Plastic Tree

Though established in 1993, Plastic Tree did not attract significant notice until around 1995, securing a major-label deal two years later. The band’s sound drew from an array of sources, above all British alternative acts, while also incorporating aspects of the visual kei aesthetic—chiefly a hint of androgyny and pronounced makeup—that parallels the goth, glam, and later emo currents in American rock. A steady stream of singles issued across multiple imprints from the 1990s onward demonstrated the group’s range, blending goth rock, slow ballads, power pop, metal, and punk while retaining enough melodic appeal to reach broader audiences. Every subsequent album, of which nearly half were compilations resulting from their early label changes, registered on the Oricon charts, and the band returned to the Top 10 in 2008 with Utsusemi.