Aug
Mary’s 9th Cut. Do you remember this band? They were a good Japanese indiepop duo from the late 90s/early 2000s. They released two albums and an EP worth searching for.
We heard of the band for the first time in 1998 when their songs started to appear on compilations. That year three tracks were contributed to different CD comps in Japan. “Snowfall” appeared on “Sunshine Pop Show!! Vol. 1” that was released by Sunshine Pop (SP-001), “Good Friend” on “Sunshine’s Girl” by “Sunshine Pop (SP-003) and the song “Gold” on “Sunshine Pop!! Vol. 2” on Sunshine Pop again (SP-008).
Sunshine Pop was a sub-label of Smile Records and then it only made sense for the band to release their first album on this label. The self-titled album “Mary’s 9th Cut” came out on Smile Records in 1999 (SP-009). It included 9 lovely sweet songs, “Cherry Red Coke”, “Good Friend”, “Mon Cher Fairy” “Brand New Day”, “Today is the Day”, “Cheek Fellow”, “Orange”, “Hello Goodbye” and “Snowfall (Theme)”.
In 1999 the band also had some compilation appearances, “Hello Goodbye” was to appear on “Sniegowe Rytmy” a tape compilation released in Poland by Arnold Records (AD01). It is an interesting release for sure as it includes many bands from the Elefant label. The other song released in 1999 was “Mary’s Baby” on the “Smile Demo” comp released by Smile Records (SR-010).
But that wasn’t all, Smile Records releases that year the EP “Marin’s Band Parade 1/2” (SP-011). This EP had 6 songs and these were “Theme 1 – Marin’s Band Parade”, “Mary’s Baby (Is Falling into a Dream)”, “Marin”, “Gold”, “A Girl’s Pray” and “Theme 2 – Summer of ’99”.
Two years later the band releases their 2nd album, “Swan Song”. This time on a different label, Dogprint Records from the US. This New Jersey label was known at the time for releasing great Japanese bands.
The album had just 8 songs, “Mother Likes Pop!”, “Winter Song”, “Sonnets”, “A Piece of Diamonds and Quicksilver Moon”, “Winterslide”, “Treasurely”, “Dream is Over…” and “Swan Song”.
The last time we hear from the band is with the song “Space Boy Wish” that came out on the Bluebadge Label first compilation “Send my Badge! – Bluebadge Compilation Vol. 1” (BBCD-001).
I search for more information. I find that they played a gig called Blue Shirts Afternoon Vol. 1 on April 30th of 2001 with other bands like Slight Return, Snow Sheep and Pastrasche. There is a flyer for this and thanks to it I find out that the band hailed from Kyoto. Another gig I know of is one from April 30, 2002 where they played the Blue Shirts Afternoon Vol. 4 – Send My Badge gig with Shelter, Spaghetti Vabune!, Plus-Tech Squeeze Box and エレキベース. There’s a flyer for this gig too. Also worth mentioning that these gigs were organized by the Bluebadge Label.
I keep looking. I find out the band’s members names. I knew there was a boy and a girl because of the back of one of the CDs. But now I know the band was formed by Tomoko Nagano on vocals and Masahiro Kamiuchi on guitar and other instruments. Then I find some names that have contributed to the band. Megumi (vocals), Masahiro (guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals), Naoshi (bass) and Takeshi (drums, keys). Was it in every album? Just on the first one? What are their last names?
I believe after this band Masahiro was in a band called Shiba in a Car. But about Mary’s 9th Cut I can’t seem to find much more information. Hopefully my Japanese friends remember them. I’d love to learn more about them, I love the band’s music!
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