So, I went to tokyo and got most of the CDs put out by this label called Excellent records. They do reissues/japanese versions of (mostly) UK pop that is pretty obscure. Everything is good, here is what they have released:
The Newcolours and The Unwanted - German? band/solo project, very good guitar pop reminiscent of leamington spa/firestation tower type stuff i think. Reissues of albums from the late 80s/early 90s I think
The Afternoons - Good pop band from the UK, their album is available there on a small label, reviews on their website compare them to belle & sebastian but they don't really sound too much like that to me (http://www.geocities.com/the_afternoons/)
The Homones/Marc Carroll - nice power pop. The Hormones album was released on V2 in the late 90s i think. Similar to Teenage fanclub. The Excellent edition has a bonus disc of B-sides. The MArc Carroll solo album is very good, it's on rough trade maybe? in the UK (http://www.marccarroll.com/) - anyway it's very good, crisp guitar power pop.
Other releases include East Village - Drop Out on vinyl, The Starlets - Surely Tomorrow You'll feel blue (great melancholy scottish band http://www.starlets.co.uk/) and a new album by NYC powerpop band The Churchills.
Anyway, I don't work for them or anything, just trying to spread the joy. If you are into this kind of stuff and have a chance to pick up any of these, well worth it. Most of the CDs include bonus tracks (not the Starlets and the East Village vinyl though i don't think). You can check out the label at:
http://www.colourfield.co.jp/excellent/
yeah
― g (graysonlane), Tuesday, 11 February 2003 18:49 (twenty-three years ago)