[Album] J-Pop: An Introduction (and discussion)

Thank ye.

I downloaded Lena Park's other Japanese single and it also rocks. She's officially been added to me <3 list, making her one to watch.

Most amazing jew boots

New music day today. My order including Angela Aki's Kiss Me Good-Bye, May's Korean single for Wonderland and my new wildcard purchase of Misachi Kyushima's Vibrato arrived. The former two I've listened to and are ace (Kiss Me Good-Bye has won me over after a proper listen, though Santa Fe is still the best song on the single) and I'm currently listening to the latter, which is so far so good.

I do likes new music. Mind you, that said I still have this desire to stick YUI's album on again.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

New music day again for me. Today's deliveries:
- Morning Musume - SEXY BOY ~Soyo Kaze ni Yorisoutte~ [ single ]
- Natsumi Abe - 2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~ [ album ]
- Rie fu - ROSE ALBUM [ album ]
- Van Tomiko - Farewell [ album ]

So far I've given the Rie fu album a listen (and it's very good) and the Morning Musume single a few listens (it is also very good). I'll post my thoughts on the other two when I've given them a listen through.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Hey Flara, good to see you back.

So, a few comments on my recent purchases:

- Morning Musume - SEXY BOY ~Soyo Kaze ni Yorisoutte~ [ single ]
I love, love, love this single. It's exactly what Morning Musume has always done so well, make upbeat, funky music that puts a smile on my face. I'm not sure how anyone can resist the catchiness of the tune, it's tops. The c/w track is decent enough, but it's not a patch on SEXY BOY.

- Natsumi Abe - 2nd ~Shimiwataru Omoi~ [ album ]
I was actually somewhat fearful about listening to this. The non-single tracks on Rainbow 7 weren't as strong as they perhaps should have been and so I worried this would be the case here too. However, I was wrong to worry as it's actually a very good, very solid album. Nacchi's recent singles have been very good and the non-single tracks more than match them for quality. A solid whole that's certainly worth a look.

- Rie fu - ROSE ALBUM [ album ]
This is a wonderful album. I heard some people use words like 'dull' and 'boring' when talking about this album, but it's complete piffle. Mellow at time maybe, but never boring. This is a great follow up album to a great debut album and I loves it. If you like acoustic guitar work then this should be top of your list to check out.

- Van Tomiko - Farewell [ album ]
Another album I heard bad things about, people complaining about Tomiko's new style. Are you crazy? This is beautiful stuff, I love some of the instrumental work going on with this album. Folky and jazzy, a complete departure from the DAI style, but wonderful all the same. Thumbs up.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by vemp

Oh, op, what do you think of Van's album? so-so? ok? sucks?

Stop flirting with Flara and pay attention

From the above post I made:

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

- Van Tomiko - Farewell [ album ]
Another album I heard bad things about, people complaining about Tomiko's new style. Are you crazy? This is beautiful stuff, I love some of the instrumental work going on with this album. Folky and jazzy, a complete departure from the DAI style, but wonderful all the same. Thumbs up.

In short: I really like it.

And Flara, yes, you really do need to get the SEXY BOY single as it's magnificent. Completely addictive. I re-downloaded the PVs last night as I love the dance that goes with it too. ^^

Rollins: Shame, but give the YUI album a few more listens, I (and others) found it's something of a grower and it might just grab you yet (though different strokes for different folks so she's not going to win everyone over necessarily).

Still loving this Angela Aki single, Kiss Me Good-Bye. The title track has completely won me over after I wasn't sure when listening to a sample. I think the English version is just a tad better than the Japanese one, but both are very good. The c/w track Santa Fe is amazing though. Worth getting for that track alone.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Flara

Btw OP... I LOVE YOU!!!! YOU SEXY BOY!!! SOOOO GOOOOOD!!!! ahahaha I'm making no sense now hehe I just watched the PV and I guess this means another MM dance for me to imitate hehehe (still DL-ing the dance shot version...) ah this song makes me so giddy (omg i just said giddy again) I now understand what you mean now, OP.... this song makes me soooo happy!!! and the PV ish shoooo cute!!! it's kinda strange that now Mari Yaguchi is not in MM no more... wahhhh although I don't like her that much, I miss her...

That whole block makes me smile so much. ^_______________^

Vemp: it's not my favourite FF theme either, though I'd have to go with Eyes On Me as the top dog personally. I do, however, like Kiss Me Good-Bye more than I thought I would on listening to the sample they put up on her official website a while back. But yeah, Santa Fe for the win.

FELIPE NO

I like the idea behind some of the 12 PV Kumi thing (I don't think they were all linked, just some of them if memory serves), I just wish the songs had of been better. D.D.D. was a great track, as were a number of the earlier ones, but they just got a bit boring and nothingy, which is a shame.

Anyways, random news, they've finally released information on a-nation '06 - http://a-nation.net/pc/

For me this is excellent news as I'm going to be in Japan from 22nd July until 12th August so I'm hoping to sort out tickets to the Niigata day, which isn't that far from where my base of operations will be. Woo. ^_________^

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Weeklan

I think J-POP is too commercial, the mainstream artists anyway and I don't like it. It's not just J-Pop though, I hate American pop, British pop, any pop really. (only a few exceptions) So i'll leave JPop out of this.

Talk about mass stereotyping.

Out of interest, are you basing this rather extreme opinion of J-Pop (which is at best a lose description used to cover a wide range of music) soley on your experience of J-Pop so far, which by your own admission is anime themes? If so I would recommend you reconsider your position, or are you seriously going to argue that someone like Shiina Ringo/Tokyo Jihen and other such acts are too commercial? Exactly who is it that makes you believe that J-Pop is so commercial?

It seems highly contradictory to say "All this music is crap" and then "Hey guys I don't know much about this music, point me in the right direction kplz", not to mention a little rude.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Flara

GYAH!!! *does the happy dance*
I LOVE YOU OP!!!! or a_utobot...

Ha ha, it's still OP (and hopefully should be again soon), but yah, wheeeeee so glad for you. ^^ YUI love all around.

Actually, I've rediscovered and fallen in love with (once again) the Younha album, Go! Younha. It's an amazing album and one I'd recommend to anyone currently digging on YUI. A bit more piano than guitar, but there's a bit of a similarity style wise I'd say.

How ya doing, buddy?

The question of titles I have no interest in, though I will agree with where Technophile is coming from (I think there's a large chunk of misinterpretation going on in the arguement there).

One thing I will say is I totally agree with the last paragraph above. I actually really like EXODUS because it tries to be different. Selling out would envolve making generic pop that peope would lap up, something Hikki along with Island-Def-Jam would have been more than capable of. She didn't though, she went down this quirky road trying out variations on known styles and while they didn't always work 100% they were always interesting. I'm glad she's back focussing on her Japanese music, and I'm so over the moon that a new album is on its way (been waiting for that annoucement for ages), but I disagree that EXODUS was a bad thing or not worthwhile.

Oh and yeah, Younha is definitely Korean and I say Younha because that's the way it is spelt on the cover art:


I definitely recommend checking out her album, certainly if you liked the couple of singles she put out.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Technophile

I've been really hooked on Otsuka Ai lately. Any word on the follow up album to LOVE COOK yet?

Whoa, easy there. We won't see another album until we've seen at least a couple more singles to say the least. Given the times between LOVE PUNCH and LOVE JAM I'd say we're looking at a November release at the very earliest.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Well given you barely seem to keep up with what's going lately (or for a while now) on I can't say this news comes as much of a surprise Mr Vemp. However, I would imagine part of it is just that, you're not keeping up with what's going on, trying new acts and the such like. Given the sheer scope of the J-Pop market I'm sure there's something around at the moment you'd love.

But fair enough, I can understand shifting preferences, after all it's what led many of us to find things like J-Pop in the first place.

How ya doing, buddy?

It's J-Pop pre-order day today. I've pre-ordered YUI's new single (because YUI = <3 * lots), Maaya Sakamoto's new double a-side single, Hikki's new album and Angela Aki's major label debut album (CD+DVD). Woot on all fronts. ^__^

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Rollins

Cry amongst yourselves, Konno Asami and Ogawa Makoto to graduate in the summer (July and August respectively). Oddly enough, it seems that they're both doing so for academic reasons (Asami to try and get into university, Makoto to study abroad, but then again, Asami has been pegged as the smartest member in MM anyway). So no solo careers in the mix?

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that (forget there's other H!P fans/curios on this forum). Meh, doesn't surprise me and would never have expected solo careers from either. They both would have gone the way of the Kei in H!P and been completely side-lined, randomly appearing from time to time on H!M and at concerts. I'm actually arriving in Japan on the day of Konno's graduation concert so I might see if I can make it to that, though I expect ticket prices will be silly high.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by vemp

I don't know why it took me some long to get Tomiko Van's Farewell album. I'm listening to it right now and I'm enjoying each melody I hear... *sniff* this is such a good album. I don't care if some fans don't like her new career path, but I'm liking what I'm currently hearing. Ganbatte Ban-chan!

I had a feeling you'd like it Vemp. But then it is a great album.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Oh my god it's Hiro. Hey dude, glad to see you're still around and doing the J-Pop thang. I'll try to remember the check out the band you've linked to, as if memory serves you're recommendations are always very good.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

He takes ages to listen to her solo album, but now Vemp is all about the Ban-chan.

I'm waiting on some new releases, but aside from the usual fare I've actually gone back to listening to a load of H!P stuff. Currently the Petit Best albums, one through six. Me likey.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Just seen Tomiko Van's new PV (Flower). It's nice: nice song, nice PV. I'm also liking the new singles from YUI, Younha, MAY, misono and, of course, Morning Musume.

Speaking of Morning Musume, it's looking highly probable that I'll be attending Asami Konno's graduation concert on the day I arrive in Japan (23rd July), so woot! (and then some). Not only will I get to see MoMusu in concert, but at a graduation, which whilst sad will be amazing I'm sure. Really hope it happens. Yayness! ^^

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I'm so glad Emi Hinouchi is still around. I've sent her fanmail emails before saying she needs to do a second album, because really, she does.

And speaking of Koda Kumi, well the Kumi's anyway, I'm really liking misono's singles, the new one and VS. She's also rather cute in her PVs, which are great fun.*thumbs up* for sure.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

New ELT album, WOO TO THE FRICKIN' HOO... *disappears off to pre-order*

EDIT: Tell a lie, it's out early August, when I'm in Japan, so I'll buy it out there. ^_____________________^

I was speaking idiomatically.

Flara: Pretty much as Rydia said, you really owe it to yourself to listen to Emi's album, it's really good.

I really hope she does (eventually) get around to releasing a second solo album.

And woot, I've got new musics winging their way to me, including Hikki's new album and Angela Aki's debut album.

Most amazing jew boots

Yay, people feeling the Emi love. I think I might send her another email saying "New album please! ^^" (I wonder if she, or some management for her, ever read the other one).

Most amazing jew boots

Ha ha, that would be so awesome. I should send an email a day.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I like ULTRA BLUE. I've only given it a few listens but so far I'm pretty impressed. Me likey.

Today has been new music day for me, with the following arriving:
- Angela Aki - Home (CD+DVD)
- Maaya Sakamoto - Kazemachi Jet/Spica [Single]
- Utada Hikaru - ULTRA BLUE
- YUI - Good-bye days [Single]

Highlight so far has to be "Good-bye days", but then I do love YUI huge amounts. "Home" really impressed me, a good variation on the piano type theme in Angela's stuff and some great songs in there. All round goodness.

How ya doing, buddy?

Yeah, I'm sure Koda Kumi is really cursing the exposure Final Fantasy gave her.

There's nowhere I can't reach.