Japanator Radio 94

I must admit, some weeks I just let the random shuffle machine put together the show. Oh sure, I'll shift things around a bit to make it a little more listener friendly, but let me tell you, when in doubt, shuffle is an awesome thing to have around. I guess what I'm saying is that this isn't always rocket science, people.

This week, we get the new music out of the way early with new stuff from Boom Boom Satellites, Gackt and Versailles. People in the Box are in the Artist Spotlight, and there's a bunch of other stuff too.

Get ready for the links!

Links are GO!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 94 AT JAPANATOR!

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-list and links after the jump!

00:00 OP: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Gamble (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]  

0:01:04 Versailles - Ascendead Master - Single [BUY]
0:06:45 Gackt - Flower - Single [BUY]
0:12:16 Boom Boom Satellites - All In A Day - Back On My Feet [BUY]

0:19:00 Break: iLL - Thunderbolt Joe - Sound by iLL [BUY]

0:19:59 Sonic Coaster Pop - Shooting Star - Super Miracle Circuit [BUY]
0:24:40 Bremen - Whenever - Bianco Blanco [BUY]
0:30:05 Noelle - Strobolights (Supercar cover) - Love Electro 2 [BUY]

0:33:27 Break: iLL - Thunderbolt Joe - Sound by iLL [BUY]

Artist Spotlight: People in the Box
0:34:20 People in the Box - Kanpeki na Niwa - Bird Hotel [BUY]
0:38:36 People in the Box - Alice - Rabbit Hole [BUY]
0:42:46 People in the Box - Hajimari no Kuni - Frog Queen [BUY]
0:45:59 People in the Box - Rentogen - Bird Hotel [BUY]

0:50:42 Break: iLL - Thunderbolt Joe - Sound by iLL [BUY]

0:52:20 Eel - Happy Monday - Kung-Fu Master [BUY]
0:53:43 Shonen Knife - Hot Chocolate (Stereolab Mix) - Ultra Mix [BUY]
1:01:00 Scha Dara Parr - 0718 [BUY]

1:04:08 ED: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Sakuran (Terra ver.) (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]  

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Videos of the Week 7-6-09 - Supplemental

OK, I had just set the previous Videos of the Week post to go live when Jonathan Coulton (who is featured in that post) tweeted this:

@jonathancoulton Amazing video, 64 fans on webcams: http://bit.ly/o9Rcp (via waxy.org)

It all seemed too coincidental, so I just had to post it here as well. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that the video is not only absolutely amazing, but from a Japanese band! The video is from the band Sour. Here's the description of just what the hell is going on:

This music video was shot for Sour's 'Hibi no Neiro' (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album 'Water Flavor EP'. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam.

Director: Masashi Kawamura + Hal Kirkland + Magico Nakamura + Masayoshi Nakamura

The video is really, really good. Do not pass this one up, lazy RSS readers!

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Videos of the Week 7-5-09

First off, sorry for the marked lack of updates this week. A combination of work ramping up at, er, work, and some very nice summer days have made it tough to want to sit around inside. I know it goes against the blogger code or something to want to actually spend time in the sun,. but I think I make up for it during the other nine months that we northern dwellers live under a blanket of snow and darkness.

So anyway, things should be picking up soon. Until then here are some new videos!

Aira Mitsuki "Plastic Doll"


First up is this cool new one from picopico pop sensation Aira Mitsuki. This video is full of eye-candy, and the song it actually pretty hard hitting. This whole Auto-Tune fetish-pop movement has gotten totally out of hand, but every once in a while something listenable comes out of it.

OK, let's get more serious after the jump!



Boom Boom Satellites "Back on My Feet"


Back on My Feet is the new single/EP from BBS, and it's a fantastic little collection. I haven't been too into their recent releases because they are all a bit too happy and party-centric. I like that they seem to be getting back into their more atmospheric and darker side on Back on My Feet. It reminds me of early Hybrid as well, what with all the strings and cut up drums. More like this, please!

Versailles "Ascendead Master"


I don't think I've really understood much of what goes on in Versailles videos, and this one is no exception. Something about a girl that the singer is all hot for? And a TV crew is filming them in a church for some reason? Whatever. I'm sure it's all part of some long-running story that I've been missing out on.

School Food Punishment "Butterfly Swimmer"


Here's the new one from SFP. Definitely more pop and mainstream than their previous releases, but then again it's not like there were ever that far-out to begin with. Still, they are on a major label now, so there you go...It all feels just a little too bland to me.

Puffy "Dareka Ga"


New song from Puffy. I really like their very early music, and this is almost along those lines. Still, it's super pop-rock like way too much of their recent stuff. I think if the music matched the video a little more that it might be a better song!

Gackt "Flower" (Karaoke)"


Here's a TV clip of Gackt laying down some karaoke for his newest single "Flower." Hijinx ensue! It's always nice to see Gackt in a less-than-serious mood. Of course all his serious stuff is actually just as silly. It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.

Jonathon Coulton - Live on local NY TV


And finally, for your non-Japanese pick of the week, here's a clip from a local New York news broadcast featuring Jonathon Coulton. It's pretty short, but at least there's a bit of talk with the man.

That's it for this week. Let me know what you're watching!

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Japanator Radio 93

Back again with lucky show number 93! I'm glad we all survived through that harrowing, evil number 92 to find ourselves here enjoying the blissful calm of 93.

This week, so much new music.  New Gackt, new Versailles, new Perfume and some Lillies and Remains in the Artist Spotlight. And so much more!

Get it get it!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 93 AT JAPANATOR

RSS Feed

Random updates via Twitter.

Track-list and links after the jump!

 

00:00 OP: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Gamble (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]  

1:10 Versailles - Gakkakou - Ascended Master Single [BUY]
5:42 Gackt - No Reason - Lost Angels Single [BUY]
9:35 Kalafina - Lirica - Storia Single [BUY]

14:40 Break: 8bit Prophet - Utada Hikaru Medly - Spicy Innovator Vs Superior Marionette [BUY]

15:18 Base Ball Bear - Breeeeze Girl - Single [BUY]
19:01 Nine Days Wonder - The Color Colapse - With Euphoria [BUY]
22:11 Mouse on the Keys - Saigo no Bansan - Sezession [BUY]

25:48 Break: 8bit Prophet - Jenny wa Gokigen Naname - Spicy Innovator Vs Superior Marionette [BUY]

Artist Spotlight: Lillies and Remains
27:15 Lillies and Remains - Argo - Part of Grace [BUY CD / ITUNES]
30:45 Lillies and Remains - Ivan, Knife, Lip Cream - Moralist S.S. EP [BUY CD / ITUNES]
33:44 Lillies and Remains - Moralist S.S. - Moralist S.S. EP [BUY CD / ITUNES]
37:11 Lillies and Remains - Upsetter - Part of Grace [BUY CD / ITUNES]

40:47 Break: 8bit Prophet - Perfume Medly - Spicy Innovator Vs Superior Marionette [BUY]

41:48 Perfume - Night Flight - Single [BUY]
47:02 Shiina Ringo - Sharp Practice - Superficial Gossip [BUY]
50:04 Aira Mitsuki - Merry Christmas Mister Lawrence （Thereminvox mixes) - Aira Science CD [BUY]

54:21 ED: Shiina Ringo x Saito Neko - Sakuran (Terra ver.) (Inst.) - Heisei Fuuzoku [BUY]  

56:10 8bit Prophet - Michael Jackson Medly - Spicy Innovator Vs Superior Marionette [BUY]

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Videos of the Week 6-28-09

If you've spent any time on this blog, you know that I'm not a huge fan of pop music. But I must admit that I have a pretty big soft spot for Perfume. I really liked them right from the start, and have been following them ever since. Most of their music sounds very "same-y" lately, but their newest "Night Flight" single is quite different and just plain loaded with retro smoothness. It's like a long-lost Yellow Magic Orchestra track unearthed and updated. Plus, the video (or the commercial that the song is used in, actually) also looks great. Like living inside a Famicom!

Perfume "Night Flight"


More after the jump!



Vola and the Oriental Machine "Self-Defense"


This is an amazing live performance from Vola. It's totally chaotic, but the amount of energy they bring is incredible!

Ling Tosite Sigure - live


Speaking of high-energy live shows, here are a couple live songs from Ling Tosite Sigure. 'Nuff said!

Yellow Magic Orchestra "Tighten Up"


This is a "live" version of "Tighten Up" by YMO (originally by Archie Bell and the Drells), on the classic US show Soul Train nonetheless! Obviously they aren't actually playing, but it's still a historical "performance."

Oh, and just in case you didn't know why I found this even funnier the first time I heard it, watch this:





And, of course, the obligatory bizarre Japanese Michael Jackson "Thriller" parody.

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Mouse on the Keys

Little is known about the mysterious trio that goes by the name of Mouse on the Keys. Even their official website is just a simple re-direct to their sparsely populated MySpace page. We know their names, Akira Kawasaki (drums, keyboards, piano and of Nine Days Wonder) Atsushi Kiyota (keyboard, piano) and Daisuke Niitome (keybord, piano). We know that they are part of the Toe founded record label Machupicchu Industrias (again, another site that simply re-directs to MySpace). In fact they are the only other band, aside from Toe, on the label.

All we really have to go one is their music, and fair enough. Except that they only have a single four song release, titled Sezession, out at the moment, though there is a full-length just over the horizon. Regardless, what we do have are four songs of instrumental drum and piano, sometimes jazzy, sometimes almost classical, other times sounding like a soundtrack to a rainy drive through the heart of a city. Whatever they do, it's a dark and grim journey.

"Saigo no Bansan" is easily the stand out track from the trio. In fact Sezession feels more like a "Saigo no Bansan" single with a few tacked-on supporting tracks than a solid EP. The song is a lethal serpent strike to the spine, starting in near silence before launching into a furious battle between the drums and pianos. The three following tracks are much jazzier and improvisational in tone, with some saxophone and effected keyboard sounds augmenting the regular piano tones.

Of course it's far to early to pass any sort of meaningful judgment on such a young band with so little material. Yet it's tough not to get excited by what Mouse on the Keys has let us in on thus far. If they can reign in their more abstract tendencies and bring their more muscular A-game, then their first proper album could be something great indeed.

BUY MOUSE ON THE KEYS RELEASES HERE

"Saigo no Bansan"




Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Akira Kawasaki - Drums, Keyboards, Piano
Atsushi Kiyota - Keyboard, Piano
Daisuke Niitome - Keybord, Piano

Albums:
An Anxious Object - 2009
Sezession - 2007

The Arctic Fox"

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Mirco-Review: Polysics - Young OH! OH!

Just got the new Polysics single Young OH! OH! today. I managed to get the DVD version, and I am damn glad I did!

The DVD is 11 live songs from a show at Club Quattro from April of 2009. The chosen songs are mostly from their older catalog, stuff like "Bye Bye Red Sneaker" and "Which!," but that also have some newer ones like "Oh! Monaliza" and "Sony-san." They also wear their classic blue suits with the military-style hats. Oh, and the best thing ever? They do a live version of "Computer Obaachan"!!!!!!

But that's just the extra stuff. The single itself is great. "Young OH! OH!" is a bit catchier than the previous double single "Shout Aloud! / Beat Flash." The b-sides are also very cool. Like many of their non-album tracks, "Do You Remember?" is pretty silly and has a goofy, deep voice repeating the title. There's also a live version of "Shout Aloud!" (from the same live show, but not on the DVD) so if you missed the single, then you can still get the song.

The price for the entire package is almost a steal. You'll get an hour of new Polysics material for around $15. Obviously I highly recommend that you pick it up.

Check out some relevant video clips after the jump.

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Ogre You Asshole

Don't let the outrageous name fool you. If you could distill unassuming, twee feelings into sonic form, you might have something closely resembling Ogre You Asshole.

Formed around 2004, the gentle indie rock foursome has released a slew of equally modest singles, mini-albums and just-barely-full-length efforts. These are all full of the band's extremely muted and flat sonic treatments. They are the opposite end of the spectrum from, say, Ling Tosite Sigure's frenetic production or Boris' wall of sound.

This isn't to say that their songs lack punch or sparkle. In fact many OYA songs have a habit of sneaking up on the listener. Of lulling them into a quiet reverie just before launching into a more cacophonous chorus or boisterous bridge. They keep their music just a bit on the raw side, something that sets them apart for a much more average, nice and safe rock band. Manabu Deto's light and gentle voice is able to shift effortlessly into something more aggressive and plaintive, just as their music makes subtle shifts and movements.

It's this clever credibility that proves Ogre You Asshole has a large cache of talent to draw upon, and something that allows them to release consistently great indie rock gems.

"Pinhole"




Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Manabu Deto - Guitar, Vocal
Kei Mabuchi - Guitar
Norihito Hiraide - Bass
Takashi Katsuura - Drums

Albums:
Shiranai Aizu Shiraseruko - 2008
Alpha Beta vs. Lambda - 2007
Heikin ha Sayuu Gyaku no Kitai - 2006
Ogre You Asshole - 2005

"Shiranai Aizu Shiraseruko"


"Advantage"


"Flag"


live


[updated 6-2009]

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