|
Japrocksampler: How the Post-War Japanese Blew Their Minds on Rock 'n' Roll
|
| List Price: | $18.95 |
| Price: | $14.78 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
33 new or used available from $9.31
Average customer review:
Product Description
In the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll music began crossing the Atlantic Ocean—with The Beatles and The Who leading the British Invasion of the United States—and the Pacific Ocean, as American and European rock slowly began to take hold in Japan. This insightful study from visionary rock musician Julian Cope explores what really happened when Western music met Eastern shores. The clash between traditional Japanese values and the wild renegades of 1960s and 1970s rock ‘n’ roll is examined, and the seminal artists in Japanese post-World War II culture are all covered. From itinerate art-house poets to violent refusenik bands with penchants for plane hijacking, this is the story of the Japanese youths and musicians who simultaneously revolutionized a musical genre and the culture of a nation.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #159459 in Books
- Published on: 2009-01-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 304 pages
Features
- ISBN13: 9780747593034
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Though British, this author's exploits as a rocker and musicologist qualify him to explore the modern clash between traditional, conservative Japanese values and the wild, renegade post-WWII rock 'n' roll influence of the West. His breathtaking knowledge of the scene doesn't hurt, either; thorough throughout, Cope (Krautrocksampler) reels out Japanese political, social and cultural history from the mid-Nineteenth Century on before delving into early hits like the prescient 1950s "TV idoru" genre (meaning, literally, TV idols) and the Beetles' generation-defining Japanese tour ("Waving goodbye... was somewhat akin to watching four divinities departing Earth") that sparked the Group Sounds movement. Cope covers everything from psychedelic, progressive and blues rock to chamber, experimental and ambient music, the Miles Davis-influenced jazz scene, the drug culture, the Tokyo production of Hair and, of course, Yoko Ono. Cope also lists, with helpful caveats, his 50 favorite albums of the era, including Speed, Glue & Shinki's Eve, Les Rallizes Denudes' Blind Baby Has Its Mothers Eyes, and the Flower Travellin Band 's Anywhere (from which the book draws its cover, a photo of naked, motorcycle-mounted Flower Travellin' Bandmembers). Though a cavalcade of unfamiliar Japanese names and terms may intimidate, Cope's arresting commentary is alternately serious, opinionated and flip (think Lester Bangs, not Chuck Klosterman), and a great discovery for any fan of rock music.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Fascinating." —Under the Radar
About the Author
Julian Cope is a rock musician and music reviewer. His previous books include Krautrocksampler, The Megalithic European, and The Modern Antiquarian.
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Follows up on Mr. Cope 1995's Krautrocksampler, which detailed Germany's (1st of 3 Axis powers) late 60's early 70's heavy pysch and experimental music scene.
This book details Japan's (2nd of 3 Axis powers) late 60's early 70's heavy pysch and experimental music scene.( Therefore, it Does Not deal with contemporary noise/pysch Acid Mothers Temple, etc or JRock scenes).
Beautifully written, enclosed in a hardbound, "trade paperback size" book. Divided into two books: Book One has four chapters that deal with Japan pre and post World War II, the impact of Western/American culture, rock'n'roll, (GS)Group Sounds(the Mops, Jacks, etc) emergence and decline, the confluence of the Japanese avant garde, jazz, and rock scenes with the youth culture explosion of the 60's.
Book Two has 8 chapters, which deal with specific bands as follows:
Come Together 1969 (Blues Creation)
Flower Travellin Band
Les Rallizes Denudes
Speed, Shinki, and Glue
Taj Mahal Travellers and Takehisa Kosugi
J.A. Caesar and the Radical Theatre Music of Japan
Masahiko Satoh and the Free Thinkers' Union
Far East Family Band
A Top 50 round up follows with a short list of albums to avoid.
A truly great treat for the open minded and curious listener, this book promises to be the groundswell moment just as Krautrocksampler was. This is a great Rock'n'roll read. You will be turned onto new bands. You will learn about new sounds and scenes. You will be hunting down new 'holy grail' albums.
(Mr. Cope is there a book on the 3rd Axis power, Italy, due? Pejoratively titled " Woprocksampler"?)
Cope's done it again!
After having written the excellent Krautrocksampler more than 10 years ago, Julian Cope is now tackling 60's and 70's japanese Rock. As in his previous tome, this is a delightfully written book that not just reviews the records, but also provides historic anectdotes and places the book within its historic context. As an example of erudite rock list book writing there is nothing better. The main difference is that while many or most of the artists in the prvious germanophile effort pretty well known within normal rock circles, here this is absolutely not the case and these groups are pretty far-out there. It does make you want to go out and buy these records in these times when the current British or American rock scenes are tired and tiresome at best. Overall, a joy to read.
Nice one Julian.
Having read countless band/artist biographies including Julians own Head on/Repossessed, and the history of Laurel Canyon and such,this was an extremely positive find.
I like Julian's writing.Also I had absolutely zero clue that Japan even had a music scene like the one described here.
Lots to sink your teeth into.
So if you are wondering if you should read another Bob Dylan or Beatles biography,you may want to change the scene, and read this one.
