The Pen Friend Club "Darlin' / doyōbi no koibito" (7")
The Pen Friend Club has just released a new 7" single, their first with new vocalist Niina (a British-Japanese) who joined the band last year. Included are two covers, of The Beach Boys' "Darlin'" (1967) and Tatsurō Yamashita's "doyōbi...
Posted on January 19, 2024 at 23:38. | Released on January 17, 2024
The Pen Friend Club "The Pen Friend Club" (12")
After a few delays, The Pen Friend Club's latest 8th album "The Pen Friend Club" is finally arriving on vinyl! It's the first but also last album featuring singer Megumi who had joined three years ago but is leaving the...
Posted on February 20, 2023 at 23:59. | Released on February 22, 2023
The Pen Friend Club "The Pen Friend Club"
The Pen Friend Club, who are celebrating this year their 10th anniversary, have released a brand new 8th album, self-titled "The Pen Friend Club"! It's the first album featuring latest singer Megumi, and it also entirely consists of original songs,...
Posted on September 7, 2022 at 22:58. | Released on September 7, 2022
Posted on August 17, 2022 at 00:23. | Event held on Sunday August 21, 2022 at 11:15 (JST)
The Pen Friend Club "The Sun Is Up" (Download)
The Pen Friend Club has just released a brand new original song digitally, in advance of their upcoming 8th album "The Pen Friend Club". "The Sun Is Up" has music written by bassist Rie Nishioka. Check out the music...
Posted on July 17, 2022 at 00:30. | Released on July 13, 2022
The Pen Friend Club "Auld Lang Syne (A Cappella On The Beach)" (Download)
The Pen Friend Club has released digitally an a cappella cover of "Auld Lang Syne" (in Japanese called "hotaru no hikari"), sung in Japanese and then English. It's sung by members Megumi, Soy, Ricca and leader Yūichi Hirakawa. This...
Posted on July 9, 2022 at 00:12. | Released on June 29, 2022
Posted on April 29, 2022 at 23:17. | Event held on Sunday May 29, 2022 at 11:15 (JST)
RSD Drops 2021 Day 1
Record Store Day is happening this year, as two "RSD Drops" on June 12 and July 17! It seems in good shape looking at the impressive list of releases, with many good ones. Online sales will start at 13:00 (JST)...
Posted on June 10, 2021 at 00:16. | Released on June 12, 2021
Posted on December 8, 2020 at 22:15. | Event held on Saturday December 26, 2020 at 11:15 (JST)
Various Artists "Magical Connection 2020"
This is a compilation of new generation Shibuya-kei, compiled and supervised by Sally Kubota (The Scooters, ex-SOLEIL, les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift). Featured are a few brand new recordings, including new SOLEIL covers by microstar (songwriters of "Baby Boo"), Tweedees...
Posted on November 23, 2020 at 10:40. | Released on November 25, 2020
Posted on October 22, 2020 at 21:36. | Event held on Saturday October 31, 2020 at 18:00 (JST)
The Pen Friend Club "In Concert"
The Pen Friend Club have a new album coming (their 7th!), and it's their first-ever live album! It's also the last release featuring their previous singer Fujimoto Yuka. The album contains songs from two recent shows: one held in December...
Posted on August 24, 2020 at 23:40. | Released on September 23, 2020
Posted on August 13, 2020 at 13:14. | Event held on Saturday September 12, 2020 at 11:00 (JST)
City Pop on Vinyl 2020
"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei, and on August 8 will be a special day with many releases that file under the "city pop" category that we love! While only sold...
Posted on July 27, 2020 at 00:30. | Released on August 8, 2020
The Pen Friend Club "Along Comes Mary / Love Can Go The Distance"
The Pen Friend Club, a band of eight that takes inspiration from 60's west coast rock, has a brand new single to be released this week! This is actually their last release featuring Fujimoto Yuka who had been the...
Posted on March 8, 2020 at 12:14. | Released on March 11, 2020
Record Day 2019
Record Day 2019, an initiative of Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, is being held this Sunday November 3rd (the same day as Japan's "Culture Day" national holiday). Items are available in stores and online from that date. Below is a...
Posted on November 3, 2019 at 01:12. | Released on November 3, 2019
Various Artists "Sazanami Label 15th Anniversary Sampler Vol.1", "Vol.2"
Sazanami Label, an independant label known for introducing many bands of genres such as garage rock and neo-GS among lots more of variety. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, here are two new very nice priced compilations that cover respectively years...
Posted on April 13, 2019 at 01:05. | Released on April 24, 2019
The Pen Friend Club "Merry Christmas from The Pen Friend Club"
The Pen Friend Club, a band that takes inspiration from The Beach Boys and Phil Spector (etc.), has just released a "first and last" Christmas album! Included are 15 covers, of songs by Mariah Carey ("All I Want For Christmas...
Posted on November 14, 2018 at 23:27. | Released on November 14, 2018
Record Day 2018
Record Day is this Saturday November 3, always held on the same day as national holiday "Culture Day". Led by Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, many labels and artists coordinate their releases in the favorite physical format of many to...
Posted on November 2, 2018 at 23:22. | Released on November 3, 2018
Record Store Day 2018
Record Store Day 2018 is coming up this weekend! Like every year many Japanese artists, labels and shops get involved, and many exciting releases will appear on the shelves on Saturday morning. Here's a selection that Tokyo's Coolest Sound readers...
Posted on April 16, 2018 at 23:40. | Released on April 21, 2018
The Pen Friend Club "Garden Of The Pen Friend Club"
The Pen Friend Club has just released a 5th album. Included are covers of Roger Nichols ("Don't Take Your Time"), Burt Bacharach ("My Little Red Book"), Ohtaki Eiichi ("suisaiga no machi"), The Rascals ("Good Lovin'"), Brian Wilson ("Melt Away") as...
Posted on March 29, 2018 at 23:15. | Released on March 21, 2018
Record Day 2017
Record Day 2017 was held on November 3, and this year again led to the release of many vinyl records. Below is a selection of the titles, but you can find the whole list on the official site here. Record...
Posted on November 26, 2017 at 00:44. | Released on November 3, 2017
Record Store Day 2017
Record Store Day 2017 will be taking place this weekend, on Saturday April 22! As usual, many limited releases will be available at record shops only from that date. Below is a selection of some of the best stuff that...
Posted on April 18, 2017 at 22:15. | Released on April 22, 2017
Full-text search results for The Pen Friend Club
Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods "Hello City Lights" (12"/Download)
Joe Nakamura & Eastwoods, of which the leader Joe Nakamura is formerly of 90s band The Happies, has just released a first album titled "Hello City Lights". Taking inspiration from music of the 60s to 80s, such as soul, funk...
Posted on December 4, 2023 at 00:04. | Released on December 1, 2023
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.42
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on August 18, 2023 at 13:44.
°C-want you! "Peppermint Patty Telephone / Tokimeki" (7")
℃-want you! (also a member of Magic, Drums & Love) is releasing a new 7" single. The A-side is a cover of The Good-Bye's "Peppermint Patty Telephone" (a song released in 1986 as B-side of single "Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!"),...
Posted on August 11, 2023 at 01:20. | Released on August 16, 2023
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.38
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on April 21, 2023 at 12:33.
Wack Wack Rhythm Band "at the Friday Club"
Wack Wack Rhythm Band has just released a brand new album, which is actually their first cover album! "at the Friday Club" contains covers of Marvin Gaye, The Friday Club, Cold Blood, The Supremes, Essence Of Capricorn, Frankie Valli, Georgie...
Posted on April 4, 2023 at 21:13. | Released on April 4, 2023
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.37
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on March 16, 2023 at 23:56.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.34
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on December 16, 2022 at 21:03.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.31
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on September 9, 2022 at 13:25.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.30
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on August 12, 2022 at 09:00.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.26
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on April 14, 2022 at 23:51.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Noël Nippon" édition 2021
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on December 19, 2021 at 02:42.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.12
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on December 24, 2020 at 00:34.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.8
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on August 26, 2020 at 21:40.
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.6
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada), it brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on June 25, 2020 at 01:32.
Les Childish Tones avec Beni Usakura "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (7")
Childish Tones (Twitter), band that using only toy instruments, has a new single featuring singer Beni Usakura (Twitter, Instagram) about to be released! This time they cover Jane Birkin's "Ex Fan Des Sixties" (1978) and The Spiders' "Nati Bati...
Posted on March 16, 2020 at 00:52. | Released on March 25, 2020
SOLEIL "Live at Veats" (DVD), "Lollipop Sixteen" (12")
SOLEIL, a great band that has put a stop to its activities at the end of 2019, has two releases coming this February 26, 2020! The first is a live DVD which consists mainly of the last show held on...
Posted on February 9, 2020 at 17:17. | Released on February 26, 2020
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Noël Nippon"
Tokyo's Coolest Sound is starting its own radio show! Part of La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada), the show will bring you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in...
Posted on December 14, 2019 at 01:04.
Gig report: Adieu, Vanilla Beans!: Retrospective & last gig reports
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound They came carried by winds from Northern Europe, where they returned to last October 7 (2018). So goes the setting of Vanilla Beans, a unique idol group that had debuted...
Posted on December 31, 2018 at 22:03.
The Geno London "Geno London EP"
The Geno London is the latest band of guitarist Geno Satō (previously known as Ai Satō of The Hair) and features boy-girl vocals. After having been active live for some years, here's a first release of 5 original songs! The...
Posted on April 15, 2018 at 00:16. | Released on April 11, 2018
Various Artists "Girls Sazanami Beat! vol.5"
This is a 5th of Sazanami Label's popular compilation series of indies girl rock/garage/neo-GS bands. Collect them all! All tracks can be sampled at the official release page. The jacket was specially designed by Italian illustrator Luca Tieri. A series...
Posted on January 30, 2013 at 23:49. | Released on February 9, 2013
