a flood of circle’s 4th album, LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK’N'ROLL, came out November 23rd. The preview reel (below) features clips from all 11 tracks on the album that belongs in a jukebox as much as it does in your iPod.

Despite the uncertainty the band has faced due to the loss of two members in two years as well as the March 11th disasters in Japan, they intend to “seize the future with love and rock and roll.” Their latest release is about sharing that love.

“I LOVE YOU” and “Blood Red Shoes” were both released on September 21st and “Sweet Home Battle Field” is a theme song for featured on the Air Gear anime series.

The PV for “The Beautiful Monkeys” is a runner-up in Neaux’s Most Rockin’ and Awesome Vids for 2011. It’s a raucous rock hall party that was announced the night before filming via Twitter casting call.

Fun. Love. Life. Rock!

Both videos are directed by Kato Mani (加藤マニ), who has a ton of retro-rock cred by also having worked with Veni Vidi Vicious, The Cigavettes, MO’SOME TONEBENDER, SISTER JET, and others.

Check out the LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK’N’ROLL special page as well as a flood of circle’s official site. Pick up LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK’N'ROLL on CDJAPAN.

Hat tip to Psycho Dad and Neaux for the info.

Veni Vidi Vicious rock out on a 6 minute track that starts out kind of quiet before cranking up the volume at the 3:27 mark with the quick beep. “Good Days” is really good. Like “lets play in the dark with Christmas tree lights” good.

Aaaaah-Ah-aaah-ah over to Veni Vidi Vicious’ official website to learn more about their new album Good Days out 10.5.2011.

Though spacey — both astral and bizarre — The Temptation X is a fair effort by the young band to create a union between off-beat synthetic esoterism and coherence; they affectionately refer to it as ‘rocktrance’ (ロッカトランス).

Much of The Temptation X is an experimental adventure composed of stratified synths overflowing with strange effects. Folds of often saw synths overlap while low frequencies from drums and GEORGE’s bass guitar hum. KAZ-TICKS’ frequent and crisp guitar combines with lead singer/synth player/programmer 68′s decidedly clean vocals to bring a ‘normal’ balance to MONICA URANGLASS’ music. With these guys fooling around with such a wide array of sounds and settings, it’s incredibly refreshing to hear vocals that are without atrocious effects slopped on (like those from Auto-tune).

The Temptation X‘s first track, “O.P.E.R.A.T.I.O.N” sets the tone. An odd fluttering pans across the speakers and commands the aural foreground while a beat breaks and vocal samples flesh out the space beyond. The oscillation lures the listener into the realm of MONICA URANGLASS where strange noises pop in and dance across stereo channels. Though curious, most of this sounds like the result of organic, human creation — as opposed to being a simple output of a programmed sequencer.

The obvious stand-out on The Temptation X is “Katie”. The song is many individually catchy and small, well-thought-out progressions intertwined as one. “Katie” flows from standard verse to chorus and back but never dulls. The vibrantly flashing melody will endure in the listener’s head long after the song has concluded.

“Kill The Sebastian” is a trancy block of tones that divides “Katie” and “Jill United” (a track that also appeared on MONICA URANGLASS’ 2008 The Invitation EP). From there, The Temptation X dives into a celestial sea of synth waves and goes exploring. Such tracks as Luv Tick・・・Ticks, U.LA.LA, and Picture A.B.S.T glow brightly in the quirky depths populated by Galaxico Fantastico (new favorite song name), Generation X, P.O.T.X, and Termination X (a lot of X’s)

MONICA URANGLASS formed in 2007 and although the young band’s music is defined by electronic exploration, it’s apparent that they are still finding their place and sound. That’s encouraging though, since The Temptation X is a substantial effort that proves that MONICA URANGLASS is on the right track. Additionally, the progress made in the jump from the admirable “Jill United” to the astonishing “Katie”, proves that the trio can really grow.

MONICA URANGLASS is currently signed with actwise and EVOL Records-Excite Music Entertainment and will promote their new album with the PROJEKT “The Temptation X” TOUR 2009, which runs from March 18th to July 12th. MONICA URANGLASS recently toured with VOLA & THE ORIENTAL MACHINE and “Jill United” is featured on a compilation that came out on March 4th. The compilation, UNDER CONSTRUCTION～rock’n'roll revival from Tokyo!!!～ also features songs by The John’s Guerrilla, The Mirraz, QUATTRO, THE BAWDIES, PILLS EMPIRE, and Veni Vidi Vicious.

The name MONICA URANGLASS most likely means “MONICA URANIUMGLASS” since “ウラン” (uran) is Japanese for uranium.

PV RECAP (“Jill United” & “Katie”):

Visit MONICA URANGLASS’ official site & MySpace page

Buy The Temptation X and UNDER CONSTRUCTION～rock’n'roll revival from Tokyo!!!～

The garage rock revival (they call it ‘neo-garage’) quartet, Veni Vidi Vicious released their debut album in the fall of ’08. Their first full-length release, IRIE RACKIT, officially came out October 22, 2008.

Veni Vidi Vicious’s loud, frenetic, and retroesque music is drenched in the sound of humming guitars and searing snares beneath strident, raspy vocals. The often tinny music beckons of moppy ‘fro-ed guys jamming out in smoke-filled clubs.

IRIE RACKIT features eight tracks; some with genre-befitting titles like “Cosmo”, “Motown”, “Yeah Yeah Yeah”, “Marihuana Monkey”, and “Domino”.

Veni Vidi Vicious formed in April of 2005 (five years after The Hives’ obviously influential Veni Vidi Vicious album was released). The band is vocalist/guitarist Ryousuke Irie (入江良介), guitarist Takeshi Irie (入江健), bassist Masami Takei (武井優心), and drummer Shotaro Yamazaki (山崎正太郎). In December of ’07, Veni Vidi Vicious released a split EP with The Mirraz. They are currently signed with mini muff records.

My attention was first drawn to Veni Vidi Vicious after noticeing the split EP and the show they played with The Mirraz but it was not until Wada-san of The Mirraz recommended I check them out, that I did so. Good stuff!!

Watch “Cosmo” by Veni Vidi Vicious:

Check out the band’s official site and MySpace.

Buy IRIE RACKIT by Veni Vidi Vicious.