[NewMusic] Popular music since 2000 - has anything happened?

[wobbly at detritus.net]

the only mainstream pop record from this decade that I've been
unreservedly into so far this decade is Shiina Ringo's 'Karuki, Zamen,
Kuruki no Hana', and it's arguably more of an anomaly than an archetype. 
but it's the first time I've heard a record that combines traditional
asian classical with everything I love about the last 25 years of the
japanese underground / experimental scene w/ a j-pop sensibility

(I would definitely hear that record as a record before hitting youtube --
her videos are not as distinctive as the music, though her band Tokyo
Jihen' performing 'Souretsu' on the Domestic Virgin Line 2006 tour might
do in a pinch)

in general I think most of the interesting things in pop right now aren't
happening in this country, the spark's moved elsewhere -- the 80's awkward
phase of world music 'fusion' has been worked through and I'm starting to
hear some very comfortable meetings

-jl