Shocking Lemon is was a relatively unknown band in the history of Japanese rock. Sadly the members decided not to finish their activities in this formation and they disbanded in the September of 2007. So as the post’s title states, the Lemon doesn’t shock anymore and we won’t have a chance to enjoy the fruit anymore.

However, the band released some very good material along their way, so we won’t starve to death : )

The band’s trademark was the husky vocals of Ogino Takahiko and the mostly melodic, but sometimes powerful guitar riffs of Taniuchi Hideki which lent an ethereal kind of feeling to their songs. Sakata Makoto was responsible for the solid bass lines and Shimizu Toshiki provided the laid-back drumbeats. Takahiko and Hideki also have an ongoing solo project right now.

Their most recent album, titled Solvent Echo was released in 2007. They release two previous albums: Denimhead (1999) and Sometimes Alone (2001).

Denimhead has a raw feeling to it with songs such as Remember for Me, Lemon Power and the climax of the album, Numb with some sick riffs. But it also features ballads like Sad Wind and Pastel Room. A brilliant debut album if you ask me.

Sometimes Alone is the weakest album of the three. It’s like the Lemon was all squeezed out at the time they made it. Don’t get the wrong idea though, there is some cool stuff on the album like Inner Light, Under Star, Karma Place. It’s just that this one hasn’t got as much power as Denimhead and Solvent Echo have.

Solvent Echo is the most mature release out of the three albums. On this disc you can find the best parts of Denimhead and Sometimes Alone combined, with some spice added to it in songs like Shining Bright Light, Dream On and many other. Baby Forever, the last track and also the prime of Solvent Echo is an epic, seven minute-long masterpiece, worthy of closing out the career of Shocking Lemon.

Along with these albums, the guys released some singles and a very addictive song titled Dirty Pretty. This track was featured on one of the soundtracks for the anime Nana. The artist for the song was credited as S-L / Brute Force. I don’t know the reason for that though, however the song simply rocks!

The band was probably most famous for performing the first two opening songs (Under Star and Inner Light) for the anime, Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit).

Also, there is a PV for an unreleased song Star Star on Youtube. It’s really awesome and reflects the bands style very well. If you like it, then you will like the band’s other works for sure.

We can just hope for the guys to reunite in the future, because together they made magic!

Watch the PV for ‘Star Star’

Official MySpace

Check the samples of Solvent Echo on Amazon.com
Buy Denimhead by Shocking Lemon
Buy Sometimes Alone by Shocking Lemon
Buy Solvent Echo by Shocking Lemon