I fell in love with the pillows just after the anime FLCL was released. One of my favourite songs ever is “My Girl” (Fiction Version), and their quirky alt-rock music always impresses me with each new single they release.

This year, the pillows are celebrating their 20th anniversary with the release of two CD collections. Rock stock & too smoking the pillows is a collection of new songs, a couple remakes, and the first four singles they have released for Avex Trax.

Previously released singles in this collection are: Tokyo Bambi, New Animal, Scarecrow, and Ladybird Girl (I absolutely LOVE this song, and its had over 200 plays on my iPod). Ladybird Girl is also the current opening theme for the Ben 10 cartoon in Japan.

New tracks on this album include the very mellow 1989, and the oddly upbeat & English Mr. Droopy:

Dig that groovy! Mr.Droopy.
Can you dig more deeply?
Dig that groovy! Mr.Droopy.
By the way, why is it dug?

Dirt and stones,
both hands are worm.
You greeted a mole sweatily.

He answered like this.
‘The ground is too bright.’

Dig that groovy! Mr.Droopy.
Was the treasure found from there?
Dig that groovy! Mr.Droopy.
By the way, how long will you dig?

There is no one.
That’s the small world.
The mole is your only friend.

He answered like this.
‘The ground is too bright.
Stars can be seen at noon
from deep underground.’

I highly recommend that anyone who is even slightly interested in Japanese music give the pillows a try. Their music stylings remind me so much of the Beatles, and I could listen to these three for hours.

You can purchase Rock stock & too smoking from YesAsia, as well as the other 20th anniversary album, Once upon a time in the pillows.