Japanese music 101

[irishpacker]

In preparation for my life in Japan I'm trying to get to know as much about the place as possible, and that includes the music scene! Just wondering if you guys would recommend some bands/artists/songs etc that I could give a listen to? Only ones I've heard of are a rock group called Orange Range, and there's the obvious plethora of J-pop artists floating about too. Any chance you could narrow my search and direct me towards some good tunes? Bear in mind I'll listen to anything! All the better if it's cheesie!!!

[Iraira]

Cream Cheese Cookie?
[YT]u5lp7auojKU[/YT]

[AssKissinger]

I kind of like Orange Range, they sound sort of like Rush.

Try Bump of Chicken.

[Tsuru]

Cream Cheese Cookie?

This reminds of my days in college... songs like this which go on for hours and everytime they sing the chorus you have to down a pint Did I mention the mosh pit?

[pheyton]

Ketsumeshi

[Mulboyne]

Just wondering if you guys would recommend some bands/artists/songs etc that I could give a listen to?

Are you looking for bands you might like or for a range of bands across the spectrum? For instance, how would you answer the same question put to you about the music scene where you live?

[Cortana]

I think this calls for a sampler.

Omodaka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfNoEYR2-8

(the dancer is just hired for the video. She's too good)

BOOM BOOM SATELLITES:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7C1nnR9DpU

- as you can guess, my tastes usually run toward electronic. one more like that.

CAPSULE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELEiHKgtkO

and now for something completely different.


BOREDOMS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGqZUksAcF0


do you want to know more?

[IkemenTommy]

In preparation for my life in Japan I'm trying to get to know as much about the place as possible, and that includes the music scene! Just wondering if you guys would recommend some bands/artists/songs etc that I could give a listen to? Only ones I've heard of are a rock group called Orange Range, and there's the obvious plethora of J-pop artists floating about too. Any chance you could narrow my search and direct me towards some good tunes? Bear in mind I'll listen to anything! All the better if it's cheesie!!!

You might want to narrow down your request because there is everything from crap like Morning Musume to bands like B'z and Southern All Stars that have been around forever for the longest time. Why won't you just figure out the music scene once you get to Japan?

[Zeth3D]

He says hes new to the scene so lets give him stuff that people will know what hes talking about.

My personal favorites are Gackt, Aya Kamiki, and YUI at the moment.
Other bands range from almost decent to decent:
Yum Yum Orange
Abington Boys School
Sifow
MOVE
GREEEN

If you want more, or info on good place to browse around, or anything music wise, give me a PM

[Coligny]

Noa Oikawa... her album is nearly as good as... well... that movie were she look like a 40 year old in a schoolgirl uniform faking being raped by a guy wearing a mexican wrestler outfit...

(no, i'm not making that shit up... but I can't remember the title...)

[IkemenTommy]

Noa Oikawa... her album is nearly as good as... well... that movie were she look like a 40 year old in a schoolgirl uniform faking being raped by a guy wearing a mexican wrestler outfit...

(no, i'm not making that shit up... but I can't remember the title...)

Oh yeah, how can you forget about Nao Oikawa!! She's got real talent. I recommend her albums also.

[Amanojakuu]

I like noise, doom, punk, hardcore e.t.c. so perhaps not down your street, but I recommend Boris and Melt Banana as two decent Japanese bands...

If you want something more 'Orange Range' and palatable, how about a bit of Asian Kung Fu Generation?

How about mentioning some Western bands you like as a starting point...

[hundefar]

If you like rap, then check Seeda, DS455, Zeebra, Rhymester and Coma-Chi. You can find videos with all these artists on youtube. There are of course many more, but these artists all have different styles, so it is an OK place to start.

[IkemenTommy]

[irishpacker]

Thanks for the links so far lads! Good call with the electronica/dance stuff!

Sorry I phrased myself a little oddly there at the start, I'm just looking for your recommendations or suggestions for any Japanese bands/artists. As I said I'll listen to anything so I throw what ever YOUR favourite stuff is at me; easiest way to do it I suppose!

If I were to answer this question about other countries I go along these lines:

Ireland - Bell X1 (rock); Damein Rice (rock); Mundy (folk-rock); U2 (twats); Boyzone (cheesie but good pop); Republic of loose (rock/dance); etc...
France - MC Solaar (rap); Jacques Brel (60's); Jonny Halleday (cheeserific rock/pop), Daft Punk (Dance) etc...
Germany - Wir Sind Helden (pop-rock); Ramstein (metal/rock) etc..
Italy - Zuccero (rock/cheesie nonsense!); Rino Gaetano(70's); gigi d'agostino (dance) etc...

Get the idea?

[AssKissinger]

off the top of my head my some of my favorite japanese bands are

Boredoms
Gism
Shonen Knife
Chicken Bowels
Puffy
Geinoh Yamashirogumi
Merzbow
Acid Mothers Temple
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yoko Ono
Boris
Coaltar of the Deepers
Angel In Heavy Syrup
Guitar Wolf
Sigh
Kaoru Abe
Yoshida Kyodai
Melt Banana
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her
Pizzicato Five
Ruins
Brilliant Green
Buffalo Daughter
Cibo Matto
Flipper's Guitar

there's a couple folk singers and ambient artists plus another Tsugaru-jamisen guy i like but i can't remember their names right now

[hundefar]

[quote="irishpacker"]Thanks for the links so far lads! Good call with the electronica/dance stuff!

Sorry I phrased myself a little oddly there at the start, I'm just looking for your recommendations or suggestions for any Japanese bands/artists. As I said I'll listen to anything so I throw what ever YOUR favourite stuff is at me]


Sure. The artists I mentioned were all some that I listen to. If you are into the more jazzy rap stuff, check out Nujabes.

For electronic stuff you should check Shinichi Osawa. Here is a video from him:
[yt]DRuJhDYJMJk[/yt]

Capsule was mentioned, but no one mentioned Perfume (produced by the same guy):
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[pheyton]

Makoto

[irishpacker]

Sure. The artists I mentioned were all some that I listen to. If you are into the more jazzy rap stuff, check out Nujabes.

For electronic stuff you should check Shinichi Osawa. Here is a video from him:


Capsule was mentioned, but no one mentioned Perfume (produced by the same guy):

Awesome stuff, exactly what I'm after! Cheers mate

[Adhesive]

Let's keep the suggestions coming.

[CHiZZoPs]

Yay! Someone mentioned Osawa.

Here you go:
Quasimode
Sleep Walker
Kyoto Jazz Massive
Jazztronik
Soil & Pimp Session
Orange Pekoe
Fantastic Plastic Machine
United Legends label
DJ Kawasaki
Jafrosax
Yuji Ohno
Yukihiro Fukutomi

[BillFalconer]

[quote="CHiZZoPs"]
Sleep Walker
Kyoto Jazz Massive
Jazztronik
...Soil & Pimp Session...
Jafrosax
QUOTE]


I am surprised to find that this is the only mention of Soil & "pimp" sessions on this entire forum.
I guess I figured there would be more club rats on this site. or my search capabilities are severely lacking.

[YT]9I6JX74AOzU[/YT]

[YT]gaufAE7-imY[/YT]

[osopolar]

Crazy Ken Band
Nujabes (I know already mentioned, but still great)
DJ Krush
DJ Hasebe
DJ Celory
DJ Kentaro
Rhymester
Tokyo Bossa Nova Lounge
Pizzicato 5
Jhett
Soul Scream
Sphere of Influence

just to name a few.

[Visitor K]

basically asskissinger listed most of the ones i would mention.. id add shibushashirazu jazz orchestra and hinemos (dont know if they are still around, but i saw them open for smog a while back in tokyo, and they were great) as well..
surprisingly there were also quite a few good funk/soul groups in japan, i remember osaka monorail being exceptionally fun.