Biography

Supercar (スーパーカー, Sûpâ Kâ) was a Japanese rock band active from 1995 to 2005, and who made their debut in 1997. Consisting of songwriter and vocalist Kōji Nakamura (中村弘二 Nakamura Kōji), guitarist Junji Ishiwatari (いしわたり淳治 Ishiwatari Junji), bassist Miki Furukawa (フルカワミキ Furukawa Miki), and drummer Kōdai Tazawa (田沢公大 Tazawa Kōdai), Supercar is best known for combining alternative rock with electronic music.

Part of SUPERCAR’s aesthetic success stems from their “ordinary country-grown” roots in the Aomori prefecture, far north from the constant clamor of Tokyo. It was here that the youthful band first took shape. Supercar was formed in 1995 when bassist Miki Furukawa placed an advertisement in a local magazine seeking fellow musicians. Junji Ishiwatari responded and convinced childhood friend Kōji Nakamura to join as well. Junji and Kōji soon recruited drummer Kōdai Tazawa, an acquaintance from middle school. After writing songs and recording demo tapes, they received a record contract. In 1997 they released their debut album, Three Out Change, and their second album, Jump Up, in 1999. This album was followed by Ooyeah and Ookeah, both also released in 1999. With the 2000 album Futurama, electronic experimentation took a larger role that would characterize the band’s sound for the rest of their career. The 2002 release Highvision continued the electronic development, and the single Strobolights did not even contain a guitar. They released their last album, Answer in 2004. Perhaps their most experimental album, Answer contained balance of both rock and electronica.

In 2005, they announced their plans to break up. They held one last concert, and released a DVD of it titled Last Live.
All album names and song titles are in English. The lyrics, mostly written by Junji, alternate between English and Japanese.

Internationally, Supercar is best known for providing much of the soundtrack for the Japanese film Ping Pong, as well as being featured in the anime series Eureka Seven.

Discography

[edit] Singles

* Cream Soda (September 21, 1997)
* Planet (December 1, 1997)
* Lucky (March 1, 1998)
* Drive (May 21, 1998)
* Sunday People (September 21, 1998)
* My Girl (February 3, 1999)
* Love Forever (May 21, 1999)
* Fairway (February 2, 2000)
* White Surf Style 5 (October 12, 2000)
* Strobolights (May 23, 2001)
* Yumegiwa Last Boy (November 21, 2001)
* Aoharu Youth (February 6, 2002)
* Recreation (February 14, 2003)
* BGM (November 19, 2003)
* Last Scene (January 28, 2004)
* Wonder Word EP (April 28, 2004)

[edit] Albums

Studio albums

* Three Out Change (April 1, 1998)
* Jump Up (February 10, 1999)
* Futurama (November 22, 2000)
* Highvision (April 24, 2002)
* Answer (February 25, 2004)

Project albums

* Ooyeah (August 21, 1999)
* Ookeah (August 21, 1999)

Compilation albums

* 16/50 1997~1999 (February 14, 2003)
* A (March 24, 2005)
* B (March 24, 2005)

[edit] DVDs

* High Booster + U.N. VJ Works (November 19, 2002)
* P.V.D. (November 20, 2002)
* P.V.D. 2 (November 20, 2002)
* Last Live Kanzen-ban (LAST LIVE 完全版 Last Live: Complete Edition) (June 29, 2005)
* P.V.D. Complete 10th Anniversary Edition (April 4, 2007)