Number Girl
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| Number Girl | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Fukuoka |
| Genre(s) | Alternative rock Indie rock Post-Hardcore |
| Years active | 1995–2002 |
| Label(s) | Toshiba EMI |
| Members | |
| Shutoku Mukai Hisako Tabuchi Kentarou Nakao Ahito Inazawa |
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Number Girl (ナンバーガール Nanbā Gāru?) was a rock band formed in Fukuoka, Japan in August, 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Mukai Shutoku. They disbanded in 2002 following bassist Nakao Kentarou's departure from the band.
Arguably the biggest name in Japanese indie rock and major influences on Japanese bands such as Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Number Girl played fast, guitar-driven rock influenced primarily by the Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Hüsker Dü. Over the course of seven years their sound evolved greatly, serving as a basis for Mukai's post-Number Girl project, Zazen Boys.
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[edit] History
[edit] Formation
Number Girl was formed in August of 1995, when Mukai Shutoku decided to form a band to play at a local event. A solo artist at the time, Mukai was briefly involved in one band called "Number Five". Learning that his new members were previously in a band called "Cowgirl", he combined the names, and christened his new band "Number Girl".
The original incarnation of Number Girl was unsuccessful, and the collaborating musicians quickly left the group. Mukai invited bassist Nakao Kentarou, who in turn invited guitarist Tabuchi Hisako, whom Nakao knew from his former job operating lighting at the Vivre Hall venue. Mukai convinced a fellow Fukuoka scene musician Inazawa Ahito to play drums, finalizing Number Girl's lineup. The band self-released two demos, "Atari Shock" and "Omoide In My Head", and was also featured on several compilations. Number Girl released their first full-length studio album, School Girl Bye Bye in November of 1997 on independent label Automatic Kiss, and released their first single, Drunken Hearted, several months later.
[edit] Major Label Debut
In 1998, the band began playing shows in the Shimokitazawa area of Tokyo. Gaining a higher profile in Japan's indie rock scene, the band quickly attracted major label attention, and signed with Toshiba EMI. In May of 1999, their major debut single, 透明少女 (Toumei Shoujo) was released with their major debut,School Girl Distortional Addict, released the following July. Number Girl quickly gained popularity throughout Japan, playing shows with other high-profile indie acts such as bloodthirsty butchers and Eastern Youth. In fall of 1999, Number Girl released the single Destruction Baby, produced by Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann, as well as a live album, シブヤROCKTRANSFORMED状態 (Shibuya ROCKTRANSFORMED Joutai).
In 2000 the band again entered the studio with producer Dave Fridmann and released their third full-length studio album, Sappukei. Fridmann's production helped the band to reach their full potential, and Sappukei served to combine Number Girl's aggressive rock with traditional Japanese sounds. During this time, they embarked on a brief US tour with Polysics, playing in small clubs through several cities.
After a year of touring, the band again enlisted Dave Fridmann to produce what would become their final studio album, Num-Heavymetallic. Num-Heavymetallic took elements of their previous sound and combined it with Mukai's newly found experimentation. Unusual rhythms, effects-laden guitar lines, and a vocal style which alternated between punk-inspired grit and spoken word, would eventually be incorporated into Mukai's subsequent band, Zazen Boys.
[edit] Disbanding
The band then set out on their largest tour ever, playing over thirty dates, to support Num-Heavymetallic. However, on September 20th, 2002, the band shocked fans by announcing their dissolution.
The reason behind the band's demise is not entirely clear, although it is widely known that bassist Kentarou decided to leave the band. The other members decided that the band was a specific group, and opted to disband rather than replace Nakao.
Number Girl played their final show on November 11, 2002 in Sapporo. The recording of the performance would later be released as Sapporo OMOIDE IN MY HEAD Joutai (サッポロOMOIDE IN MY HEAD状態).
Following the demise of Number Girl, the members each went on to other projects. Nakao played support for Spiral Chord before joining Sloth Love Chunks. Guitarist Tabuchi Hisako became a member of Bloodthirsty Butchers and also formed her own band, Toddle. Mukai continued performing as both a solo artist with his "Mukai Shutoku Acoustic & Electric" shows and formed a new band, Zazen Boys, alongside drummer Ahito Inazawa. In 2005, Inazawa left Zazen Boys to form post-punk revival band Vola and the Oriental Machine.
Toshiba EMI would release several posthumous Number Girl recordings under the title "Omoide In My Head," consisting of a best-and-b-sides collection, two comprehensive live volumes, a three DVD set consisting of the band's two earlier live albums, and a rare tracks collection.
[edit] Musical Style
Number Girl's style prior to signing with Toshiba EMI was a brand of indie rock influenced by 70s punk bands such as The Ramones, as well as more contemporary band The Pixies. Although many of Mukai's influences, as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Prince, Miles Davis, and Public Enemy, would not emerge until after Number Girl's demise, his bandmates' combined musical tastes would serve to define much of Number Girl's sound, despite Mukai's clear role as the creative force behind the band. Nirvana is credited as inspiring Nakao Kentarou to begin playing music, but his aggressive, distorted basslines resemble 1980s hardcore punk, such as Hüsker Dü. Tabuchi's mostly melodic lead playing was contrasted by frenetic noise rock sections, obviously inspired by Sonic Youth. Inazawa, often regarded as one of Japan's best rock drummers, was inspired by new wave bands such as The Police and Talking Heads, although these influences would seldom emerge prior the band's final album.
With their 1999 release, "School Girl Distortional Addict", Number Girl moved towards a much heavier sound somewhat reminiscent of post-hardcore. Their 2000 album "Sappukei" built on its predecessor, but incorporated a more ethereal quality characteristic of producer Dave Fridmann. Traditional Japanese music influence was also found in songs such as "Urban Guitar Sayonara". Number Girl's final album, "Num-Heavymetallic" continued the fusion of post-hardcore and traditional Japanese music, showing Mukai's evolving musical sensibilities fully expressed in Zazen Boys.
Shutoku's vocal style is one of the band's most distinctive traits, a combination of shaky singing, aggressive growls and screams, spoken word, and rapping. Although most lyrics are in Japanese, his strong songwriting was one of the band's most critically lauded aspects. Shutoku's early lyrics dealt with conventional themes such as high school and girls, reflecting adolescent aggression rather typical of nineties hard rock; however, with later albums, Mukai would begin exploring deeper lyrical themes, such as disillusionment with Japanese culture and harsh social criticism, that distinguished Number Girl from their peers.
[edit] Members
- Shutoku Mukai (向井秀徳 October 26, 1973 -) Guitar, Vocals
- Hisako Tabuchi (田渕ひさ子 December 9, 1975 -) Guitar
- Kentaro Nakao (中尾憲太郎 June 17, 1974 -) Bass
- Ahito Inazawa (アヒト・イナザワ June 6, 1973 -) Drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- Toumei Shoujo (透明少女, May 26, 1999)
- DESTRUCTION BABY (September 26, 1999)
- URBAN GUITAR SAYONARA (May 31, 2000)
- Teppu Surudoku Natte (鉄風 鋭くなって, November 29, 2000)
- NUM-AMI-DABUTZ (March 30, 2002)
- I Don't Know (April 8, 2002)
[edit] Albums
- School Girl Bye Bye (January 20, 1999)
- School Girl Distortional Addict (July 23, 1999)
- Shibuya ROCK TRANSFORMED Joutai (シブヤROCK TRANSFORMED状態, December 16, 1999)
- SAPPUKEI (July 19, 2000)
- NUM-HEAVYMETALLIC (April 26, 2002)
- Sapporo OMOIDE IN MY HEAD Joutai (サッポロOMOIDE IN MY HEAD状態, January 29, 2003)
- Omoide In My Head 1: Best & B-Sides (March 2, 2005)
- Omoide In My Head 2: Kiroku Series 1 (記録シリーズ１, June 22, 2005)
- Omoide In My Head 2: Kiroku Series 2 (記録シリーズ２, June 22, 2005)
- Omoide In My Head 4: Maruchin NG & Rare Tracks (December 14, 2005)
[edit] DVD
- Sawayakana Ensou (騒やかな演奏, October 29, 2003) (Re-released version)
- Number Girl Eizoshuu (NUMBERGIRL映像集, April 26, 2003)
- Omoide In My Head 3: Kiroku Eizou (記録映像)
