By Cam LindsayThe "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" have been chosen by Rolling Stone Japan. Well, they've been chosen by RS contributing editor Kawasaki Daisuke, who also founded the very stylish pop music/fashion/design mag Beikoku Ongaku, so the list could very well be worthwhile. We here at Exclaim! are amazed a list as such never existed before. Unsurprisingly, the oldest album dates way back to 1968 (The Jacks' Jacks no Sekai), however in a breakdown of decades, it appears most of the "greatest" were released in the '80s and '90s, which split the vote at 34 releases a piece; the '70s come in second with 23 (but can boast for having the highly coveted top spot with Happy End's Kazemachi Roman), the '00s have 8, and the '60s, well, just one.
P.S. If you have more than five of these albums, you're more schooled in J-rock than I am.
Without further ado, the list (apologies for removing the Japanese characters - they were problematic):
1. Happy End Kazemachi Roman / 1971 2. RC SUCCESSION Rhapsody / 1980 3. The Blue Hearts The Blue Hearts / 1987 4. YMO Solid State Survivor / 1979 5. Yazawa Eikichi Gold Rush / 1978 6. Shoukichi Kina & Champloose Shoukichi Kina & Champloose / 1977 7. Ohtaki Eiichi A Long Vacation / 1981 8. Fishmans Kuuchuu Camp / 1996 9. Sadistic Mika Band Kurofune / 1974 10. Cornelius Fantasma / 1997 11. Sano Motoharu SOMEDAY / 1982 12. Arai Yumi Hikouki Kumo / 1973 13. The Jacks Jacks no Sekai / 1968 14. Yamashita Tatsuro SPACY / 1977 15. X BLUE BLOOD / 1989 16. Anarchy Anarchy / 1980 17. Carol Moetsukiru -Last Live / 1975 18. Togawa Jun Tamahime-sama / 1983 19. The Plastics Welcome Plastics / 1980 20. Murahachibu Live / 1973 21. Friction Atsureki / 1980 22. Ankoku Tairiku Jagatara Nanban Torai / 1982 23. BOW WOW WARNING FROM STARDUST / 1982 24. Gedou Gedou / 1974 25. Boredoms Chocolate Synthesizer / 1994 26. Yano Akiko Japanese Girl / 1976 27. The Stalin STOP JAP / 1982 28. The Roosters Good Dreams / 1984 29. Mute Beat FLOWER / 1987 30. Endou Kenji Manzoku Dekiru Kana / 1971 31. Yuukadan Seibun 59 Mins / 1977 32. Southern All Stars Ninkimono de ikou / 1984 33. INU Meshi kuu na / 1981 34. Dir en grey Withering to Death / 2005 35. Flipperfs Guitar CAMERA TALK / 1990 36. Char PSYCHE / 1988 37. Shonen Knife LETfS KNIFE / 1992 38. Yonin Bayashi Isshoku Sokuhatsu / 1974 39. Carmen Maki•OZ Carmen Maki•OZ / 1975 40. Loudness Disillusion ~ Gekiken Reika / 1984 41. RC SUCCESSION Covers / 1988 42. Zelda Zelda / 1982 43. Rebecca IV`Maybe Tomorrow / 1985 44. Sheena & Rockets Shinkuu Back / 1979 45. Godaigo CM Song Graffiti Godaigo Super Hits / 1978 46. Tama Hirune / 1991 47. Merzbow Music for Bondage Performance / 1991 48. Kahimi Karie MY FIRST KARIE / 1995 49. Fushitsusha 1st / 1989 50. Elephant Kashimashi Elephant Kashimashi II / 1988 51. Guitar Wolf Ookami Wakusei / 1997 52. P-MODEL IN A MODEL ROOM / 1979 53. Itou Seikou MESS/AGE / 1989 54. Buffalo Daughter Captain Vapor Athletes / 1996 55. Aburadako Aburadako / 1985 56. Zunou Keisatsu Zunou Keisatsu 1 / 1972 57. Murasaki Murasaki / 1976 58. Ippudou LUNATIC MENU / 1982 59. Tei Towa Future Listening! / 1994 60. Rankin Taxi Wild de iku zo / 1991 61. Ken Ishii JELLY TONES / 1995 62. Creation Pure Electric Soul / 1977 63. Violent Onsen Geisha NATION OF RHYTHM SLAVES / 1996 64. Pizzicato Five HAPPY END OF THE WORLD / 1997 65. Moon Riders Aozora Hyakkei / 1982 66. S.O.B. WHATfS THE TRUTH? / 1990 67. The Fantastic Plastic Machine The Fantastic Plastic Machine / 1997 68. Takagi Kan Grass Roots / 1992 69. Ozawa Kenji LIFE / 1994 70. Rosa Luxemburg Puripuri / 1986 71. Flower Traveling Band Satori / 1971 72. Denki Groove A / 1997 73. Salon Music La Paloma Show / 1984 74. Scha Dara Parr 5TH Wheel 2 the coach / 1995 75. BOOWY JUST A HERO / 1986 76. Puffy JET CD / 1998 77. Izumiya Shigeru 80 no Ballad / 1978 78. Rino Latina II Carnival of Rino / 2001 79. Blankey Jet City BANG! / 1991 80. Fujiwara Hiroshi Nothing Much Better to Do / 1994 81. Sandii & the Sunsets IMMIGRANTS / 1982 82. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra TOKYO SKA PARADISE / 1989 83. Mr. Children Atomic Heart / 1994 84. The Street Sliders SLIDER JOINT / 1983 85. Sunny Day Service Tokyo / 1996 86. Supercar HIGHVISION / 2002 87. Thee Michelle Gun Elephant High Time / 1996 88. Newest Model PRETTY RADIATION / 1988 89. Shiina Ringo Shouso Strip / 2000 90. Rip Slyme FIVE / 2001 91. Hi-Standard ANGRY FIST / 1997 92. Number Girl Shibuya Rock Transformed Joutai / 1999 93. Okuda Tamio Matatabi / 1998 94. Spitz Spitz / 1991 95. V.A. GO-GO KING RECORDERS ORIGINAL RECORDINGS vol.1 / 2006 96. Quruli TEAM ROCK / 2001 97. Theatre Brook TALISMAN / 1996 98. Maximum the Hormone Bu-Ikikaesu / 2007 99. Utada Hikaru First Love / 1999 100. Kaji Hideki TEA / 1998
Click here to read neojaponisme's commentary, which provides Amazon.co.jp links to each album.
Cornelius "Star Fruits Surf Rider" (Taken from #10's Fantasma)
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