So, I’ve covered a little bit of my perspective of music, manga/anime, and fashion.  Now, i’m just going to take a little break and do a little reviewing of the band Asian Kung Fu Generation.  Yes, they are my favorite band and no, I don’t care if you hate them.  For those of you who don’t know them and want a little bit of new music in your collection, this is an introduction to them.  If you like what you hear about them, I’d be glad to give a site for sampling the music, or to buy, or to download a few mp3s. 

Asian Kung Fu Generation, which will now be ajikan, began around 1996.  They were entering their university and it was really just an indie band.  Their first musical “Release”, if you could call it that, was a demo tape that was shared with Caramelman.  You have to be pretty damn indie to have to share a tape with another band.  But through their works with them, Gotoh, Kita, and Yamada came to know their drummer, Ichiji.  To this day, the band consists of the four. 

Ajikan has really been working hard since they began.  They released their mini album and just a little bit later, in 2003, they released their very first album that brought them out of indie rock and into the light, Kimi Tsunagi Five M.  Tsunagi, actually, I think is the best album ever to be composed.  I have respect for it.  Even if you don’t like all of the songs, you must admit, that the transitions, the sound, and everything about the album, is perfection in itself. 

After this album, Sol-fa was released, which is the one that most people have heard of.  It was released in America under Tofu Records.  Then Fan Club, Feedback File, and a new one on the way.  Not to mention the numerous amount of singles released, one can see that ajikan has really been working like crazy.  They also did one of the endings for Fullmetal Alchemist, Rewrite and one of the openings for Naruto, Haruka Kanata. 

Ajikan’s sound is the really general alternative rock.  If you like rock, or are looking to add it to your collection, go for ajikan.  You have to at least like one of their songs.  You can always tell when its their song, but every song is still different.  Flashback, which is a fan favorite, is a very short, fast song that anyone can blast the volume in their car.  (I know I do)  Siren, is a long slower song that takes its time and instantly changes its beats.  Mugen Glider, is a mix of both.  Its hard to explain their music, but whatever it is, its amazing.  If you didn’t already know, Gotoh, the vocals, sounds like a boy going through puberty.  He can’t hit high noted very well, and his voice usually cracks, but who cares?  It still sounds like perfection.  The stark imperfection of his voice actually makes his voice perfect.  If you’re actually going to listen to them, I recommend Flashback, Mugen Glider, Rojiura no Usagi, and Rewrite.  Then, its really up to you what your favorites are. 

Ajikan is “THE” band.  I havce no idea why.  But the way that their album and single covers always have that same girl on them, or the way Gotoh’s vocals sound, or even just because they’re so nerdy, is somehow befitting of them.  I hope that even though they’re around 30 years old, they won’t stop making music for long time.  I think I’d miss them too much.