Sakura and Mr P debate Japanese Punk!!!
Japan is a country where Punk is very popular and vibrant punk scene exists with many clubs hosting Punk concerts and you can see new bands and some of the old bands every weekend in here in Tokyo and the major cities.
Pairubu and I wanted to share some of our favourite Japanese punk tracks with you and so we decided to produce this joint post. We will follow a He said – She said format. So there will be a track from each of us with a brief discussion of the track by the person who chose it and also each of us also commenting on the other’s selection.
Pairubu – Bolshie – Robot in Hospital
He said
This is the earliest example on offer, from ( I think) 1979 and very much ”of it’s time”. I would, perhaps, class this as “post punk” in that it has the elements that went on to , more or less, define that genre. The bass is prominent and the guitar used as much as “decoration” as to drive the song. I’m not totally sure but it sounds like this is a live recording which is pretty good for the time. And it’s got robots. What more do you want?
She said
This was recorded live in January 21 1979 at Shinjuku Reich as part of the Tokyo Rockers Second Generation event but I can not find out anything about the band at all. I love this track, I thought it was really direct and simple and accessible and it is the type of track you know will have everyone in the room jumping up and down ! ! !
Sakura – Gauze – Kao O Aratte Denaoshite Koi (Go and wash your face then come back)
She said
I like Gauze very much as they are what I think of as typical punk. They are a great old time punk band that formed in 1981 and are still playing and making records ! ! ! This song is from 1997 and was released as a 12 inch single. It is just so energetic ! ! ! They just make you want to shout along and punch in the air when they say “Kao O Aratte - – Denaoshite Koi ! ! ! “ It is just so much fun I think so ! ! !
He said
I’d class this under “hardcore”, it’s a bit “heavier” and more serious in delivery than some of the others ( and none the worse for that). A definite “shout along with” number.
Pairubu – The Glash- I’ve got a gun (ch3)
He said
An interesting one this. I’ve read, on the web, that they were a “joke” band but , to me, they have managed, perhaps inadvertently, to capture the true “spirit of 76″ better than any of the others here. There is a level of D.I.Y incompetence and a “let’s put on the show right here” element that really speaks to me. I saw loads of bands who played music just like this BITD and still recall fondly that time of spit, safety pins, amphetamines and noise.
She said
This is a track from self made EP – Natural Born Punks and was released in 1993. This is a very rare record actually. It is actually completely home made as it was recorded in the band house and released on their own label. I think it is unfair to call them a joke band, they were simply enthusiastic amateurs and friends who put out their own record. I like it very much and it really is the spirit of punk ! ! !
Sakura – Stance Punks – Kuroi būtsu (Black Boots)
She said
How can you have a post about Japanese punk and not have the Blue Hearts? Well you just have Stance Punks instead ! ! ! This band were formed in 1999 and are really very influenced by the Blue Hearts and have a very similar style. I like this track as it is not so raw as Mr P choices but it is not overproduced. I am sure you also thought it was going to be a version of “My Way” when you heard the first few minutes ! ! ! I like punk when it is not too serious and this is a fun track about one of the typical punk items of clothing, Black Boots, and how much pleasure they give the owner ! ! !
He said
The Blue Hearts influence runs deep here ( even down to the singers actions) which is not a bad thing, if you’re going to “pay tribute” to a band why not go for one of the greats. I shall be looking out for more by this band.
Pairubu – Booted Cocks- For oneself. (Second version as requested by SpottedRichard)
He Said
A marvelous piece of “oiness” from one of the better known bands ( outside of Japan). They even, I believe, had some stuff released over here. This one interests me because of it’s “simple complexity”. It’s changes in pace and feel are quite “prog” ( for a punk band) . It’s like jigsaw, a big, noisy jigsaw put together by shouty me ( and one lady). It is, I feel , pretty irrisistable in it’s martial glory. Like being stamped on by size 10 Doc Martens but musically.
She said
I do not know very much about this band but the track is from the 2004 début album For Oneself. I like the keyboard in this track as I think it fills the arrangement up and makes it more sophisticated somehow. I also think there is like a Celtic influence in this track that I like very much. I think it just drives along and makes you want to shout OI!
Sakura – The Discocks – Long Live Oi!
She said
I am sure you were all singing “One two three – I love Oi” before the end of the track ! ! ! The Discocks are one my favourite punk bands. They formed in 1992 but split in 1998 but reformed with a different line up in 2003. This track is from 1997 EP Knock Out and so is the original band. I think this track is has great energy and is a lot of fun. When ever I hear this track I can not stop sing along with it ! ! !
He said
What a lot of cocks there are in the Japanese punk scene ! Discocks, Booted Cocks even Cockney Cocks ! You can’t go wrong with the Discocks, You know exactly what you are going to get. Basic, shouty “Oi” with bundles of attitude.
We Say
Can we ask you to pause for a moment and gape in wide eyed wonder at just what this post represents. At no other time in the history of mankind would it have been possible for someone in Tokyo and someone in a tumbledown shack in Gloucestershire to have cooperated in this way. Isn’t the Internet the most awesome of things ?
We would both like to thank you very much for reading the post and we hope you enjoyed it and found it interesting.
Dear Sakura and Pairubu – what an original and well executed idea. You make a great partnership. Well done to you both. Japanese punk is not a subject I know anything about. Many thanks for beginning my education. Bises
Fantastic idea – not since the first episode of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, I think, have two Spillers come together in this way to create something great. I’m afraid I don’t have time to listen at the moment, as I have far too much work, but I will.
Most of the credit here must go to Sakura who did all the hard work.
I don’t know much about J-punk really, only what I read on the net.
What I do know is that the “discovery” ( it wasn’t actually lost) of Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese music has totally revitalised my interest in music and given me a whole new perspective.
These days hardly anything else makes my i-pod and I continue to be surprised and delighted by my discoveries.
Oh No ! ! ! It was a joint effort and it was really good fun ! ! !
Oi! You two! MORE! Please!
This is bloody fantastic. I loved all the tracks, the commentary, too, and I agree wholeheartedly with the comment about the internet being a wonderful thing.
If absolutely pressed for a favourite it would have to be Booted Cocks.
In fact, I do have one complaint! Sakura damning 1981 as “old time”. Grrrr!!!
Stay tuned, I hope to persuade Sakura to cooperate on a post about Taiwan next.
There are actually 2 versions of For Oneself knocking around, one from the delightfully named comp “Punk and Skins are fuckin’ walking down the street”.
It was very hard to decide which version to post.
Cool, cool beans. Can’t wait!
Ha ha! Great name for a comp album. Love it! Sometime or other – pour moi, would you please post the other version. Pretty please? (You know you want to!)
I would live to co-operate on a post about Taiwan ! ! !
Was it part of a series of compilations along with the brilliantly named “Oi! Punks Are Cooking Fucking Lunch”?
Oh SpottedRichard ! ! !
I am so sorry I did not mean to offend you ! ! !
I hope you are not angry or upset ! ! !
Yeah, bloody annoyed!
xxx
great post you two! the internet is indeed a thing of wonder.
I have to confess that I knew most of the bands – I didn’t know Bolshie though, which was great – , but I AM married to a Japanese ex-punk, so that’s cheating a bit !
Mrs Panther claims to have been a bit of a ‘face’ on the 90s Tokyo punk scene, having her and her friends’ picture in punk magazines and hairstyle copied by wannabes, but I’ve never seen the evidence to verify it !
The Bolshie track is from an ace comp called “Burst New Wave 1980″ ( which I think is probably self explanatory). Totally brilliant and a great point of access for those of us not lucky enough to have been born Japanese punk babies.
I will be giving it a serious listening to this evening. I remember the Discocks well from the mid-90s. I bought their Voice Of Youth EP because it was released on a UK label called Helen Of Oi! and I used to buy every release. They weren’t a big favourite of mine if I’m honest but they do always make me feel nostalgic.
Just out of interest here’s the original of I’ve Got A Gun by Channel 3 – harder, more competent and therefore probably less to Pairubu’s taste, but here it is.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuXd-jZf-Tg
It took me ages to decide which Glash song to post , I would have gone for “Punks and the handicapped” but thought that might be a step too far for the more sensitive spillers.
I like their version best, a triumph of enthusiasm over ability which was , pretty much, the core message of punk of the “year 0″ period.
I wonder if there are other bands like the Sox Pastils and The Bizzcrocks out there somewhere.
Well things get even sillier. Firstly here’s some guys I know from Leicester who have formed a remarkably successful homage band to Japanese noise punks such as The Swankys. I may have mentioned before they have even put some of their lyrics through a translator into Japanese and back again into English for added authenticity. The result being gigs in all sorts of foreign places, tours and recordings with some of their favourite Japanese bands, etc
The Wankys – I Love Jab
And a bit of aimless internet wandering turned up these , an American band formed in affectionate tribute to Japanese punk
The Bad Engrish – Pogo NOi!se
I liked The Bad Enrish better of the two, but both were really funny ! ! !
Sakura – The Wankys are a bit more of an aquired taste I think. I might never have listened to them if it wasn’t a mate of mine involved. They are fun – but noisy….
I only discovered The Bad Engrish a couple of days ago!
This is a track from my favourite genuine Japanese punk album , The Dick Spikie’s The Beginning Of The End. Again an aquired taste, a very raw sound, but I really like it
Had a skim through , a great varied selection. Favourites:
Bolshie – I would definitely call it “punk”, but with some post-punk influences in the mix. The intro reminded me of Wire – I Am The Fly, the bass of Magazine – The Light Pours Out Of Me, and the bit where he’s shouting in the middle reminds me of Crass’s Mother Earth – but mixd up into something different. Robot In Hospital is a great 1979 song title as well. A good find.
Gauze – A well known Japanese hardcore name that I’d heard of but never heard. Shades of Discharge,Antisect, and Amebix. I liked it. I reckon Japan’s biggest influence on the wider punk scene is definitely with the noisier bands.
Booted Cocks – Started off with a classic Oi intro (ie I’ve heard similar intros on loads of records, just can’t remember what record it came from first) before going off in all sorts of directions seemingly linked by a general “blokes getting pleasantly rowdy at the end of a long session in the pub” vibe.
Discocks – It was nice to hear them again
Thanks both, I will definitely give further joint ventures a listen.
It’s odd hearing different (possible) influences in the mix.
The guitar in the Booted Cocks track reminded me of The Skids. The voices didn’t though.
Very much enjoyed that.
Sakura, I wonder if you’ve ever heard of 54 Nude Honeys? I only came across them because a song of theirs was covered by my favourite Scandinavian free jazz trio, The Thing. But I was delighted to find them because they were an all-girl Japanese punk group who liked to wear black leather boots and hotpants on stage:
sorry for the very late reply viennesewaltz.
I did not know 54 Nude Honeys but seem like a lot of fun ! ! !
Thank you for sharing them. Have you checked out some of our other posts in the series?
if you like the Bad Engrish then check out the Chernobyl Babies! unfortunately they don’t play anymore though!
Hi ! ! !
I enjoyed the track a lot ! ! !
Thank you for posting it.
We did a post on Enrish actually.
Here is the link
http://thespillblog.co.uk/2012/04/19/he-said-she-said-we-speak-engrish/