September 30 - October 14 Mouse on the Keys European Tour
Sep 30 - La Malterie - Lille, FRANCE Oct 01 - TBA - Paris, FRANCE Oct 02 - The Public - West Bromwich, UNITED KINGDOM Oct 03 - tba - Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM Oct 04 - The Canteen - Barrow-in-Furness, UNITED KINGDOM Oct 05 - tba - Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM Oct 07 - Conne Island - Conne Island, Leipzig, GERMANY Oct 08 - Lovelite - Simplonstr, Berlin, GERMANY Oct 09 - Bunker Ulmenwall - Bielefeld, GERMANY Oct 10 - Denovali Swingfest - Essen, NRW, GERMANY Oct 12 - künstlerhaus (k4) - nürnberg, Bayern, GERMANY Oct 13 - České Budějovice jazz festival - Budweis, CZECH REPUBLIC Oct 14 - Cairo - Würzburg, GERMANY
This time around we've got a little more to look at than just the girls walking around and shopping, which is always nice. There isn't really much more going on here, but at least the backgrounds are interesting. There are a few quick little vignettes sprinkled throughout. You might recognize the "human Tetris" bit that became a full-fledged game show for about ten seconds. There are a few other simple little visual tricks, but an OK Go video this is certainly not. (Which is just fine since those things are a little on the over-hyped side anyway...but I digress) I think my favorite part is when all three girls walk off a cliff.
I'm not so sure that brown on brown is really the best color for the girls, but hey, at least the skirts are short, right guys?
As for the song, it's surprisingly soft compared to all of the hard-hitting, razor sharp bass and pummeling beats we've been subjected to lately. Their voices are also almost in the realm of reality, something we haven't heard for a while. Overall it's a nice enough song but it seems a little weak for a single, don't you think?
New Gackt video! Now, I'm something of an unapologetic Gackt fan-boy. I know a lot of his stuff it crap, but what can I say? I like it.
With that in mind, here's the new video for "Ever." If someone totally unaware of his previous years of material were to see this, they might think it was a metal band's parody of modern pop idols. In this, a boy runs into a concert hall where the band is playing a pretty intense metal song. He seems to really want to see what's going on inside, but "the man" is keeping him out. Once inside, he's mesmerized by what he sees.
The singer (Gackt) is high up on a platform in center-stage posing with a silly hat and shaking like Ricky Martin. He's got Adam Lambert hair and make-up. The song has a hook that might fit in a more down-tempo party jam, even complete with a few horn stabs, but really it's all heavy metal, just super over the top and upbeat. It ends with the kid getting close to the stage, Gackt throwing an amp, and everything disappearing. The video surveillance that's been folowing the action turns out to be controlled by the guy at the door. He mumbles "Ever." The end. I always like Gackt's faster, more rock oriented tracks so obviously I really like this song. But man, the video is terrible!
I'm really looking forward to what Gackt's next proper, new studio album will be like. (It's been forever. Hahagetit?) It'll be more of the same, I'm sure, but I guess that's OK just so long as he continues to be the king of silly.
October 17 2010 - Keswick Theatre/Glenside, Pennsylvania October 18 2010 - Skirball Center For the Performing Arts/New York City, New York October 20 2010 - Berklee College of Music/Boston, Massachusetts October 22 2010 - Outremont Theatre/Montreal, Quebec October 24 2010 - Queen Elizabeth Theater/Toronto, Ontario October 27 2010 - Vic Theatre/Chicago, Illinois October 30 2010 - Moore Theatre/Seattle, Washington November 1 2010 - Vogue Theatre/Vancouver, British Columbia November 3 2010 - Regency Ballroom/San Fransisco, California November 5 2010 - El Rey/Los Angeles, California
Here's a new video from Kanon Wakeshima. In it, French singer Solita reads a book and Kanon is the girl acting out the stories. It's all got a pretty Alice in Wonderland feel (not surprising) but there is a bit of original style to it as well. The one thing I can't get past though is how terrible Solita looks! It's like they intentionally make her look oily and grumpy just to make Kanon look better. I mean that lighting under her face! Those makeup-less closeups! Her total lack of emotion or movement! What's going on?! Otherwise it's a perfectly passable Kanon song just like all her other stuff. Oh, and I still wish they'd do more with Kanon's cello playing. They really seem to be phasing that out, despite every promo of her prominently featuring the instrument.
Warning: Japanese schoolgirls in super short skirts ahead!
OK, now that the Google baiting is out of the way, here's Scandal. Looking all sad again. What's the deal with sad girls lately? I don't know. Anyway, here that are slowly rocking out in the library, you know, like you do when you're a rock band. Turns out that someone's boyfriend is now interested in some other girl because apparently he suffered major head trauma and no longer wants to hang out with a hot chick in a major-label rock band. What's the deal, dude? I mean their tiny skirts poof out and everything! Sheesh. Anyway, I'm sure the girls will be OK since they have about 18 million other guys waiting in line to carry their books and tell them jokes.
Here's a video from Luminous Orange from the newest album Songs of Innocence. "Untold" sounds to me like it came right from the mid-'90s and I think the video fits into that era pretty well too. The song has a ton of swirly effects and jangly guitars and the video has a similar indie-rock, art-school feel. There are only a couple main ideas, but there's a lot going on, so that makes up for it. Overall it's an OK video for an OK song. Why do I feel like Kennedy needs to send us to commercial...?
08/01 - Sonisphere Festival - Knebworth Park, UK 08/03 - Koko - London, UK TICKETS / INFO 08/06 - Tochka Club - Moscow, Russian Federation 08/07 - Glav Club - St. Petersburg, Russian Federation 08/23 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
08/24 – New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre 08/26 – Boston, MA @ Royale 08/27 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live 08/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory 08/30 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage 08/31 – St. Louis, MO@ Pageant 09/01 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues 09/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave. 09/04 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 09/05 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre 09/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues 09/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre 09/09 – San Francisco, CA @ Grand Ballroom 09/11 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
Here's something new from J-pop super idol Ayumi Hamasaki. OK, sure, this is the "short" version and even ends with an ominous "to be continued," but come on. They really try to make this out to be much deeper and arty than it is. As it stands, it looks like the just bought a bunch of stuff, filled up a room with it and stuck Ayu in the middle for a few seconds. A few flashes of her falling over into some paint and voilà! Instant "depth." Well I'm not buying it!
09.08.10 Wed Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern 09.09.10 Thu Vancouver, B.C. @ Biltmore Cabaret w/ Jeff The Brotherhood 09.10.10 Fri Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios 09.11.10 Sat Oakland, CA @ Uptown Night Club 09.12.10 Sun San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 09.13.10 Mon San Diego, CA @ Casbah 09.14.10 Tue Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland 09.17.10 Fri Austin, TX @ Red 7 09.18.10 Sat Dallas, TX @ The Loft w/ Lovies 09.19.10 Sun Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar w/ Grass Widow 09.20.10 Mon Northfield, MN @ The Cave 09.21.10 Tue Chicago, IL @ Schubas 09.22.10 Wed Kalamazoo, MI @ The Strutt w/ Grass Widow 09.23.10 Thu Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Festival 09.24.10 Fri Pittsburgh, PA @ 31st St. Pub 09.25.10 Sat New York, NY @ Asia Society Museum 09.26.10 Sun Washington, D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel w/ Grass Widow 09.28.10 Tue Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory (Brooklyn) 09.30.10 Thu Montreal, QB @ Cabaret du Mile End 10.01.10 Fri Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern 10.02.10 Sat Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
In this new, tear-jerking video from Akihabara's super-idol-group AKB48, we see how the girls struggle to keep their chins up and smile but ultimately break down after coming to the realization that the best they can ever hope to achieve after they hit 16 is maybe a long, drug-addled career in the porn industry. Faced with the massive debt owed by their families to their gangster "agents," the young girls have no other choice but to remain in the seamy world of massage parlors, host clubs and human trafficking. Sure, maybe some day they will be able to climb out of the gutter, but memories of their daily brutalization will haunt their every move, causing them to fall back, time and again, into a downward spiral of fear, shame and crippling sadness.
At least that's what *I* think about when I watch this. You might have a slightly different reaction.
Here's a new one from TM Revolution! And boy, no expense was spared on this one. Uh, yeah. I'm mean that pool of water must have been pretty pricey. And not one, but two drums! Hmm...well OK, there are some cool CG effects, but other than that, it's really just a lot of black and Mr. TM waving his arms around in front of his face a lot. I'm not even sure the song is all that hot. Definitely fast and full of energy, but not super catchy. Aw well, just sit back and gaze upon his splendor, I guess?
7/24/2010 The Casbah - San Diego, CA 7/25/2010 Plush - Tucson, AZ 7/27/2010 The Loft @ Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX w/ Russian Circles 7/28/2010 The Mohawk - Austin, TX w/ Russian Circles 7/30/2010 Spanish Moon - Baton Rouge, LA w/ Russian Circles 7/31/2010 The Engine Room - Tallahassee, FL w/ Russian Circles 8/01/2010 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA w/ Russian Circles 8/02/2010 Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC w/ Russian Circles 8/03/2010 930 Club - Washington DC w/ Russian Circles 8/04/2010 Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA w/ Russian Circles 8/06/2010 Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY 8/07/2010 The Middle East - Cambridge, MA w/ Russian Circles, Cave In 8/08/2010 Le Tulipe - Montreal, QC w/ Russian Circles 8/09/2010 Lee’s Place - Toronto, ON w/ Russian Circles 8/10/2010 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI w/ Russian Circles 8/11/2010 Southgate House - Newport, KY w/ Russian Circles 8/13/2010 Metro - Chicago, IL w/ Russian Circles 8/14/2010 Firebird - St. Louis, MO w/ Russian Circles 8/15/2010 Granada Theatre - Lawrence, KS w/ Russian Circles 8/16/2010 Marquis Theater - Denver, CO w/ Red Sparrowes 8/17/2010 *TBA - Salt Lake City, UT w/ Red Sparowes 8/19/2010 Republik - Calgary, AB w/ Red Sparowes 8/20/2010 The Starlite - Edmonton, AB w/ Red Sparowes 8/22/2010 Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC w/ Red Sparowes 8/23/2010 Neumo’s - Seattle, WA w/ Red Sparowes 8/24/2010 Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR w/ Red Sparowes 8/26/2010 Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA w/ Red Sparowes 8/27/2010 El Rey - Los Angeles, CA w/ Red Sparowes 8/28/2010 The Glass House - Pomona, CA w/ Red Sparowes 9/05/2010 Kutsher’s Country Club - Monticello, NY @ ATP Fest - “Altar set” w/ SUNNO))) 9/07/2010 Brooklyn Masonic Temple - Brooklyn, NY - “Altar set” w/ SUNNO)))
August 28 - September 18 Electric Eel Shock European Tour Summer 2010 Part 2
August 28th - Akkerpop Festival - Belgium August 29th - Dynamo Festival - Holland
(Other dates in mainland Europe will be announced shortly.)
UK & Ireland: September 7th - Portsmouth - DITC September 8th - Cheltenham - Night Owl September 9th - Manchester - Sound Control September 10th - Aberdeen - Drummonds September 11th - Glasgow - King Tut's September 12th - Leeds - The Well September 14th - Galway - Roisin Dubh September 16th - Dundalk - Spiritstore September 17th - Dublin - Ballroom of Romance September 18th - Clon Guitar Festival
Here's the a new video from instrumental post-rock band Lite. Their new album Illuminate is phenomenal (more on that later), and "Image Game" is the perfect example. The song is an exercise in precision and control, but it's also rather hypnotic and energizing. The video doesn't really do much, but it works to show of the swirling, angular feel to the song just fine.
Here's a new live video from Molice performing at the CAMA (Club for Art and Music Appreciation) Festival in 2010. It's a show put together to raise HIV awareness and prevention and took place in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is a new, unreleased song called "Active Imagination" that should be on their next album.
Just in case you don't read Japanator (and why don't you?) here's a heads up. I just posted by picks for Top 10 Best Japanese Albums of 2010 (so far) over there. It's a look at what I think are the best bets so far this year.
There has already been a lot of feedback, both positive and a little less so. Make sure to check it out and leave your own list in the comments.
X-Japan is back! Well, sort of. I mean, not really, but they are continuing their now long-standing tradition of digging up and dusting off their old material to serve it up again with a shiny new outer coating.
The newest update to their old stuff is this video for "Rusty Nail" featuring an old live version of the song. Recently filmed in LA, it kicks the classic's awesomely retro anime style to the curb in favor of a slick, lens-flare-y super-hero-y motif. In it, each member gets a sort of bat-signal call to arms and converges on the top of a building where they proceed to play the song. And boy, it's windy! Other than Yoshiki's wistful gaze down onto LA from his personal helicopter, there's not much going on here.
While I'm not a huge X fan myself, even *I* wish they would release an entirely new album just so we don't have to keep seeing these old ghosts resurrected over and over. At least they didn't seem to put in any heavy-handed tributes to Hide in this one. Sheesh.
J-Pop and J-Rock are only the beginning. The modern Japanese music scene is just as vibrant and varied as any other music scene in the world. I'm Zac Bentz, writer, musician, designer and all around Japanese music fanatic. Here I hope to share with you a comprehensive (!!) list of Japanese artists and bands (with a strong focus on underground and indie acts) that you may or may not have heard of, in the hopes of expanding our mutual awareness of Japanese music.
I don't mean to suggest that everything I listen to is great. Quite the contrary, I hope that you will take the time to recommend your own favorite artists in the comments so that we can all learn a bit more about the huge range of Japanese music that's out there.
"The best Japanese music blog in the world." - Door Slam "Definitely a must-visit for J-pop and J-rock fans!" -The Otaku "Zac Bentz loves music. A lot." -Japanator "Very cool!" -J-ENT "...one of the foremost blogs and information centers on all J-pop and J-rock...the top source for tour information on Japanese bands in the US..." -YankeeOtaku "Wer mehr darüber wissen will, der sollte sich mal hier umschauen, ein sehr gutes J-Music Blog übrigens." -CommandSheep "...very well-written, and there’s an excellent range of artists...a useful resource." -International Wota "не плохая энциклопедия японских исполнителей/групп" -Diary.ru "Great resource for Japanese music fans who want to explore today's J-rhythms beyond Johnny's Entertainment bishonen music and anime music. XD" -Kaishi "If you are a J-Rock fan, [ZB's A-Z] is a must see." -Crunchyroll community "Otaku USA magazine finally got wise and hired Zac Bentz as a J-music contributing editor."-Radicalpatriot "Reviews practically every Asian band that has ever created a recording."- Zallie "Gewährt spannende Einblicke in die japanische Musikszene." -Laut.de
