I've been trying to avoid comparing the bands and point out the good things about NG.

[i]Hence your shorter posts. [/i]

*AHEM*

I like how much Jomei stands up for the Ging Nang Boyz here, in the face of so much Mukai-fellating, but I'm gonna be fair to both sides:

1. Ging Nang Boyz & Binkan Shonentai's album's are both ridiculously loud when compared to other albums, regardless of the actual noisiness of a particular song. That's just how they've been mastered. Other similarly loud albums are the Exploding Hearts' "Guitar Romantic", The Stooges' "Raw Power", and pretty much any given Guitar Wolf record (as previously mentioned). Making a mixtape with any of these bands is a pain, because the sudden shock of the volume change kinda ruins the flow.

2. Two of GNB's best tracks are their acoustic numbers, like "Nante Akui..." and "Nantonaku bokutachi..." C'mon Jomei, where's the love???

3. GNB also have a few really weak songs, such as "You & I" and "Yume de Aetara". In the past, I too would overlook them because of the overwhelming radness of their other stuff, but I gotta admit that those songs just aren't very good. However, one stinker per album isn't bad. ZB and NG fare much worse.

4. Both bands come up with ridiculously obnoxious noise and good melodies. However, I think that Mukai doesn't filter out as many of his mediocre songs in the songwriting process, so more of them end up on record, and make the whole album seem more mediocre. The long time off between "Num-Heavy-Metallic" and "Zazen Boys I" resulted in what is probably his most consistently enjoyable work.

5. Both bands are hella weird, but more of you guys seem willing to embrace ZB/NG's weirdness and chalk it up to some wonderful intangible quality, and then at the same time dismiss GNB's weirdness as immature or base. People who "get it" will realize that both of these bands are not only trying to, but successfully pushing people's buttons and the limits of pop music. I'm not surprised that Mukai and Shiina Ringo have become frequent collaborators, because every Japanese person I know says the same thing about her. "Oh, I really liked her first record [when she sounded like Alanis Jr.] but now she's too weird for me." GOOD! Because she's moved on to more interesting territory. ALSO, both bands' lyrics are delightfully weird and honest, perfectly matching their musical aesthetic.

6. I'd venture a guess and say that I'm the only person here who has actually seen both bands live, and I can attest to the fact that they both put on a wonderful show. ZB/NG have more interesting improv and variation on familiar tunes. GS/GNB play their songs pretty straightforward, but with more conviction and energy than any other band, possibly ever. I figure that they've both it got it covered pretty well.

Pretty fair appraisal, except that You&I and Yume de Aetara don't suck. I'd much rather hear those than the acoustic numbers, but, hey, to each his own on that matter.

Melody is overrated.

jotobagginz pretty muchs wins the thread. I, personally, love both bands. Number Girl is really catchy and interesting and I love most of their songs, same with GNB/Going Steady.

[quote="Atomsk Iscariot"]Music is overrated.[/quote]

Its all down to opinion so it really doesnt matter.

Hey guys, im lazy so im going to post at the end of this thread and not read anything after page 3.

I went around the internets for little more than 5 minutes and gave up looking for torrents of Number Girl and Zazan Boys...

So I humbly come back to IM asking for handouts. I need to be hearing this shit other than just on YouTube.




(As a side note: In my short search I came across jpopmusic.com/forums and I ran away screaming. I much prefer the safe haven that is IM)

hit me up on aim sometime.

Well I should tell you about this link. It's got lots of great stuff especially rare albums. Perfect for archiving. Just wanted to help. Later guys.
[url]http://www.jpopmusic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2560483#2560483[/url]

[quote="Konno"]Well I should tell you about this link. It's got lots of great stuff especially rare albums. Perfect for archiving. Just wanted to help. Later guys.
[url]http://www.jpopmusic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2560483#2560483[/url][/quote]

HOLY SHIT.

Konno, you win for best ever post on this entire message board. Except for maybe the post that contained the pillows' Special CD. But really.

This is an epic link. Thank you.

Oh god, I keep forgetting about that page. I even have it bookmarked and I forget about it lol.

I couldn't believe how much that link had. It was literally like treasure.