Though Japanese kitsch-pop was probably best conceived by the Pizzicato Five, in their footsteps came Ego-Wrappin'. While the former reveled in sheer quirk, the latter have always kept a strong grounding in proper jazz forms. Though they released a number of albums since 1998's Blue Speaker, they only achieved wide recognition with 2001's Midnight Dejavu. As they progressed, elements of indie rock, reggae, and additional jazz were incorporated into their sound. After relocating to Tokyo to take advantage of the city's industry apparatus, Ego-Wrappin' have continued to produce albums with noteworthy success and the inclusion of yet more stylistic elements. Best Wrappin' 1996-2008 was released in 2008, and hit number four on the Oricon charts. ~ Adam Greenberg