari Forever OST [BUY]

Artist Spotlight: Pine AM
33:33 Pine AM - Love Giraffe - Pine AM [BUY]
36:09 Pine AM - Snow! Snow! - Playing Intense Neutral Electronica ad nauseAM [BUY]
38:46 Pine AM - Red Car - Pull the Rabbit Ears [BUY]
41:13 Pine AM - Gymopedie 0.1 - Pull the Rabbit Ears [BUY]

46:32 Break: Katamari Forever OST [BUY]

47:22 Polysics - Eye Contact - Absolute Polysics [BUY]
50:12 FLOPPY - Deus Ex Machina - Deus Ex Machina [BUY at JapanFiles and HearJapan]
53:23 rootthumm - SP - Seek A Floria [BUY at JapanFiles]

59:59 ED: Denki Groove - Nanamaida? - 20 [BUY]