First, Quentin Tarantino introduced us to The 5.6.7.8's in Kill Bill, Vol. 1 with their infectiously upbeat rockabilly song Woo Hoo. The song later appeared in several commercials. The group was a three piece from Tokyo that played surf rock with 50's and 60's style and flavor. What the band lacked with their command of English was easily made up for by their enthusiasm.

Then we experienced Asobi Seksu with Yuki Chikudate serenading us with an enticing mixture of English and Japanese. Unlike The 5.6.7.8's, Asobi Seksu created their own melded style or indie pop that is just as much about the melody as the energy.

Now the latest craze to be shipped across the Pacific is Oreskaband. The band is a teen girl sextet from Osaka, Japan which formed in middle school and who's storming the land of the rising sun by storm. Their first offer in the US is the self-titled Oreskaband, which is actually an album composed of two EPs previously released in their homeland. Unlike The 5.6.7.8's imperfect English, and Asobi Seksu's playful mixing of the languages, Oreskaband sings completely in Japanese, but their message is clear: get off your lazy bum and dance like crazy.

The first, and most obvious, comparison which comes to mind is Boston's Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which should tell you straight away what you might have picked out of the band's name; they're all about ska. That being said, if you're not up for a third dose of ska music, you probably won't make it through one listen of the album. If, on the other hand, you're still waiting for the next coming of ska music, here it is, albeit in Japanese.


Oreskaband - Pantime : Oreskaband

Oreskaband - Knife and Folk : Oreskaband



The 5.6.7.8's - Woo-Hoo : Bomb the Twist

Asobi Seksu - Strawberries : Citrus

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Noise Brigade [Live] : Tibetan Freedom Concert [Disc 2]