Your Verdict 2.0: Week 5

[trashcanman]

So, classic New York girlie pop/rock last week leads to new New York girlie pop/rock this week. This band used to go by the name Sportfuck. Given the...ummm let's say commercially-limiting nature of the name (and probably the fact that is doesn't match the band's sound AT ALL) they changed it to the Japanese equivalent Asobi Seksu, which translates back to the much less abrasive "playful sex". This was a band I discovered through Pandora radio, and their "Citrus" album turned instantly into one of my favorite of the 00's. The sound is described as "shoegaze" due to the heavy use of both vocal and instrumental effects that tends to leave the performers concentrating on their foot pedals onstage as they carefully layer their effects.

The band consists of Japanese American frontwoman Yuki Chikudate (who sings beautifully in both languages) and sonic mastermind James Hanna, with other musicians filling in on bass and drums for live shows. The ethereal nature of their sound is just...wow. The closest thing I've heard to it is the Raveonette's "Raven in the Grave" album (which it very possibly influenced), but Citrus stands as one of the most brilliantly-produced rock albums I've ever heard. Dream pop really is the perfect way to describe it. As much as I consider Citrus to be alternative musical perfection, the rest of the band's catalogue that I've come across has not lived up to that standard, but I still plan on buying more of their stuff in the future because Asobi Seksu are just too good to leave alone. This is "Goodbye", the poppiest song on on a poppy album and therefore the very definition of a standout track. Awesome video, too.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YATbwSmt5w

[The Curmudgeon]

Now this is my kinda deal. And you know, I've often heard the term "shoegaze" and really had no idea what it meant, I thought it meant the band were gloomy fucks with their hands in their pockets. That makes much more sense. The Fortress really is a place of learning sometimes.

Anyway, love this track, and Asobi Sesku sound like my sort of band. "Sportfuck" were never going to get them played on any radio or music channel, and that would be a shame with songs like this, that were just made for alternative radio.

And so, with that, I am now bidding on ebay for the Asobi Seksu album. Now that's what you call making an impression. Good work, Trashy.

[trashcanman]

You will love it, 100% guaranteed. I knew this one was in the bag; it's just too good to ignore once you've heard it. I used to think shoegazer meant those alternative rockers who used to ignore the audience by looking down while they played, like Cobain would, but looking for more info on these guys, I found out what the real meaning was. It's a small genre, but I want to hear more. I hear My Bloody Valentine is kind of the defining band so I'll have to check those guys out. And yeah, Sportfuck is just a stupid name for a band that's as sonically mature and beautiful as Asobi Seksu. However, choosing a Japanese name has possibly limited their appeal to people who aren't afraid to be called "weeaboo". Still, I think the name is fitting. Its funny how translating something to Japanese and back almost always yields a different result.

[The Curmudgeon]

More suitable name aside, I can't imagine these guys ever getting much radio/TV play Trash.. how did you find out about them?

[trashcanman]

Pandora radio. I was on the Shonen Knife station and the last song from Citrus came on and lit my ass up. One of those times when you know you have to buy an album instantly. I actually tried to put that song in my last run on My Verdict, but it wasn't online at the time. Now that I'm more familiar with the album I figured I'd drop another track on you instead.