Japanese Pop and The American Music Sponge
So, we've got The SS, Gauze, Lip Cream (what's that about?), The Blue Hearts, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Asian Kung Fu Generation. They're playing in my dance clubs, at posh bars where a beer is six bucks, even at the parties that I shouldn't be going to ‘cuz I'm not 22 anymore.
J-Rock has literally immigrated here. Now this obnoxious “Japanese” music is being made here, in the US, in California, in LA. Skin, or S.K.I.N., is a group comprised of a bunch of Japanese rock musician: Yoshiki (drummer and pianist for X Japan), Gackt (of Malice Mizer), Miyavi (of Due le Quartz) and Sugizo (of Luna Sea), and they're recording here. In 2007, they were announced at the JRock Revolution festival in LA. Good for them. Now they just need a bass.
So, I guess I need to start listening to a lot of J-Rock, and more than a little J-Pop will infultrate my collection. Gotta keep up with the Jones', or something like that. It's taking the country by storm, and I need an umbrella.