Plastic Tree
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| Plastic Tree | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chiba Japan |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Genres | Japanese rock Alternative Rock |
Plastic Tree (プラスティック トゥリー) is a Japanese rock band that formed in the early 1990's in Chiba, Japan. Plastic Tree debuted in May 1995 and released their first mini-album on December 11th of the same year. Since forming, they have changed drummers 3 times.
Contents |
[edit] Information
Plastic Tree (プラスティック トゥリー) also known as PuraTuri (プラツリ), or more affectionately, Pura-chan by fans (kurage), Plastic Tree formed between 1993 and 1994. They can generally be described as alternative, although their beginnings tend to be labeled as visual kei, and are often compared with brit-rock bands.
The most recognizeable signature of Plastic Tree is the melodic, child-like voice of Ryutaro. It is often described as very 'ethereal', and adds to the unique quality of their music. He composes the vast majority of their lyrics, while Akira, and Tadashi generally compose their music. In recent years, there has been some dispute of the band moving in a more mainstream direction, though they still appear to be very devoted to their fans and remain faithful to their musical roots.
While it has been popularly speculated that the band's name was derived from Radiohead's song, Fake Plastic Trees, the formation of the band and the release of this song do not coincide properly. In addition, in a recent interview, Ryutarou and Tadashi have revealed the real meaning behind their name. It is also common knowledge that Plastic Tree's Rira no ki is a 'cover' of Radiohead's My Iron Lung.
On the DVD Kuro Tent 2, many of the live names are derived from works by The Smashing Pumpkins.
[edit] Sound
Plastic Tree's music is influenced by British bands such as Radiohead and The Cure. It was rumored that they took their name from the Radiohead song 'Fake Plastic Trees'. Ryuutarou once answered the question "if you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one album, which album would it be?" with "Pablo Honey by Radiohead."
Recently Ryuutarou and Tadashi revealed the real origin of the name - they wanted to combine two words to form the band name; something artificial and something natural. After trying a few combinations, they decided on 'Plastic Tree'.
Plastic Tree's sound ranges from rock to pop and has gone under many changes. Their sound is aided by Ryuutarou's unique vocals and lyrics. Before the album Toroimerai was released Tadashi wrote nearly all the songs, usually with Ryutaro writing lyrics. However, more recent releases have had Akira and Ryuutaro writing both lyrics and music more frequently.
Plastic Tree's latest single Namida Drop was used as the first ending song for the animation Garasu no Kantai.
[edit] Fanclub
When on the Sweetheart label, Plastic Tree's fan club was called "Sickroom". When the band changed to the label J-Rock, they opened a new fan club "Jelly Fish Breed".
[edit] Band Members
有村竜太朗 Arimura Ryutaro
- vocal
- march 6, 1973
- bloodtype AB
長谷川 正 Hasegawa Tadashi
- bass
- November 16, 1970
- bloodtype O
ササブチ ヒロシ Sasabuchi Hiroshi
- drums
- October 12
- bloodtype A
ナカヤマ アキラ Nakayama Akira
- guitar
- January 16, 1971
- bloodtype A
大正谷 隆 Osyoudani Takashi (ex-drummer)
- drums
- January 15, 1972
- bloodtype B
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- HIDE and SEEK(1997.07.10)
- Puppet Show(1998.08.26)
- Parade(2000.08.23)
- Cut ~Early Songs Best Selection~ (2001.03.27)
- Plastic Tree Single Collection (2001.11.14)
- トロイメライ (TRÄUMEREI [toroimerai]) (2002.09.21)
- Best Album (Premium Best) (2002.11.07)
- シロクロニクル (SHIRO KURO NIKURU) (2003.10.22)
- cell (2004.8.25)
- 白盤 [shiro ban] (Greatest Hits) (2005.10.26)
- 黒盤 [kuro ban] (Greatest Hits) (2005.10.26)
- ｼｬﾝﾃﾞﾘｱ (CHANDELIER) (2006.06.28)
[edit] Singles
- リラの樹 RIRA no ki (1996.09.25)
- 割れた窓 wareta mado (1997.06.25)
- 本当の嘘 hontou no uso (1998.02.15)
- 絶望の丘 zetsubou no oka (1998.06.25)
- トレモロ Tremolo (1999.03.10)
- Sink (1999.08.25)
- ツメタイヒカリTSUMETAI HIKARI (1999.12.10)
- スライド SLIDE (2000.04.19)
- ロケット ROCKET (2000.07.12)
- プラネタリウム PLANETARIUM (2001.01.07)
- 散りユク僕ラ chiriyuku bokura (2001.09.14)
- 青い鳥 aoi tori (2002.06.26)
- バカになったのに baka ni natta noni (2003.05.21)
- もしもピアノが弾げたなら MOSHIMO PIANO GA HIKETA NARA (2003.06.25)
- 水色ガールフレンド mizuiro GIRLFRIEND (2003.10.1)
- 雪蛍 yuki hotaru (2004.01.12)
- 春咲 センチメンタル harusaki SENTIMENTAL (2004.03.10)
- メランコリック MELANCHOLIC (2004.07.28)
- 賛美歌 sanbika (2005.5.11)
- 名前のない花 namae no nai hana (2005.10.12)
- GHOST (2005.11.16)
- 空中ブランコ kuuchuu buranko (2005.12.14)
- ナミダ ドロップ namida doroppu (2006.05.10)
- スピカ spica (2007.01.23)
[edit] DVD
- 二次元ヲゴール③ nijigen orgel 3 (2004.12.22)
- 黒テント② kuro tent 2 (2002.12.18)
- 黒テント (2002.03.21)
- 二次元ヲゴール② nijigen orgel 2 (2000.11.22)
- 二次元ヲゴール nijigen orgel (2005.07.28)
- 花燃えて、亡霊の涙、天幕に堕ちる。- Live & Clips 2005 (2006.03.09)
[edit] External links
[edit] Official links
[edit] Fan sites
- Plastic Tree Fansite with Lyrics, Translations, and more
- "Aomushi" Arimura Ryuutarou Fansite with Profiles, Fan works, PVs, and more
- "My Black Umbrella" Plastic Tree Fansite with Lyrics, Translations and Images
- Fan-run site dedicated to the Plastic Tree 2006 World Tour, Chandelier.
- "Angélique" The Arimura Ryutaro fanlisting with an in depth biography, image gallery and fan made media
- Kurage Worldwide: an International Fan Project 2007
