I’ve recently become a fan of a most excellent Japanese, all-female band called “Gacharic Spin”. I found a site where the members of the band name their primary influences. The drummer/lead singer is inspired by Pantera, the bassist (who is an absolute BEAST of a player) is inspired by Primus/Les Claypool, and the keyboardist is inspired by Deep Purple. The guitarist is inspired by a band called “Judy & Mary”, an act I’d never heard of.
I am confused.
I looked up Judy & Mary, and got this:
Not only is that one of the worst singers I have ever heard, *she appears to be the only female in the band*, and I don't know if she's supposed to be Judy or Mary. The male lead guitarist is all right, but the female guitarist from Gacharic Spin, whom he inspired, blows him away.
20 years ago, Judy and Mary was huge in Japan. Their first album, The Power Source was an unheard-before perfect blend of American-style punk rock and Japanese pop/art rock sensibilities. Their next album was somewhat less of an achievement, but was still a solid effort. They were enormously popular and they rode that shit for half a dozen albums over the next 4 or 5 years, then they broke up. Yuki in particular has continued to work with a variety of different people and bands.
They also reached literally millions of listeners when their song Sobakasu from heir first album was used as the theme song for the anime version of a popular manga called Rurouni Kenshin (if you like anime, you should check it out if you don’t already know it). Rurouni Kenshin is so popular that it has spawned video games and even well-received live-action movie in 2012; IIRC it is one of the most watched shows in Japanese history.
Regarding their name: you realize that there is neither a Jesus nor a Mary in The Jesus & Mary Chain? That there is no one named either “Coheed” or “Cambria” in Coheed & Cambria? That there is no actual person named Pink Floyd?
Ah, once I discovered that “Judy & Mary” was a Japanese band, I figured that they must have had some sort of influence over there that doesn’t translate here. The other three musicians named American/British bands that I could relate to; “Judy & Mary” is a band that I have no reference to, and I just didn’t get what they were doing (but damn, that singer looks good in that skirt). Yeah, that’s what I get.
The singer has an odd voice, but for many of the songs it fits well. I’d say her voice is less objectionable than Macy Gray (who I think is perfectly good as a singer, despite sounding like Donald Duck).
I’m not sure which song you linked to, since I prefer not to go to YouTube during work.
I’m also not a guitarist, but maybe check out the song Brand New Wave Upper Ground.
I always find it funny when someone notes that a punk-ish singer “doesn’t have a good voice.” Kind of a tell that they don’t listen to that much. People don’t listen for mellifluous vocals. Jarring Japanese vocals don’t hold a candle to Melt-Banana (although that’s mostly English I think).
Anyway, I know them from Rurouni Kenshin 10(!) years ago. This looks like a live version. Haven’t heard much since but I don’t pay attention.
Alice Cooper the guy was named after his band. There is a Floyd Pinkerton, though.
All vocal music has vocal standards, even ones that sound like they wouldn’t–say thrash metal. Punk definitely does, as you can very easily not sound punk enough.
That said, she has a perfectly fine voice. I was actually impressed with how well it fit.
