Drummer Eli gives an inside look on 3 J-rock bands that left a lasting impact on him.
Eli FurieMusic That Shaped Me, Pt. 1
Hey there everyone, hope you all are doing well. Not gonna lie, it took me so much longer than I’d like to admit to come up with a topic for my first blog post… but here we are.
So what music am I listening to lately? I never really know how to respond when this question gets brought up (which it inevitably does whenever I’m chatting with fellow musicians or people who know that I play) since I feel like my taste can be all over the place at times. Since there is so much I could write about in regard to my musical influences, I figured this could make a good multi-part series in which I talk in-depth about some broader categories of music I’m into.
Anyway, if there’s one style of music I listen to and am inspired by the most (at least in recent times), it hands down has to be Japanese rock. J-rock, like American rock, is an incredibly vast musical umbrella floating above many different styles and sub-styles, and no two fans of the genre will share the same exact taste, which is part of why I love it so much. In this post, I’ll talk about three of my absolute favorite Japanese rock bands, and what I love about them.
The Pillows
Rock music has always played a center-stage role in my life, from my elementary and middle school days listening to 70’s and 80’s classics on the radio with my mom (special shoutout to my mom), to my doomer days in high school blasting 90’s grunge bands in my ears through cheap, tinny-sounding earbuds on the school bus each morning. This music uplifted me and got me through the best of times as well as the worst of times.
Japanese rock was never truly on my radar until I stumbled upon the cult classic 6-episode anime series FLCL in middle school (I could easily write another blog post about just how much this show means to me), and I immediately fell in love with the legendary soundtrack by The Pillows.
Their music was unlike anything I had ever heard before as a then-13-year-old kid (right around the same age as the show’s protagonist Naota)––their slamming, hyper-compressed drums, in-your-face distorted guitars, and the melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere of their lyrics that inspired me to start learning Japanese (which I’ll definitely write about in a later post). Their music has altered the course of my life without a doubt. I’m serious.
🎧 Recommended listening: FLCL Season 1 Vol. 3 (Original Soundtrack) (2000).
- It’s actually a compilation of tracks from four different albums of theirs from 1997 to 1999. If you like this soundtrack and are into anime, coming-of-age narratives, and quirky avant-garde storytelling, I strongly encourage you to watch the show. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea though.
🎶 And if you’d like to dive deeper:
- I’d also highly recommend their earlier, pre-1997 material which completely differs from their FLCL sound onward, and ranges from new wave to jangle rock and even jazz fusion (!!!)
Asian Kung-Fu Generation
All of the reasons why I absolutely adore the music of The Pillows are why I also absolutely adore the music of Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
Yup, it’s the powerful drums and guitars, the edgy vocals, and deep melancholy-drenched lyrics that really make this band something special. Their early sound is certainly a lot more angsty and pop-punk inspired than The Pillows, with their newer work being a little more laid back and mature. These guys’ music has been used in countless anime openings, so if you’re a fan of the medium, I’m sure you’ve heard their music before. Also, their album art is always super sick.
🎧 Recommended listening:
- Their first two albums Kimi Tsunagi Five M (2003) and Sol-fa (2004). Poppy-punky catchy riffs and hooks and youthful screamy angst galore. Sounds like a summer you never want to end.
🎶 And if you’d like to dive deeper:
- Their first couple of EPs were sung entirely in English, and I had no clue about them for so long because they’re not officially released on any streaming services! Check them out here and here.
L’arc-en-Ciel
Ok, this last band I’m gonna write about today is admittedly pretty different stylistically from the first two. They have been one of my long-time favorites since I first watched the anime series GTO, which features their song “Driver’s High” as the show’s opening. They’ve been around for quite a while and, as such, their sound has changed a bit over the years from a more gothic visual-kei inspired/almost new-wavey style to a slightly more commercial rock focus later on (but honestly it’s all great). I’m of course talking about L’arc-en-Ciel.
Fun fact: these dudes were the first Japanese band to headline Madison Square Garden back in 2012. And they have not performed in the US since… :(
I would definitely kill to see these guys live, but hey, a man can only dream. I feel like they’re not as well-known or talked about as they used to be. If you happen to be a fan of Attack on Titan, chances are your ears have already been graced with the godlike vocals of their lead singer Hyde (2nd from the right in the picture above) in this opening.
🎧 Recommended listening: Clicked Singles Best 13 (2001).
- A compilation of some hits of theirs from 1994 to 2000. They’ve since released many, many more bangers but this one’s a great introduction to the band.
🎶 And if you’d like to dive deeper:
- The band has a sort-of “side project” self-cover band called P’unk-en-Ciel, where the members each swap to different instruments and they perform more angsty, rough-around-the-edges versions of their own songs. It’s really cool, trust.
Anyway, that’s all for today. Hope you all listen to at least a little bit from these bands and if you’re already a fan, let me know your favorite songs in the comments! :)
Thanks for reading and take care,
Eli
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