Song of the Day - GAZZILA - WHAT'S MY NAME?

A brand new PV from R-Rated Records, starring label newcomer GAZZILA! Pretty cool video if you like R-Rated Records and skateboards/BMX! This came out of nowhere on YouTube yesterday and it's not being released as a single yet either. Hopefully it's a sign of his first album. The track is produced by NAOtheLAIZA & RAGSIX. The video is directed by JONAH SCHWARTZ.

REVIEW - AXIS - UNCIVILIZED

I pre-ordered AXIS's new album from JetSet Records and after it arrived I got sidetracked for a month and didn't get around to reviewing it. AXIS is a rapper on the LIBRA LTD label known for Japanese hip hop legends MSC aka Mic Space Crew and SHINGO NISHINARI as well as JUSWANNA and many great DJ. Anyway! Without further ado, on to the review!

1.Prologue - It's basically a good intro track that sounds like it could go in a action film, then AXIS just kills it with a freestyle session. It definitely sets up the rest of the album, especially the eerie demonic laughter. The beat is courtesy of DADDY VEDA a.k.a. REBEL BEATS (ILL EAST RECORDS).

RIZE 2012 Fallin' Tour

RIZE TOUR 2012 - Sponsored by Stride gum

Everyone's favorite Japanese grunge-rock band RIZE is back at it again, along with the release of their newest single, "Local Defense Organization." 

Japan's Top R&B - A.I.

I love music. It's simple. Unfortunately, finding new music I like is often impossible. Either it's too "poppy" for me or it lacks a certain element of the underground, which I so desperately crave. In recent years, in terms of the music I've been listening to on a daily basis, most of the music I listen to these days were orchestrated by friends I've made in real life. Today's featured artist is no different, allow me to introduce you to Japan's top R&B singer, the beautiful "A.I.".

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1981, AI would go on to become one of Japan's top R&B artists. In 2000, she signed with Universal (BMG) Japan, and moved to Def Jam Japan in 2002. It wasn't until 2005 when AI found major success with her single, "Story." Since then, AI has gone on to win numerous awards from Billboard Japan, Space Shower and MTV Japan. No matter what AI does, there is just no stopping this sensational singer.

Magenta Beach

Some bands make it, some bands don't. Some bands have great music, and terrible PR. Other bands just don't give a f*** and make music for the love of it. Magenta Beach is one of those bands...

Magenta Beach has 5 members:

Ali (Vo,)

Candy (Bass, Vo.)

Kosuke (Guitar)

Maro (Drums)

Chemizalfa (DJ)

I can't accurately recall the first time I met these guys. I want to believe it was in 2008, at a show at Club Asia in Shibuya. At the time, I had no idea their music would find its way to my iPod, but flash forward to 2012 and I can't help but smile every time I hear one of their songs come up on shuffle.

Hakai Hayabusa ( ハカイハヤブサ )

While waiting in the clubs for the headliners to play, I've often discovered new bands I would have otherwise never known existed.  I've been introduced to some really great bands, and really great people via this method. One such notable group I've met via a random encounter is the band Hakai Hayabusa (ハカイハヤブサ).

Pictured: KZ (Gu./Vo.)

Hakai Hayabusa was formed in 2002 and was originally a three piece band. Hakai Hayabusa currently consists of four members:

KZ (Guitar, Vocals)

Nori (Drums)

Moby (Bass, Chorus)

WACK (Guitar, Chorus)

I've rocked out with Hakai Hayabusa live a few times. I remember first seeing them (meeting them, and partying with them) on August 8, 2008 at a show in Tokyo. I was at the show to support my friends in the band Chokesleeper, but before they were due up to the stage that evening, this super chill, surf-punk band ruled the stage (Hakai Hayabusa).

Song of the Day - Golden Age - Def Tech

And today's song is... Golden Age by Def Tech. I've got a special love for Def Tech - somehow, their music just fills me up with a happy floaty feeling. Which, by the way, is a feeling you don't often encounter if your hobby is writing depressing lyrics about death, destruction and annihilation... oh, right, getting way off topic here. In any case, this is a great song, and somewhat recent at that.

Steady & Co.

In 2001, members from the bands Skebo King, Rip Slyme, and Dragon Ash, combined forces to make one of Japan's most epic Hip Hop groups of all time, Steady & Co.

Steady & Co. consists of 4 members:

Kenji Furuya (Dragon Ash)

Bots (Dragon Ash)

Ilmari (Rip Slyme)

Shigeo (Skebo King)

The band's only major release was in 2001, an album titled "Chambers." The Chambers album is packed from front to back with awesome songs, as to be expected from Japan's 2001 Hip Hop dream team.

FIREBALL (Japanese Reggae)

The Japanese reggae scene has seen an explosion of talent in recent years. From Ryo the Skywalker to 卍Line, and Def Tech, the Japanese music scene continues to embrace the irie culture. One of my personal favorite Japanese reggae bands is FIREBALL.

FIREBALL consists of four members:

CRISS

TRUTHFUL 

CHOZEN LEE 

JUN4SHOT

If you see FIREBALL perform live, you might be confused to see more than four people on stage performing with  them. Providing FIREBALL's irie sound while touring is their supporting (back up) band, Home Grown. The two bands intermingle frequently, as seen in the Home Grown song "Stay with Me" featuring Criss from FIREBALL.

PaymoneyTomyPain

One of my personal favorite bands from Japan, PaymoneyTomyPain offers up a collection of rhythmic hits, each with their own catchy guitar riffs and punk/rock hooks. Formed in 2005, PTP continues to make waves throughout the Japanese music scene.

The band consists of four main members: 

K - Vocals

Pablo - Guitar

Zax - Drums

Tsuyoshi - Bass

Albums

• Another Day Comes (September 12, 2007)
• After You Wake Up (March 18, 2009)
• Remember the Name (January 26, 2011)

Song of the Day - "AWAKE" by EGG BRAIN

Song of the Day - 卍LINE - O.RE.O.RE.O

This is a very nice song with some beautiful landscape and 卍LINE's trademark reggae sound.
Twitter
Official site

Song of the Day - "PIERROT" CLUTCHO

     Greetings, readers! It's Nex, again. For today's Song of the Day, I present to you, "PIERROT" by the rock band CLUTCHO. The band was formed in Anjoshi, Aichi, Japan in 2002. Definitely check them out!

     Homepage: http://www.clutcho.com/

     Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clutchoJP

     YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/clutchotv

     Twitter: https://twitter.com/clutcho

     If you enjoy our articles, interviews, and reviews, then keep informed of updates by typing in your email address in the box on the right hand side that says "Follow by email"! You won't get any spam, just emails when we post new articles!

NEWS - THA BLUE HERB - 9 Day Tour Schedule!

Tha Blue Herb have announced the dates for their latest tour including one show already sold out in Shibuya! The tour will only last 9 days, but is going to feature a very long set list so this is going to be a very special release tour! All the information can be found at  http://www.tbhr.co.jp/jp/livescedule/index.html

Song of the Day - "NO ESCAPE" coldrain

     Why, hello again. Nex here with another Song of the Day!
   

     Today I bring you "NO ESCAPE" by the band coldrain. While I'm not the best at labeling genres, I'd say it's a post-hardcore - hardrock sound. Either way, it's a hard hitting song with great guitar work, and screaming in parts. The song itself was featured in a commercial for the popular game: Biohazard: Operation Raccoon City. 

     coldrain is one of those bands that have been consistently rising up in the rock scene in Japan. They're definitely a band worth checking out.

     Check out their website: http://coldrain.jp
     Twitter: https://twitter.com/coldrain_jp

     If you enjoy our articles, interviews, and reviews, then keep informed of updates by typing in your email address in the box on the right hand side that says "Follow by email"! You won't get any spam, just emails when we post new articles!

Song of the Day - RIGHT NOW - GOOD4NOTHING

Hey, it's me Nex. This is my first Song of the Day!

Todays song is "RIGHT NOW" by GOOD4NOTHING. I only recently heard about this band. GOOD4NOTHING is a melodic pop punk band. The song is about not letting anyone else rule your life, and making your own decisions. The good old "Fuck Authority" of punk themes. It's a fun song, and fun video, so check it out!

Also check out their website:
http://g4n.jp
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/good4nothing_jp

Enjoy!

1 Month Anniversary! (Thank you so much!)

Wow, it's been a month already and we've already done so much and there are so many people to thank, from the readers to the people who have allowed me to interview them and of course Katherine and Nex who without, this could not have been possible. It's only been one month, but I am optimistic that we will be able to spread more good music to even more people as we go along. Thank you all so much! To end this I would like to name my top 5 favorite artists/bands of all time, something that we as a whole have been wanting to do for a while, but had yet to find it appropriate. Anyway, thank you again and here goes nothing! Okay, not nothing, this was very hard to sort out the top 5! Not including anything that I've already mentioned on here was tough, but I managed not to.

LIVE REPORT - RIZE 2012 TOUR FINALE, AKASAKA BLITZ

Live Report – RIZE 2012 TOUR FINALE, AKASAKA BLITZ
Date: May 27, 2012
Location: Akasaka BLITZ
Written by Nex
Photos by Dao, Kai, and Nex (edited by Nex)

Outside Akasaka Blitz, the place was buzzing with people

This wasn't my first time seeing RIZE, or meeting the members of the band. However, as I road the train to Akasaka, my heart was still racing. RIZE never fails to deliver an awesome show. It doesn't matter how many times I see them, or meet them, I'll always be psyched to see them. They have an infectious energy and passion that hypes people of all ages and lifestyles. So as I walked up the stairs of the station, and the RIZE flag came into view, I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

Song of the Day - Kamisori - DuelJewel

 

Ok, ok, before I listen to this song a fifth time in a row, I'll just put this here. 

I figured, since my last chanson du jour was something from when I was 15, let's move slightly forward through time and look at what a rabbit hole I fell into at age 16. If we'll keep up the metaphor, DuelJewel were that suspicious white rabbit that I followed through the burrow.