Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Your Song Is Good (ユア・ソング・イズ・グッド, Yua Songu Izu Guddo) (often abbreviated YSIG) is a Japanese ska band. They are currently signed to Nayutawave Records (a Universal Music label) and Kakubarhythm.
History
The band first started playing together as School Jackets, which was formed by 4 members of Nuts and Milk (Tanaka, Shiraishi, Yoshizawa, Matsumura), and Fruity member Jun Saito in the spring of 1997. The band pioneered a raw, frantic blend of thrash, funk, punk, ska and soul. Saito has said he wanted to create a blend of James Brown and Charles Bronson (band). Most songs remained under 1 minute - most under 30 seconds.
During approximately 6 months of activity, School Jackets released a demo tape "My Favorite 18 Soulful BLASTS!", a split tape with Less Talk More Rock entitled "SOUL FOR THE SOUL '97", and appeared on several compilations. A discography CD "Back to the Dance Floor" was later released by HG Fact (HG-090). All are now out of print.
Despite increasing popularity, the band decided to end School Jackets and reinvent themselves. From School Jackets' ashes, Your Song Is Good was born in 1998 with all of the same members intact. They initially took to a melodic punk/hardcore direction influenced by late 80's bands such as Dag Nasty. Video from one of the few shows from this early YSIG period can be seen on the "PLAY ALL!!" DVD. But again, they quickly abandoned this sound. It was at this time that YSIG went seemingly quiet.
After several years of intense practice and honing an entirely new musical direction, Your Song is Good re-emerged. After a few compilation appearances, they debuted in 2003 with a 7-inch EP called "Big Stomach, Big Mouth" as the first release on their new label, Kakuba Rhythm. Drastically mellower then their previous efforts, the new Your Song is Good was tight and polished. Combining elements from soul, to funk, to ska, to calypso, they distilled their punk energy into a refined - and uniquely Japanese - sense of melody.
Though YSIG remained largely instrumental for the first few years, since 2006 they have slowly began adding traditional vocals and lyrics to some of their songs (though many still remain instrumental). Also returning to the forefront in recent releases (notably on "The Action") is an increased sense of urgency and energy harkening back to their punk rock roots.
This trend continues on their latest release "B.A.N.D." (released March 3, 2010).