Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Foreign Rock Bands, Popular Bands

Say It Ain’t SoWeezer

Weezer – Say It Ain’t So (Version 3)

Among the bands labeled as alternative rock in the 1990s, the one that may have exerted the greatest influence on Japanese rock might not be Nirvana, but rather Weezer.

Their self-titled 1994 debut album—where Rivers Cuomo, a genius songwriter and noted Japanophile, blends his melodies and vocals with thunderous, alt-style guitars to brilliant effect—became an instant hit, selling over three million copies.

Although they had a period of hiatus, they have remained consistently popular up through the 2020s.

Their style, dubbed “crybaby rock” at the time of their debut, also influenced bands in what’s commonly called emo-core.

Even listeners who don’t usually listen to Western music can enjoy the abundance of poppy, catchy melodies in their many classic songs—so by all means, give them a listen.

You can start with any album, but my personal recommendation is their masterful second album, Pinkerton.

While considered a commercial failure in the West, it was a hit in Japan and is packed with Japanese elements in both its cover art and lyrics.

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KOH-1

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SuperpositionYoung The Giant

Young the Giant – Superposition (Official Video)

A band from California that calls themselves Young the Giant.

They’re a multinational group—Indian, British, Persian, and French-Canadian—so they might seem all over the map, but their indie rock sound is known for being razor-sharp and cool.

They’re still in their early twenties, but it looks like we can expect great things from them going forward!

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konii

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Middle SeaYuck

Yuck – Middle Sea

Would Yuck be considered power pop as a genre? I think their songs are crafted with an exquisite sense of balance.

The slightly over-distorted guitar feels great the whole time, and on top of that, catchy, pop melodies come flying in.

The male-female mixed vocals have a rather unusual resonance that feels really good.

It’s edgy yet sparkling—wonderful.

By the way, I’ve heard the bassist is Japanese, and including that, the band’s overall look is also excellent.

brokenlovelytheband

lovelytheband – broken (official video)

lovelytheband is an American indie pop band formed in 2016.

They began writing songs soon after coming together, and their first release, a track called “broken,” gradually sparked their rise in popularity.

While they actively incorporate digital sounds, their music has a unique worldliness that somehow evokes a sense of nostalgia—one of the key elements of their appeal.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Chlorinetwenty one pilots

twenty one pilots – Chlorine (Official Video)

twenty one pilots is a duo that skyrocketed to fame in the early 2010s and has continued to achieve global success ever since.

They’ve even won a Grammy, so their popularity and talent are beyond question.

Many people in Japan may recognize their music because one of their songs was featured in the hugely popular film Suicide Squad.

Their sound is emblematic of modern bands, and they frequently use programmed drums.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Song 2Blur

Blur – Song 2 (Official Music Video)

In Japan, he’s overshadowed by Oasis, but the vocalist Damon is actually incredibly talented.

Beyond his solo albums, he’s active in multiple projects like Gorillaz and other collaborations.

He might be the most gifted of his generation.

Star SignTeenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub – Star Sign

When it comes to four-minute pop songs, I honestly feel there’s no band that can top them—to the point where I sometimes think most Japanese guitar rock is basically a copy of this band.

They’re veterans now, but you can still enjoy music that feels like a textbook of rock.