-Wow Rock will be putting out Art Cube’s The Complete Best on December 3 before Japan.
-Housekeeping: If you scroll to the left, I added a new link section named “Japanese Labels.” These are Japanese record labels that I enjoy. More will be added in time. Right now, my favorite J-record label is Theory&Practice.
-Nadehiko from texas pandaa is working on the soundtrack for his friend’s indie film. Listen to the first track “Our Big Crossing” here.
-Eastern Youth has an exclusive download for “Konomama Aki He” here.
-Luminous Orange will be putting out a best of album on November 4. It will be available for international order on their webstore.
-EN-X is back in the studio after losing two members.
-Part 1 of FACT’sComing To America documentary is available on Shockhound.
Hailing from Chiba, birdlakes formed in 2006. The band has released one mini-album and two singles since then. For fans of Sparta Locals and Ogre You Asshole.
Mono’s fifth studio album Hymn to the Immortal Wind will be released March 4 in Japan on Human Highway Records and March 24 on Temporary Residence Limited in the US. The album was recorded and mixed in Chicago by Steve Albini. A full orchestra was used in at least 75% of the album.
They will be playing in New York City on May 5 in support of their album with a 23-piece orchestra. This will be their only North American performance of the year.
Hey guys. I’m going to try to do these “news updates” more frequently. I just started writing This Month in J-Rock: August 2008 (I know! Late again!) and it should be done by Friday. I can tell you now that the column will include four album and six singles reviews. Much less than last time but it was a short release month to begin with.
-Electrico have two new songs on their myspace, “Soul Not Science” and “Hail To the Friends” from their new album We Satellites. WHEN WILL THIS COME OUT IN AMERICA.
I’ve had my eyes on Muon for several years now. Muon was a three-piece, now a four-piece, ambient/experimental unit from Singapore. Their songs tend to be mostly instrumental and electronic with a post-rock feel to it. From what I understand, Ginnette Chittack from the Singapore indie-rock band Astreal was also a member of the group at one point. In a recent blog post on myspace, Muon has given away their entire discography, including their 2008 album The New Mutants which I will talking about in greater detail in another post. Enjoy.
It’s been a couple weeks but I’ve come back with some free tunes. Saddest Crying is a screamo band from Thailand. The Unresponsible Reason compiles what seems to be their entire discography, basically demos and tracks from compilations. The EP highlights their “old period” music as they do not plan on playing heavy music anymore. If the new song on their myspace player is any indication, they have a Creed/Nickelback thing going on right now, unfortunately. The songs on the EP aren’t bad but generic overall. Lyrics are typical for the genre “take that blood, bring the head to me, stab at them,” “You dig to my heart and cut it by your hands,” “everything was the cancer.” The EP ends with the band’s anthem “Crying,” a song about being kicked out of a loved one’s life. It has a nice mellow side to it, a great closer.
1. Commander In The Name Of Our Enemy
2. Saddest Song
3. Hopesdie
4. When I Try To Be A Superhero
5. Crying
This song has been weighing heavily on my heart lately.
I saw the photograph, an image of you
Things have never looked, looked like this
It’s never been like this
I’m swimming in gray
I’m just swimming in gray
Let them all walk away, all walk away
So there’s no one to blame
They all feel the same
Let them all walk away, all walk away
I’ll be left with the shame
You saw the photograph, an image of me
You’ll never see me like this
It’s never felt like this
I’m swimming in gray
I’m just swimming in gray
Let them all walk away, all walk away
So there’s no one to blame
They all feel same
Let them all walk away, all walk away
I’ll be left with the shame
Make sure you download “Everybody’s Here,” the new track by Electrico. “A song written for youths or anybody who feels lost, desolated, low in self-esteem, in despair, all the negative things we face. It’s a song about hope and opening up to people who can help. You are not alone!!”
Good Friday. The Friday before Easter. The day Jesus died on the cross. As I was raised Catholic, I celebrate this day every year. One song that always gets me in the mood is Mono’s “The Flames Beyond the Cold Mountain.” Whether it be the haunting intro that sounds exactly like the music played on Good Friday services or the utter breakdown at the end, its hard not to classify this song as a spiritual journey. Close your eyes and be transported to another world.
The last day of Spring break I realize that I haven’t accomplished much. It’s ok though I didn’t expect that I would. This morning I noticed that I haven’t added any new songs to the box player since last November. I decided to upload two songs with a theme, chick singers. I’ve posted about midori before, you’ll either love them or hate them. Very loud screaming vocals over jazz piano. Mass of the Fermenting Dregs is a little calmer, shoegaze band similar to Luminous Orange.
