by Skip JansenThe Osaka lunatic fringe group's U.S. debut was originally released on Shimmy Disc in 1993. A decade later, this reissue version of the scarce LP still sounds about as left field as one's imagination can stretch within the popular music form. Their stop-start, jump-cut punk/noise/kitsch collage sound made them one of the more distinctive and influential groups of the Japanese noise scene. Main BoredomYamatsuka Eye, also known for his noise projectthe Hanatarash, provides the vocal violence that alone puts them on the more challenging side of Japanese rock music. Little wonder this album won them fans inPerry Farrell, who had them open the main stage of Lollapalooza in 1995, as well as avant-garde composerJohn Zornand postmodern rockersSonic Youth, who have all sung praise for Boredoms. Soul Discharge: 1999 remains a highly influential record on the Japanese underground, post-rock, and noise scenes of the '90s -- a key album in Boredoms' discography.