Interest in Japanese rock grew considerably in 2008, with the international success of bands like Boris, the reformation of both the legendary Flower Travellin' Band and Zuno Keisatsu, Julian Cope's Japrocksampler, and an upswing in blogger attention, among other things: the hits on this site, since its debut in early August, have grown by a consistent 50% each month. With the increased attention, many music geeks already know albums like The Flower Travellin' Band's "Satori," Ghost's "In Stormy Weather," Boris' "Pink," Les Rallizes Dénudés' "Live '77," and others. But there are always albums that fall through the cracks, efforts on par with the other, relatively well known titles...especially for something as previously mysterious (to the West) as Japanese rock.

Jrawk doesn't focus exclusively on new material, so this "Recommended 2008" draws from our 2008 reviews, from Ranmadou (1971) to Boris (2008.) While most didn't come out in 2008 (or even the 2000s in general,) the 20 titles below are (in no particular order,) albums we feel deserve a little more love from the land outside the Land of the Rising Sun.

Inu: Don't Eat Kou Machida is known primarily as a writer, but this, the one and only studio album of his band Inu, is a must for fans of tough, angular post punk like Gang Of Four, The Pop Group, and The Slits. Review here. Teardrops: S/T His older band gets the name drops, but Fumio Yamaguchi's post Murahachibu output rivals The Stones for debauched, bluesy verve. Review here. Sachiko Miwa: Beautiful Place Newcomer Sachiko Miwa may still be underground...but her second CD of gentle, lightly psychedelic bedroom pop (featuring Nagisa Ni Te alumni) has stayed on Jrawk's iPod longer than anything in this list. Review here. Ranmadou: 1971 Summer Early 70s blues rock can often be limp, dusty, or too beholden to its influences. Or, like this, it can contain so much burn and swagger it threatens to set your speakers on fire. Review here. Boris: Smile Live "Smile" may have been their highest profile (and most logistically baffling) release yet, but this Japan only live version ties the disparate threads together in ways the other, more readily available versions don't. Review here. Kahimi Karie: Nunki Mostly known in the West for her collaborations with Cornelius and Momus, Kahimi Karie dives headfirst into heavily experimental territory, but with a gentleness that threatens to vanish in a puff of smoke. Review here. Puffy: Honeycreeper Don't let the Jpop glitz fool you: "Honeycreeper" is one of the best guitar driven power pop albums of the last decade, if not longer. Review here. Zuno Keisatsu: The Era Rides In... OK, we didn't actually review this one (it's a single, we're waiting for the full length,) but the legendary band ends its seventeen year hiatus with yet another slab of lighter in the air, lump in the throat, anthemic rock. Angel'In Heavy Syrup: IV Ghostly to the point of chills, and beautiful to the point of pain, Angel'In Heavy Syrup's final album hits its target with flawless accuracy. Review here. Morita Doji: Mother Sky Morita Doji transcends the folk genre with a gorgeous melancholy that makes Nick Drake sound positively optimistic. Review here.

Midori: Hello, Nice To Meet You, We're Midori / Live!! Currently enjoying Next Big Thing status in Japan, Midori's singularly psychotic blend of jazz trio swing and punk rage is set to explode. Review here. YBO²: Starship Everyone from Tatsuya Yoshida to Michio Kurihara served in Masahi Kitamura's band of prog terrorists, and this, their final studio album, offers enough to subtly warp the minds of even the most jaded listeners. Review here. Shéna Ringo: Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms Jpop superstar creates a "pop" album, with so many layers of sound and experimentation it makes Radiohead seem downright spartan. Review here. Jun Togawa: Tamahime Sama Gorgeous, catchy, and downright weird, Jun Togawa's solo debut rivals Kate Bush's "Hounds Of Love" for sheer creativity and compulsive replays. Review here. Vajra: Live 2007 Kan Mikami, Keiji Haino, and Zuno Keisatsu's Toshi may be stars in their own right, but their power trio Vajra can still shock and amaze even their longtime fans. Review here. The Roosters: Insane Iconic 80s band blends the catchiness of contemporary New Wave with a disturbed edge that reads as a call for help. Review here. Gedo: S/T Definitive proof that Japanese rock can kick up as much sweat and dirt as anyone you care to name. Review here. White Heaven: Out Arguably one of the greatest psych revival albums ever recorded, White Heaven's debut has only gotten better with age. Review here. The Sadistic Mika Band: S/T "Black Ship" may get most of the attention, but to truly grasp how out there the Sadistic Mika Band were, one must go back to their utterly warped 1973 debut. Review here. Christine 23 Onna: Shiny Crystal Planet Angel'In Heavy Syrup guitarist teams with noise maestro Masonna to create supremely noisy, yet impossibly groovy Space Age Bachelor Pad Music. Review here.