It's rare that a Japanese band is more successful in America than in Japan, but Melt-Banana are an exception to many rules.
Often they are described as a "noise band," which is unfair. They don't just make interesting sounds. They also have tons of tunes, even if they do sound like they've been spun around in Aphex Twin's washing machine, shot to Mars on a rocket and hung out to dry on the red planet during a severe dust storm.
Melt-Banana's music makes you think: It's not easy to decipher, and this is refreshing 'cos there's so much predictable easy-listening around right now.