I used to like Sambomaster like a lot of people in this thread way back when. Not so much anymore, though. I think they have become the corniest band I have ever seen or heard.

I don't particularly pay much attention to the indie scene, but here are some of my favorite bands from the past six years. Some are indies and some aren't. I don't really pay attention to record labels.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZZk2Mq_yjA]sakanaction[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8VIp83HVGY]arukara[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugd3n0_QuUY]ohashiTrio[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZ9JYcs5gA]Pirokalpin[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1DjqlfWVoY]THE BAWDIES[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HE446dJIAM]androp[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7flrmA_4RYc]THE PINBALLS[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhKaLykpSLg]phatmans after school[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bNNBA4Pg8s]Czecho No Republic[/url]
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t4LpOKA3DQ]the HANGOVERS[/url]

I'm really digging [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaIlvaD7GD0&feature=relmfu]this[/url] song by Ohashi Trio. Thanks for the share, Mafu.

[quote="Blank"]I'm really digging [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaIlvaD7GD0&feature=relmfu]this[/url] song by Ohashi Trio. Thanks for the share, Mafu.[/quote]
Oh yeah, that's a cover of a famous Japanese song from one of his "Fake Book" albums. He has three "Fake Book" cover albums out right now. Actually, the PV I wanted to link was "[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtcrAihuIM8]Happy Trail[/url]", but I couldn't find it at first. It's probably my favorite from him. Another favorite is [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ykSIZ1-38k]Winterland[/url]. He has a chill, jazzy style to his music; kind of like something you would hear in a cafe or something. In fact, I often hear his music being played in bakeries, small shops and those kind of places in Japan. I think his mini album "This is music" is a good introduction to his stuff.

I'm not sure if mentioned yet, but two bands that I've always loved that don't get enough recognition are Snowkel and Anatakikou.

I was deeply saddened to learn that Snowkel is no longer doing their thing, I'm not sure of the status of Anatakikou, but both were awesome little indie bands that deserved a lot more recognition than they got!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-il-c78oTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq1h0xKP3CU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYuB1uWMIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En0uiFK- ... re=related

ANATAKIKOU is still around. They had a new single a few months ago.
Snowkel's vocalist is going solo now. His name is [url=http://shinya-nisimura.com/index.html]Shinya Nishimura[/url] and he has two solo albums out. You might want to check his stuff out, MyFoot.
My favorites from Snowkel were Tabibito beginner and [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGyhXLuLdzY]ooki na mizutamari[/url]. Too bad they didn't last long.

Pillows connection fan fact: Snowkel were produced by none other than original pillows member and bassist Kenji Ueda.

That's great news, thanks Mafu!
I loved the vocalists voice and melodies, so I will definitely look into his solo stuff. They're entire first album, Snowkel Snorkel was great from start to finish. I bought it on a whim while buying pillows CDs because I liked just that one song, Tababito Beginner (I forget how I even heard it), and it is one of my favorite albums by any band ever. Unfortunately, besides Tababito Beginner and Namikaze Satellite (because it was used as a Naruto OP) none of the other amazing songs are on youtube for the world to enjoy...
Also awesome to learn that Ueda produced them.

I'll have to look into Anatakikou's newer stuff then, I haven't listened to them in ages, but they had a real oldie kind of sound that felt right, I liked their stuff a lot, especially this one song that sounded a lot like a Living Field-era pillows cut.

EDIT: Track 2 [url]http://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Anatakikou_000000000213211/item_Sweet-Montage-A_1772239[/url]

[quote="MyFoot"]
EDIT: Track 2 http://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Anatakikou_ ... -A_1772239[/quote]

http://www.4shared.com/dir/pn5m4D2w/Swe ... age_A.html

I hope this will work.
The first song 'Woman Record' is a pretty cool, upbeat song. (I don't really listen to the other songs...though)
Oh wait, track 2 ofcourse.

[quote="Mafu"]Pillows connection fan fact: Snowkel were produced by none other than original pillows member and bassist Kenji Ueda. [/quote].
wow, really? I always thought the recording of the snowkel songs was pretty well done. Those little background sounds, it really adds some texture to the songs . Good job Ueda! haha.

Hmm, I like quite some songs of them, among my favorites are Pantomime, Rewind, that one with ([url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--4_ulW0qfc&playnext=1&list=PL04094C426063A232&feature=results_video]Snowkel Snorkel remix[/url]) and Tabibito Beginner ofcourse.
I also got most of snowkel's discography (it's not that much), so if anyone's interested just ask me.

Sweet Montage A is the best Anatakikou album fo sho.

Lost in Time's "fuyuzora to kimi no te" is also top tier.

Latest album by Nothing's Carved in Stone, "Silver Sun," and LAMA's debut album from last year, "New!" are both also highly recommended, for some recent stuff.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

They're still going strong.
Suikinkutsu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55XfGNP_gew
This is a song from their latest album 'Walkin' released in march this year.
Oh man see how much fun she has playing the piano.

Didn't know NCIS had a new album out. I liked Echo okay, it was better than Sands Of Time but maybe not as good as their debut.

I'll need to give this other stuff a listen, too.