Boredoms
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| Boredoms | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Osaka Japan |
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| Genre(s) | Noise rock Experimental Rock Punk |
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| Years active | 1986 – Present | |
| Label(s) | A.K.A, Avant, Birdman, Earthnoise, Public Bath, Reprise, Selfish, Shimmy-Disc, SSE Records, Trans Records, Very Friendly, Vice, Warner, WEA | |
| Members | ||
| Yamantaka Eye Hira Hayashi Yoshimi P-We Hila Y Seiichi Yamamoto |
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Boredoms (ボアダムス) (or V∞redoms) is an avant-garde rock band from Osaka, Japan. They were officially formed in 1986, although some date the band to bedroom tape experiments beginning in 1982. Their varied output is difficult to pigeonhole, but is usually referred to as noise rock or sometimes Japanoise, though their more recent records have been largely based around repetitive minimalism and tribal drumming.
The band has a vast and sometimes confusing discography. Many band members have rotated through the group over the years, often using a number of various stage names. Singer Yamantaka Eye is the closest they have to a frontman; his style includes a range of baffling screams, babbling, electronic effects and very heavy post-production. Drummer/singer/trumpeter Yoshimi P-We has been featured on many Boredoms recordings as well.
Critic David Sprague describes Boredoms as resembling "a head-on collision between ... free-form Sun Ra's Arkestra and the scatological nihilism of early Butthole Surfers — fronted by the hollers and gibbers of a couple of guys who can't decide whether they'd rather be Beastie Boys or Residents. But even that doesn't really describe the sheer sense of otherness that pervades the Boredoms aesthetic."[1]
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[edit] History
[edit] Formation and early years
Boredoms were formed in early 1986 by Yamatsuka Eye, who at the time acted as front man for the infamous noise act Hanatarash. The band was formed from the ashes of a band Eye formed with Hanatarash drummer Ikuo Taketani, as well as Guitarist Tabata Mara, bassist Hosoi, and vocalist Makki Sasarato, called "Acid Makki & Combi and Zombie". The band's sound was characterized by violent, noisy punk rock thrashings, and they recorded a single track, "U.S.A", for a compilation tape. Shortly after the release of their first song, Taketani was replaced on drums by Yoshikawa Toyohito, a friend of Eyes. The band officially changed their name to Boredoms after Hira replaced Hosoi on bass, and Sasarato left the band. The name purportedly coming from the Buzzcocks' song "Boredom".
With the band finally reaching a level of stability, Eye, and Mara record their first official EP, Anal by Anal, in the summer of 1986. In early 1987 Mara left the group, being replaced by Yamamoto Seiichi as guitar player. In 1988 the band release their first full-length, Osozeran No Stooges Kyo ("The Stooges Craze in Osozeran"). Due to unhappiness over Yoshikawa's drumming Yoshimi P-We is asked to serve as drummer, with Yoshikawa switching to general percussion. Shortly after the change Yoshikawa left the group being replaced by Hasegawa Chu and then by ATR. The band's sound from this period was marked by a harsh, dissonant punk sound that was heavily edited by Eye in the studio, with early influences including bands like Sonic Youth and Funkadelic[2] among others.
[edit] Growing popularity
In 1988 and 1989, Eye found himself making friends with both Sonic Youth and John Zorn, for whose Naked City project Eye served as guest vocalist. After the release of the band's Soul Discharge album in the United States they were able to parlay their growing popularity into long term record deals with Warner Bros. Records in Japan and its U.S. imprint Reprise. With the release of Pop Tatari the band took to the road and toured with Sonic Youth in 1992, and also with Nirvana for eight consecutive shows in late October and early November of 1993. During this period the band was asked by Steve Albini to record a track for a compilation he was recording. Shortly after Eye again collaborated with John Zorn on an EP under the name Mystic Fugu Orchestra.
The following year, at the height of their popularity in the United States, they are asked to perform on the main stage of the 1994 Lollapalooza tour in support of the Chocolate Synthesizer LP which had just been released in the United States. Yoshikawa had joined the band for a second time to play on Pop Tatari, often sharing vocal duties with Eye, but left again in 1994 and was replaced on percussion by EDA, who had been introduced to the band by Pavement bassist Mark Ibold. The band was dropped from the Reprise roster, with Birdman distributing the band's "Super Roots" EPs during this period. By the time of 1998's Super Ae, the band began to break sharply with their early sound by introducing many elements of electronica and psychedelia into their music. Super Ae was met with a considerable amount of acclaim from the music press, being listed as one of the band's best efforts, and was considered one of the best albums of the '90s by Pitchfork Media.
[edit] Current activities
In 1999, the band released Vision Creation Newsun in Japan. This album saw an evolution in their sound, similar to their "Super Roots" EPs, featuring psychedelic, tribal drumming and Eye's power electronic and turntabalistic stylings. The album was met with a fair amount of praise by the music press. After this release the band's members pursued individual projects. Eye oversaw a series of remixes of the Boredoms catalogue by guest DJs, and also contributing one album himself.
In late 2004, Boredoms released their first album as a group in 4 years; Seadrum/House of Sun , which consists of just two extended tracks clocking at around 20 minutes each. Along with changing the groups name to V∞redoms, the group's line-up changed considerably, stripping down to a four person ensemble with Yamatsuka Eye on vocals, Yoshimi P-We, ATR and Youjiro playing drums and percussion. Despite the changes, the group's music still revolves around the tribal drumming patterns heard on the Vision Creation Newsun LP. However, they have only toured sporadically since the changes.
Speculation has surrounded any future releases from the group, including a rumoured six volume box set [3] which was later denied by Vice on a mailing list. Amazon.com has an untitled Boredoms release for pre-order. Its release date is set as December 31, 2025. It was previously listed on Amazon.co.jp as being available in 2006 and being a live recording, but was removed in early 2006. The 2025 date is likely used as a placeholder. This release is likely Super Roots 9 (Tower.co.jp), the first official Boredoms live release documenting the 2005 Christmas concert that was played with additional professional vocalists. The record has been stated to contain a musical score. All "Super Roots" releases have been reissued on Vice Records, with the exclusion of Super Roots 2, which is a limited edition 3" CD that does not merit a reissue. Super Roots 4 does not exist due to the evil nature of the number.
In April of 2007, the group, in their incarnation as V∞redoms, is set to play 3 dates with Sonic Youth in Japan.[1]
On 7 July 2007, Boredoms are scheduled to perform 77 Drum in New York City. The "77" denotes not only the date (7 7 2007) but the number of drummers that will be joining them.
[edit] Discography
Boredoms have released a large amount of material, the following lists only their studio albums.
| Cover | Year | Name | Title | Label(s) |
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1988 | Boredoms | Osorezan no Stooges Kyo (The Stooges Craze in Osorezan*) | Mega Scum Groove Inc. |
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1989 | Boredoms | Soul Discharge | Selfish, Shimmy-Disc |
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1992 | Boredoms | Pop Tatari | WEA, Very Friendly |
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1993 | Boredoms | Super Roots | WEA |
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1993 | Boredoms | Wow2 | Avant |
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1994 | Boredoms | Chocolate Synthesizer | WEA, Reprise, Very Friendly |
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1995 | Boredoms | Super Roots 5 | WEA |
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1996 | Boredoms | Super Roots 6 | WEA, Reprise |
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1998 | Boredoms | Super æ | WEA, Birdman |
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1998 | Boredoms | Super Roots 7 | WEA |
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2000 | Boredoms | Vision Creation Newsun | WEA, Birdman |
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2000 | DJ UNKLE | Rebore Vol. 1 | A.K.A., Warner Japan, WEA |
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2000 | Boredoms | Soul Discharge: 1999 | Avant |
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2001 | Eye | Rebore Vol. 0 | Warner Music Japan |
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2000 | DJ Ken Ishii | Rebore Vol. 2 | A.K.A., Warner Japan, WEA |
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2001 | DJ Krush | Rebore Vol. 3 | Warner Japan |
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2004 | Boredoms | Seadrum/House of Sun | Warner Music Japan |
[edit] Related groups
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[edit] References
- ^ Sprague, David. Boredoms. Trouser Press. Retrieved on October 10, 2005.
- ^ Burma, Mike. Boredoms. Browbeat Magazine.
- ^ "mr p". Boredoms Release 6-CD Box Set, Voordoms Tour as Boredoms; Closet Bania Fans?. Tinymixtapes. Retrieved on June 1, 2006.
