Topic: Japanese Bands (Read 10960 times)

Siibillam-Law · « **on:** 23 Mar 2009, 10:46 »

I'm trying to start a collection of Japanese bands, as part of my learning of the language - it's a thing I picked up in a language-learning forum. Anyway, I want to know if any of you know of any good bands and might suggest them, as I've asked that language forum to not very many useful answers. Dragon Ash and Mr Children are really good bands though

What are your fave bands?

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:01 »

20 jazz funk greats · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:18 »

polysics

imapiratearg · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:26 »

The Pillows.

MONO are bad-ass, too.

Joseph · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:28 »

Mono, Zeni Geva, and Melt Banana.

I really don't think those bands will be that useful to learning the language though.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:32 »

Boris
The Pillows
Rururu

Catacombs · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 11:54 »

Quote from: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 11:01

Mono

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 12:03 »

Yeah I guess that was a bad example, considering he wants to learn the language

De_El · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 12:48 »

Ghost
The Tempters
Envy (maybe useful? probably not. good band though)

Catacombs · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 13:00 »

Quote from: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 12:03

Yeah I guess that was a bad example, considering he wants to learn the language

I really just quoted you because they are indeed an excellent band from Japan. However, in this context, it is kind of ironic.

Brian Majestic · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 13:05 »

Guitar Wolf.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 13:08 »

That is still one of the best bands names ever

Avec · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 13:13 »

As mentioned above, the only band I really know is the Pillows.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:22 »

MONO are awesome but obviously useless considering the OPs goal. Envy, on the other hand, are also awesome and not at all useless (although I couldn't say how distinguishable all their vocals are - I guess it depends on the album).

Beastmouth · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:29 »

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant are great and the vocals reasonably easy to understand. Teengenerate are great and sing like a bunch of drunken madmen, in English (I think) to boot

michaelicious · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:35 »

Shugo Tokumaru
Eastern Youth

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:42 »

Quote from: Beastmouth on 23 Mar 2009, 14:29

Teengenerate are great and sing like a bunch of drunken madmen, in English (I think) to boot

Again, this is a somewhat useless recommendation. The OP wants help learning Japanese and wants good music with Japanese vocals, Not good bands from Japan that sing in English or Portuguese or Swahili or whatever.
A recommendation: Elfin Saddle. At least half the vocals are in Japanese, if not more. This band is fantastic! Their debut album is coming out soon on Constellation. I booked their first show of their first tour a little while back with Alden Ginger's new band Clues and ES were terrific. Really cool folksy music steeped in Japanese mythology. Lots of cool instruments and great vocals. You won't be able to find them around just yet but once their album comes out this summer, give it a listen.

Beastmouth · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:46 »

Quote from: TheFuriousWombat on 23 Mar 2009, 14:42

Quote from: Beastmouth on 23 Mar 2009, 14:29
Teengenerate are great and sing like a bunch of drunken madmen, in English (I think) to boot

Again, this is a somewhat useless recommendation.

Thanks for the update there, chief. I had no idea that they'd be hard to learn Japanese from! Maybe next time I'll remember to clarify my post.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 15:13 »

If you meant that to be a joke of some sort, you didn't pull it off

Siibillam-Law · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 15:45 »

As long as there's something Japanese in it

Dragon Ash use English all the time in their songs. Somewhat badly,too

B-e-l-o-n-g japanese music technology
B-p-m ride on to the break down
Follow to t.o.p touch down
I show u fight real funky beat night fist u
Never lose your spirit
Funky d.j i show you check it out comin' out

Wtf?

Fishboy · « **Reply #20 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 15:51 »

Shonen Knife are the singly greatest pop-punk band in the history of mankind, although it is not as though that is all that great a boast considering the quality of most pop-punk. But these guys are so ridiculously influential it is not even funny.

spoon_of_grimbo · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 17:02 »

when i was in japan on an exchange trip back when i was about 15, i picked up an album by a REALLY poppy pop-rock/pop-punk band called 175R (apparently pronounced "inago rider"). the album was imaginatively titled "songs."

i'll be honest, most of it sounds like kiddie music or something, but it's not bad if you need something ridiculously cheerful. i can up it in the mediaf!re thread if you're interested?

Siibillam-Law · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 17:20 »

Thanks, I got a fairly decent downloader here, Videoraptor (and it's legal)

I'll see what it has first

altered_carbon · « **Reply #23 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 19:08 »

Guitar Wolf is one of the best punk bands ever. Their movie is also great.

Christophe · « **Reply #24 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 19:19 »

Japanese emotional hardcore?

Well here's some 1000 Travels of Jawaharlal for ya.

imapiratearg · « **Reply #25 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 19:51 »

Uhm, Number Girl?

E. Spaceman · « **Reply #26 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 22:27 »

Yura Yura Teikoku

valley_parade · « **Reply #27 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 05:31 »

Boris
Ai Aso
Stupid Babies Go Mad

Basically just listen to Boris.

(do Ghost sing in English?)

Radical AC · « **Reply #28 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 07:27 »

Number Girl and Zazen Boys

Kill.kenada · « **Reply #29 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 08:30 »

GO! GO! 7188

Seagull screaming Kiss her! kiss her!

sean · « **Reply #30 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 12:26 »

Guys why would envy be useless? I mean at least on their split with thursday the lyrics are written out in both japanese and english, so you could read along with the music. I imagine their other releases have the lyrics in japanese too. (though i dont own any).

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #31 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 21:57 »

Envy is a good recommendation. As far as I can tell, all their lyrics are indeed in Japanese. Not knowing a word of Japanese, however, I'm not sure how clear the lyrics are. You know how some screamo/hardcore bands that sing in English often have indistinguishable vocals? It might be the same with Envy (although some of their albums, especially Insomniac Doze, sound pretty clear to me).

MrBlu · « **Reply #32 on:** 25 Mar 2009, 14:52 »

MINMI

Keebbles · « **Reply #33 on:** 26 Mar 2009, 15:12 »

Rie Fu (Life is like a boat- sung in both english and japanese will help you learn words as you sing song.)
Asian Kung Fu Generation
The Brilliant Green
Yoko Kanno (featured heavily in Ghost in the Shell soundtracks)
Skoop on Somebody
Itou Manaka
Minori Chihara
Yoshitake Hirota w/ H. Kasahara

MakuseruSukotto · « **Reply #34 on:** 26 Mar 2009, 21:04 »

9mm Parabellum Bullet
Anna Tsuchiya
Aqua Timez
Asian Kung-fu Generation
Avengers in Sci-Fi
L`Arc~en~Ciel
Number Girl
Rin Toshite Shigure (my current favorite band)

Just a few good ones.

Siibillam-Law · « **Reply #35 on:** 27 Mar 2009, 10:38 »

Envy are pretty good, yeah
and Asian Kung Fu

Also found Tokyo Jihen, which is pretty jazzy stuff - very nice

billiumbean · « **Reply #36 on:** 28 Mar 2009, 06:02 »

Euphoria.

There are about seven Euphorias in the world. I'm talking, of course about the Japanese one. Very Americanized indie soft rock. Good stuff.

Side note, they wrote the greatest instrumental of all time, called "Silent Roar". That doesn't help your Japanese-speaking goal at all, I know, but it does help your soul become an even better soul.

Keebbles · « **Reply #37 on:** 28 Mar 2009, 15:56 »

Quote from: billiumbean on 28 Mar 2009, 06:02

Euphoria.

There are about seven Euphorias in the world. I'm talking, of course about the Japanese one. Very Americanized indie soft rock. Good stuff.

Side note, they wrote the greatest instrumental of all time, called "Silent Roar". That doesn't help your Japanese-speaking goal at all, I know, but it does help your soul become an even better soul.

That indeed is an awesome piece! Gotta queue it up!

Be My Head · « **Reply #38 on:** 28 Mar 2009, 18:58 »

Acid Mothers Temple
Boris
Losalios
???
Profit!

Nodaisho · « **Reply #39 on:** 28 Mar 2009, 23:37 »

Now, I haven't heard much Boris, but I don't remember the vocals seeming all that clear. Am I mistaken? Just wondering, because this sounds like a good idea.

valley_parade · « **Reply #40 on:** 29 Mar 2009, 10:01 »

When they were coming out of the hardcore punk scene in the 90s, not so much.

I don't really see a problem now, though.

Siibillam-Law · « **Reply #41 on:** 29 Mar 2009, 14:31 »

Dry your tears ... with love!

Thanks X-Japan!

Latte · « **Reply #42 on:** 05 Apr 2009, 11:04 »

I guess I don't have extensive experience listening to them, but if you can find anything by Happy End do it. They were most recently used in Lost In Translation soundtrack, pretty awesome folky pop stuff, with clear vocals at a decent pace. Seems like a good fit for music to learn a language to.

Coincidentally, does anyone have anything by these guys laying around? Imports, the ones that are still in production, are going for a nice chunk online-that I've found anyway.

P-Frank · « **Reply #43 on:** 05 Apr 2009, 19:21 »

I am a big fan of toddle. They have rad Sonic Youth + pop sounds. My favourite track of theirs, A Sight, is not on Youtube anymore. Dang record labels.

Tehz · « **Reply #44 on:** 05 Apr 2009, 19:32 »

Pillows
Boredoms
Melt Banana
Boris

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #45 on:** 05 Apr 2009, 20:45 »

Quote from: Siibillam-Law on 29 Mar 2009, 14:31

Thanks X-Japan!

That is an awful, awful band

Siibillam-Law · « **Reply #46 on:** 06 Apr 2009, 04:31 »

Damn, the Pillows remind me of another band but I can't quite put my finger on it

yelley · « **Reply #47 on:** 06 Apr 2009, 04:43 »

The Pillows
The Seatbelts
Asian Kung Fu Generation
Monkey Majik (Terrible band name, but Thank You is easily one of my favorite albums in any language)
Pornograffiti (ジョバイロ！ Or jobairo, if the katakana doesn't work.)

Be My Head · « **Reply #48 on:** 06 Apr 2009, 13:04 »

Check out Church of Misery if you like Psychedelic Doom Metal with 70s blue licks and warm production.

drock · « **Reply #49 on:** 07 Apr 2009, 11:09 »

If you want some truly beautiful/well constructed music, check out Toe and Mouse on the Keys

Other fun bands (with links):
9mm Parabellum Bullet
Radwimps
Asian Kungfu Generation
Te'
Lite

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Author Topic: Japanese Bands (Read 10960 times)

Latte

drock