The title of British pub-rocker Nick Lowe's 1978 album "Pure Pop for Now People" aptly describes the sound of Tokyo-based band The Cymbals. The trio's music is bright, intelligent, catchy and easy on the ears -- but with enough of a rock punch to avoid saccharine overkill.
Reiji Okii, Hiroyasu Yano and Asako Toki together as The Cymbals create infectiously upbeat power-pop heavily influenced by rock gods The Who.I recently interviewed Cymbals leader Reiji Okii and found him to be a modest, articulate guy who has a deep knowledge of and love for the great pop and rock music of the past. In other words, a real music otaku -- in the best possible sense of the word, of course.
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