OLEDICKFOGGY…they’re actually even more interesting than the incredible, mind-blowingly awesome name implies. The lead singer also plays the mandolin alongside an accordion, banjo, upright bass, electric guitar, and drums. It’s a colorful combination that makes for music that’s quite…good, astonishing.

“神秘” is off of OLEDICKFOGGY’s (I’m looking for excuses to type this name as often as possible) latest album, Rusticが止められない, which came out October 10th.

For more, check out the OLEDICKFOGGY official site and MySpace page.

The always interesting and unique Japanese folk rock band OVERGROUND ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND is (finally) coming out with their 2nd full-length album “New Acoustic Tale” on November 25th. Judging from this song and the samples on MySpace, it’s definitely an album people will want to check out. OAU is also following this release with an album tour. They are also planning on playing at this year’s COUNTDOWN JAPAN, which is looking to be a good one.

You can find more info off their official website and their MySpace.

sleepy.ab’s latest PV, “メロウ” (mellow) falls gracefully from the sky, ahead of paratroop, the quartet’s new album. The song is quite smooth and refined and the lone, ringing guitar part makes me melt. It definitely follows along the path of the band’s more recent stuff and remains consistent in its beauty — though I do love their older material. paratroop is being released on Pony Canyon and ‘drops’ November 25th. I’ll be there to pick it up.

Visit sleepy.ab’s official site for more details.

Notice: At exactly three minutes, the PV cuts out. You’ve been warned, so if you’re humming along, like I was, you won’t be caught off guard soloing. Hokkaido bands represent!

Jazz monsters JABBERLOOP invade North America with their U.S. debut, REVENGE of the SPACE MONSTER. There’s a handful of bands in Japan intent on proving that jazz doesn’t have to be too chill and it’s great to see one make themselves available to an international audience. Having released a vinyl EP in the U.K. with Mukatsuku Records, the America is the JABBERLOOP’s latest conquest.

JABBERLOOP is the lethal combination of saxophones, trumpets, keyboard, bass, and drums played by DAISUKE, MAKOTO, MELTEN, YUKI, and YOHEI respectively. The standard club jazz vibe is accelerated by soaring synths that create an original sound that’s simultaneously space-y futuristic and retro disco. While a “debut”, REVENGE is actually a best-of release that showcases JABBERLOOP’s most exciting works.

The synth-heavy title track launches first and sets the mood on dance hyperdrive. “Behind the Wind” tones things down –just barely — with tapping pianos and dueling sax and trumpet. REVENGE’s eighth track, the frantically paced “Shirokuma”, jumps out brightly. Squawky turntables are layered heavily atop and scratch in and out, embellishing at transitions and throughout the song. “Shirokuma” actually topped the iTunes Japan jazz charts in March of 2009.

“AREA51″ jams with some groovy catch and leads into “Bermuda Triangle”, a flow of breezy, crescendoing woodwinds and horns.

The album flies high though all 13 tracks but that sustained elevation is perhaps the album’s only glaring drawback. Nevertheless, REVENGE of the SPACE MONSTER is an electric-fueled jazz romp that’s exciting and addicting.

REVENGE of the SPACE MONSTER came out on November 4th on Daruma Label. It’s available for download on Daruma’s official site and iTunes(!)

“Behind the Wind” by JABBERLOOP is fire:

For more blazing jazz action, check out the PV for “AREA51″. Visit JABBERLOOP’s official site and MySpace page.

“Thank U bye bye Robin Hood” by ar (アル) is down-tempo art at it’s finest. The accompanying PV is an playful experimental work that grooves well with the song. The vibrant video features animated Lite-Brites, Tetris letters, a lot of copy/pasting, and color-changing t-shirts among splashing colors and stop motion-like videography.

ar is the trio of Atsushi Kubo, Yoshitaka Fujimoto, and Tsubasa Ohta. They formed in 2003 and their third full-length album, LOVE LU LE LO, came out on November 11th.

They have an official site and MySpace page, of course =)

If John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins played in a hardcore rock band…hmm… That’s not quite what Z (ゼット, zetto) sound like but they are a rather awesome hardcore rock band with saxophones. Continuing with the hard and heavy live performances, here’s Z’s “Uso村” (Usomura, Village of the lie) performed at Shimokitazawa Garden on September 22nd.

BONUS: A promo for Z’s latest album, “新今日” (New Today). It features the (sweet) studio version of “Uso村”:

Check out Z’s official site and MySpace page!

Here’s a grating, intense instrumental from self-described “noisecore prog-rock” trio BACTERIA. The properly titled “Heavymetal Man” is off of BACTERIA’s latest album, LOST, which came out in September. It’s chaos but remarkably coherent sounds are able to find their way out and be heard. The bass player has giant shoes!?

These guys have been rocking out together since 1989. For more info on BACTERIA, check out their official site and MySpace page.

This driving and seemingly frantically-paced song, which can be found on perfect piano lesson’s second full-length album “Wanderlust” which came out earlier last month, differs a bit from what could be considered normal from the band. Sure, the intricately-layered vocal melodies and the impressive musical arrangement of the past is still there. Yet the song itself shows a move away from the traditionally lighter material the band makes. Regardless of what can be said of the shift in tone, it is definitely a quality song/video.

More info can be found at the band’s website.

In honor of Halloween, here is the latest from OGRE YOU ASSHOLE. Off their newest album “フォグランプ” (Fog Lamp) which was released earlier this month, the song not only demonstrates the band’s continued post-punk awesomeness, but, apparently, their appreciation of American film as well. There are so many references to classic horror films in the video. Can you find them all? The video is also generously subtitled by After Dark Fansubs.

More info can be found at the band’s official website and MySpace.

The latest album from The Mirraz, NECESSARY EVIL, which dropped on October 14th is a fantastic composition and an impressive leap for the trio. I love these guys and I wish I had time to do give the album a full review!! Four songs off of NECESSARY EVIL already have PVs and I had to pick a favorite.

“神になれたら” (Kami ni naretara), I choose you! The PV doesn’t feature “Mirra” (the mummy, of course) or have the signature goofy, no-budget charm that the other three do, but it’s the song that’s amazing.

Like every other band, The Mirraz have an official site and a MySpace page.