the pillows to Release Over 220 Tracks Digitally

They’ve turned down an opening spot for Oasis just for the sake of it, their albums should have been included in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums listings according to The Japan Times, and they are responsible for the entire soundtrack of zany cult anime FLCL. Now, for the first time in their 33-year career, the pillows will release a large chunk of their catalogue digitally.

From today, 16 September 2022, 22 singles, a best of album and a B-side compilation album from the pillows will be made available to stream and download courtesy of Japanese music specialists JPU Records. This will be followed by 14 albums and a self-cover EP on 12 October 2022.

Among the numerous highlights from today’s releases are 1997’s HYBRID RAINBOW, with its cathartic chorus and a video filmed in London which has been viewed over 2.3 million times on YouTube; 2000’s Ride on shooting star, which catapulted the band into international recognition when it, along with many other songs from the band, were used in the soundtrack to the anime FLCL, produced by GAINAX (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gunbuster); and 2019’s Happy Go Ducky! which is also the opening theme to basketball anime Ahiru no Sora.

For October’s studio albums there’s 1998’s critically acclaimed LITTLE BUSTERS, which The Japan Times argued should have been included in The Rolling Stone’s ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ listing; there’s early 90s album KOOL SPICE where fans can hear the band develop before finding their sound on classic albums such as RUNNERS HIGH and HAPPY BIVOUAC, right up to latest album REBROADCAST, which is also being released.

Additionally, the solo album Nonocular violet from the pillow’s main songwriter Sawao Yamanaka will also be released on 12 October 2022, bringing over 220 tracks online over the next four weeks.