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

If it's on YouTube then I can't imagine the sound quality is that great. I've still got her 2004/5 tour on DVD to watch I think. Oops.

I was speaking idiomatically.

To be honest I did delete an amount of J-Pop (along with other musics) a little while ago as I had a general clear up of my collection. Mostly getting rid of things I didn't own, and primarily of those the things I didn't listen to hardly at all (hello again BoA ). I've also ended up finally syncing my iPod with my PC, which is much better, now I can see just how much I'm really listening to certain songs.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

It's worth noting that this new Ayu album started life as an intended mini-album with some of her recent releases on. Somewhere along the line they decided to make it a full album, though obviously the number of new tracks is minimal.

To be honest I've not been that keen on her recent releases so I think I shall give this album a miss.

On a related avex note, Koda Kumi has her 34th (yes, 34th) single coming out on 6th December. Yet another double a-side, it'll come in two covers, one for each a-side, and CD/CD+DVD combinations.

A more interesting pair of releases to note, is that Shiina Ringo will be putting out a new solo single and new solo album come the new year. This is something I'm very excited about. <3 me some Shiina.

Double Post:
Woo, MAY is bringing out her first album in January. Good news indeedy.

Also, I think I may have mentioned this before, but Koharu Kusumi's new single "Balalaika" absolutely rocks. The PV is also rather cute and worth checking out (or so I think, but then I'm slightly biased).

How ya doing, buddy?

Yeah, I knew about the album. For some reason I thought it had already been mentioned here. Ho hum. But yeah, I've not been too keen on Kumi's recent stuff. It's been OK, but nothing special, and certainly nothing I'd consider buying.

For those people who might be interested, BoA's got a new Japanese album on the way. It will include "nanairo no ashita ~brand new beat~," "Your Color," "KEY OF HEART," "DOTCH," "Winter Love," "Candle Lights," and more, for a total of fourteen tracks. The CD+DVD edition will include the single tracks' PVs and live footage from "BoA the LIVE." A first press bonus is expected.

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

Kumi releasing a lot of great music, really? The only thing of hers I've thought was that good lately was the collaboration with EXILE, which is quite funky.

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New Ringo single, "kono yo no kagiri", is January (19.01) and the album, currently untitled, hits February (21.02). It's four years since her last solo album, and whilst we've had Tokyo Jihen I do prefer her solo stuff so yeah, this is definitely exciting times.

To the YUI fans out there, you can, if you look, find a copy of the new single's cover floating around. Not 100% if it's definitely the finished article, but if it is I can say it's that great, but it's not too terrible.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Fair enough then, if the recent Koda Kumi stuff has been to your liking. I didn't like the Best Second Sessions either (aside from a few tracks including "D.D.D."), but to each their own and all that jazz.

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

On a related note, I must say I've rather enjoyed the other Koda sister's music latey (that's misono by the way). I'm hoping there'll be an album soon as she's coming up on a fifth or sixth single I believe.

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

misono's music has stayed similar to the "Vs" style I guess. Sort of 'Hip-pop' if you like.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Hmm, interesting, a lot of people do like the PV, and I have to say I quite like the Aruiteru PV also. The other good news on the Morning Musume front was that they spent the first week at number 1, which is great.

As for Tommy heavenly6, she's had a couple of new songs, there's the Hallowe'en track and she's got a Christmas single coming up too.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Just checked out the PV to one of Koda Kumi's new songs "Cherry Girl". As you would expect it's skankarific, but the song is actually pretty good. I likes it.

Speaking of Ms. Koda, she's also part of a collaboration project called (I kid you not) "Amazing Nuts!" that's releasing a 4-track single early next month. It's a collaboration between Studio 4C and avex (so anime and music), so each of the PVs is animated in a different style. The other artists taking part are mink, RAM RIDER and m-flo loves DOPING PANDA. I've heard three of the tracks and they're all rather good, though some of the animation was better in certain ones (the Koda Kumi one had some stunning animation).

FELIPE NO

Woot, just put in my preorder for YUI's new single along with Otsuka Ai's new concert DVD. ^___^

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

What sort of thing you after, more rock or acoustic type stuff? If you like acoustic guitar stuff I'd recommend YUI (just because) and Eri Takenaka.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

That'd be "LIFE", or if you're very up to date, her new one "Rolling Star" which is out in January.

As for rock, I'd recommend taking a look at Tokyo Jihen and Shiina Ringo. Also, Go! Go! 7188 and more pop-rock stuff like Do As Infinity.

How ya doing, buddy?

Tokyo Jihen is the band Shiina Ringo has been part of for the last couple of years. Sort of Shiina but more rocky I guess.

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

Translating Japanese really needs the original kanji/kana as just working off romanised text (or all kana) is almost pointless. Also, you don't want to be so literal in your translation. For example, "Sayonara FALL IN LOVE" is probably more "Goodbye to falling in love".

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

Some more random release info:

Namie Amuro also has a new single coming out in January it seems. Also, misono (sister of one Kumi), has her debut album on the way, as well as some sort of covers album I believe. MAY too, has her debut album arriving early next year (end of Jan), and Maria have just announced their third single.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Interesting. I've not been a fan of a lot of her recent stuff so I'm not convinced the new album will be that great. Might check out a downloaded copy though.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I've downloaded a copy of "Cherry Girl", though not listened to it. I don't know, I've not been a big fan of her recent stuff to be honest, and so I'm not all that tempted to listen to it. Might give it a try though just to see what I think.

Morning Musume finally got their 8th-gen member just before Christmas. 13 year old Mitsui Aika was the winner of the recent auditions. It has also been announced that during this year's summer concerts, current leader and last remaining 4th-gen member Yossi will be graduating from the group.

Also, Sayumi has a new PB out this month (at last), so woot.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Dojomaster

Morning Masume is very hit-and-miss for me.

Random MM comment, but fair enough. If you've not heard their latest I recommend checking it out because it's very good. Very glad I've got that on order (should be here beginning of next week).

I'm really loving Bonnie Pink at the moment, her music just rocks and I'm so glad I picked up "Every Single Day" collection. If you still haven't checked out Bonnie Pink, go do it.

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

Originally Posted by Flara

OP! You mean "Egao YES Nude", right?
I watched the PV and I'm very very sad because... I dunno... hehe

I do mean "Egao YES Nude" indeed. You watched the PV and were sad? Why? I'm loving that song though, it's absolutely rocks.

Also, YUI's upcoming single "CHE.R.RY" is very, very, very, very good. The PV is also cute as hell. I recommend checking that out too.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by nazpyro

Haha I was like that for a while. It took a certain new YUI album release for me to stop playing that

The new YUI album is all kinds of <3 is it not? I'm loving it so very much right now.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Do so, really, really do so, it's a big cup of <3

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

Yeah, I heard about that, I can't believe it, it's crazy.

On a slightly brighter note, The Brilliant Green are still together and releasing a new single on the 3rd July. That's right - TBG. New single. Woot! I really hope it's good.

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

Originally Posted by Flara

is she in another movie?

No, she's just done the song for one (Sidecar ni Inu), she's not actually in it this time. My Generation is also a tie-in, but with a dorama rather than a movie.

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