JAPANESE UNDERGROUND BANDS
band index || cd sources || link



Introduction

Does it matter where a band comes from? It doesn't seem like 
it should. Yet all the great music these days is coming from 
Japan. America hasn't been the leader since the fifties. Eng-
land held sway in the sixties and seventies. Since then, Ja-
pan has prevailed over all.

The two great bands of the eighties were Shonen Knife and 
the Boredoms. While the Boredoms still roll along, unfortu-
nately Shonen Knife lost a key member in 1999 (I have a 
separate page about Shonen Knife, you can read more there).

   

The big three of the nineties were Angel'in Heavy Syrup, 
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her and Melt Banana. All 
three bands are still going strong, making wonderful sounds 
on CD and in concert. No band from any other country even 
comes close in greatness or originality.

Why are all the best bands Japanese? How should I know? I 
just report the facts as I find them. Why did England pro-
duce the best talent in previous decades? Sure, America 
created rock'n'roll. Then the island countries took it over.

Read about the different bands page by page, or find a band 
in the index below.

Next Page
   (Shonen Knife, Angel'in Heavy Syrup, 
   Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her, 
   Melt Banana, Boredoms)





Band Index

Acid Mothers Temple (link)
Angel'in Heavy Syrup (photo and link)
Boredoms (link)
Coa (photo)
Evil Hoo Doo
eX-Girl (photos and link)
5,6,7,8's (link)
Ghost
Little Fujiko (photo and link)
Lolita #18 (photos and link)
Mady Gula Blue Heaven
Mainliner
Melt Banana (photo and link)
Takako Minekawa
Nelories (photo)
OOIOO
Pizzicato Five (link)
Pugs (photos and link)
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (photos and links)
Shizuka (link)
Shonen Knife (my memorial site)
Soap Jo Henshi
Spoozys (photo and link)
Superball
Supersnazz
Violent Onsen Geisha (link)

More bands will be added as I discover them.





Where Do I Get This Stuff?

Tokyo Recohan

   This is the most cost-effective way to go, 
   because you're buying used CDs for less than 
   half the retail price. What's also great is 
   that Patrick provides a hunting service, so 
   if you don't see what you want in the online 
   catalog, just ask for it, and he'll go find 
   it for you. I asked for a rare CD that I 
   didn't expect to ever own, and he happened
   to remember seeing it somewhere and went
   and got it! I was amazed. Patrick uses 
   Paypal.

CD Japan

   The most convenient site, because they take 
   credit cards. Tons of mainstream J-Pop, but 
   plenty of underground stuff, too. Definitely 
   worth checking!

Comfort

   If CD Japan doesn't carry it, you might find 
   it here. Great selection. Also handles boot-
   legs. Payment by international money order.

Sister Records/Benten Label

   Home of many groovy girl groups. Their most 
   famous acts are Lolita #18, Petty Booka and 
   Flamenco a Go Go, but my favorite on their 
   roster is Little Fujiko. (This label also
   carries Hang on the Box, an excellent band 
   from China.) Check out their catalog. They'll 
   take an international money order. 


Cool Photos

   Some guy took a bunch of fantastic photographs of shows 
   in Japan. You can see them here.





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