🎧 Issue #44

Get out of the bed and step into this week’s issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds !

Hi everyone, I hope you had a nice couple of weeks.

I had a busy week and there wasn’t that much music I came across that blew my mind, so I’m gonna keep things short and too the point this time.

Get ready for:

• Long-form Indie Rock

• Flannel shirts

• Comfy sweaters

• EP of year so far and more!

🥧 Fresh Out The Oven Albums 🥧

Reviews of the best new albums that came out recently
*with some exceptions

KASHIKOI ULYSSES - (distance) sings

Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Like your songs long and expansive? Like a healthy mix of singing and Hip-Hop-esqe spoken word poetry? Like jumping from Singer-Songwriter Pop passages to semi-explosive saxophone solos? Well here’s the album for you.

The highs here are super high, with “Ai wa Kodashini” and “SAdMISHISA” being amazing songs. However, KASHIKOI ULYSSES can get a little repetitive via their formulaic approach to longer songs and let’s be honest, they’re definitely not reinventing the wheel here.

It’s kind of a bummer that all of the best tracks are in the middle of this album, but I definitely recommend checking out those tracks and if you really like those, it’s worth giving this album a spin.

Rating: 🥧 Pretty warm
Favorite Tracks: Ai wa Kodashini, morning fire, SAdMISHISA, superrichkids

SPOILMAN - OBLIVION TRACKS

Genre: Grunge, Post-Hardcore
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

GRUNGE GRUNGE GRUNGE

Let’s travel back in time to a mythical city called “Seattle” in an era called the “Late 80s - Early 90s”. Imagine long hair, fuzzed out guitars, songs that shout out phrases like “NO RECESS” for the chorus. Then you have SPOILMAN, who are honestly a faithful recreation of this “otherworldly” time in the “make-believe” past.

On a serious note, this definitely a Grunge album but there are definitely some extremely interesting musical moments.

The unabashed rehashed love for Bleach era Nirvana is simultaneously fun and predictable. However, the biggest thing holding this album back is the vocal performance, which sometimes sounds amazing like on the song “Majestic Farce“ where the yelps suite the more off-kilter guitar attacks of the song. However, other times he sounds way too similar to the Puddle of Mudd cover of “About A Girl” than anyone should ever sound.

This would be 2 pies if wasn’t for the vocals 🥲

Rating: 🥧 Pretty warm
Favorite Tracks: Open Sesame!!, Majestic Farce, Two Marbles, Oblivion Man, Metal Plants

🍱Mystery Bento🍱

An older album you should check out

pasteboard - glitter (2005)

Genre: Indie Pop, Shoegaze, Twee
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

I’ve talked about the group Roly Poly Rag Bear in the Mystery Bento section once before, and this here is the same band, just a different name.

However, the only difference is the name and a slightly more Shoegaze sound on this album, otherwise you’re getting the same level of comfiness and quality songwriting. Especially now that we’re officially in Spring, this is the perfect soundtrack for your evening walks watching the sunset in the distance.

The opener “Breakbeats” is one of the most straight ahead Shoegaze tracks on the album and has a super memorable guitar melody. “Flipper” sounds like a Roly Poly Rag Bear leftover, I especially love the simultaneous retro yet hazy production on this song. Also can’t go without mentioning “Squall”, an absolute melancholic beauty of a track that makes me feel both happy and lonely, a 10/10 sad boy jam.

Stunning harmonized female and male vocals, rhythmic yet somber guitars, this album has a special place in my heart and is definitely worth a spin.

*While it’s not on the actual album, the track “June” on the deluxe edition of the album is one of my favorite tracks and is definitely worth listening to!

Favorite Tracks: Breakbeats, Flipper, Freesoul, Slowdive, Squall

♨️ Steaming EPs ♨️ 

Some good EPs that recently came out

Ohzora Kimishima - 音のする部屋 (Oto no suru heya) EP

Genre: Art Rock, Noise Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube
*This was definitely the best release I heard these past couple of weeks. Check it out!

🍵 Piping Hot Singles 🍵

Here’s where you find the newest hottest singles on the planet from Japan

For Spotify and Apple Music, check out the official playlists!
*It’s taking me a little longer to update the list compared to usual. Check again in a couple of days!

Playlist Links:
Spotify
Apple Music

❤️‍🔥 Thank you! ❤️‍🔥 

As always, thank you thank you sooooo much for reading this issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds! 🥹

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See ya next time! Breakfast is ready.