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Category Archives: J-Pop

Controlled Karaoke: Goosehouse Covers Perfume’s “Laser Beam”

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[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVPcTo5nGnU”]

Usually, I hate these sort of YouTube videos of people armed with acoustic guitars and sub-college-a-cappella singing covering pop songs. Yet, I am OK with Goosehouse’s take on Perfume’s “Laser Beam,” which you can watch above. I am not willing to go as far as one YouTube commenter who wrote “might just be better than the original” (wrong-o) but it’s a cute and catchy take on the original that stays true to the source material. Karmin, take note. Shouts out to J-Rock Explosion for posting this first.

This also serves as one final reminder that I spent a week of my life writing about Perfume’s music over at One Week, One Band. Check out my posts…in chronological order!…right here.

Station To Station: Music Station For February 24 Featuring Bonnie Pink, Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi And Ikimono-Gakari

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Reminder to check out One Week, One Band as my stint writing about Perfume draws to a close. Also, a reminder that I am focusing on that project this week and am just gonna blaze through this feature.

Ikimono-gakari “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”

WATCH HERE

Click the above link, and check out the bizarre voting method that site utilizes. Users rated “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” as 54 percent “happy,” 31 percent “happy” and 15 percent “relaxing.” They are sorta right…compared to the usual ballad dregs these three usually drag us down to on a monthly basis, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” really is upbeat, albeit in an annoying way come the chorus (“chu chu chu chu”). It sometimes pushes into goofier territory…the horns might be a little much…but at least this song tries to have fun (how come nobody voted for that?), which is something Ikimono-gakari tend to ignore. I am 78 percent surprised.

三代目 J Soul Brothers “Go My Way”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZfa6As9VwE&ob=av2e”]

I really wanted to make a snarky one liner about this song (“Go My Way?” More like go away, am I right?) but J Soul Brothers’ latest isn’t bad enough to warrant such bad jokes. The opening makes it seem like “Go My Way” is going to be overblown, but when the song proper starts it’s actually a surprisingly catchy bit of twinkly pop. J Soul Brothers show their softer side, which is a lot better than the last time we saw them, beating the shit out of everything.

Dream Morning Musume, Special Medley

Smart marketing right here – the super-popular precursor to AKB48, Morning Musume dominated the late 90’s J-Pop scene. Yet all things have to come to an end, and Morning Musume brok…huh, no they didn’t? They are still going? Geez. Like AKB, Musume constantly changes members to the point they might as well be an NFL offensive line. Dream Morning Musume is, as the name hints at, a dream team of former Morning Musume members back together again to perform for whoever wants to see a mish-mash of Musume. It’s a clever idea to get some bucks out of an old idea…new thoughts, who needs them…but not clever enough to get me to listen to any of their music.

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi “Hitotsu”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKm9xnQyW_E”]

Seems like Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi has done a lot of charity work and appearances for the areas affected by last year’s natural disasters…so I am going to take a mulligan on judging the actual song. That said, the harmonica at the end is pretty rad.

Hey! Say! JUMP “Super Delicate”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHy14amDllU”]

So how about that “Super Delicate?” It is bad.

Know what isn’t bad? Super VHS’ “Remember The Night,” which also has a really good video that simply uses footage from a cartoon about a penguin. The way Super VHS sequences, though, matches quite well…and makes me think the poor penguin is having an existential crisis.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_mw6ii5xnE”]

Bonnie Pink “冷たい雨”

WATCH HERE

This is the first time I’ve ever listened to Bonnie Pink. A few good ideas and generally catchy, but also not leaving much of an impression. Meh.

Winner Of The Week – J Soul Brothers, bet you didn’t see that coming.

I’m Doing One Week, One Band This Week About Perfume

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I’ve been mentioning it on Twitter and Tumblr, but might as well get it here too…this week, I’ve been given the digital keys to One Week, One Band, an excellent music blog where writers devote one week to writing about one specific band or artist. I’m going where no other contributor has gone yet – into the world of J-Pop, to write about a trio I regularly gush about here, Perfume. I started yesterday and have written four posts thus far, mainly about Perfume’s origins. Later today, the theme has sorta become “Perfume and the digital age,” as I’ll focus on the later singles found on Complete Best. And then…three more days after that!

So check it out if you can, especially because posting will be light over here for the week. I will still post a few things…expect something tomorrow morning and I couldn’t skip Station To Station…but for these next few days I am taking a small break from these corners.

Station To Station: Music Station For February 17 2012 Featuring AKB48, The Bawdies And V6

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No time for intros, let us get into this.

AKB48 “Give Me Five!”

WATCH A 34-MINUTE VIDEO HERE (OR SKIP TO 26:31 FOR THE SONG)

At long last AKB48 have done what once seemed impossible – they have contributed something good to the music world. This “Give Me Five!” stands as the group’s best single to date and their most important addition to musical discourse ever. The actual sound of “Give Me Five!” isn’t the reason for this of course – the actual sonic experience of “Give Me Five!” isn’t much different from the usual audio candy caning the group inflicts on the world, all dumb horn blasts and guitar chugging. No, this single stands as AKB’s crowning achievement to date because it serves as the ultimate counterpoint to any “authenticity in music” debate, a pop Golden Gun capable of killing stupid conversation in its tracks.

Lots of people complain about how music today “isn’t authentic,” how it isn’t like “the good ol’ days” which is code for an era of (mostly white) rock ‘n’ roll bands, how everything today “is manufactured” or how performers “aren’t really artists” mannnnnn. This was on full display during last weekend’s Grammy Awards when people took to Twitter and other online commenting alleys and harped about how bad music today, what with its Exorcist-themed numbers and Bonny Bears. Despite featuring appearances by the likes of Paul McCartney and the Beach Boys, this year’s award show – not to mention the recent Super Bowl halftime show – served as another convenient excuse for those who cream themselves at the site of a factory-faded Rolling Stones’ t-shirt at Target to complain about “music today.”

Yet here’s the ultimate counterpoint. The marketing and music video for AKB48’s latest focuses on the members holding guitars and playing the drums and being a band, to the extent that you could get free AKB guitar picks at JR Shinjuku station. Note the word “marketing” – that is what this is, a shrewd move by the string-pullers above the band to simultaneously give super fans the equivalent of a new action figure while also trying to win over naysayers via “authenticity.” I’ve already seen people on Twitter saying “at least they are trying to play guitar now,” ignoring the fact the noises coming out of my speakers sounds as putrid as ever.

So next time somebody tells you rap isn’t real music or whines about how computers aren’t bass guitars, point them to “Give Me Five!,” a lovely reminder that music is entertainment and always has been no matter what instrument (or lack of) the person held. Then remember the actual music should be the only aspect of a song or album focused on, which is why this single blows. Then listen to Perfume or something.

The Bawdies “Rock Me Baby

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/36043079 w=400&h=233]

THE BAWDIES – ROCK ME BABY PV (FULL) from Masa on Vimeo.

Funny that following the above rant, The Bawdies end up being the next band featured. They also reinforce the above point pretty well – The Bawdies aren’t good just because they look the part of a bygone era of rock music, all guitar pop and matching suits. They are a decent group because they make good songs using 50’s and 60’s rock as a guide. If one is to level a complaint at The Bawdies, is that they sometimes rely on this blueprint too much – “Rock Me Baby” sounds like practically every other single they’ve released before and, though that isn’t a bad thing (they do this act pretty well!), everything they put out is starting to blur together. Still, a nice slice of throwback rock. Ultimately, your opinion of The Bawdies will probably be shaped by the lead howling – I like it, but plenty of folks don’t.

Naoto Inti Raymi “君に逢いたかった”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIAElfCd6A”]

UGGGGGGGGGH this guys is from Mie Prefecture, where I used to live. Shame that lovely country area has to be saddled with someone responsible for such glimmering dreck as the above song. I won’t allow it though! Here are some famous people from Mie who are cool in my book:

– Matsuo Bashō, dude wrote haikus!
– Ranpo Edogawa, this guy wrote lots of mystery stories!
– Yasujirō Ozu, one of Japan’s greatest directors! He made Tokyo Story which is an amazing work of cinema.
– Nishino Kana! I like her!
– Jesse Ruins, originally from Mie! Pop-Office too, I think.
– Uhhhh ninjas?

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS “この世界に生まれたわけ”

WATCH HERE

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS are complete hucksters, the J-Pop equivalent of the politician who tells folksy stories to distract from the fact they are blowing up Middle Eastern villages. Nearly every song the release comes sparkled in unflappable optimism, all twinkling sounds and triumphant choruses. The accompanying music videos focus on upbeat life moments, like playing with your kids or getting married. The world of FUNKY MONKEY BABYS is one giant ice cream cake with a Hallmark card on top. They are grating every single time. I’ve said it before but I reiterate – for all their faults, I would much rather listen to AKB48 than FUNKY MONKEY BABYS.

V6 “Bari Bari Buddy!”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiP5fWNLiw”]

So, how about that “Bari Bari Buddy!”? It is bad.

Know what isn’t bad? Rayons! Especially when Predawn tackles the vocals – then they are downright beautiful, like on the gorgeous “Halfway.” Chilly minimalism leading to a flower-breaking-through-the-snow climax. Listen below.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMeta5mNTJ0″]

Winner Of The Week – The Bawdies

Station To Station: Music Station For February 10, 2012 Featuring Miwa, YUKI And Porno Graffitti

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Apologies, I couldn’t think of a relevant/wacky photo to put at the top of this week’s edition. Based on the lineup facing us this week, I was leaning towards some sort of terrified face or a video of Hank Hill screaming “bwahhhh” on loop. Instead, we go with the boring option.

Hey! Say! JUMP “Super Delicate”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7fy2AoTxmY”]

Nearly every week, some Johnny’s group occupies at least one spot on this feature and I am forced to become a typing loop. Save for the rare instance where one of these outfits stumble across something OK to listen, I usually spend my time talking about how terrible KAT-TUN or Kanjani8 or Sexy Zone or whatever the hell else collection of relatively non-threatening males the Johnny’s folks assembled this year. I am more than a broken record at this point – I am record who has had multiple hammers smashed onto its surface before having a jug of gasoline poured on it and being lit ablaze.

Which is why, starting with this bad Hey! Say! JUMP song with a ridiculous name (“Super Delicate” sums up this group pretty well, though), I am instituting a new rule to Station To Station: unless the Johnny’s act in question this week has a good song or is doing something interesting or is newsworthy, I will simply write “this is bad” and then share one Japanese artists who isn’t bad because there are only so many ways to say “this company blows>.” Plus, maybe some stray SMAP fans will stumble across the post, click the music I provide and be won over!

So, how about that “Super Delicate?” This is bad.

Know what isn’t bad? The new Psychic Feelings EP from Occult You, which dropped for free two days ago and has been rocking my world ever since. Get it here.

Porno Graffitti “2012 Spark”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5T7tHohBXQ”]

The obnoxious intro hints at a possible switch-up in sound for Porno Graffitti, but then that big chuggin’ guitar rips in and everything is back to normal with these guys. The verses have a nice sway to them, but the chorus is typical overblown J-Rock fare. Porno Graffitti aren’t even content with that decadence – they add a string section to the song later, and it’s so ridiculous it almost comes back around to being good. Almost.

Miwa “Kataomoi”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKNu7fmaPnc”]

Miwa’s sudden rise to the top of the Oricon charts last year made for a great story when combined with her back story. Cliffnotes version – schoolgirl works part-time jobs to save up enough scratch to buy a guitar, even though her school doesn’t allow them. She does this anyway and at the age of 20 she releases a debut album that makes history by reaching the pinnacle of the charts, making Miwa the first Heisei-born singer to do that. In 2011, she was the underdog even jerks like me could root for because her first album had a handful of good songs.

Now in 2012 she’s not a Cinderella story, but rather firmly entrenched in the world of J-Pop, so now her story can’t score brownie points. New single “Kataomoi” translates to “Unrequited Love” and I am pretty sure it states in the Japanese constitution that J-Pop songs with melancholy titles have to be ballads full of Disney-apeing sparkle sounds. Miwa actually starts OK, the first verse being a relatively sparse (well, until the violin creeps in) build that leads to a nice pre-chorus vocal flex. Then come the sparkles, which signal this is about to enter bad territory. And it does, but Miwa pulls a nifty trick near the end of the chorus, suddenly raising her voice up for a couple lines in a way that I didn’t see coming and was surprised how much I liked. From there, it’s pretty standard balladry…and like most mainstream ballads in Japan, one that goes on too long…but Miwa does just enough to avoid being a bore. She’s not quite as plucky now, but I am still rooting for her.

YUKI “Joy”

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqF3EilesI”]

YUKI put out a best of album recently, which explains why she’s appearing on Music Station for the second-straight week to perform an old song. “Joy” takes us back to the year 2005, though it sounds a lot like 2007 single “Wonder Line” which popped up last week. Not a bad thing – both songs are skippy numbers that aren’t terribly complex but catchy without ever being grating.

L’Arc～en～Ciel Special Medley

Ehhhhh not this week.

Winner Of The Week – Miwa.