Let's Discover Music

Okay, sorry for not being on the blog more. I've had an incredibly busy schedule here in Japan. I'll get back to posting on more regular basis. BUT! For now, I want to take a moment to celebrate one of the greatest moments of Robin Williams' career. It certainly put an indelible mark on my life when I was a kid. So, yeah, I guess I just want to thank Robin Williams for making me smile.

I think everybody needs a little bit of 8-bit magic in their lives. And since they haven't released a game for the Nintendo Entertainment System since Wario's Woods in 1994, we can thank Anamanaguchi for filling that void. Their use of synth is so fun and makes you wish you were in an arcade 100% of your life. It's not a total gimmick though, either. You can move to this stuff. So much fun, I want to hear it everywhere.

Check out the albums "Endless Fantasy" and "Dawn Metropolis."

Twitter: @anamanaguchi

Website: http://anamanaguchi.com

Thanks to @TheWatanabes for the suggestion on this one. Metro-Ongen has a happy blistering pace to many of their songs. It's very Jimmy Eat World. Some of their guitar effects and stylings are similar to Explosions in the Sky, too. And just like Explosions in the Sky; they have some slow builders like the song "Silent Orange," which is a great tune too. I don't know, there's just something about this band that keeps me smiling with a hopeful grin.

Check out the albums, "Eden," "In the Whale" and "Silent Orange."

Twitter: @metroongen 

I was busy looking up some Frightened Rabbit stuff on the web the other day and came across this band Man/Miracle which was recommended to me. Now at first I'm like, "You tryin' ta tell me what to do internets!" But then, I was like Man/Miracle is super cool. Thank you internets for touting them as being similar to Frightened Rabbit. There's some of The Walkmen and My Morning Jacket going on in this sound. It's a got a little taste of Efterklang, too.

They have a swingin' noisy pop sound that you feel is yearning to come from 50s or 60s pop/rock era. Great elements from this band composed into a singular loose-ended catchy sound.

Check out the album "The Shape of Things" and get the Ep "Valleys."

Twitter: I couldn't find one!!! If you find it, send it to me. Go to their website below for now.

Okay, I know a lot of people will, at the very least have an idea of The Rentals; BUT THEY'RE RELEASING A NEW RECORD! And for those of you who don't them, let's learn a thing or two.

Matt Sharp (formerly fuzz bass master of Weezer's Blue and Pinkerton albums) split off to form his own nerd-pop group The Rentals. They immediately scored a huge alternative hit with "Friends of P;" and now no one can get that song out of their head. Since their last full length was released in 1999 they've played it cool with releasing a few Eps. They split for a little while but have stayed together throughout the years.

And now, we have the new album "Lost in Alphaville" coming out on August 25th. It's going to be awesome by the sounds of the first released tracks.

So yeah, get their albums "Return of the Rentals," "Seven More Minutes" and "Lost in Alphaville."

Twitter: @therentals

Okay, I think I'm pretty ahead of the game on this one. Roses is a brand new band coming out of Los Angeles that'll make you wish you still had a membership to The Breakfast Club. Their new wave dreamy synth-pop sound is a slice of NOWstalgia; as in, blast from the past but super cool that its coming out today. Anyone that loves that 80s sound will be crushing on Roses.

They don't even have an album out yet but their first Ep "Dreamlover" will be out August 5th. Get a copy today.

Twitter: @Juan_Vigoda

Here we go! I finally have ventured forward to discover some Japanese bands. The Watanabes are a great way to start to ease into find full out Japanese bands. I found them here, so it definitely counts.

They are an indie pop rock band; half from the UK, half from Japan. It's actually pretty amazing to hear this group blend their backgrounds into making this cool, flowing alternative sound. Don't want to hear what I say about them? Take it from them then as they call themselves a "whimsical guitar pop" group. That's pretty awesome. Makes me smile and now I want to hear more of them.

Check out the albums, "Independent Social Power," "You're Dancing, I'm absorbed," and the latest release; the Ep "Draw What you Like." Such a fun sound.

Twitter: @TheWatanabes

It appears I'm attracted to the music of Californians lately; because, that's right, Avi Buffalo is from Long Beach, California.

Whatever though. They have a lot of cool elements to them. Some of the vocals are reminiscent of The Pixies and The Shins. The music has an relaxed tone to it though. Especially in "What's in it For," there's a nostalgic quality that'll make you bob your head side to side. Altogether, the band has a quality like Built to Spill on a slow surf rock binge.

Having already toured internationally and with Modest Mouse, things are starting to explode for these quartet. I have a feeling they'll explode on the indie scene with their  new album "At Best Cuckold" that comes out on Sept 9th.

Also, get the 2010 self-titled album, "Avi Buffalo."

Twitter: @avibuffalo

I love this indie, new wave-electronica thing DJ Kamtin Mohager has going for him. He's from California and I think it kinda shows in his music. It's cool and relaxed. Even though it sounds like it should've been released in the 80s; I'm so glad we have this "indietronica" (the DJ's own words) sound of The Chain Gang of 1974 to give us a boost to our day.

Check out the albums "Wayward Fire" and "Daydream Forever."

Twitter: @CHAINGANGOF1974 

The Prisonaires have a story you will never believe. Johnny Bragg, lead singer and organizer throughout the history of the band, put together a group in...prison. The name kinda gives that away, right?

Anyway, the band (according to the industry) was a sign of the times but also managed to rise above it. At the time of Bragg's incarceration, Frank Clement was governor. He knew the warden in Bragg's penitentiary and pulled him out to various concerts; most notably at the governor's own mansion! Don't believe me? Check out this book here!

So...sorry everybody. I missed a post yesterday. I planned on posting on the plane on my way to Japan. But I'm here now and I'm back on this thing.

Anyway, I hope to discover lots of Japanese music while I'm here. I wanted my first post to be at least vaguely Japan-centric. Well, it's not perfect a match; but I found Emperor Yes! 

This London band is bringing back that Jimmy Eat World vibe with a little bit of Built to Spill flavor. Their debut album will come out soon; but I hope you love this song Wasps. Fun jam. They also have a series of art here.

Get the album "An Island Called Earth" when it comes out September 21st. For now, enjoy the single "Cosmos."

Twitter: @Emperor_Yes

Wardell is a very good mix of two things. 1. Karen O and 2. easy breezy music. It's almost like if Karen O decided to go chill out in Cali before really trying to launch her career. Anyway, I love this song Opossum. It gives you this sex-driven vibe over a sarcastic ease.

Oh, I forgot to mention (mainly I didn't want this to be the first stamp I put on the band)... They are the children of Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw!!!!!! There is way too much talent in that family.

Hopefully, we get a new Spielberg movie, featuring Wardell's music.

Check out the Ep, "Brother/Sister Ep." So good. Can't wait for more!!!

Twitter: @wardell 

Continuing on with my summer jam discovery session, you gotta listen to Jetta. Her music is the perfect "put the top down" music. It's just pure, fun, and energetic. She's got a softer side too, though.

I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing her more in the main stream. She's got that perfect package the industry looks for in talent, voice and beauty.

And, man, I don't know whats going on; but there are some cool, cool artists coming out of England right now. It seems to be especially true with the woman solo artists. So, we're sitting in some good times right now.

Check out her Eps "Start a Riot" and "Crescendo" for a good start on this artist.

I can only surmise that lots of good stuff will be out on the horizon for her too. Pharrell just teamed up with her and that makes me happy. Sorry couldn't help myself...

Twitter: @jettaofficial 

All y'all that love sunny summer days will love The Griswolds. They're a dynamic alternative pop group in the vein of Fun and Vampire Weekend. There's an element of reckless abandon in their sound too. They're very new, having just recently forming in 2012. So, there's a lot to look forward to with these guys. Judging by the fact that they've scored spots on the same bill as Passion Pit; they've got good things going for them. Lets keep an eye out for The Griswolds!

Check out the new album "Be Impressive" when it comes out on August 26th. Can't wait? Pick up the EP "Heart of a Lion."

Twitter: @wethegriswolds

Folk, alternative, country, classical...crooner? What could possibly group all these things together? The band The Family Crest that's who! There's something very exciting about this band. There is so much versatility in their song-writing that you kind of don't know what could come from them next. Well, if it's one thing they'll release; we'll know it'll be beautiful and grandiose. 

They also hearkens back to those beginnings of indie pop music when bands like The Decemberists and Death Cab for Cutie were just beginning to grace the scene. Another band that comes to mind is Stars; who, coincidentally, I've also written about here.

There is a passion in The Family Crest's sound that should not be taken for granted. It's densely written, beautifully played music and we should all be happier for it. That combo doesn't come around too often.

Get their albums "Beneath the Brine," "The Village," and the EP "The Headwinds."

Twitter: @TheFamilyCrest 

Ten Years After where one of the many psychedelia acts to come out of England from that amazing period around 1969...but wait! (*Record scratching sound) These guys are actually more of a blues band that happened to be able to incorporate some of that psychedelic sound; thus, not JUST being another psychedelia-act to water down the masses.

With the Vietnam War coming into full swing; I don't think it was possible to do anything other than find an escape. Psychedelic music provided that for so many people. Add that sound to the Blues and you have an ultimate explosion of sound for the time (in my opinion). Come on! Listen to that guitar playing too! I could get into that all night long.

I just find it amazing, too, that although they charted high in the UK and managed to make the top 200 in the US with their albums; they never were able to really get a foothold in the rock and roll charts and the every day person. They were always relegated to being that band that you loved to know but hoped no one else knew about so you could have them all to yourselves. It's not that they didn't have any success; it's just a surprise that with the sound they had, they weren't  able to be top of the charts around 1969. Then again...there was the Beatles.

I hope you love these guys. They are absolute geniuses in the blues-fold.

Check out the albums "Ten Years After," "Ssssh," "Cricklewood Green," and "A Space in Time."

They also have a huge history (as a matter of fact, they're still around today) with lots of different band members through the years. So, I'm going to leave you with a few different websites to check out.

Websites: "http://www.tenyearsafternow.com" 

                 "http://www.alvinlee.com"

                 "http://www.ten-years-after.com"