Video - Ogre You Asshole "Balance" (バランス)

Here's the new one from Ogre You Asshole. I saw their recent Rock in Japan performance of this song live and, to be honest, thought it was pretty terrible. Not sure why. Something about the arrangement and sound just didn't translate well live, I suppose. As I suspected then, this studio version makes much more sense and is actually pretty nice. It's upbeat, even for OYA, but doesn't have any teeth, which makes it a bit of an odd choice for a single. I suppose they're going for an easy one on the radio. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to their new album Ukareteiru Hito, which is out September 1st.

Calendar 2010 - Ogre You Asshole - US Tour

November 3-26
Ogre You Asshole
US Tour supporting Wolf Parade

Nov 03 - Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ
Nov 04 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
Nov 05 - Ram’s Head Live - Baltimore, MD
Nov 06 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
Nov 08 - Music Farm - Charleston, SC
Nov 09 - The Social - Orlando, FL
Nov 10 - Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason - Miami, FL
Nov 12 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA
Nov 13 - The Lyric Oxford - Oxford, MS
Nov 15 - Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater - Austin, TX
Nov 16 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
Nov 18 - The Englert Theater - Iowa City, IA
Nov 19 - Granada - Lawrence, KS
Nov 20 - The Pageant - St Louis, MO
Nov 22 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN
Nov 23 - House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
Nov 24 - Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI
Nov 26 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON, CANADA

Source: MySpace (thanks to Audrey for the tip!)

Videos of the Week - 7/19/09

Better late than never, right? Right?!

With that in mind, let's jump right to the videos...

The Telephones "Monkey Discooooooo"


New music from The Telephones. This video reminds be a little of the Vola and the Oriental Machine clip I posted last week. This one isn't quite as awesome as the Vola vid, but it's still a lot of fun to watch.



Ogre You Asshole "Pinhole"


The newest single/EP from Ogre You Asshole. I have a feeling this would be really cool to see in proper HD. The stuff with the trees in the dark at the end is great. It's just a really nice song.

Mix Speaker's,Inc. "Innocent World"


All I can really say about this new video from Mix Speaker's,Inc. is that it's absolutely hilarious. At least that damn "Turtle God" guy (Seek, formerly from Psycho le Cemu) and his damn turtle dance. So funny...

Red Bacteria Vacuum "Roller Coaster"


Japan Nite recently announced a few new US shows coming up in August. I hadn't heard of the all girl punk band Red Bacteria Vacuum before, so I looked them up, and this is what I found. Impressive! Sounds like the could give Guitar Wolf a run for their money.

"IDM Kid"


This week's non-Japanese video is this. Some little girl making random noises that are then cut-up and mixed in a sort of IDM style. It takes a while to really get going, so make sure to watch all the way to the end. Cute!

That is all! Until next week, true believers!

Ogre You Asshole

Don't let the outrageous name fool you. If you could distill unassuming, twee feelings into sonic form, you might have something closely resembling Ogre You Asshole.

Formed around 2004, the gentle indie rock foursome has released a slew of equally modest singles, mini-albums and just-barely-full-length efforts. These are all full of the band's extremely muted and flat sonic treatments. They are the opposite end of the spectrum from, say, Ling Tosite Sigure's frenetic production or Boris' wall of sound.

This isn't to say that their songs lack punch or sparkle. In fact many OYA songs have a habit of sneaking up on the listener. Of lulling them into a quiet reverie just before launching into a more cacophonous chorus or boisterous bridge. They keep their music just a bit on the raw side, something that sets them apart for a much more average, nice and safe rock band. Manabu Deto's light and gentle voice is able to shift effortlessly into something more aggressive and plaintive, just as their music makes subtle shifts and movements.

It's this clever credibility that proves Ogre You Asshole has a large cache of talent to draw upon, and something that allows them to release consistently great indie rock gems.

BUT OGRE YOU ASSHOLE RELEASES HERE

"Pinhole"




Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Manabu Deto - Guitar, Vocal
Kei Mabuchi - Guitar
Norihito Hiraide - Bass
Takashi Katsuura - Drums

Albums:
Fog Lamp - 2009
Shiranai Aizu Shiraseruko - 2008
Alpha Beta vs. Lambda - 2007
Heikin ha Sayuu Gyaku no Kitai - 2006
Ogre You Asshole - 2005

"Shiranai Aizu Shiraseruko"


"Advantage"


"Flag"


live


[updated 10-2009]