Western media coverage of the Japanese music scene in 2010 seems to be following a very recession-friendly pattern – stick to what people know. So that means something like “Boris, Boredoms plus associated acts, maybe check in on Shugo and Afriampo if we have space.” Can’t really blame them – there is so much music to get to from the western hemisphere taking time to hunt down great Japanese groups obviously wouldn’t end up priority number one. So, when a new-ish act grabs the attention of the ever-fickle blog world, it deserves some dap. Two such outfits have made a splash in 2010 – first it was chillwavers (sorta) Hotel Mexico, now it’s indie-poppers Ice Cream Shout.
A whole slew of blogs…culminating in blog-depot Altered Zones getting in on the action…have written something up on the quartet’s latest single “Tattooed Tears.” Deservedly so…it’s a breezy blast of a song, one of the dreamiest indie-pop numbers of 2010 from any question. Chilly synths brush over a stroll-worthy melody as the lead singer swoons, sounding both content and longing. Most blog write-ups pin “Tattooed Tears” as an 80s throwback which is true…I see ya, Smiths-jacking “Heaven knows I’m miserable now” opening line…but seeming way more shaped by the sunny retro-pop streaming out of Sweden on a daily basis. I could throw out countless names…The Radio Department, The Honeydrips, even flex my Swede-pop muscle with Boat Club…but it’s less being influenced by any of those groups and more subscribing to a similar blueprint when it comes to crafting these sorts of sun-dazed pop songs (not to mention the potential for subversion…the ghostly vocal samples around the corners and the song’s video follow in the great tradition of Swedish indie-pop bands making these songs way more political or just plain mysterious than they initially appear). However you want to approach the track, though, it’s hard to deny it.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9qW9B8J5Gg”]
Ice Cream Shout aren’t crashing the scene – they have an entire other album, released in 2009, out there. It’s called Cups and you can listen to a few tracks here. My Old Kentucky Blog has a nice write-up about that album, and I’d advise you to read that so I don’t have to waste words saying stuff a handful of other bloggers have already said. Two points though – first, what does “J-pop-by-numbers” even mean? I always assumed J-pop meant “pop music from Japan” and the only time it referred to a real style was when someone was making fun of Japanese music. I mean…Perfume, SMAP, The Bawdies, Funky Monkey Babys and Beat Crusaders are all J-pop but they sound nothing alike. It’s lazy writing. Secondly, “Disko Kitten” rocks, J-pop or not.
Again, check out Ice Cream Shout here.
