Hi-Standard were a Japanese punk rock group who formed in 1991. Since then, they have become a popular and influential part of Japanese non-mainstream music. The release of their hugely popular Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and US/European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, WIZO, and No Use for a Name. Although Hi-Standard were Japanese born, all of their major releases were sung in English.
Although classed as a 'punk rock' band, lyrically they were less politically charged than canonical punk forerunners . Many songs were about meeting a new girl, lost love, or the transition from teenage years to adulthood. The song "Teenagers are all assholes" from their final LP "Making the road" talks about how there is no justification for violence, with lyrics such as "Don't torment your friends and neighbors/Someday you'll see you are small/There is no good reason to assault somebody/If you wanna beat someone/Beat yourself". Musically they were very similar to many other popular punk-rock bands that were big in the 90's, such as NOFX, Millencolin and The Vandals; most of their songs were very fast and catchy, with a few slower songs scattered here and there. "Making the road" was probably their most musically diverse release, featuring some very fast, hard songs (Just Rock, Crows) mixed in with slower songs (Dear my Friends) and even a gentle piccolo-driven instrumental (Tinkerbell Hates Goatees). The band was considered to be very talented musically, with the fast, tight, powerful drumming and creative guitar work often standing out.
Genre: Punk
Year: 1999
Tracklist:
01. Turning Back
02. Standing Still
03. Teenagers Are All Assholes
04. Just Rock
05. Dear My Friends
06. Stay Gold
07. No Heroes
08. Glory
09. Please Please Please
10. Green Acres
11. Changes
12. Making The Road Blues
13. Crows
14. Tinkerbell Hates Goatees
15. Pentax
16. Nothing
17. Starry Night
18. Brand New Sunset
19. Bonus Track
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