Radwimps offer alternative to Japan's sugary music scene

I Like Radwimps music...

"Basically it’s a rock band"

Yes, very basic. Insipid.

We wanted to have a deal with a major label, but we didn’t want to be defined by that.

Um, we wanted to have our cake and eat it too.

Taylor Swift bumping heads with Green Day.

Eek! There you go. Nothing more needs to be said.

I've listened to a few of their songs, but - similar to Bloc Party? Japanese Coldplay? Who writes this dross? They suffer from the same shortfalls as other J-'rock' bands - there's no story. There's no background, or 'roots'. Most come from good neighbourhoods, having grown up in an apartment tower in the city. No story to tell, in other words. No distinction. Same, tired concepts & lyrics. Most songs released in Japan are either about love, life or the seasons. Nothing original, because they don't have a story to tell. Manufactured music.

In the near-decade I've been here, I've found the biggest problem with 'rock' here is there's a severe lack of simplicity. Distinct voices? (think Axl Rose, Layne Staley, Brian Johnson, James Hetfield etc.) Most 'rock' singers here sound like they're still in high school. Look what Silverchair did at 15! Simple chords with signature guitar riffs? It's just always a mess of instruments. Nothing memorable or 'stand out'-ish, just much of the same.

That said - the ONLY two bands I would say that have produced tolerable rock music here are X Japan and B'z.

@sighclops I agree. This band has nothing to say. Japanese young people are in a great position to make something new. Japan is both decadent and declining, both lacking in values and selling out it's future. It's like the U.S. 50s in it's extreme conformity minus the optimism and promise. Or maybe the 70s in the UK a la "no future!" These are all great conditions for producing something extreme and interesting. Yet the brainwashing and total control is still complete. Yeah, I'm sure strumming along to Oasis gets you this. Strumming along to Oasis all the way to a musical cemetery.

There are a lot of indie rock bands in Japan, but only known by a few. It is a good point for JT to focus on some of japanese rock bands, because japanese music is not only akb or Hp. Of course, japanese rock doesn't suit to rock purists and anglosax listeners. Just listen to Supercar ( a indie rock band from last decade ), or the actual shoegaze scene and you will know why : Because there is no sex, drugs and rock'nroll ideology in it. Of course, many japanese rock bands sounds like college or high school bands, because here, it often started in high school. A Japanese university produces musicians and bands, an US university produces football players : that is the thing you have to remember about Japan. I often read some comments from readers who compare japanese rock or j-pop to the music of their own country, saying that japanese music sucks, is too cute, or too this, or too that...and I just want to answer : " stop complaining, just listen. And if you can not refrain complaining, just remember this is japan here, not your world. You wanted to go global, but here, you get gurobaru."

I agree with zazagata2. Some people are simply unable to understand that Japan isn't the US or UK. Japanese people have their own styles, taste, ways to express feelings. Japan isn't so much "global" but this is a good trait. Look at South Korea. Their singers are very "western". This can be the key for a more global success but it's also sad.

I've listen to a few of their songs too but I didn't enjoyed it so much. It's not about their music, It's not about their lyric, It's about their lack of originality. If I'm ever listening to Japanese music that's because I want to listen to something that the US or UK bands had never expressed. I prefer a pretty Japanese girl dancing for me and singing,"I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU" than a boring copy of an old american band. I've also read the comments of the Japanese people but they didn't seem to be so crazy about them. They were not just dissatisfied about them but complaining that they were similar to some other Japanese band I've never heard of. Maybe they are just overestimated from some rich music director.

The best Japanese band I've heard since I've been here is Dragon Ash. Their mixture of rock, hip-hop, drum and bass, reggae etc is pretty original. Their lyrics leave a little to be desired (especially when they attempt to sing in English) but a lot of the music is excellent. The early stuff was a bit hit and miss mind you....Other bands sound too similar and too 'lightweight' especially vocally as someone else pointed out. A lot of great electronic artists though; DJ Krush, Ken Ishii etc.