Friday, August 12, 2011

Various Artists | 21st Century Japan

21Japan


Listen to the first song from this set

Hear song number 5

Listen to the 21st song

Get all 30 songs here.

A nice shout out about Bodega Pop from WFMU's "Beware of the Blog" reminds me that, in fact, my initial plan was not to do a blog at all, but a CD label. Talking with conceptual poet and WFMU DJ Kenneth Goldsmith, who encouraged me to consider doing a blog instead, ultimately led me (and now you) here.

Kenny was right, of course; I've probably posted more music to this blog in the first year than I'd have been able to publish in CD form, even if I lived to be 100. But a boy can still dream, can't he?

Were I to seriously consider a label, I think the very first project would be to compile a couple dozen of the most thrilling contemporary tracks from Japan, focusing on indy rock and some of the more accessible experimental stuff--from noodles and Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her to Melt Banana and OOIOO.

And that is, more or less, what I've done here. Some of this was found in Japan, but most of it was discovered online, a good portion of it at Rebel Japan Music, one of my all-time favorite music blogs.

If you like what you hear, I encourage you to seek out other music by the bands that intrigue you; many of whom, again, can be found on Rebel Japan.

And don't be too harsh on my imaginary CD cover--it's the first I've ever "designed."

4 comments:

Holly said...

What a labor of love! Much appreciated, including the cover ;-)

øשlqæda said...

what she said. many thx gary, sublime selections herein

JamesL said...

This mix is unbelievable. There's a few Japanese rock bands I've been listening to for years and this is a great way to finally expand that number.

It's also nice to find more experimental stuff. Final Exit was pretty much the only Japanese noise rock act I'd heard before this.

Thank you!

JasonM said...

Hi Gary! Any chance you could re up this at some point? I'm a huge fan of experimental japanese music and I'm curious to see what selections you have here. Thanks!