Number Girl

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message.
This article has been tagged since December 2006.
This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article.
Please improve it or discuss changes on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.
Number Girl

Origin Fukuoka
Country Japan
Years active 1995–2002
Genres Alternative rock
Indie rock
Labels Toshiba EMI
Members Shutoku Mukai
Hisako Tabuchi
Kentarou Nakao
Ahito Inazawa

Number Girl (ナンバーガール Nanbā Gāru?) is a rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan in August, 1995 by Mukai Shutoku. They disbanded in 2002.

Arguably the biggest name in Japanese indie rock and major influences of Japanese bands such as Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Number Girl played fast, guitar-driven rock influenced primarily by the Pixies, Sonic Youth, and various punk bands such as The Ramones and Hüsker Dü. Their sound evolved over the course of seven years, and albums Sappukei and Num-Heavymetallic were considerably more experimental in nature than earlier releases, serving as a basis for Mukai's post-Number Girl project, Zazen Boys.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation

Number Girl was formed in August of 1995, when Mukai Shutoku decided to put together a band. Recruiting a guitarist, bassist, and drummer, Mukai created the basis for his new band. A solo artist at the time, Mukai was briefly involved in one band called "Number Five". Learning that his new members were previously in a band called "Cowgirl", he combined the names, and christened his new band "Number Girl".

However, the initial band members were quickly replaced or left the group. Mukai invited bassist Nakao Kentarou, which led to other members joining the band. Nakao first met guitarist Tabuchi Hisako during her tenure in a prior band with Shiina Ringo called "Cosmic Cherry"; at this time, Kentarou was a lighting technician at a small music club, Virve Hall. Mukai convinced a fellow Fukuoka musician, Inazawa Ahito, to join his band. The new Number Girl was featured on several compilations, and released their first full-length studio album, School Girl Bye Bye in November of 1997 on independent label Automatic Kiss.

[edit] Musical Style

Number Girl's initial style, characterized in early live performances and debut album School Girl Bye Bye, was a brand of indie rock influenced by 70s punk bands such as [The Ramones]], as well as more contemporary band The Pixies. Although many of Mukai's influences, as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Prince, Miles Davis, Public Enemy and others, would not truly emerge until after the Number Girl's demise, his bandmates' combined musical tastes would serve to define much of Number Girl's sound. Nakao Kentarou was inspired by Nirvana to begin playing music, but his aggressive, driving basslines are most similar to 1980s hardcore punk, such as Hüsker Dü. Tabuchi's melodic lead playing was contrasted by frenetic, noise rock sections, obviously inspired by Sonic Youth. Inazawa, considered one of Japan's best rock drummers, was inspired by new wave bands such as The Police and Talking Heads.

With their 1999 release, "School Girl Distortional Addict", Number Girl moved towards a much heavier sound somewhat reminiscient of post-hardcore. Their 2000 album "Sappukei" built on its predecessor, but incorporated more ethereal melodies and traditional Japanese music in songs such as "Urban Guitar Sayonara". Number Girl's final album, "Num-Heavymetallic" continued the fusion of post-hardcore and traditional Japanese music.

Shutoku's vocal style is one of the band's most distinctive traits, a combination of shaky singing, aggressive growls and screams, as well as spoken word and rapping. Although most lyrics are in Japanese, his strong songwriting was one of the band's most critically lauded aspects. Shutoku's early lyrics dealt with conventional themes such as high school and girls, reflecting adolescent aggression rather typical of nineties hard rock; however, with School Girl Distortional Addict, Mukai would begin exploring deeper lyrical themes, such as disillusionment with Japanese culture and harsh social criticism, that distinguished Number Girl from their peers.

[edit] Major Label Debut

In 1998, the band began to play several shows in the Tokyo area. Eventually, they decided to play in the city full-time, and relocated to the city. Upon playing numerous live shows that year around the area, the band began to attract major label attention. In May of 1999, their major debut single, Toumei Shoujo (透明少女) was released by Toshiba EMI recordings. Their major debut album titled School Girl Distortional Addict was released the following July, and is considered by many to be Number Girl's defining work.

In 2000 the band entered the studio with producer Dave Fridmann (most notable for producing The Flaming Lips) and released their third full-length studio album, Sappukei. Fridmann's production helped the band to reach their full potential, and Sappukei served to combine Number Girl's style of hard rock with traditional Japanese sounds. During this time, they embarked on a brief US tour with Polysics, playing in small clubs through several cities.

After a year of touring, the band again entered the studio, and with Dave Fridmann at the helm, released what would become their final studio album, Num-Heavymetallic. Num-Heavymetallic took elements of their previous sound and combined it with Mukai's newly found experimentation. Unusual rhythms, effects-laden guitar lines, and a vocal style which alternated between punk-inspired grit and spoken word, would eventually find their way into Mukai's subsequent band, Zazen Boys' trademark sound.

[edit] Disbanding

The band then set out on their biggest tour ever, playing over thirty dates, to support Num-Heavymetallic. However, on September 20th, 2002, the band shocked fans by announcing their dissolution.

The reason behind the band's demise is not entirely clear, however, it is widely known that bassist Kentarou decided to leave the band. The other members decided that the band was a specific group, and opted to disband rather than replace Nakao.

Number Girl played their final show on November 11, 2002 in Sapporo. The recording of the performance would later be released as Sapporo OMOIDE IN MY HEAD Joutai (サッポロOMOIDE IN MY HEAD状態).

Following the demise of Number Girl, the members each went on to other projects. Nakao went on to support Spiral Chord before joining Sloth Love Chunks. Guitarist Tabuchi Hisako became a member of Bloodthirsty Butchers and also formed her own band, Toddle. Mukai continued performing as both a solo artist with his "Mukai Shutoku Acoustic & Electric" shows and formed a new band, Zazen Boys, alongside drummer Ahito Inazawa. In 2005, Inazawa left Zazen Boys to form Vola and the Oriental Machine

[edit] Members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

[edit] Albums

[edit] DVD

  • Sawayakana Ensou (騒やかな演奏, October 29, 2003) (Re-released version)
  • Number Girl Eizoshuu (NUMBERGIRL映像集, April 26, 2003)
  • Omoide In My Head 3: Kiroku Eizou (記録映像)

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/u/m/Number_Girl_eeda.html"
In other languages