Steerpike
04-01-2006, 05:08 PM
Well, there was a slight delay, but the write-up will be done today. And the mailing list out either tomorrow or Monday. We've hit a landmark in the 50. Before we get to the actual write-up, I'd like to announce to everyone that to celebrate the anniversary next week, I'm going to re-open some of my most popular mailing lists. Some will be the original tracks, others will contain the originals plus a few bonus tracks. You'll have to wait and see what the full list is, though.
Anyway, we're going to quickly glance back at this latest chapter and get on with finishing this milestone.
Saint Vitus - Calling the Children of Doom (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=438619)
The Cruxshadows - Let Me Introduce You to Darkwave (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440766)
Slough Feg - Hail to the Lord Weird Slough Feg (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442946)
Buddy Holly - Still Awesome (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444945)
Pentagram - Abandon All Hope (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=446798)
The Ventures - Surf Rock Gods (http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448708)
Bathory - Viking Metal Is Born (http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450414)
Ghoultown - The Wild Weird West (http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452410)
The Hippos - Too Cool for Their Own Good (http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454178)
Biography
Well, uh... It first started in 1996 when four young musicians in Japan went to college and got together to make a band. Drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi already had experience from several previous bands, but Kensuke Kita, Masafumi Gotoh, and Takahira Yamada were only used to noodling and jamming informally. They banded together with cosmic power to form J-rock band #1, Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
Their first songs were all written in English, but the ungrateful gaijin just weren't buying. Still, these songs made for a six-track EP at least and the band sold copies online and at the clubs they were booked at. It helped to build up a loyal fanbase, as most grassroots efforts tend to do.
2001 was a much better year when the band hit the airwaves with their first single, Konayukih. The song raced through the Japanese independent music scene like the wildfires of Godzilla's rampage. And like Godzilla, it's titanic roar preceded a bigger event when the band promptly released their follow-up album.
With this new exposure and publicity, the band began playing in bigger venues and drawing larger crowds. As their popularity grew, even the mighty Sailor Scouts, Japan's heroes, would have to bow their heads in respect.
In 2002, they released an EP titled Houkai Amplifier (translated: Destruction Amplifier) that rocketed promptly to the top of the charts faster than Gamera was spinning his way into the hearts and minds of the children of Japan.
April of 2003 turned out to be their most productive year, though. Houkai Amplifier was re-released after being sold out of its original printing and the band was invited to play at three of the biggest music festivals in the Land of the Rising Sun: the Fuji Rock Festival, Rookie A Go Go, and Summer Sonic 03 held in Tokyo and Osaka. Yes, great honor.
Okay, in case none of you can tell I'm having quite a challenge padding this write-up with jokes about Japanese media culture. The truth is that Asian Kung-Fu Generation are still a young band who have worked hard to get where they are. They just released a new album last month titled Fanclub and are prepping for the accompanying tour.
This is basically music that Weezer would have made if they were Japanese and hadn't started running out of steam. Not to say these guys are a rip-off, but there really is no better way to describe it. Even their website sort of agrees with me. Just take the uploads and you'll understand... Foolish gaijin.
Official Website (http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/AKG/eng/)
Anyway, we're going to quickly glance back at this latest chapter and get on with finishing this milestone.
Saint Vitus - Calling the Children of Doom (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=438619)
The Cruxshadows - Let Me Introduce You to Darkwave (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440766)
Slough Feg - Hail to the Lord Weird Slough Feg (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442946)
Buddy Holly - Still Awesome (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444945)
Pentagram - Abandon All Hope (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=446798)
The Ventures - Surf Rock Gods (http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448708)
Bathory - Viking Metal Is Born (http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450414)
Ghoultown - The Wild Weird West (http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452410)
The Hippos - Too Cool for Their Own Good (http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454178)
Biography
Well, uh... It first started in 1996 when four young musicians in Japan went to college and got together to make a band. Drummer Kiyoshi Ijichi already had experience from several previous bands, but Kensuke Kita, Masafumi Gotoh, and Takahira Yamada were only used to noodling and jamming informally. They banded together with cosmic power to form J-rock band #1, Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
Their first songs were all written in English, but the ungrateful gaijin just weren't buying. Still, these songs made for a six-track EP at least and the band sold copies online and at the clubs they were booked at. It helped to build up a loyal fanbase, as most grassroots efforts tend to do.
2001 was a much better year when the band hit the airwaves with their first single, Konayukih. The song raced through the Japanese independent music scene like the wildfires of Godzilla's rampage. And like Godzilla, it's titanic roar preceded a bigger event when the band promptly released their follow-up album.
With this new exposure and publicity, the band began playing in bigger venues and drawing larger crowds. As their popularity grew, even the mighty Sailor Scouts, Japan's heroes, would have to bow their heads in respect.
In 2002, they released an EP titled Houkai Amplifier (translated: Destruction Amplifier) that rocketed promptly to the top of the charts faster than Gamera was spinning his way into the hearts and minds of the children of Japan.
April of 2003 turned out to be their most productive year, though. Houkai Amplifier was re-released after being sold out of its original printing and the band was invited to play at three of the biggest music festivals in the Land of the Rising Sun: the Fuji Rock Festival, Rookie A Go Go, and Summer Sonic 03 held in Tokyo and Osaka. Yes, great honor.
Okay, in case none of you can tell I'm having quite a challenge padding this write-up with jokes about Japanese media culture. The truth is that Asian Kung-Fu Generation are still a young band who have worked hard to get where they are. They just released a new album last month titled Fanclub and are prepping for the accompanying tour.
This is basically music that Weezer would have made if they were Japanese and hadn't started running out of steam. Not to say these guys are a rip-off, but there really is no better way to describe it. Even their website sort of agrees with me. Just take the uploads and you'll understand... Foolish gaijin.
Official Website (http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/AKG/eng/)