Japanese Music - J-Pop, enka, J-Rock, Japanese hip-hop, etc

[kndy]

Curious if anyone here listens to Japanese music and what are your favorites?

I first discovered Japanese music courtesy of my father who was stationed in Japan. He would bring back music for us and at that time during the '70s, he introduced us to Pink Lady and like others, discovered Japanese music through anime.

But around 1989, I became more serious when I discovered Chisato Moritaka. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaZQ63IL68M

And was a big fan of Akina Nakamori (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p21KPTND ... re=related) and Noriko Sakai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhE6eSZtXz4 back then.

Still listen to it a lot and doing a 365 project on what I'm listening to right now (photos of the CD single/album): http://www.flickr.com/photos/kndynt2099 ... 597316501/

[greg]

I find J-pop to be meaningless fluff without much substance, but at least it is harmless fluff that's not annoying, unlike pop music from America.

The music I enjoy most is the indie label scene in English, so naturally I am most interested in the Japanese indie scene that makes serious pop music. Some examples:

Advantage Lucy, "Glider": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp-pEhhjahU
(any band named after a Peanuts character deserves my attention!)
Waffles, レモンレイル: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIy4tbKn7q0
Supercar, "Lucky" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFLuZubq ... re=related

My favorite music genre is shoegaze, from the vein of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Chapterhouse, Catherine Wheel, Lush, Slowdive, etc. Here are several great J-shoegaze bands:
Hartfield, "Today Forever": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJOaE07BpT8
Nanocycle, "Elliot Carnival": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3oHpjDLDBY
My Dead Girlfriend, "Sunny Sunday, I Love You": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzQ7SFQ1bWs
Burrrn, "Coming Place" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAx51fpnENk
Plastic Girl in Closet, 'Stars Falling Down": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af09fd5Yv0k
Luminous Orange "Untold": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbNCLnBcPpo
There was another great but short-lived band called Clams, but the one video on YT of one of their songs was taken down.

[kndy]

I find J-pop to be meaningless fluff without much substance, but at least it is harmless fluff that's not annoying, unlike pop music from America.

The music I enjoy most is the indie label scene in English, so naturally I am most interested in the Japanese indie scene that makes serious pop music. Some examples:

Advantage Lucy, "Glider": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp-pEhhjahU
(any band named after a Peanuts character deserves my attention!)
Waffles, レモンレイル: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIy4tbKn7q0
Supercar, "Lucky" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFLuZubq ... re=related

My favorite music genre is shoegaze, from the vein of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Chapterhouse, Catherine Wheel, Lush, Slowdive, etc. Here are several great J-shoegaze bands:
Hartfield, "Today Forever": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJOaE07BpT8
Nanocycle, "Elliot Carnival": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3oHpjDLDBY
My Dead Girlfriend, "Sunny Sunday, I Love You": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzQ7SFQ1bWs
Burrrn, "Coming Place" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAx51fpnENk
Plastic Girl in Closet, 'Stars Falling Down": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af09fd5Yv0k
Luminous Orange "Untold": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbNCLnBcPpo
There was another great but short-lived band called Clams, but the one video on YT of one of their songs was taken down.

I definitely enjoy Advantage Lucy and a big fan of Supercar. But I absolutely love Luminous Orange. I wish I caught them when they performed at SXSW in Texas.

[kndy]

For me:

Kitaro, Billy BanBan, Ken Hirai, Crazy Ken Band, Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois, and other songs that catch my ear.

And of course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvuO0BsEEss
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1iR965rexM
Still my favourite movie that featured Takeshi "Beat" Kitano.

Cool! From R&B to Visual Kei...I have a few Ken Hirai albums and singles along with Crazy Ken Band, Malice Mizer and Moi dix Mois (I actually helped Mana out several years ago and was involved in trying to have a concert happen. Didn't happen...but he did make an appearance at AX).

[raiderfan99]

Is anyone into Loudness, EZO, anthem, casbah, crowley, GISM, etc.? I used to be into some of that visual kei stuff like X Japan, D'erlanger, early dir en grey....

[Heibi]

I've got tons of Anime soundtracks. I love the J-Pop as well. The groups MOVE, Psys, and several others, including solo work by some voice actresses. Maya Sakamoto being one. I also like the cultural sounding music in the background - classics-like.

[raiderfan99]

Here is loudness doing the super cheezy theme to that horridly boring anime Odin that was shown on sci fi channel back in the day....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqXdHDrbtY4

[Nortavlag]

I kinda liked that Odin show, but I don't remember much of it. I do remember the song though & listen to it from time to time. Cheesy, yes. I love it!

[raiderfan99]

I kinda liked that Odin show, but I don't remember much of it. I do remember the song though & listen to it from time to time. Cheesy, yes. I love it!

Yes, most of the music is cheezy engrish metal (love the part where minoru is like "GONWA KICK YOW ASSU"). There was actually a single Loudness released with all the music from the anime as Akira Takasaki, the guitarist for Loudness, composed all of it. You can find the videos on youtube if you just search for "loudness odin".

I think Odin just suffers from being ploddy, If I am right the same studio who did Yamato produced it. I think the one they showed on Sci-Fi was a condensed version. The full version is almost 2 1/2 hours long. I found both versions to be horribly boring.

[kndy]

Is anyone into Loudness, EZO, anthem, casbah, crowley, GISM, etc.? I used to be into some of that visual kei stuff like X Japan, D'erlanger, early dir en grey....

I'm a big fan of X Japan (1996-and before) and D'erlanger, I was fortunate to be sent their return album and singles by the label and also early Dir en Grey.

I've got tons of Anime soundtracks. I love the J-Pop as well. The groups MOVE, Psys, and several others, including solo work by some voice actresses. Maya Sakamoto being one. I also like the cultural sounding music in the background - classics-like.

m.o.v.e is cool! I actually did the 10th Anniversary interview with them back in '08 and reviewed every single and album at one point. But they are pretty awesome people.