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Husking Bee |
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Isobe Masafumi
Kudo Tetsuya
Hiramoto Leona
Hirabayashi Kazuya |
Vocals, Guitar
Bass
Drums
Guitar |
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Profile |
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With releases in the US and Japan, Husking Bee's pop-punk stylings have earned them an international following. The band's signature sound is defined by catchy guitars, driving rhythms, and the perfectly balanced harmonies of Masafumi Isobe and Kazuya Hirabashi. Conveying both emotional depth and delivering an almost perfect vocal interpretation of each song, Isobe is one of the most engaging vocalists in music today.
Formed in 1994, Husking Bee's original lead singer and drummer quit the band in 1995. Enter Leona Hiramoto on drums and lucky for us Isobe takes center stage as the trios' lead singer. In 1996, Hi-Standard's Pizza of Death label produced their debut album Grip. They signed to Ini [label] in July 1998 and with the release of Put on Fresh Paint in October of that same year, Husking Bee exploded on the Tokyo underground music scene.
The band signed a US distribution deal with Doghouse Records and in March 1999, Husking Bee made their first US appearance at the "South by Southwest" world convention in Austin, Texas. In May Put on Fresh Paint was re-released in the US.
In October 2000, Kazuya Hirabayashi joined the band on guitar and the album Four Color Problem produced by Mark Trombino was distributed by both Doghouse [US] and Toy's Factory [Japan]. After the release of one single and two albums in the US, Doghouse Records discontinued their distribution deal with the band. In September 2001, Husking Bee released their first Japanese-language song ?Shinri no Kaze? with the single Autumnal Tints. A year later their fourth album The Steady-State Theory was released. The album expanded the band's musical repertoire with acoustic and driving songs, and the Japanese lyrics exposed them to new audiences.
Husking Bee's fifth album Variandante was released by Toy's Factory in Japan on April 21, 2004. Predominantly pop, Variandante is the first album they've produced with all Japanese lyrics. When asked about this, Masafumi Isobe replied, "Well, this time, there wasn't a lot of time to write so I did it in Japanese and it turned out sounding smooth. If I had another month I would have tried doing it in Italian..."
No matter what language Isobe sings in, Husking Bee's fast driven pop-punk and melodic vocals are always an unforgettable and captivating experience. It is a shame that another record company hasn't stepped up to distribute this band's newest release outside Japan.
Soon after the publishing of this profile Husking Bee announced their plans to disband on March 6, 2005. What follows is Isobe's official announcement.
"Husking Bee is going to disband. It's been 10 years that we've been playing together. I feel very happy that this band that was started by friends without much of a clear goal has had so many meetings and farewells, recorded and played at all sorts of places, and was able to move forward with a goal in mind. With regards to our progress, my feelings of thanks to those who supported us are neverending. It is a big turning point, but we will be spending much time on our activities from here on, so please continue to support us. The positive feelings of everyone who participated in Husking Bee's music will be a big support for us from now on. Thanks for the long time we've had.
Isobe [磯部]"
- Denise Smith (published 2005.01.16, updated 2005.11.13) |
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Artist homepage
ini
Samples |
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Discography list |
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| Albums |
| PDCA-16 |
GRIP |
| Unknown |
Put On Fresh Paint |
| TFCC-88127 |
Put On Fresh Paint |
| DGH058-2 |
Put On Fresh Paint |
| DGH058-1 |
Put On Fresh Paint LP |
| TFCC-88167 |
Four Color Problem |
| Unknown |
Four Color Problem |
| DGH081-1 |
Four Color Problem LP |
| TFCC-89008 |
Autumnal Tints |
| TFCC-86114 |
The Steady-State Theory |
| TFCC-86146 |
Variandante |
| TFCC-86176 |
Anthology 1994-2004 |
Singles |
| TFCC-87040 |
The Sun and the Moon |
| HWCA-1009 |
A Single Word |
| TFCC-89053 |
Day of the Sun/Aoi Tenmetsu |
EPs |
| DGH068-2 |
The Sun and the Moon |
| DGH068-7 |
The Sun and the Moon 7-inch |
| INIR-6 |
Inisplit |
Compilations |
| BSR-0001 |
This is Pop |
| HWCY-1030 |
Doghouse Sixty |
| AMBR-001 |
It's Gonna Be ALLright [ALL Tribute Album] |
| UPCH-1171 |
The Blue Hearts 2002 Tribute |
| AVCW-12304 |
Dive into Disney [CCCD] |
| TFCC-86123 |
Hungry for Carnage |
| BFCA-83510 |
Elephant Kashimashi Cover Album |
DVDs |
| Unknown |
London Nite 20th Anniversary on the year 2000 |
| Unknown |
Space Shower Special Kyokuto-Saizensen |
| TFBQ-18030 |
Clips |
| TFVQ-68067 |
Clips [VHS] |
| TFBQ-18057 |
050306 [Last Tour Live] |
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050306 [Last Tour Live] (DVD)
Released: 2005.05.11 (TFBQ-18057)
Label: ini
Tracklist
Filmed live at Zepp Tokyo on March 6, 2005.
1. #4
2. SING TO ME
3. PUT ON FRESH PAINT
4. 摩訶不思議テーゼ
5. 新旧ダイナミズム
6. DAWN AND GONE
7. STILL IN THE SAME PLACE?
8. ALL as I, as I'm all
9. A SMALL POTATO'S MIND
10. D.W.S.
11. いつのまに、か
12. オ-バーラップワルツ
13. バランス予報
14. 掌に花片
15. WAYS TO STEP
16. DON'T GIVE A SHIT
17. NEW HORIZON
18. 欠けボタンの浜
19. 青い点滅
20. SO TRAGICOMICAL
21. A SINGLE WORD
22. 新利の風
23. The steady-state theory
24. Just a beginning
25. THE SUN AND THE MOON
26. YOU CAME BACK
27. 摩訶不思議テーゼ (ACOUSTIC)
28. ロバの口真似
29. 8.6
30. ANCHOR
31. WALK
32. QUESTION
Special Features: music clips: "Day of the Sun," "Maka Fushigi These," "Naraba,, Kokoni," "Just a Beginning" (expected). |
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Anthology 1994-2004 (Album)
Released: 2005.03.24 (TFCC-86176)
Label: Toy's Factory
Tracklist
1.Only Way [VA/ All Temptation (7"EP)]
2. Give a Shit [Start Your Engine(7"EP)]
3. Don't Pick Your Nose [VA/ Ultimate Slow Beats]
4. 8.6 [VA/ Ultimate Slow Beats]
5. Question [VA/ A Short Story]
6. Walk [Grip]
7. A Single Word [A Single Word]
8. Out of Sight, In My Mind [A Single Word]
9. Sun Myself [Put on Fresh Paint]
10. Put on Fresh Paint [Put on Fresh Paint]
11. Life [Put on Fresh Paint]
12. The Sun and the Moon [The Sun and the Moon]
13. Face the Sunflower [The Sun and the Moon]
14. Nochini Ato [The Sun and the Moon]
15. Watanohara [VA/ 極東最前線]
16. By Chance [Four Color Problem]
17. Kakebotan No Hama [Four Color Problem]
18. #4 [Four Color Problem]
19. Shinri no Kaze [Autumnal Tints]
20. New Horizon [Autumnal Tints]
21. The Steady-State Theory [The Steady-State Theory]
22. Dawn and gone [The Steady-State Theory]
23. Ichidou no Idea [The Steady-State Theory]
24. Aoi Tenmetsu [Day of the Sun/Aoi Tenmetsu]
25. Makafushigi Thesis [Variandante] |
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Variandante (Album)
Released: 2004.04.21 (TFCC-86146)
Label: Toy's Factory
Tracklist
1. Makafushigi Thesis
2. Shinkyuu Dynamism
3. Kemuri de Yatsuron
4. Just a Beginning
5. Advice
6. Robber no Kuchimane
7. Tanagokoro no Kahen
8. Canary
9. So Tragicomical
10. Hybrid New Mode
11. Naraba,,Koko ni
12. Kumo no Ibiki |
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Elephant Kashimashi Cover Album (Compilation)
Released: 2003.03.19 (BFCA-83510)
Tracklist
2. Saraba Seishun |
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Hungry for Carnage (Compilation)
Released: 2003.02.19 (TFCC-86123)
Label: Toy's Factory/Carnage
Tracklist
12. Sun and the Moon |
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Clips (DVD)
Released: 2002.11.20 (TFBQ-18030)
Label: Toy's Factory
Tracklist
1. Walk
2. Life
3. Sun Myself
4. You Came Back
5. The Sun and the Moon
6. Kake Botan no Hama
7. By Chance
8. Shinri no Kaze
9. New Horizon
10. The Steady-State Theory
DVD bonus tracks:
Put On Fresh Paint [Live]
Four Color Problem [Live]
The Steady-State Theory [Studio] |
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Clips [VHS] (DVD)
Released: 2002.11.20 (TFVQ-68067)
Label: Toy's Factory
Tracklist
1. Walk
2. Life
3. Sun Myself
4. You Came Back
5. The Sun and the Moon
6. Kake Botan no Hama
7. By Chance
8. Shinri no Kaze
9. New Horizon
10. The Steady-State Theory |
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Day of the Sun/Aoi Tenmetsu (Single)
Released: 2002.11.20 (TFCC-89053)
Label: Toy's Factory
Tracklist
1. Day of the Sun
2. Aoi Tenmetsu
3. Day of the Sun [PV - Video Track] |
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