12.19.2007
[Musikkah! Day Five - Japanic! Attack!]
Japanic! Attack! showed me that looking at and contemplating about Japan can be definitely amusing, and why not? I expect nothing less from a country that has variety shows that like to slap meat on a person's head and set loose a small Komodo Dragon. Now I knew I didn't have a lot of Japanese material, but when it came to making this mix, I just never fully realized how little I had. Japanic! is, sadly, one of the more skimpier mixes when it comes to selection, so I'd love to hear about anything you like from that island nation...
Japanic! Attack!Originally Posted 5.9.07
Oh Japan, how irony lies in the idea that such a seafood-loving country be a sardine can of a place. You're Godzilla's favorite playground, Mothra's favorite skies. Our film producers like to steal your horror movies, and your backstreet vendors like to steal...well, everything else. And then, of course, there's your music. Singing in English is cute and sounds like you're trying to sing with loads of pink bubblegum in your mouth; singing in Japanese is just as interesting. It was noted some time back that a group wasn't quite Atari enough for their tastes, so, not being one to disappoint, I figure Japanic! Attack! ought to be a big enough quarter for their coin slot. Just like how the most serious of businessmen can walk alongside an extreme Harajuku girl on the streets of Tokyo, Japan's musical mavens come to represent a slurry of styles whether it be the surf rock stripe of the 5,6,7,8's or the truly arcade-esque aspect of groups like Halcali and PINE*am. If there's one string to tie it all together, it's their energy. Energy abound. It just jumps off the chart and proceeds to bitchslap it into submission. So Japan, I choose you - Japanic! Attack!
Japanic! Attack! (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
The 5,6,7,8's - I'm Blue
Fantasy's Core - Knocked On Heaven's Door, You May Fall In Hell
Halcali - Maachingu Maachi
Kiiiiiii - 4 Little Joeys
PINE*am - Get A Choco
Pizzicato Five - Baby Love Child
Shonen Knife - Flying Saucer Attack
I was stupid for forgetting to put in who? Of course! How could I forget? Feel free to share your regional favorites...
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Otherwheres - Head on over to Covert Curiosity for an amusing take of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" by Nova Scotia's Rich Aucoin...
Otherwheres - John over at Party Ends! posts his top 10 releases of 2007...
Otherwheres - And while you're getting an opinion on it anyway, head on over to Side One: Track One for another take of the top of 2007...
5 Comments:
AnnainLondon said...
What album is Fantasys Core's "Anoyo" from? I didn't see it mentioned on their site. Thanks for posting it.
Unknown said...
Beth - I downloaded Anoyo off their Japanese site where it's listed as Track 10 on their latest album, Nagasaki Atom. Being in Japanese, I just went ahead and went with the file name it gave me of Anoyo, so turns out it's Knocked On Heaven's Door, You May Fall in Hell. How it goes from Anoyo to that is beyond me...
AnnainLondon said...
Thanks for the info. Great track!
Unknown said...
well who knows if anyone will see this since the post is a few weeks old, but Takako Minekawa's "Fantastic Cat" is also a great song!
Unknown said...
Ryan - Oh, you'd be surprised we still get notifications and go back to commented posts from like a year ago. Anyway, thanks a lot for the suggestion! I'll be sure to check it out...
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