Bits of random Japanese music:
Babymetal is what you get when a idol group goes death metal: loligoths headbanging in coordinated choreography. As synthetic as any J-pop idol group, but the agency that packaged them did find a drummer and guitarist who know their stuff, and the lead singer has a voice that can stand up their shredding. Their concert videos are, as is par for the idol course, better than the regular music videos. I think this is the first metal of any sort that's actually earwormed me. Start with "Ijime, Dame, Zetai" ("bullying, no more, ever") and "Gimme Choco(late)". (via)
tricot is a math rock quartet, which is kinda like the intersection of alt.rock and experimental jazz -- filled constantly changing oddball time signatures. I like it myself, and these guys are tight in performance. Best entry song is probably "Ochansensu-su" -- if you like that and the next song on the linked playlist, "POOL," randomize the rest. NB: I find this stuff good for de-earworming Babymetal. (via, which also has "if you like them" recs)
Charisma.com is an electro-rap duo -- yes, the "dot com" is part of the band name. Start with "HATE" (alternate version with lyrics, less violence, and doofy studio prancing). If you like that, randomwalk the sidebar. (via).
Subject quote from "Tennis Court," Lorde.
Babymetal is what you get when a idol group goes death metal: loligoths headbanging in coordinated choreography. As synthetic as any J-pop idol group, but the agency that packaged them did find a drummer and guitarist who know their stuff, and the lead singer has a voice that can stand up their shredding. Their concert videos are, as is par for the idol course, better than the regular music videos. I think this is the first metal of any sort that's actually earwormed me. Start with "Ijime, Dame, Zetai" ("bullying, no more, ever") and "Gimme Choco(late)". (via)
tricot is a math rock quartet, which is kinda like the intersection of alt.rock and experimental jazz -- filled constantly changing oddball time signatures. I like it myself, and these guys are tight in performance. Best entry song is probably "Ochansensu-su" -- if you like that and the next song on the linked playlist, "POOL," randomize the rest. NB: I find this stuff good for de-earworming Babymetal. (via, which also has "if you like them" recs)
Charisma.com is an electro-rap duo -- yes, the "dot com" is part of the band name. Start with "HATE" (alternate version with lyrics, less violence, and doofy studio prancing). If you like that, randomwalk the sidebar. (via).
Subject quote from "Tennis Court," Lorde.