[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbZ2q1DmvJY&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Reviewing the music of LANDS is tantamount to reviewing the music of Marty McFly and the Pinheads. The group exists to serve as the “featured band” in the recently released Japanese movie Bandage, a film about the early ‘90s indie rock scene of the country and the life of budding rock stars off-stage. LANDS…
Here’s a retro style not many bands are clamoring back to – ’50s lounge. It’s the type of stuff some people claim sounds great as background music but can actually be entirely captivating, even if you aren’t sipping on a martini. Osaka’s Sentimental Toy Palette chooses to embrace this oft-ignored style, and they play it…
There is absolutely nothing shocking/interesting about “mismatched genre” covers of songs. If you’ve ever endured an acoustic take on a rap song, you know what I’m talking about. Still, there is something a bit jarring about Japanese cliche-rock band Electric Eel Shock covering Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You.” They take the slow soulful singing of Riperton’s…
I missed out on the Osaka leg of Max Tundra’s Japan tour this weekend, opting instead to follow Allstate’s advice and play Jenga. This wallet-conscious move also meant I’d miss out on the opening act, Kyoto-based artist Rei Harakami. I figured he’d be cut out of the mold as Ben Jacobs electro project, all manic…
For almost five minutes, Baby Loop Code puts most mainstream J-Pop idols to shame with “Secret (Piano Version.” With only a solitary piano backing her up, the Osaka artist tip-toes her voice around the key strokes. She swings from quiet-as-a-mouse to nearly bubbling over, her singing slowly rising towards some sort of emotional climax before…