The names are insane and I like it like that

What's in a name? Well, when it comes to Japanese bands, a lot, actually. Japanese rock groups, like Western psychedelic bands of 30-some years ago, have been coming up with some extraordinarily creative and just plain nutzo band names of late.

And just as bands such as Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Incredible String Band and Lothar & the Hand People (where are they now?) created some incredibly wonderful and inspired music, the tendency for Japanese musicians to come up with wacko band names seems to go hand-in-hand with making cool, adventurous music. They both draw from same wellspring of inspiration.

Now I hear you saying that there's nothing new here -- rock groups have always had weird names. That's true as far as it goes, but to my way of thinking there's something uniquely surreal about band names like Bump of Chicken, Love Psychedelico (both of whom are riding high on the charts these days), Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Buffalo Daughter, Luminous Orange, Young Brian's Group, the Cokehead Hipsters, the Menaced Nightingales and Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her, to name just a few.