Your Song Is Good

History

YSIG began first as punk band School Jackets. Formed in the spring of 1997 by the four members of Nuts & Milk along with former Fruity frontman Jun "JxJx" Saito, the band pioneered a raw, frantic blend of thrash, funk, punk, ska and soul. Saito said that he had wanted to create a blend of The Jackson 5 and Charles Bronson (band). Most songs remained under 1 minute - most under 30 seconds. Despite increasing popularity, the band decided to call it quits and reinvent themselves.

From School Jackets' ashes, Your Song Is Good was born in 1998 with all of the same members intact. They initially took to a melodic hardcore direction influenced by late 80's DC bands such as Dag Nasty and early 90's emo . But this again was short-lived and they quickly left this sound behind to reinvent themselves once more as an instrumental post-rock band. Exploring the instrumental form, it was from this state that the band would grow into what they are today. Ska influences from their previous bands - in particular The Specials - would soon resurface and a trombone player (Hattori) would be added to the fold. As their musical goals came into focus, they came to the realization that they may not be ready to play what they heard in their heads. It was at this time that the band went seemingly quiet.

After an extended period of intense practice and honing an entirely new musical direction, Your Song is Good re-emerged. Combining elements from ska, soul, funk and calypso, they distilled their punk energy into a refined and uniquely Japanese sense of melody. Your Song is Good was now a tight and polished dance machine.

Their first properly recorded effort was released in 2002 as a 7-inch EP called "Big Stomach, Big Mouth". This would also serve as the first record on their new label, Kakuba Rhythm. It would prove to be the first crucial step for a band - as well as a label - whose popularity would grow exponentially in the following years.

Timeline

1998

January - Your Song Is Good is formed by members of thrash punk band School Jackets.

2000

May - Trombonist Yasuhiko "Shorty" Hattori (ハットリ "ショ～ティ" ヤスヒコ) joins.

2001

Bassist Hiyoruki "Daataka" Takada (タカダ "ダ～タカ" ヒロユキ) joins.

2002

March - 1st 7-inch EP "Big Stomach, Big Mouth" (KAKU-01) is released on their new label Kakuba Rhythmn.

August - 1st mini-album "Come On" (KAKU-02) is released.

December - 2nd 7-inch EP "Good Bye/Ka Cuba" (KAKU-03) is released.

2003

September - 3rd 7-inch EP "Super Soul Meetin'/Sweet Spot" (KAKU-06) is released.

2004

October - 1st full album "Your Song IS Good" (KAKU-010) is released.

2005

April - Saito and Toru Hidaka (of Beat Crusaders) take over the video DJ position at Space Shower TV (Studio Grown).

November - Split 7-inch EP "Your Song Is Good ft Irurime/Mu-Stars ft. Zakkan Morimoto (of BREAKfAST)" (KAKU-016) is released.

2006

May 3 - Split album with Beat Crusaders "Booootsy" is released.

July 5 - Major Label Debut mini-Album "Fever" is released on Universal/Kakuba Rhythmn.

2007

April 11 - 1st Single "Aitsu Ni Yoroshiku" (あいつによろしく) is released.

May 16 - 2nd Full Album "Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!" is released on Universal/Kakuba Rhythmn.

2008

April 23 - 2nd single "The ReAction E.P." (Limited Edition with DVD) is released.

July 23 - 3rd Album " The Action" is released.

2009

May 13 - Live and Documentary 3 disc DVD "PLAY ALL !!!!!! live, accident, history, idea, We are YSIG 1998-2008" is released.

2010

March 3 - 4th full album "B.A.N.D." is released

June 2 - Soundtrack CD "Seaside Motel Original Soundtrack"

December 1 - Live DVD "B.A.N.D.T.O.U.R.FINAL at Hibiya Ongakudo" (B.A.N.D.T.O.U.R.FINAL 日比谷野外大音楽堂)

2011

May 21 - Live CD single "I WANT YOU BACK EP" is released.

October 12 - Greatest hits album "BEST" is released.

2013

November 20 - 5th full album "OUT" is released.

Current

Jun "JxJx" Saitō (サイトウ "JxJx" ジュン) - Organ and Vocals

Name: Born Jun Saito (斉藤淳 / さいとうじゅん) in 1973. From Hyōgo Prefecture. Graduated in Tokyo. Ex-Fruity (Vocals and later Drums)/Ex-School Jackets (Vocals). Gear: Uses a Hammond XK-2. Initially used a Fender Rhodes.

Masatomo "Maurice" Yoshizawa (ヨシザワ "モ〜リス" マサトモ) - Guitar

Name： Masatomo Yoshizawa (吉澤成友 / よしざわまさとも) Ex-Nuts & Milk (Vocals) / Ex-School Jackets (Vocals & Trombone). In charge of Album Art Design and Merchandise Design. Gear: Uses several Semi-acoustic guitars, initially used an Epiphone Emperor II. Recently has been using a Fender Stratocaster.

Kōji "Shiraishi" Shiraishi (シライシ "シライシ" コウジ) - Guitar

Name：Kōji Shiraishi (白石浩二 / しらいしこうじ). From Chiba Prefecture. Graduated in Kisarazu. Ex-Nuts & Milk (Guitar)/Ex-School Jackets (Guitar). Gear: Fender Telecaster

Yasuhiko "Shorty" Hattori (ハットリ "ショ〜ティ" ヤスヒコ) - Trombone

Name: Yasuhiko Hattori (服部康彦 / はっとりやすひこ) Joined in 2000. Currently the oldest member of the band.

Hiroyuki "DaaaaTaka" Takada (タカダ "ダ〜タカ" ヒロユキ) - Bass

Joined in 2001. The third bassist and the youngest member in the band. Was a Salaryman but recently quit.

Reiji "ZeeeeRay" Tanaka (タナカ "ズィ〜レイ" レイジ) - Drums

Ex-Nuts & Milk (Vocals & Drums)/Ex-School Jackets (Drums).

Supporting members

Matsui Izumi (松井泉) - Bongos/Percussion (2013 - )

Former

Takeo Matsumura (マツムラ タケオ) - Bass (1998-2000)

Hiroki Moriya (モリヤ ヒロキ) - Bass (2000-2001)

7" EPs

1. Big Stomach, Big Mouth/Love Generation (KAKU-001) - March 2002 **Out of Print**
2. Good Bye/Ka Cuba (KAKU-003) - December 2002 **Out of Print**
3. Super Sould Meetin'/Sweet Spot (KAKU-006) - August 2003 **Out of Print**
4. Your Song Is Good x Irurime (イルリメ)/Mu-Stars x Zakkan Morimoto (森本雑感/Breakfast) (KAKU-016) - November 2005 **Out of Print**

Mini-Album

1. Come On (August 9, 2002)
   1. Papa’s Groove
   2. 10 Inch Stomp
   3. Hot Grapefruit
   4. Shortcake Pt.1
   5. My Melody
   6. Relaxin’

1. Booootsy (May 3, 2006) Beat Crusaders Split Album
   1. Fool Groove (Your Song Is Good x Beat Crusaders)
   2. Nothing to Loose (Beat Crusaders)
   3. "2.4.6.6.1.64"Number (Beat Crusaders)
   4. Hit in the USA (Your Song Is Good)
   5. Jump Up! Shimbashi! Jump Up! (Your Song Is Good)
   6. Our Melody (Your Song Is Good x Beat Crusaders)

1. Fever (July 5, 2006)
   1. The Intro (ジ・イントロ～)
   2. Super Soul Meetin’ (超ソウルミーティン～)
   3. Aah Wee: Stomp, Jump & (風呂編～)
   4. Nettai Boy (熱帯ボーイ)
   5. Wah! Wah! Boogie Woogie (わぁわぁブギウギ)
   6. A Short Vacation (ア・ショート・バケイション)
   7. April Sessions (4月の演奏～)
   8. Fever (フィーバー)

Albums

1. Your Song Is Good (October 6, 2004)

1. "2,4,6,6,1,64" Number
2. Splash
3. Love Generation
4. Yakiniku Madness
5. Good Lookin'
6. Locomotion
7. Do The Jxjx
8. Short Cake Pt4
9. Lovely Yellow
10. Good Bye
11. Shinyurigaoka 3a.M.
12. Up! Up!
13. Walkin' Walkin'
14. The Outro

2. Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot! (May 16, 2007)

1. Ooh Weeeeees! Ooh Weeeeees! Ooh Weeeeees! (ウイッス!ウイッス!ウイッス!)
2. Calypeeeeee! So (笛+カリプソ-)
3. Aitsu ni 4649 (あいつによろしく)
4. Nettai Boy Pt 2 (続・熱帯ボーイ)
5. Honneymoon Shuffle (はねむ～んしゃっふる)
6. Weekend Strut (週末はストラット)
7. Shorty's World (ショーティーの世界)
8. ”Six Mens” Goes to the South (6人は南をめざす)
9. Summer vs Winter (夏 対 冬)
10. Play It ”Booreiko” (無礼講な演奏)
11. O.S.T. from ”Walkin' with Maurice” (MOOD for 真昼間)
12. Boogaloo Super Express (ブガルー超特急)
13. The Hot-aka Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!
14. ”Oi,Ole,Oh-Mae” Calypso (オイ、オレ、オマエ。)
15. Now Playing (いつでも演奏中)

3. The Action! (July 23, 2008)

1. The Kids Are Alright
2. A Man from the New Town
3. Magic Number
4. Action!!!!!!
5. Move or Die
6. I Wanna 再 ! 発 ! Right Now
7. Enjoy and Joy
8. I Like It Like That
9. 1-2-3-4! Calypso!
10. This Planet にて
11. The Catcher in the Music
12. The Hey!

4. B.A.N.D. (March 3, 2010)

1. B.A.N.D.
2. Deck O Track
3. Catch-as-Catch-Can
4. Dance with Me
5. Fight Back! Fight Back! Fight Back!
6. We Are
7. Mr. Everyman
8. Oniroku
9. Our Life
10. Namaensou Shimakuri no Weekend
11. The Love Song
12. Unbreakable
13. Signboarder Trippin'

Singles

1. Aitsu Ni Yoroshiku (あいつによろしく) (April 11, 2007)
   1. Aitsu Ni Yoroshiku (TBS series "Count Down TV" Ending) - あいつによろしく TBS「Count Down TV」2007年4度エンディングテーマ）
   2. Bugaru Choutokkyuu (ブガルー超特急)
   3. Fever Mu-Stars Double-Three-Seven-Mix
2. The ReAction EP (April 23, 2008)
   1. A Man from the New Town
   2. Move or Die
   3. 10Inch Stomp
   4. The Reaction Baby

DVD

Play All!!!!!! live, accident, history, idea, We are YSIG 1998-2008 (May 13, 2009 - Released)

Other works

1. Sound Sketch (February 5, 2003)
2. Doping Panda "Remixies for 3Years" (September 19, 2003)
3. "Mosh Pit on Disney" (July 28, 2004)
4. "Rock Motwon" (February 23, 2005)
5. Mu-Stars "Check1,2" (November 9, 2005)
6. "Husking Bee" (March 21, 2007)
7. "アイのうた" (December 5, 2007)