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Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: Siibillam-Law on 23 Mar 2009, 10:46

Title: Japanese Bands
Post by: 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?
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 11:01
Mono
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: 20 jazz funk greats on 23 Mar 2009, 11:18
polysics
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: imapiratearg on 23 Mar 2009, 11:26
The Pillows.

MONO are bad-ass, too.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Joseph 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 23 Mar 2009, 11:32
Boris
The Pillows
Rururu
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Catacombs on 23 Mar 2009, 11:54
Quote from: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 11:01
Mono
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 12:03
Yeah I guess that was a bad example, considering he wants to learn the language
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: De_El on 23 Mar 2009, 12:48
Ghost
The Tempters
Envy (maybe useful? probably not. good band though)
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Catacombs 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Brian Majestic on 23 Mar 2009, 13:05
Guitar Wolf.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 13:08
That is still one of the best bands names ever
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Avec on 23 Mar 2009, 13:13
As mentioned above, the only band I really know is the Pillows.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: TheFuriousWombat 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).
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Beastmouth 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
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: michaelicious on 23 Mar 2009, 14:35
Shugo Tokumaru
Eastern Youth
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: 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. 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Beastmouth 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.  :)
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: KickThatBathProf on 23 Mar 2009, 15:13
If you meant that to be a joke of some sort, you didn't pull it off
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Siibillam-Law 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?
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Fishboy 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: spoon_of_grimbo 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?
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Siibillam-Law 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
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: altered_carbon on 23 Mar 2009, 19:08
Guitar Wolf is one of the best punk bands ever. Their movie is also great.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Christophe on 23 Mar 2009, 19:19
Japanese emotional hardcore?

Well here's some 1000 Travels of Jawaharlal (http://www.myspace.com/1000travels) for ya.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: imapiratearg on 23 Mar 2009, 19:51
Uhm, Number Girl?
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: E. Spaceman on 23 Mar 2009, 22:27
Yura Yura Teikoku
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: valley_parade on 24 Mar 2009, 05:31
Boris
Ai Aso
Stupid Babies Go Mad

Basically just listen to Boris.


(do Ghost sing in English?)
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Radical AC on 24 Mar 2009, 07:27
Number Girl and Zazen Boys
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Kill.kenada on 24 Mar 2009, 08:30
GO! GO! 7188

Seagull screaming Kiss her! kiss her!
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: sean 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).
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: TheFuriousWombat 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).
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: MrBlu on 25 Mar 2009, 14:52
MINMI
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Keebbles 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
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: MakuseruSukotto 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Siibillam-Law 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
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Keebbles 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!
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Be My Head on 28 Mar 2009, 18:58
Acid Mothers Temple
Boris
Losalios
???
Profit!
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Nodaisho 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: valley_parade 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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52lR5JFN6QI), though.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Siibillam-Law on 29 Mar 2009, 14:31
Dry your tears ... with love!


Thanks X-Japan!
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Latte 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: P-Frank 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.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Tehz on 05 Apr 2009, 19:32
Pillows
Boredoms
Melt Banana
Boris
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: KickThatBathProf 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
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Siibillam-Law on 06 Apr 2009, 04:31
Damn, the Pillows remind me of another band but I can't quite put my finger on it
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: yelley 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.)
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Be My Head on 06 Apr 2009, 13:04
Check out Church of Misery (http://www.last.fm/music/Church+of+Misery) if you like Psychedelic Doom Metal with 70s blue licks and warm production.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: drock on 07 Apr 2009, 11:09
If you want some truly beautiful/well constructed music, check out Toe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMsSIc_EoM) and Mouse on the Keys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUIiR5VxgvE)

Other fun bands (with links):
9mm Parabellum Bullet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xl_2YLg93U)
Radwimps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMOr5W6kdhI&feature=related)
Asian Kungfu Generation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW_5IdF4fKM)
Te' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKauxbFXEZg&feature=related)
Lite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM7oioKt7XE)


Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Yayniall on 07 Apr 2009, 20:11
Mad Capsule Markets.
It's pretty much like listening to a language tape.
A very angry language tape.
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Avec on 07 Apr 2009, 20:41
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBmJ9Fq1cfo
Title: Re: Japanese Bands
Post by: Evil_Lathander on 08 Apr 2009, 16:58
Galneryus