Lovely Western music

Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Foreign Rock Bands, Popular Bands

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!

You still hear people say things like, “I listen to Japanese rock bands, but I’m not so good with Western music,” even today, when it’s easier than ever to listen online to music from any era and anywhere in the world from the comfort of your home.

There are many reasons for this, but it seems some people feel a hurdle simply because the lyrics aren’t in Japanese.

So this time, we’ll introduce recommended Western rock bands for those who are thinking of getting into Western rock.

From legendary big names to bands lighting up the 2020s, we’ve picked a diverse lineup to enjoy!

Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Western Bands, Popular Bands (41–50)

Never MeantAmerican Football

American Football – Never Meant [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Never MeantAmerican Football

By the time their album American Football was released, this fantastic band had already broken up and no longer existed in its original form.

They still have many fans, and without them, not only the modern US indie scene but also the Japanese band scene would likely look very different today.

That’s how globally influential—and how great—this band’s album is.

Thanks to their enduring popularity and to meet fan expectations, they recently reunited.

If you haven’t listened yet, you absolutely should.

American Football is an incredible band.

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Recommendations for Western Rock: Recommended and Popular Foreign Bands (51–60)

A Reason To FightDisturbed

Disturbed – A Reason To Fight [Official Music Video]

A Reason To FightDisturbed

This band, Disturbed, is a heavy metal band based in Chicago.

They were active from their formation in 1994 until 2011, then, after a four-year hiatus, resumed activities in 2015 with the release of the album “Immortalized.” Their song “A Reason To Fight” was released in 2018, and it has a somewhat nostalgic feel, doesn’t it? In recent years, the metal scene has seen an explosion of subgenres that can make it harder to get into, but they’re a band that sticks to their own old-school metal without pandering to trends—a group you can really feel a sense of grit and integrity from.

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Do YouSpoon

Spoon — “Do You” (Official Music Video)

Do YouSpoon

They’re a band that shows you the depth of America.

People often say the UK, being the country of the Beatles, has more bands with meticulously crafted melodies, but that’s not actually the case.

The U.

S.

also has plenty of quirky pop-rock bands.

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mOBSCENEMarilin Manson

Marilyn Manson – mOBSCENE

mOBSCENEMarilin Manson

Marilyn Manson is a rock band known for its heavy, near-heavy-metal sound and dark aesthetic.

Formed in 1989, they later changed the band’s name to match that of the vocalist, Marilyn Manson.

From the late 1990s, they began ranking high on music charts and soon became known to music fans around the world.

They have many classic albums, but a good place to start would be their best-of compilation, Lest We Forget: The Best Of.

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WaterslideCHON

CHON – Waterslide (Official Music Video)

WaterslideCHON

What kind of image do you have of the genre called progressive music? Difficult? Hard to grasp? Fast? Lots of notes? They’re probably all correct.

But this band CHON, while undeniably progressive—difficult, complex, fast, and note-dense—has a fantastic sense of balance that makes their music very easy to listen to.

Perhaps it also helps that the members love listening to video game music; every single phrase is genuinely cool.

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Modern ActCloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings – “Modern Act” (official music video)

Modern ActCloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings are a trio that has been drawing a lot of attention lately among U.

S.

indie rock bands.

While their sound is alternative, their arrangements don’t rely on sheer volume, and the sparkling, catchy melodies on top have a compelling power that captivates you from the very first listen.

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City On The HillDesaparecidos

Desaparecidos – “City On The Hill”

City On The HillDesaparecidos

The vocalist of this band is Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes.

Conor Oberst is also well-known as a singer-songwriter, and although his most obscure project is this band, Desaparecidos, their songs are excellent and highly recommended.

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