Starboard

Starboard occupies that specific, bittersweet space between early 2000s American emo and the melodic precision of Japanese alternative rock. Their sound is defined by a warmth that feels lived-in, avoiding the aggressive sheen of modern pop-punk in favor of something more contemplative and rhythmic. It is music that feels like a memory you can almost touch, anchored by driving basslines and guitars that chime more than they crunch.

What sets them apart is the interplay between Hiroyuki Imamura and Retsu Ushijima, whose vocal harmonies add a layer of vulnerability to the driving rock arrangements. There is a persistent sense of motion in their songwriting, a 'road movie' aesthetic that prioritizes atmosphere and emotional resonance over technical showmanship. They excel at the mid-tempo build, where a song starts in a quiet, observational place and swells into a cathartic, melodic hook.

For those new to the band, their early work like 'Everywhere You Go' captures the raw energy of the mid-2000s Japanese indie scene, while later albums like 'Drive-In' lean further into the melodic, surf-adjacent mellow rock that their name suggests. It is the perfect discovery for anyone who misses the earnest, guitar-driven storytelling of the 2000s.