Well, I for one don't find it too easy to find Japanese music I like as I'm not really into anything like visual kei or jpop or the sort. How about a general thread for recommending music to each other?

I recommend:
Polysics
A fun, lively, amusing (and original!) band.

Anthem
A decent band, definitely. I put them near the top as they'd probably be more general taste than some other stuff I'm recommending.
From Wikipedia:
Anthem (アンセム) were one of a handful of Japanese heavy metal band formed in 1980 in Tokyo. Their music is very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Earthshaker. Disbanded since 1992, the group reformed in 2000 and released the album Heavy Metal Anthem, a reworking of some older Anthem tunes now featuring noted vocalist Graham Bonnet.

Sigh
I'm only going to recommend Sigh's latest album, which I think is brilliant. It's "avant-garde" metal, whereas their older stuff was black metal (which I do not like).

Boredoms
Well, you've probably already heard of Boredoms, but I'm going to throw them in there anyway. A very interesting "Japanoise" band.

Other things I reccomend:
X Japan (of course)
Greenmachine (A doom metal band. I haven't been able to find much of their stuff, however)
Loudness
Seikima II (pretty cheesy, a bit like a Japanese KISS but not sucky)
Merzbow (If noise isn't your thing, I really wouldn't recommend listening to him. It's very, very, very acquired taste)

So if you've got anything to refer to me, anyone who posts in the thread or just general recommendations, fire away.

I don't know if these would really fit in with you recommendations, but some things I'm fond of (excluding anything I think is really popular that most people probably know about or could find out easily).

椎名林檎 (Shiina Ringo)
The fact she gets the most links probably betrays my bias. I don't think she really stuck solely to a single genre, but has a mix of different ones in her music. Can be a little tricky to understand, either the meaning of what she's singing about or because she likes to write her lyrics with archaic styles of language/uncommon kanji.

東京事変 (Toukyou Jihen/Tokyo Incidents)
A band created by Shiina Ringo, but not just the same stuff she did as a solo artist.

陰陽座 (Onmyouza)
Kind of glam rock mixed with traditional Japanese elements? I've not listened to a lot of them, really. I don't always understand what they're singing about either. Seems to be stuff based on old Japanese demons and legends

Buck-Tick
I don't know if they count as visual-kei. I've not listened to a lot of their music either, but did like the few I've heard.

Here's a guy who puts (usually Japanese) lyrics to old video game music and does a pretty good job.

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=hyadain2525&p=r

Here's his Sabin theme:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FYpE5OXbsvo


As for bands, Spitz is alright.

I was going to say Tokyo Jihen, but someone beat me to the punch.

Redballoon, GO!GO!7188, Masaharu Fukayama, Starboard, and Swinging Popsicle are all frequent plays in my collection.

Bon Voyage and lenno (http://myspace.com/bonvoyageweb and http://myspace.com/lennojp) are two of my favorite indie bands.

albion Wrote:椎名林檎 Can be a little tricky to understand, either the meaning of what she's singing about or because she likes to write her lyrics with archaic styles of language/uncommon kanji.

That's true! Sometimes I think 林檎様 must have some grudge against the Jouyou List...

I second the recommendations of 椎名林檎, 東京事変, スピッツ, Go!Go!7188. Also check out the pillows. Thanks for the other tips!

Well, this seems to be all rock, but I'll still give my suggestions for Japanese hip-hop, as I'm quite sure it will help you to understand fast speech as well as produce it in Japanese. Not to mention, these guys are good!

First is スチャダラパー. These guys have about 10 albums, maybe a little more (including two best hits). They are on fire on every album I have of them (which is all of 'em), and sometimes make me laugh really loud with some of their lyrics (which generally scares anyone in the vicinity. I highly recommend them.

SOUL SCREAM. They recently became right behind スチャダラパー for me because of their album "The Deep". The album is pure gold... besides the outro and intro, as well as one track of bubble noises (about 45 seconds long), you get 9 or 10 seconds of pure gold. I haven't listened to much of there other stuff yet, mostly because I'm so busy replaying "The Deep" over and over, but the other stuff I heard sounds quite good.

Buddha Brand. They were actually a bunch of Japanese guys that met in NYC and formed a rap group. Kinda nifty, eh? They're probably best known for their song 人間発電所 with Shakkazombie (incidentally, also recommended). For me at least, they just slightly short of スチャダラパー for lyrics (don't let that put you off though!) and they pretty much tie for beats. Their DJ is extremely good.

GAGLE - A really good underground group with fun lyrics, good flow, and pretty good beats. I like 'em.

RHYMSTER - I'd feel bad not mentioning them. They definitely are quite good, though their newer stuff isn't much to my taste. I like older hip-hop, and their new stuff just hits me as too mainstream. However, go back and discover their little gem "俺に言わせりゃ" This album is amazing. Seriously. No faults... definitely a perfect 10.

Well, that's in for now. I've got more, but I'll post 'em later if anyone was interested in my first group.

I can second the Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen recommendations.

My favorite Japanese band right now is ACIDMAN. I would classify them as a downtempo rock band with Jazz influences. They have an amazing sound. I own three of their albums and must say that I can listen to them all the way through, which is more than I can say of most bands these days.

Next, Bump of Chicken. Despite their somewhat strange name they are a pretty straightforward rock group that has consistently released great albums. I really like the album Orbital Period.

Monkey Majik is another good band. Though they are more hit or miss than the previous two I mentioned. The band consists of two canadians and two native Japanese. Many of their songs are sung in a combination of English Japanese. I guess I would characterize their style as a mix between rock/hip-hop/funk.

Radwimps are good as well. I only have one of their albums, おかずのごはん, which I like very much. I'm not sure about any of their newer stuff.

If you want mellow indie music. Spangle Call Lilli Line are great.

I know they're well-known, but I have to mention ウルフルズ. Great band to sing at karaoke.
スーパカー is an interesting mix of electronic and pop-rock elements. And I really like 元ちとせ's voice.

Some other, not-so-well-known:

GELUGUGU (ska-punk)
Garlic Boys (punk)
Number Girl (metal...perhaps)
東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ (ska)

This thread appears to be older than time itself, but I'll heavily second the OP's picks of Sigh (I love their black metal material), Boredoms and Anthem - all recommended if you're into the more loud, high energy, heavy music. Can't say I "get" Merzbow, though!

I've written posts on a handful of other bands on my blog as a weekly "feature" (Sigh being the most current), including personal favorites Boris, Mono and Cruyff in the Bedroom. I could namedrop dozens of others, but I'll refrain from doing so and pick out a few other favorites for now:

Envy
Yeah, they're screamo. No, they don't whine about their girlfriend of one and a half weeks dumping them and cutting themselves with razors. If you enjoy contrasts of extremes and highly emotional music, Envy is unmatched.

夢中夢
One part post-rock, one part avant-garde metal, 夢中夢 was unlike anything I had heard before stumbling upon them. Operatic vocals, organic instrumentals (World's End Girlfriend accompanies on their latest album) and intense passages of lush melody round out a ridiculously talented band that deserves recognition.

Rovo
More on the mellow side of things is Rovo, falling somewhere in the category of experimental instrumental electronic psychedelic... something-or-other. Very laid back, great stuff to chill out and relax to.

And I'd better cut it short before I go on for the next several hours.

Edit: Thanks for pointing out that IME mishap, Cangy!

Burritolingus Wrote:夢中無

yeah, they're awesome, but isn't it "夢中夢"?

I also like Limited Express (has gone?), DODDODO and Chatmonchy

スピッツ > all. Amazing band, often compared to Beatles in style.

my last.fm (note some artist I only like a cuple songs others i like all their albums and some i forgot to remove)
I'm not into jpop, visual-kei either....

acid black cherry - only male singer i know that uses watashi like 100% of time... so weird. but that's him. 　I actually rejected him straight out from picture and his artist name but then I heard his voice and well it's deifnitely not what I expected.
tokyo jihen is basically shiina ringo except with band memebers she chose.
monkey majik - 2 members are white I love white peple voices you know but like they sing in Japanese so it's nice
aobouzu
ego-wrappin'
ali project
radwimps
tsubaki
quruli
asian kung-fu generation
elephant kashimashi
briliant green
advantage lucy
roly poly rag
lamp
serial tv drama
school food punishment
dorlis
sleepy.ab
the novembbers
paris match
mass of fermenting dregs
jill-decoy association
unlimits
fujifabric

SUPERFLY
advantage lucy
aobouzu
tsubaki
cune
sleepy.ab
straightener
thyme
brilliant green
spangle calli lilli line
ali project
school food punishment
last alliance

http://www.imeem.com/favmuse/music/_fkWY...key_majik/ music only.
http://[video=youtube]http://www.youtube...XU[/video] video.
Monkey Majik's biggest hit. 2 Canadian brothers lead this group. Catchy pop.

Thanks for posting your link to your last.fm profile, howtwosavealif3. I noticed we like a lot of the same music, so I'll be sure to check out your suggestions there. Anyone else on last.fm? I'm here: http://www.last.fm/user/to_nihon

Here's mine - http://www.last.fm/user/Nachomancer

Though I must concede that only a relatively small portion of what I listen to is Japanese. I'm all for full immersion, but you can pry my music from my cold, dead hands!

I've got a lot of favorite artists, but my favorite songs change pretty frequently /w what's going on in my life.

Here is the past while's worth:
first: 青山テルマ - そばにいね
now: Back Horn - 何処へ行く & Mr.Children - くるみ
soon: HY - AM11:00?

Can anyone guess the plot?
I've also been listening to the new YUKI PV a lot since it came out the other day, but the lyrics have no real relation. That Back Horn song is really tempting me to pick my guitar back up.

In the realm of Boredoms there is OOIOO, who are blissed out rhythmic popness lead by their drummer.

Also there is Afrirampo (in kana [kana] afuriranpo [/kana]) who play noisy songs with catchy melodies.

I like Yura Yura Teikokou alot too, really good Japanese garage rock.

High Rise is the loudest (and best) psychedelic rock you'll ever hear.

筋肉少女帯
特撮
more stuff from singer of previous two.

Sound Horizon

妖精帝國

I definitely second the recommendation for ゆらゆら帝国.

Jarvik7 Wrote:first: 青山テルマ - そばにいね

Personally I think SoulJas version is much better, so I would recommend that one as well.

Ryuujin27 Wrote:GAGLE

YES! This is the exact thing I have been wanting for ages.. I listen to a lot of Tribe, Slum Village etc. but this is the first time I've heard anything even remotely similar in Japanese. I just listened to their album "Big Bang Theory" and it's awesome. Thanks for the recommendation. I was aware of Soul Scream and agree that "The Deep" is a fantastic album, but the others names are new to me - I'll be sure to check them out.

Tobberoth Wrote:

Jarvik7 Wrote:first: 青山テルマ - そばにいね

Personally I think SoulJas version is much better, so I would recommend that one as well.

I'm not really a fan of hiphop style singing, so I prefer SoulJa's minor role in Thelma's. They are both pretty good though.

presonally I don' tlike aoyaama at all. anyways another band I like (I like so many bands etc) is onso line (are they called onso9line too? I don't know) but anyawys this PV is pretty damn risque, posting for the pervs sorta intersting cause it really does look like it's from 80s 90s etc.

I heard this song a bunch of times, I don't know it was a single etc but I certin didn't piture this direction for pv.

sleep.ab pv

相対性理論 - 地獄先生
cool band name. i think we can all figure it out from the kanji

Asobi Seksu, sometimes in english but in japanese most of the time.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_ty...seksu&aq=f

I love them. I'll add more when I can think of them.

I just listened to this song like 20 times in a row. And that's not counting the times, today, I heard it during the credits of the jdrama it came from. I find it strange as I usually hate this song's style of drum beat. Maybe its the slightly faster rhythm that makes it enjoyable rather than a drain.