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A blog where we post whatever we want. A focus on music, obscure film, and more. Many links are our own uploads, but just as many are taken from other blogs. If you have a problem with us having your links on our blog, we are glad to take them down. Female Trouble is maintained by Garrett (ZOOM LENS), Michelle, and Megane-Kun (Drink Cold). If there is something that you think we may have that you wish to ask for, do not hesitate to ask us! Please email gyyguy@yahoo.com. The Female Trouble email is not checked.

Miki Sawaguchi + Jojo Hiroshige + Masami Akita + Masahiko Ohno - Uterus And Human

Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 7:30 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 3 Comments


Is this an all-star line-up or what?

Miki Sawaguchi (famed, big-breasted AV idol)
Jojo Hiroshige (leader of Hijokaidan)
Masami Akita (the Merz man himself)
Masahiko Ohno (trash guitar noise God, Solmania)

The vibe is eerie and lucid for the most part, Miki Sawaguchi's spoken word is oddly relaxing, yet her other vocal styles (characterized by either loud cackling, or weeping and whining like a school-girl) are so cute in such a disturbing way, that you'll probably just end up feeling the latter anyways. This is an amazing album worth checking out for fans of any of the above mentioned people. Now if I could only find the 'Big Boobs' album by Miki Sawaguchi...

-Garrett

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Hijokaidan Live

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 5:04 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 7 Comments

A collection of live Hijokaidan videos for everyone to enjoy, with download links below



Download



Download



Download

Look at Junko jumping! Too cute

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He was aware that he was still a child.

Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 3:19 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 4 Comments



I received my copy of 'Saudade' by Saki Kubota today

To my surprise (as you may be able to see towards the bottom of the 2nd picture), she is accompanied by an ensemble of two guitarists, and two viola players. Side A features reworked versions of her song with this ensemble, and Side B is her usual thematic 80's pop. Whatever music may be behind her voice though, there is still that urgency of longing and loneliness that one may be all too well accustomed with during the bleak and moody winter that we are slowly passing through right now

I'll try and rip this to mp3s soon, but don't expect the most excellent quality :3

-Garrett

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group_inou- ESCORT

Monday, December 21, 2009 at 10:25 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 1 Comment



[Download]

group_inou is a two piece hip-hop group from Japan. Their sound is hard to categorize, kind of a nostalgic video game-esque sound to them, loads of processed and hyperactive sounds coming from every direction. Very uplifting stuff, and one of my favorite records to be released in 2009.



-Garrett

トライアングル [Triangle]

at 6:20 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 0 Comments





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Gauge Means Nothing- The Absent Trail Of An Echo And My Future Plagued By Surrender

Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 2:16 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 0 Comments


Gauge Means Nothing were a short-lived 4 piece from Tokyo, Japan. Their unique brand of screamo can be attributed to the vocals, which were provided by bassist Yuichi, guitarist Kenta, and female singer Tamao. The somewhat flat and high pitched yelping of Tamao combined with the nasally vocals and guttural screams of both Yuichi and Kenta gave them a sort of raw edge over more well-produced screamo groups. Another interesting element they had were their use of keyboards, while to some, may seem out of place and almost unnecessary, provided a fuller sound and melodic backdrop to the band. For some odd reason, the keyboardist is uncredited on various websites describing the group's line-up, but she is very present in most live videos of the band. All in all, what separates this group from other Japanese screamo groups is their ability to sound raw, yet maintain a sense of melody to their music which is never too overbearing, nor undermined. At only 4 songs deep, the record is surprisingly fulfilling. Possibly one of the best Japanese screamo records to come out. This record can also be purchased on the site, Meatcube.

-Garrett

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久保田早紀 [Kubota Saki]: Best Collection

at 1:37 AM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 2 Comments

[Download]

Saki Kubota is a Japanese pop-idol. I think. Her music transcends that of most idol-pop, entering territories that are almost unnerving and haunting in someways, yet still retains what one would typically expect from 80's idol-pop. There is little information on her, but surprisingly enough, Juntaro from the Gerogerigegege is very fond of her music, going as far as to say that among his top 10 favorite albums, Saki Kubota's discography is #1. I felt that when listenining to some of Kubota's work, I felt a great sense of unbeknowing and dread, similar to that of Gerogerigegege compositions such as "Endless Humiliation." Perhaps Juntaro's love for this women isn't so surprising after all.

-Garrett

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 10:30 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 0 Comments


*Melt*

Birth- Iro EP

Monday, November 30, 2009 at 9:46 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 1 Comment



Birth are one of the latest groups to enter the amazing Japanese screamo scene. This is their debut EP and it sounds like a mixture between the jangly guitars of instrumental group, Toe, and the chaotic, underlying pop aesthetic of fellow screamo band, Nitro Mega Prayer. Birth are the band that The Fall of Troy wishes they were right now. Strange time signatures and dissonant guitar playing mixed with pop melody, but the emotion itself never comes off as something fabricated. The dual vocals of guitarist Sakai Kouta and bassist Suda Kenji stretch to their seams. Powerful energy for just a 3 piece. There isn't that much information to be found about this band, but they're certainly one to watch out for. Please visit the site Meat Cube, which sells CDs from many international screamo artists, and buy this record!

-Garrett

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Death in Midsummer and other stories by Yukio Mishima

Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 12:19 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 1 Comment


Mishima is the most obvious and recognizable name of the post-war novelists of Japan, highly linked with his ritualistic stomach-piercing suicide, seppuku. But, his way with words expanded further than just novels, for he also was a playwright, wrote prose and short novellas as well as essays. The Sea of Fertility tetralogy were his last published writings, which includes the very famous story of Kiyoaki Matsugae's unrequited love and happiness as an aristocratic member of a westernized Japanese family in the 20th century: Spring Snow.

I find it unfortunate that Mishima is always coined as an absurdist; his writings are profound, poetic. He was well-researched, highly knowledgeable of western and eastern philosophy alike.


Death in Midsummer and other stories is a collection of shorts put out in 1966.
Highly-recommended for those who enjoy Japanese-modernism.

"Reiko had not kept a diary and was now denied the pleasure of assiduously rereading her record of the happiness of the past few months and consigning each page to the fire as she did so."-Yukio Mishima, Patriotism

-Michelle

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Hijokaidan- Viva Angel

Monday, November 9, 2009 at 9:54 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 3 Comments


Hijokaidan's 2nd album. On this record, Hijokaidan completely abandons the somewhat psychedelic and jazzy sounds of Zouroku No Kibyou and transcends into territories that are somewhat surreal and disturbing. For a Hijokaidan record, the music is surprisingly sparse and this only adds to the sense of disconnectedness. What is probably the most noticeable change to the Hijokaidan sound is the stronger emphasis on vocals, electronics, drums and feedback. Highly dissonant and bizarre, this is a perfect record documenting the ever changing sound of one of Japan's first noise groups.

-Garrett

Violent Onsen Geisha- Otis

Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:03 PM Posted by FEMALE TROUBLE 2 Comments



Perhaps one of the most unique Japanese artists out there, Violent Onsen Geisha's sense of humor is far more cynical and sarcastic than that of say, Yamantaka Eye. Otis, like many of Nakahara Masaya's recordings, consists of pop culture nods and strange mash-ups. This is not an album as much as it is a musical collage. To call Nakahara just another noise artist is almost undermining his finely tuned ear for the absurd. One notable song that fairly represents Nakahara's humor is a loop of the main guitar riff from Lenny Kravitz's, "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" combined with his signature frenzied screams and some bells and whistles to boot. Surprisingly, the booklet in this CD states that no samplers, synthesizers or keyboards were used in the making of this recording. I guess there are two versions of this CD out there. I have the one off of the Endorphine Factory label, which I believe is the first pressing, and it only consists of 3 tracks, the last track clocking in at 59+ minutes and combining some 7 odd songs. While this may be a bit tumultuous, I think it only helps emphasize Nakahara's madness. If you think you've heard everything that Japanese noise had to offer already, check out Otis. You will be pleasantly surprised.

-Garrett

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