classic albums, atsonicpark edition # 22: number girl - sappukei
 

NUMBER GIRL "SAPPUKEI"
Toshiba EMI, 2000

Mixing elements of post-hardcore, indie rock, and even a little bit of "alternative" music, and strangely produced by David Fridmann, Number Girl create a complex, noisey, distorted rock album. For fans of just amazing songwriting. Fast and full of strange hooks fused with amazing riffs. Strangely minimal guitar at times creates a weird counterpoint to some of the Jesus Lizard-ish basslines and Husker Du-ish guitar pummeling with one of the top 10 best drummers I've ever heard and distinctive singing/shouting that sometimes goes with the music and oftentimes goes completely against it -- beautifully. There's not much I can say except that they've been overlooked in America for far too long (despite touring here, being on compilations here, and being without a doubt the most popular j-indie band of all time -- unfortunately, most of the Japanese bands that get popular over here need some kind of image and this band doesn't have one)... and I haven't been able to get enough of their music for the past 5 years. The songwriting is just so topnotch. Great band, easily one of my most listened to ever and... actually, one of the few perfect bands. They'd splinter off into some other awesome bands (Toddle, Zazen Boys, Sloth Love Chunks, Vola and the Oriental Machine) but nothing will ever top Number Girl and, specifically, this album.

I'M A BRUTAL MAN!

But I'm not a fan of just amazing songwriting.

Haha.

Well, there's other good stuff too.

I had School Girl Distortional Addict for a while but I lost it somwhere.

i tried downloading one of their albums once but only could get the songs whose titles weren't in japanese characters. i liked what i heard.

checking that out later man, thanks.

not in my mindbank of music. ive never come accross them!

Never heard them, but i might check em out. Is it really a 'classic' though?

Well, if you like my taste in music and like the other albums I've mentioned on here, then sure. I try not to lead people astray with my tastes, hence no reccomendations of Jon's wonderful album "Smoke" yet, as much as I want to...

i recently discovered how good this this band is after having them on my "to check out" list for a while and did a little search now to find out more and what do you know! I'm surprised they're not more well known as well - especially on this board - they're a really fun, catchy band with angles and directly related to bands like Sonic Youth, Pixies, MBV, dino jr... basically all the rock bands that people here cream over.
They're damn good and enjoyable - I've got a couple of albums coming my way which i really hope arrive intact as I paid a bit extra for them before they go absurd in price... this album being one that I'm waiting on... Would you say it's your favourite atsonicpark? I'm refraining from finding a download before getting it.

check this out you bastards!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzfRwKZMeto

Number Girl's guitar tones are magnificent.

Uh, where's the usual link??

that's a damn good song. I'll check 'em out

I heard of these guys when I found bands like Toddle and such but I had trouble finding their stuff for download.

enjoy

http://www.mediafire.com/?id10mjnnjgi

Sick, thanks a lot.

Thanks, man!

Great great album. I'm hearing The Pixies in there, for sure!!