How to get into japanese music (or the 15 albums for beginners)
If you're looking to start getting into J-Pop, it might be a little overwhelming when faced with the sheer amount of groups, soloists, and popular albums out there. I will guide you through it with a selection of albums which for me represent a good starting point, they will give a flavor and sparks your interest.
additionally rather than throwing out just a list of ever-changing boys/girls band, of which internet is full, I've decided to have a large palette of musical styles, hoping that everyone will find their taste, and thus I've also sorted them by style as a first time listener will go by the style rather than by an unknown artist name. I've checked that styles matched with Wikipedia to low down the fantasy naming, as most of them have a genre of their own.
1. Alternative Rock / Shoegazing: Supercar - Highvision
A band from the 90's which split and went solo. this is one is my favorite album from them. they do a lot of experimentation which reminds me at a distance Radiohead
2. blend of jazz and post rock: Special Others - Have a nice day
The genre is out of wikipedia but personnally I don't agree, it's indeed a blend but of what I wonder. they are quite special. This album is their last before... mmm switching their unstruments.
3. Downtempo / Alternative Pop: Chara - Sugar Hunter
Great voice of Japan, very peculiar, as her music. Seeing her live in Japan was magical!
4. Electro Pop / Bitpop: Perfume - Love the World
This band went from totally unknown to chart topping (in Japan obviously) . nice grooves, dance-able tunes, very researched design of their shows (dress, dances, special effects). They gave a performance even at the Cannes movie festival. I saw them in concert a few times in France, UK and Tokyo. (My better half is especially crazy about them)
5. Electro rock: LAMA - Modanica
Born from the ashes of Supercar, with more electro feel, more experimental and also more what you would hear after watching some modern Anime. The girl voice is also singing solo as Miki Furukawa.
6. Folk Rock: Chage & Aska - Roll Over 20th
This band has been playing since the 70's, most of their songs was a hit, have become classics for everyday Japanese in their 30-50ies. Their songs are also featured often in TV shows, Anime and advertisements. I personally like their voices a lot, they put me in nostalgia mode, though I'm not Japanese and I don't think I was listening to them when I was a kid. I wonder why.
7. Hard Rock: Gackt - The eleventh Day
Started as the lead singer in Visual band (vampire style rock), to evolve into a solo hard rock artist. His voice is special: You love it or hate it. I've seen him live in France.
8. Hip-Hop: Dragon Ash - Viva la Revolution
The first japanese hip hop album I've heard, but I must say it's more a hip-hop-rock band.
The album is a bit old, but it's the one that has their most signature style.
9. House / Bigbeat: Mondo Grosso - Next wave
Great Japanese DJ, this album has many collaborations with many other japanese artists so it's a all rounder for a good overview. House is the main driver but many other styles are also mixed in.
10. New Wave: Polysics - Bestoisu
Great band, great sound, great live even when they go to an unknown location and they end up playing in front of at best 10 people - when in Japan they are used to play in front of tens of thousands! I was one of those 10 at a tourist spot in the middle of the Swiss Alps, no wonder we were so few!
11. Pop: Ayumi Hamazaki - Duty
This is pure japanese pop, the most well known artist, and my favorite cd from her. check her out on youtube.
12. Post Rock: Mono - Hymn of the immortal Wind or Gone
Mono is a band of 4, they are best heard live as I bought their cds hoping to go into the same trance state as I had at their live, but it wasn't as good. I just can blame my sound system.
It's basically instrumental post rock, with a lot shoe-gazing and unbearable guitar sound (I must be a bit M.) Seen them in France and Switzerland [this time the show was fully packed - I'm sure the issue at the Polysics live was the location]
Gone is a collection of EP, while Hymn is an album with a story.
13. Rock: L'arc en ciel - Real
Probably the most well known rock band from Japan. this is my favority CD. it's quite dark.
I've also seen them in France
14. Techno / Shibuya-key: Denki Groove - Single and strikes
The band that brought Techno sound to Japan, with the Japanese touch: Lyrics, mostly funny lyrics, and if you don't understand, you can get it's funny by the way they sing.
15. Trance: globe - Light 1 & 2
And to finish off my favorite band, which unfortunately is on hiatus and I never managed to see them live. Basically each CD brings a style change. They started in mid-90 with dance and eurobeat, slowly evolving into alternative rock, r&b, electro pop. This cd I'm proposing features a lot of trance sound.
Hope you've enjoyed and that you have a few names you'd like to try out.How to get into japanese music (or the x albums for beginners)
You can get a first taste on youtube, and I suppose most of the CDs can be found on most of your generic open or private trackers.
It's become late here, so I wish you a nice listening and good night.
cheers
:sleep::sleep::sleep::sleep:
