While Japanese rock has continued to grow in both stature and accessibility in the last year, there are still unexplored corners hiding behind the high profile releases. Here, Jrawk picks out what caught our ear in 2009, with 19 new releases (and one reissue) that range from the well known (Superficial Gossip, Shéna Ringo's return to solo work,) as well as the (previously) hopelessly obscure (The Shizuoka R 'n' R Union.) We've also started Jrawk Radio in conjunction with Radio 23, with both broadcasts and Podcasts available. On Christmas Eve and Christmas, December 24th (prog and experimental) and 25th (rock and pop,) our show will make a point to feature music from this top 20, so you can hear what we're talking about!

Marble Sheep: Purple / Green Two halves of a remarkable whole, Marble Sheep ended a two year hiatus with a double shot of their brand of psych / rock (or is it rock / psych?) While live is still the best way to go, these two discs rank up there as some of the best the long running band has done. Review here. Beagle Hat: Orange Groove Pilot vocalist David Paton hooked up with the long running Tokyo band Beagle Hat to make one of the best modern psych pop records ever. Seriously, ever, Review here. Peacock Babies: Psychedelic Town The Band That Shouldn't Be: mixing the very un-rock songs of 60s Japanese pop with a rough garage aesthetic, Peacock Babies do the impossible. Review here. Paintbox: Trip, Trance, And Travelling Don't let the band's hardcore reputation mislead you: this is psychedelic in the every sense of the word, a Frankenstein monster of brutal aggression and blissed out pop. Review here. Aiha Higurashi: Perfect Days Direct, honest, and almost uncomfortably personal, the Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her / Loves alum makes what may prove to be the definitive album of her long career. Review here. Robo+s: Roll Over Sandy + Sam Judy and Mary guitarist Takuya has kept his brand of skewed power pop alive and kicking, and his Robo+s project hit a new high with this release. Review here. Nisennen- mondai: Fan Taking their hypnotic, mammoth sound to new levels of abrasive intensity, this one track, 35 minute slab dares you to sit through it, rewarding patience with hypnotic bliss. Review here. Shizuoka R 'n' R Union: Permanent Record 2009 finally saw an official release of this blistering, sloppy, corrosive, and utterly brilliant 1973 effort from this bunch of teenage hoodlums. Review here. Young Parisian: All That Glitters There are very, very few Japanese glam bands, fewer who have the sack to pull off the necessary swagger, and even fewer with the tunes to warrant repeat plays. Young Parisian, at long last, have all three. Review here. Uplift Spice: Omega Rhythm Four piece stands out with surprisingly mature songwriting, and the startling, muscular pipes of vocalist Chiori. Review here.

SDR: No Freedom Punk supergroup unleashes their howling debut, keeping the flame burning bright as the band approaches their 50s (!) Review here. Church Of Misery: Houses Of The Unholy The power of the Sab is not one that should (or even could be) taken lightly, but this Tokyo four piece nails it and then some. Review here. Zuno Keisatsu: Oretachi Ni Ashita Wa Nai Rock legend's first album in 18 years finds them in top form, returning with one of the most dynamic and immediate albums in their fabled discography. Review here. Zi:LiE-Ya: Denki Namaz If it ain't broke, don't fix it: Denki Namaz ("Electric Catfish") is down and dirty rock 'n' roll that finds new inspiration in high energy bar rock. If the title track doesn't get you moving, you have no pulse. Review here. Boredoms: Super Roots 10 The venerable Osaka icons have transcended mere music, making each new release more about the happening, and the ninth release in their Super Roots series (there is no number four) continues the tradition. Review here. Shéna Ringo: Superficial Gossip She's gotten a bit of stick for making what is far and away her prettiest, poppiest record yet, but listen closer: the manic intensity of even the most flowery songs are wracked with rock n'' roll tension. Review here. Dip: After Loud Indie rocking everymen return with a subtle, mid tempo gem that's content to invite, rather than demand, repeated plays. Review here. OOIOO: Armonico Hewa Yoshimi P-We takes her drum centric OOIOO project and twists it into new, weird, and at times schizophrenic pop. Review here. Urbangarde: Shoujo Toshi Keikaku Amazing things can happen when you embrace the absurd: manic technopop group makes "music for virgins" and somehow makes it compelling. Review here. Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs: S/T / World Is Yours There's never a shortage of next big things, but smart money is on MOTFD and their fried, aggressive, moody psych rock. Review here.