10. The Flickers- “White Heat”

The Flickers came out of nowhere with “White Heat.” It’s unfortunate they couldn’t keep up the flame on the rest of their mini-album, but I’ll hold this as promise.

9. 6eyes- “Big Saturday Night”

Hookers! “Big Saturday Night” has become my weekend anthem, even though I rarely go out on the weekend or at all really.

8. The_AIU- “CPU”

I bet most boys would love to have Ms. Ratna as their CPU. So sweet.

7. Gellers- “Guatemala”

Shugo Tokumaru is back…with his old band Gellers. I kind of expected this to be a bigger deal, especially with Tokumaru taking vocal reins for the first time in this band. Amusing video nonetheless.

6. the HIATUS- “Deerhounds”

Yes, this does bear a striking resemblance to the live- action Where The Wild Things are film, but that only adds to the nostalgia. If only I had a desert to play in when I was a kid.

5. Comeback My Daughters- “Why”

Who doesn’t love running around New York City? Comeback My Daughters pulls off a perfectly choreographed shaky cam video just in time for their studio practice.

4. blgtz- “Ideology”

Blgtz turns a humorous Three Stooges gag into an ominous foreboding with their aggressive guitars. Just why is this guy getting so many pies to the face and why is he showing no emotion?

3. Gekitetsu- “P.S.”

Zombie infestation at the live house! Gekitetsu can fill a gig with the undead and pull off leopard print pants at the same time.

2. Uzumibi- 溺れる魚

No other video this year captures the beauty of the mundane like Uzumibi’s 溺れる魚. Intertwining stories of love, death, friendship and isolation backed by one of the prettiest tracks of the year.

1. sakanaction- “Rookie”

I didn’t think much of “Rookie” the first time I heard it, but it quickly became my favorite single once DocumentaLy was released. A catchy melody backed by deep electronic pangs that gives the feeling of falling. The PV pulls off that feeling so well in its Twilight Zone type of way with plenty downward plunges into the black abyss, repeated dream sequences and an inescapable conclusion.

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More favorites:

AA=- “sTEP COde & Dry Your Tears”

I never got around to reviewing this for J-Rock Fridays, probably because it’s 14 minutes. But what we have his is an interesting short film featuring two tracks and a few interludes from AA=’s new album #3. A lot of paranoia and gas masks.

Suneohair- 期待ハズレの空模様

Nothing beats a good old fashioned fight at the jazz club. Get in on the violence.

Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai- まごパワー

I can’t get enough of these crazy grandparents and grandkids. So excited to see each other!

Other videos you voted for:

0.8秒と衝撃。- 町蔵・町子・破壊 

avengers in sci-fi- “Sonic Fireworks”

Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas- “Chase the Light!”

hydrant house purport rife on sleepy feat. Ferri- “Bet On Magic”

THE NOVEMBERS – 彼岸で散る青

pocketlife- “Maybe”

SiM- “KiLLiNG ME”

the telephones- “A A U U O O O”

The Unique Star- “+Distortion”

white white sisters- “wasted”

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Band Links:

6eyes: myspace, CD Japan

AA=: web, CD Japan

The_AIU: myspace, CD Japan

blgtz: myspace, CD Japan

Comeback My Daughters: myspace, CD Japan

The Flickers: myspace

Gekitetsu: myspace, CD Japan

Gellers: myspace, Jet Set

the HIATUS: web, CD Japan, Play-Asia

The Novembers: myspace, CD Japan

sakanaction: web, CD Japan, Play-Asia

Suneohair: web, CD Japan, Play-Asia

Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai: myspace

Uzumibi: myspace, CD Japan

Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai- まごパワー

This one goes out to my grandparents.

The Marshmallow Kisses- “Ciao!Baby”

“Ciao! Baby” is ridiculously cute/catchy. I don’t know where I’m going to meet my 100% baby, but it’s nice seeing this real life couple sweet on each other.

Metro-Ongen- “Sick”

Metro-Ongen is sick. That’s all? That mask reminds me of an old boy doll in my grandparent’s basement.

Sebastian X- “Hikari no Tategami”

Manatsu Nagahara’s signature high vocals carry her as she runs through streets of brilliantly lighted trees and carnival attractions.

aie- 音の言葉光の音

This a powerful song with cool synthesized violin. Almost as good as Kashiwa neighbors buddhistson and kamomekamome.

suzumoku- “Modern Times”

Oooh, floating kanji! The harmonica gives this a nice folk tinge.

the band apart- “Free Fall”

“Asian gothic” is a strange tag for this video (and the name of their record label). They’re too happy for goths.

TsuShiMaMiRe- “Grapefruit Girl”

I always get confused whenever they spell their name out in kanji, which is all the time now. But hey, they have their own record label now. Cool.

uhnellys- “Central”

Who doesn’t love awesome horn sections? Cue psychedelic video section.

Heavenstamp- “Wake Up”

Sally Cinnamon and the stamps do a lot of weird things with gold men then go to India.

PLASTICZOOMS- “Witch”

The gothic PLASTICZOOMS go intergalactic in their 2011 movie project.

Satanicpornocultp- “Coyote”

I posted the live version of this last week. The PV version came out a few days later and it’s definitely NSFW.

Oorutaichi- “Futurelina”

Oorutaichi blasts off to a future of colorful drawings.

NITES- “While You Were Sleep”

The waves crash down on NITES’ sleepy track. There’s a female vocal sample buried somewhere in there. Pleasant.

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Pick 3 not 8.

Band Links:

aie: myspace, CD Japan

the band apart: myspace, CD Japan

Heavenstamp: myspace, CD Japan

The Marshmallow Kisses: myspace, YesAsia

Metro-Ongen: myspace, Amazon MP3, HearJapan

NITES: myspace,

Oorutaichi: myspace, Amazon.com, Darla

PLASTICZOOMS: myspace

Satanicpornocultshop: myspace

Sebastian X: myspace, Amazon MP3, HearJapan

suzumoku: myspace, CD Japan

TsuShiMaMiRe: myspace, CD Japan

Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai: myspace

uhnellys: myspace, CD Japan

noughts and exes- “The Start Of Us”

Noughts and exes adapt a childhood art-class assignment for the title-track of their sophomore album.  It’s somewhat unsettling but strangely fits this beautiful track.  Let’s hope Pepsi doesn’t get wind of this.

myspace.com/noughtsandexes Buy @ bandcamp, their website

sleepy.ab- “Kakurenbo”

“Kakurenbo” fits the autumn atmosphere just fine, even though it shares its name with a strange anime about kids who wear masks and disappear.   The video has colorful paper mache owls and woodland creatures that reminds me of Bambi.

myspace.com/sleepyab Buy @ CD Japan, Play-Asia

MEANING- “Hope”

I don’t know what MEANING is on, but I’ve had my record player for a few years now and smoke never billowed out from it.  If you look carefully through the smoke you can see Yuichi from Ellegarden on bass.

myspace.com/meaning666 Buy @ CD Japan

Ghost Cries- “Requiem”

I’m not big on the whole female-screaming-her-lungs out thing, but boy does this girl have a neverending knot of angst in her stomach.  Also, neat coffins.

myspace.com/ghostcries

Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas- “Love at First Sight”

Fear and Loathing has a way of making chaos sound like Disneyland.

myspace.com/thefearandloathinginlasvegas

Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai- デリシャスティック

I have a feeling they’re trying to sell us some liquid in tube form.

myspace.com/uchikubi Buy @ CD Japan, Play-Asia

Vola & The Oriental Machine- “Flag”

Vola decided to finally make a proper PV for “Flag.”  There’s a samurai sword and a man in a sequence jumpsuit.

myspace.com/volaofficial Buy @ CD Japan, Play-Asia

Peelander-Z- “Taco, Taco, Tacos!!”

Oh, Peelanders.  I just had pizza.  Why must you taunt me with Mexican?

myspace.com/peelanderz Buy @ Amazon.com, MP3

locofrank- “Birth”

“Birth” is a bit more laidback than I remember locofrank.  Enjoy a tour van view of the band.

myspace.com/locofrank Buy @ CD Japan

Goggle-A- 青春野郎に気をつけろ

Lai-lai-lai.  Have Google-A been watching The Fiddler on the Roof?  “Watch out for the young guys” is a fun video.

myspace.com/gogglea Buy @ CD Japan

Sonic Attacks Blaster- 鉄を叩けば命が響く

I never saw a drummer pound the sticks with a steel baseball bat.  Intersperse that with manly shots of the band’s ripped singer and you successfully held my attention for three minutes.

myspace.com/sonicattacksblaster Buy @ CD Japan

Takeuchi Denki- 冬のファンタジー

Takeuchi Denki’s winter fantasy is more like a wet fantasy.  Oh how I long for the day I can hold my umbrella for a pretty girl.

takeuchidenki.com Buy @ CD Japan

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Apparently, Man With A Mission was your favorite masked band.  Choose your three favorite regular bands this week.