generasia:Featured article for 2011 week 47
Base Ball Bear
Base Ball Bear is a Japanese band that formed in 2001. Originally conceived as an Oasis cover band, and originally named Planet, the band would eventually start writing original material, and get signed to Toshiba-EMI. They say they were influenced strongly by SUPERCAR. Their pop mentality only strengthened once they signed to a major label. While their early work is a bit angular and brash, their newer material is predictably refined and focused, both sonically and melodically. Their disco/dance beats also gained prominence, holding precedence over their earlier rock approach.
Members Yusuke Koide, Shiori Sekine, Shohei Yuasa, and Daisuke Horinouchi were attending the same high school when they decided to form a band to play a festival. The band changed their name within a year to Base Ball Bear, and began to demo songs. In 2003, Base Ball Bear signed to independent label Blitz Pia, and released their debut mini-album Yugata Generation that same year. They also released their first single "YUME is VISION" in 2004 and their first full-length album HIGH COLOR TIMES and mini-album Band B ni Tsuite hit stores in 2005. During 2005 Sekine Shiori was part of the cast of the movie Linda Linda Linda, which features some of the band's music. In 2006, the band singed with Toshiba-EMI.
On November 9, 2011, Base Ball Bear released their fourth major studio album Shin Kokyuu (Base Ball Bear), which ranked #5 on the weekly sales charts.
