Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds

Hi everyone, I hope you had a nice week. I had a little bit of an eventful weekend, so the write ups this week are shorter than usual. I hope everyone understands 🙇‍♂️ and well, honestly the music is more important than my words so just listen for yourself! If you find even one song or album you love throughout all of these newsletters, I feel that my mission has been accomplished. 😊

🥧Fresh Out The Oven Albums🥧

Rating System

Pretty warm - for the hardcore fans of the genre
Oh that’s hot - for any fan of the genre
We’re gonna need oven mitts - potential classic, good entry point for the genre
The kitchen’s on fire!! - modern classic, must listen

Kudaranai1nichi - こいつもどいつも (Every Last One of Them)

Genre: Midwest Emo, Indie Rock
Spotify | Apple Music

As I mentioned before, I can be annoyingly picky with this genre. But this is cool, like really cool. The guitar parts intertwine perfectly with the rhythm section and vocals. It’s not too angsty, the perfect balance of taste and angst that can be rare in the genre. It’s also pretty cool that they’re on a label that’s for alternative idol groups.

Rating: Oh that’s hot

Favorite Tracks: とても大事 (Track 4), trust none, moment, ガンプラ (Track 8)

Sakura Fujiwara - wood mood

Genre: Jazz-influenced Art Pop, Pop Rock
Spotify | Apple Music

Sakura has been in the game for a hot minute, and while you can tell that some of her sounds are rooted in some good ole 90’s pop, she ain’t afraid to experiment. My favorite parts of this album are the choice of sound textures as well as the overall mix. There are some tracks that resonate more with me than others, but I think she made an overall great piece of work with plenty of great tracks that are bold and entertaining from front to back.

Rating: Pretty warm

Favorite Tracks: my dear boy, 巡 (Track 3), 星屑のひかり (Track 7), Thanks again

Gusokumuzu - Hello! Good Morning!

Genre: Indie Rock, Folk Rock
Spotify | Apple Music

You know what this is? Pretty good song writing… but there’s a catch. This thing is FILLED with guilty / maybe not so guilty pleasures. The echoed guitar mixed with the dance feel of “Girly Boy” is the exact kind of comfort song I look for when I don’t want to think too hard about what I’m listening to and just… groove out. I also love the unashamed ripoff of Happy End on track 10. Fun album with some great songs mixed with decent ones.

Rating: Oh that’s hot

Favorite Tracks: Signal, ユメのはじまり (Track 2), Girly Boy, ため息の逃げ場 (Track 10)

Kaoruko x Stones Taro - Y EP

Genre: UK Garage, 2 Step
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

🍵Piping Hot Singles🍵

Ryusenkei - スーパー・ジェネレーション (Super Generation)
Spotify | Apple Music
Genre: City Pop Revival
*Classic City Pop Revival group, please listen to their albums Tokyo Sniper and Natural Woman if you haven’t already!

Alborg - Blend
Spotify | Apple Music
Genre: Indie Rock, Singer-Songwriter

AJAH - FRAN (Carpainter Remix)
Spotify | Apple Music
Genre: House, Dance Music

Guiba - スキマ
Spotify | Apple Music
Genre: Indie Pop, City Pop-inspired

DE DE MOUSE, hylen, Crystal Tea - moonrise dream
Spotify | Apple Music
Genre: Shibuya-kei revival

Thank you!

Thanks again for reading this issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds! If you have any feedback or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by replying to this email, or the official Instagram page (click the icon below). If you like what you read, please tell your friends, like our Instagram etc. I hope to eventually be a primary source for Japanese music for the English speaking world because I want to share my love of music with as many people as possible, and you all would be the way that could happen.

See ya next time! Breakfast is ready.