Anybody else want to try to introduce the world to the complicated scenes connected with current Japanese jukebox tunes? Hum? Like, does anybody want to try to explain dolls, for example? "Dolls" means a lot here, but I'm not going to be the one who attempts to clear up that, or any of the other mysterious uses of English in Japan. With what can be termed an ecclectic selection of styles of music popular in Japan right now, it's best to limit one's investigation to a few basic, uh, trends; for example, Indie, Goa Trance, Techno; or then maybe Hip-Hop, or Psychedelic, um... Punk, Soul Funk (Earth, Wind and Fire and Rick James are getting "hot" lately); fuck, I really don't have any way to deal with the hundreds of bands and the esoteric cum nostalgic, neo-traveler rock and blues they're into here -- I mean, really, where is the last place on the planet where the Ventures still have a respectable venue, and why is that so? Is it good? Is it not good? A good set of references anyway, although still, by no means complete, can be had from JapanEdge They have 10 links for every one listed below -- if your system is set up to support Japanese fonts. All the ones (practically) on this page have English blurbs -- if that helps. You want to begin to deal with the confusion?
Kuro is Goa Trance, which (correct me if I'm wrong) is a variety of techno.
BADCAVE is about techno -- with an emphasis on Goa Trance. (I think).
Blank Generation is Punk. That's easy; but this page is rather austere: just "listen to Richard Hell scream."
Eli-Bungi is jap hip-hop -- which has been criticized by some as lacking soul, but doesn't care. (which, correct me if I'm wrong, is pretty much in line with the hip-hop ethos, isn't it?)
Electric Cool Acid honors the 60s as symbolized by acid and bellbottoms. (Not,as it is symbolized to me by acid, bellbottoms, and big problems).
Heathen Heaven is indie.
in dust-real: techno.
Buffalo Daughter Alternative Rock, Tokyo.
icy spicy coolmint: indie.
Cute "plays very cheap sound, noise pop and lo-fi music." (Blurb from JapanEdge -- don't bother trying to improve on good description)
Speaking of GU description, check out what JapanEdge says about Tiger on Beat: "featuring Gabba label "MOMO Records" and Gabba e-zine "Denki-Geijutsu". Sooooo Gabbbbaaaa!!!!"
T.J.Laser Excellent Graphics
Cerberus Japan: Stylish Format.
Atom And Its Japanese Independent Music Archive: indie
Bugdajapaz! Japan Music Reviews
Music Treasure What more can one say: it's music, and it's a treasure of it.
Trip Trap Records and Man Records Japanese independent trance and techno labels
Get Your Own Free Home Page