Ever since I saw Eastern Youth live, their new album, What Can You See From Your Place, has pushed all my other current favorites to the side, making it the most listened record in my large pile. Sorry Raveonettes, sorry Superchunk.
Eastern Youth’s music is aggressive and beautiful. The fact that they’re singing in Japanese only makes it better: why learn English just to be more marketable when you can release true emotion in your native language?
I know a lot of people get turned off by albums by bands who perform in a language that you don’t know. (Except for Sigur Ros). You’re missing out, literally, on a world of great music. If you stop getting wrapped up in WHAT IS HE SAYING? and consider the voice as an instrument, like a guitar or a bass, then it all clicks into your head a lot better. And besides, the passion is clearly in Hisashi Yoshino’s voice.
God I love this album. Do yourself a favor and check it out, or try to catch them live. It’s time for me to start filling up my Eastern Youth back catalog.