Bright Like Japan brings the funk

Writing about Chicago's pop funk group Bright Like Japan has been on my to-do list since January. I dug their Maroon 5-meets-George Clinton sound, but for some reason or another, I just never got around to writing about them. Can't let the year end without doing that.

Here's what's being said about them:

Friends since high school, Trevor James and Michael SanFilippo separated after graduation to pursue independent paths. James headed to California to help his family with a business opportunity and SanFilippo stayed in the Midwest to follow his dream of being a singer, becoming one of the top 50 contestants on the seventh season of Fox's "American Idol."

Upon returning to Chicago, James, a fiery guitarist steeped in the blues, reconnected with blue-eyed soul boy SanFilippo and Bright Like Japan was born. Now, two years later, the band (rounded out by drummer Rob Andre and bassist Dorian Duffy) is poised to become one of the great success stories of 2009.

Listen to "Reverse"


Listen to "Look Back"


Listen to "Call My Name"