Hoff Dylan

If ever there were a shining example of a "good guy" band, it would easily be Hoff Dylan. They've been pumping out their blend of UK rock and uniquely Japanese wackiness since the mid '90s. Think Oasis, only with an honest sense of humor in place of their off-putting sense of self-entitlement and you'll start to get an idea.

Releasing albums since their debut in 1996, they've stuck rather close to the same sound over the years. Every once in a while they'll inject a few disco beats and tripped out effects into their jangly brand of rock. For the most part, they stick to Beatles-esque production (check out "Universe" on 31st Century Rocks) and simple, extremely catchy tunes.

Their sense of humor shows through in a couple of their singles. The cover art for their 1997 single "Kimi no Kao" is a shot of Dylan McKay of Beverly Hills 90210, and inside is nothing but similar shots of characters taken directly from the show. As if that wan't odd enough, their more recent single from 2007 "Kamisama Kamisama Hotoke Sama" features a recreation of the "Kimi no Kao" cover, only this time with noted McKay impersonator Nadagi Takeshi. That may be all a bit too tongue-in-cheek for fans who are out of the Hoff Dylan loop, but it proves that their music can be just as fun and silly as it is gentle and melancholy. · close