The Brilliant Green is one of Japan's premier power pop bands. The band was formed in 1995 by guitarist Ryo Matsui and bassist Shunsaku Oda, who brought in singer Tomoko Kawase (Tommy) after seeing her perform at a local bar. In 1997, the band inked a deal with Sony Music Japan based on the strength of a demo tape recorded at Oda's home, releasing their debut maxi single
Bye Bye Mr. Mug in the fall of the same year. While the first single did not sell well, the second,
Goodbye and Good Luck fared better. The band hit the jackpot with their third single,
There Will Be Love There, released in May of 1998. The track debuted at #14 on the Oricon charts, eventually reaching the #1 slot, and was featured in the television drama
Love Again. Their fourth single,
Tsumetai Hana, also hit #1, making it two in a row. September, 1998 saw the release of the band's first eponymous first album, which reached #2 on the Oricon album charts. Success continued for the band, and subsequent albums
Terra 2001 and
Los Angeles also fared well on the charts, with the former debuting at #2. In 2001, Kawase debuted as a solo artist under the moniker of
Tommy february6, a venture initially done on a lark that catapulted her even further into the spotlight. In December, 2002, the band released their fourth album,
The Winter Album, and remains intact according to their label. The Brilliant Green's trump card has always been their ability to...
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The Brilliant Green is one of Japan's premier power pop bands. The band was formed in 1995 by guitarist Ryo Matsui and bassist Shunsaku Oda, who brought in singer Tomoko Kawase (Tommy) after seeing her perform at a local bar. In 1997, the band inked a deal with Sony Music Japan based on the strength of a demo tape recorded at Oda's home, releasing their debut maxi single
Bye Bye Mr. Mug in the fall of the same year. While the first single did not sell well, the second,
Goodbye and Good Luck fared better. The band hit the jackpot with their third single,
There Will Be Love There, released in May of 1998. The track debuted at #14 on the Oricon charts, eventually reaching the #1 slot, and was featured in the television drama
Love Again. Their fourth single,
Tsumetai Hana, also hit #1, making it two in a row. September, 1998 saw the release of the band's first eponymous first album, which reached #2 on the Oricon album charts. Success continued for the band, and subsequent albums
Terra 2001 and
Los Angeles also fared well on the charts, with the former debuting at #2. In 2001, Kawase debuted as a solo artist under the moniker of
Tommy february6, a venture initially done on a lark that catapulted her even further into the spotlight. In December, 2002, the band released their fourth album,
The Winter Album, and remains intact according to their label. The Brilliant Green's trump card has always been their ability to juxtapose Tommy's vocals with meaty, well-honed riffs, and when the band decides to rock out, there are few outfits in Japan that can match their mix of pure power and pop sense. Informed by the likes of Juliana Hatfield, the Stone Roses, and Ride, the Brilliant Green know how to both craft a hook and express it sonically - gifts that set them apart from the masses. While Time Magazine's September, 2001 ranking of the Brilliant Green as one of the top ten contemporary music acts outside the United States is debatable, it is safe to say that they are one of the best things happening in mainstream Japanese music these days. Deep messages and philosophical insight are definitely not on the menu, but if you are looking for a high octane sugar buzz to pick you up, The Brilliant Green is a pretty good place to start.
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