Comments on: A Brief History of J-Rock

By: Andrew Hisel

Andrew Hisel — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:33:43 +0000

This is a really great article! I used it in a paper I wrote on how western influences have changed Japanese music, and I’m very glad you used your real name on the post. I don’t think I could cite “Narcolepsy” as an author, y’know?

By: Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:49:45 +0000

I agree that Viva! had a number of good tracks, but if I want a solid listen-through of an entire album, I usually go with Stereotype A.

By: Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:39:57 +0000

Basically, J rock is rock and roll from Japan (J-Pop is also the same thing). However, I consider acts from Japan with Japanese influence J-Rock as well. For instance, as a Radio, TV, and Film major, we’re taught in genre theory that influence can decide the genre label, not so much the location of origin.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:37:58 +0000

@Narcolepsy: Well, I do love Stereo Type A, and Viva! la Woman has a lot of great tracks. I can’t say that Super Relax has received all that much play in our house. So…I guess we like the more recent stuff

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:08:26 +0000

-Chris, I’m glad you liked the post! This article was written by our Guest Music Writer, David Savage (Narcolepsy), so props to David S. I’m looking forward to posting more of his pieces.

-Zingor, I have no idea what warrants the label of J-rock. Is there some criteria to be met before a band or musician gets slapped with the title of J-rock band? I haven’t the foggiest.

David, any insight on to what particulars make up the J-rock label? A sound, style, place of origin?

By: zingor

zingor — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:56:13 +0000

I love Cibo Matto! I like all of it but I do perfer their more mainstream sound. I don’t think of them as J-rock either even though they are Japanese.

By: Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:33:01 +0000

@ Chris:

Cibo Matto is from did form in New York, but they were both originally from Tokyo and have credited Japan for their eccentric and quirky sound.

Nice to meet a fellow fan of Cibo Matto! Do you prefer their more mainstream sound of their more experimental stylings?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:58:17 +0000

Good stuff, Rachel! One nitpick as well, though. Cibo Matto is a New York act, not an import. Kinda like Asobi Seksu. Sorry, my wife and I were big Cibo Matto fans. Miho’s gone solo these days, but I don’t like her sound as much. Oh well. Again, good stuff.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 02:03:55 +0000

Since I know nothing about J-rock, David S.’s article is a really good start for me, and for other people like me.

I hope newbies and hardcore fans alike can get a better understanding of J-rock from this; I know I did.

Great article David!

By: Os

Os — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:47:18 +0000

Truthfully, when I saw the title, I was a bit cynical. I am an avid fan of j-rock, as I always have music on and the majority of it is J-rock, but I have not done any background research on any of it and I’ve only read a few articles here or there about the actual beginning of noise music, so I cant really criticize. Good intro.