Comments on: Kiiiiiii for any occasion, or just for fun!

Kiiiiiii for any occasion, or just for fun!

CrunchyFrog — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:10:05 -0800

Kiiiiiii for any occasion, or just for fun! Kiiiiiii, that's K & 7i's, is a Japanese girl duo whose sound has been described as "Noise Pop" and "Experimental Fun Music." They've made a couple of bizarre music videos, played concerts in Japan and America over the last seven years, and now have an album and a live DVD. Listen to more on their myspace page, grab an .mp3 and read the history, and try to download 5 .mp3s from their site.

By: pkingdesign

pkingdesign — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:21:13 -0800

I want to go on the record to say that MySpace (and this group's MySpace page) is an abomination. Thanks.

By: Heywood Mogroot

Heywood Mogroot — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:25:14 -0800

David Marx is a big fan of them [and he knows more about the Japanese music scene than all of mefi combined].

By: sleepy pete

sleepy pete — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:26:31 -0800

Thanks, CrunchyFrog. "4 little Joeys" is pretty damn great.

By: es_de_bah

es_de_bah — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:34:23 -0800

i think i'm in love

By: CrunchyFrog

CrunchyFrog — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:43:47 -0800

Thanks for the link Heywood! I found an unlikely remix of four little joeys, and a spiffy little article with more .mp3s and live videos.

By: CrunchyFrog

CrunchyFrog — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:50:16 -0800

Before I go to bed, here's the original version of Five Little Joeys. Probably not what you'd expect, unless you're already a fan of The Wiggles.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 21:45:23 -0800

Din't expect to like that as much as I did. Fun post. Related, kinky kawaii? Japan Live blogspot, RightoRound. kiiiiiii --- We're the BAD "To be honest, Kiiiiiii's harsh sound and alienating theatrics should be rightfully contained in art galleries, but for some odd reason, they are one of the most loved bands currently in Tokyo's live-house circuit. Most Japanese amateur bands are intolerably clinical - perfect guitar solos and rhythm sections in songs rehearsed a thousand times before any live debut. In this very serious and earnest environment, Utako's childish screaming and Reiko's chaotic drumming eschews all that slick and boring Perfectionism for a pure heart of rock n' roll in a battered and bruised body."

By: Lex Tangible

Lex Tangible — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:58:48 -0800

I find them quite reminiscent Afrirampo Their site Saw them a couple of years ago at sine' & CBs in NYC. They had a really great stage presents. Their music has quite matured since then.

By: basicchannel

basicchannel — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:28:29 -0800

And all is right with the world again.

By: blm

blm — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:33:17 -0800

I want to go on the record to say that MySpace (and this group's MySpace page) is an abomination. I clicked the MySpace link and thought "what's pkingdesign talking about, it looks like a pretty standard MySpace page, not great, but not what I'd call an abomination." Then the background loaded. The mind boggles.

By: churl

churl — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:47:11 -0800

That's funny, it didn't look like a standard myspace page to me until the awful background loaded.

By: progosk

progosk — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:16:45 -0800

Finally some other stuff making it out of Japan. (See also OOIOO and Kana.)

By: progosk

progosk — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:17:49 -0800

oops: Kana.

By: mexican

mexican — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:20:37 -0800

A while back I played a show with Apprike (U.T from Kiiiiiii and backing band). They did mostly Kiiiiiii songs and some Michael Jackson and Nirvana covers. Watching them live was awesome - lot's of off-balance posing and jumping around - but I don't think I'd want one of their records.

By: ejoey

ejoey — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:26:39 -0800

Heywood, David Marx liked them so much, he married one of them. Kiiiiiii is a really interesting band to me, because they are totally different depending on the setting. At a "live house" in Japan, they felt sincere and awesome. At SXSW, my friend (who lives in Japan) thought they were a total novelty act. At an arty venue, they were like performance art.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:53:02 -0800

They're absolutely ace. Somewhere deep in their confusing site there is a song with a chorus that goes 'Hugh Grant! I'm pregnant!'. iTunes tells me I downloaded it three years ago, and yet it still reduces me to tears of laughter every time I hear it and, by extension, every time I see Hugh Grant on the telly.

By: NemesisVex

NemesisVex — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:31:44 -0800

I saw them at SXSW. I left after three songs. I was amazed I even lasted that long.

By: Foosnark

Foosnark — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:09:07 -0800

This is wonderfully weird. I laughed out loud at the "Begawk!" section in "4 Little Joeys" :)

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:46:54 -0800

Oh, this is really good. Like a lite Afrirampo.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:01:44 -0800

So... where do I buy this in the US?

By: CrunchyFrog

CrunchyFrog — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:53:31 -0800

You can use Paypal to buy the DVD direct from Kiiiiiii (3000 yen is about $25). The CD can be gotten from Amazon.co.jp (cost after shipping is about $38.50).

By: carter

carter — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:30:19 -0800

Great stuff, CrunchyFrog. mrs. carter informs me that 'kiiiiiii' is Japanese onomatopoeia for 'squeaky brake.' Makes sense.