Berryz Koubou - Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance

WTF is this? Seriously?

When I saw the cover of the single, I thought - Oh Good! Maybe we’re going to be treated to a cool, upbeat pop song! Then I saw the title - and I thought - what the hell is this song about? And then I saw the PV and heard the song.

Now, I know in general the Japanese buying public is obsessed with all things cute. This is a cute, novelty song, but there is no way they are trying to market this song to the record buying adult public, the general non-wota public - it’s clear this song is marketed at kids. But that’s ok! They are young idols, so it would be smart to be marketing to the young ‘asking Mom to buy it for you’ public.

This might be fun for the younger set, but myself - I’ll have to pass.

Sakurai Atsushi - Ai no Wakusei (It’s hypnotic!)

Sacrifice (Last Confused Mix) - This is just a fantastic song. I love it, and the perfect song to open the album with. It does a great job of showcasing Atsushi’s powerful vocals. His voice is almost like a drug. You have no idea how much I love this man.

Anyway this song was arranged by Wayne Hussey, formerly of Sisters of Mercy! (Oh yeah!) You can check out the video here.

Yellow Pig - A collaboration with Raymond Watts of KMFDM (and also of Schwein), this song shows it. It’s a very hard sounding song with heavy guitar work. Very industrial, the most hardcore song on the album.

I would love to have Atsushi and Raymond collaborate more, as the Schwein album has some really kick ass rock songs on it. (They’re not all gems, but the opening track in particular is ecstasy).

X-Lover - Holy damn is this song sexy. Incredibly sexy. Like dirty talk, using his deep and whispery voice, Atsushi is beyond hypnotic. Ah, I’m breathless. Video here but be warned, NSFW.

I Hate you all - This is really kind of an odd track on the album. With Big Band era percussion, strange build ups in music, strange video game-esque background music (it sounds like the music from Zombies ate my Neighbors), odd scatting and then Atsushi’s filtered vocals. This is the only track on the album I tend to skip.

Wonderful World (Injection to UK mix) - Another favorite track on the album. Very soothing, almost like a lullaby. Nice guitar work, switching back and forth between chords almost like you’re being rocked. (I fell asleep on the train last week listening to this album, at this song). This would definitely top my list of songs on this album to cruise to on a warm summer night, also a walking song. One of those songs you sing when you’re out walking by yourself.

Smell - One of the singles released off the album. The chorus is the best part of the song (as Atsushi is singing more than speaking the lyrics). The guitar work here is a little, I’m not quite sure how to describe it, plucky? Not strumming but plucking the strings. It doesn’t flow but each note is distinct by itself. Another song I find myself singing while working.

Märchen - A beautiful song and a collaboration with Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins! Gorgeous guitar work, very hypnotic and dreamlike, though if you’re familiar with the Cocteau Twins you wouldn’t expect anything less. Another cruise song and one that definitely gets play a lot.

Fantasy - I absolutely adore the music box sound of this song, it’s almost a visual sound. I love Atsushi’s bad ass songs, but damn, if his voice isn’t the most hypnotic thing ever when he’s singing softly. Definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album. Live version here.

Taiji - This song is incredibly sad despite the harder rock sound it has. Basically a goodbye song to his Mother who died when Atsushi was 25, the resounding cry of “Aishiteru!” really grabs at your heart. With lyrics about never hearing his Mother’s voice again, and watching the sky alone….. I’m actually a little disconcerted by how happy the guitar player is while rocking out to a song with lyrics like this.

Hallelujah - The song is a come down after the emotional intensity of Taiji, though it does take a harder turn right as the song ends.

Shingetsu - Atsushi and Masami Tsuchiya have worked together before on two incredible pieces from Tsuchiya’s “Mori no Hito” album. (My favorite of the two being Manatsu no Yoru no Mori). While this song doesn’t stand out as much as their previous works, it is an incredibly solid song, and just as atmospheric.

Yokan (2004 re-construct) - I would be entirely surprised if this song wasn’t inspired by The Cure because it sounds like a lost track off Disintegration. The charms start up in the beginning and you think you’re about to launch into Plainsong or Pictures of You…. except it’s not a Cure song. Really good nonetheless. This is a… not quite a remix, but as the title suggests, a re-construct of Atsushi’s first solo song release.

Wakusei - Title track! This is a solid rock song, great guitar and a great drum beat. I like the echoing effect as well on Atsushi’s voice, it gives the song a rehearsal at the concert hall feel to it.

Neko - This song reminds me a lot, emotionally, of one of my favorite Buck-Tick tracks of all time, Cosmos. A really great track to end the album with, as once again, Atsushi is at his hypnotic best here.

When I first bought this album, I’ll admit, I had some trepidation. Everyone knows a band they absolutely would die for, only to buy the lead singer’s solo works and be seriously underwhelmed by it. coughDaveGahancough. However upon first listen I was blown away by it. It’s remained on constant play for over a month now. Ai no Wakusei is so far the only complete solo album released by Atsushi. It stands up extremely well on it’s own against his Buck-Tick work, at times even surpassing it, and I would definitely recommend this album to anyone.

Utada Hikaru - Heart Station

I’ve had this on my iPod for a while now, needed something to write about, and decided this was a good idea. I ended up buying it on iTunes as I end up ripping all my CDs to my iPod anyhow, and it’ll take up less space in my room. Plus, it’s supporting Utada here in the States. Win-win!

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Fight the Blues - I was kind of surprised she didn’t open the album with it’s title song. When I first listened to it, I was kind of indifferent to this song, I thought it was too slow to open with. After a while though it won me over. Not my favorite track on here, but Utada’s vocals are, as always, beautiful and soothing, and the hook is really nice. It really does set the tone well.

Heart Station - I am so in love with this song. When the PV was first released I could not stop watching it. When listening to it now I cannot stop myself from lip synching (or if alone, singing along). It’s such a calming song, and invites such a warm feeling. Utada’s vocals and the synthesizer really blend together well. It’s interesting when she speaks English (and I’ve noticed this in interviews as well), her voice is much lower pitched.

Beautiful World - Probably my favorite track on here, probably one of my top 3 favorite Utada songs. I love the lyrics, love the marching quality of it, I love the piano, I love the deep bridge. I freaking love this song.

Gentle Beast Interlude - Not sure this was really necessary, but it sounds nice. It’s a nice transition from Beautiful World to….

Celebrate - Another favorite track from the album. A great dance song, it’s got great bass and a great hook.

Prisoner of Love - I had been hearing all over the place how this the best new track of the album, but once I heard it I was kind of disappointed. I don’t know what I was expecting. It’s since grown on me immensely, and I will include it as one of the best tracks on the album, just not THE best. One of the problems with reading reviews is getting the other person’s opinion implanted within your mind before you even sample it. This sounds like vintage Hikki.

Take 5 - Another favorite song off the album. If I had an anime series, I would so request this was put on the soundtrack somewhere. The only complaint is the abrupt ending. I love the melody though, a very emotional song.

Boku wa Kuma - This is an ADORABLE song, however it feels really strange on here. I tend to skip it as it gets stuck in my head incredibly easily.

Nijiiro Bus - I seem to be prone to loving Utada’s piano featuring songs. I LOVE this song. A very cool feeling to the melody and Utada’s vocals. It strikes me as a feel good rainy day song. I don’t know why. Another one of the top new tracks off this album.

Flavor of Life - Before I bought the album I had only heard the ballad version, which was a bit too slow for me. The regular version though is pretty stellar. I love the chorus. A nice song to end with!

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Overall a terrific album and another strong release from Utada Hikaru. Highly reccomended!

Canary Club - Nishikikazare

First thought: Those are some MIGHTY short shorts.

I’m not sure the name of this girl, is she Mana? But she has a really cute and well polished voice. Color me surprised to read on the official site that one of the girls (Ayumi) is 23! I don’t know why I find that kind of surprising but I do. There’s almost a 10 year age difference between herself and the younger members.

The song is really pleasant, from what I’ve heard I’d guess this is where Tsunku is focusing his old school “cute” style. Just before I watched this I was listening to Momusu’s 4th and 6th albums, and this song really reminds me of that period in Hello! Project song styling. I’m more than a little taken with the upbeat-ness of it all though, and as average as it sounds, it is incredibly charming and will probably get a lot of playback from me.

Revelation! I think that’s the thing that seems to be missing from Momusu as of late, at least for me. As rocking as they are, and as much as I still love them, all the original innocent school girl charm seems to be gone. Don’t get me wrong, as a pop group they need to change their image to stay fresh. Listening to Canary Club made me suddenly realize what was missing as of late from H!P’s flagship group. I don’t mean to keep looking for something that has obviously passed, maybe marking changes in style…. but what drew me to them in the first place seems to be over. If I can catch a little of that with someone else, then I’m going to go for it.

Anyway, the video isn’t much, and looks like it could have been shot in less than a day. It mostly consists of the girls dancing on a parking garage roof or a helipad. I wasn’t quite sure. Then again they’re not dealing with the kind of cash that H!P pulls down so I imagine the budget was severely limited. It doesn’t detract at all, but adds to the charm. (I’m using that word a lot, but it’s accurate and the thesaurus provided me with no other viable alternatives.)

Other than Gyaruru (who sadly appear kaput), this is really my first honest attempt to delve into TNX territory. After this single I’ll definitely be checking out Canary Club’s other releases and see what else Tsunku’s side projects have to offer.

Holy Hell it’s Resonant Blue!

Hello!Online has the PV up right now, via DohhhUP! My reaction after the first viewing is something along the lines of O_o

 Holy shit!

First the positive things:
- The outfits are really stellar looking, they make the girls all look way more mature. I feel like I should take them a hell of a lot more seriously when dressed like that.
- The dancing is FIERCE! Definitely one of the most complicated and awesome choreographies pulled off in a Momusu video to date.
- The setting of the video, concrete floor and huge puddle of water, gives the video a nice edge to it, while reflecting the girls movements and adding to the overall effect
- The cool wave effect thing they do in the middle of the instrumental = FREAKING AWESOME
- I cannot WAIT to see this performed in concert.

Now the not so positive things:
- I love all 3 girls, but when did this become the Ai, Reina and Koharu show?
- Aika, Junjun and Linlin looked freaking AWESOME in the 2 second opening shot they got, they definitely needed more screentime (Aika in particular)
- I’m hoping will end up being the dance shot version, close up shots would be appreciated
- The jump cuts off Risa and Eri when they are singing their parts are too abrupt!

I honestly can’t think of another Momusu video like this, save possibly the dark room dance shots in Shabondama. Overall, I think this is a wicked awesome START to the video. Add in some close up shots and it could be AMAZING.

I’m shocked! ~ Resonant Blue Radio Preview

I’ve got three other posts sitting in draft form that I just can’t seem to pull together coherently. The release of Momusu’s newest single just doesn’t help my thoughts align on anything other than there is a new Momusu single release.

I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but I’m kind of stunned. In ways it seems they are paying homage to the first Momusu singles, with the harmonies, heavy synthesized drum beats and over all style. However it also feels really different, from everything they’ve done lately….. I see touches of the old, but a lot of new.

I don’t want to be dramatic here, but this just might be the song that rebirths Momusu. It’s like their previous singles after the departure of Hitomi were looking for something solid to stand on, on which they could plant their flag and say “This is the new Momusu!” Even though I hailed Mikan as the unifying song for the new Momusu (for myself) I’ve really largely forgotten it in the hustle of everyday life. (Such a shame!) I won’t however be forgetting Resonant Blue anytime soon.

The songs has some great hooks, anyone know if Danceman had anything to do with this?

I’m really kind of speechless at the moment. I think I’m in shock, this song is really good! If this is any kind of indicator as to the direction of Momusu’s 9th album and their sound for 2008 I am really stoked to see what’s going to come.

Now pardon me while I go pre-order the single!

My first Jpop CD

Excuse me while I go “I walked uphill to school both ways!” on you for a moment.

I got on the internet back in ‘96. At the time, if you wanted to hear music, pretty much the only thing available to you was midis. I didn’t live anywhere near a shop that had heard of, much less stocked any japanese music. My friends and I used to hold tape recorders up to the TV to tape the ending and opening theme songs of anime to get our japanese pop fix. The first japanese PV I saw was Wink’s Kitto Atsui Kuchibiru which some kind soul had tacked on at the end of a 3rd generation fansub tape.

Eventually, Napster came along, and it was like a godsend. A whole new world of japanese music was opened up to me. However, not knowing the names of any bands, and information being so god damned scarce, your best bet was to type in “jpop” and see what you got in response. TWO-MIX was big at the time, and I had recorded off the computer tapes of their songs. A lot of what I found at the time was in some way or other related to anime, as that was all a majority of kids stateside had access to at the time. (Incidentally all my mp3s are still kept in my original Napster folder. FUCK YOU METALLICA!)

Somehow or other I got a hold of two mp3s of Nanase Aikawa. One was Cosmic Love, the other I think was Heat of the Night. I was blown away. Who was this chick with the hard rock sound and the amazing vocals? I had to find more but where?

It was around March of 2000 that my sister and I gathered up a bunch of friends, piled into the car, and drove to Boston and Cambridge Mass. to check out the anime shopping there. Across the street from the Harvard Square station was an amazingly expensive little bookstore, Sasuga Books. I had a habit of dropping in excess of $300 every time I went there. Blowing whole paychecks on that store alone. I didn’t buy much music there (mostly manga) as at the time I thought $30 per CD was outrageously expensive (little did I know).

But I digress, it was during this first trip that I just happened across the newly released album by Nanase Aikawa, FOXTROT. Holy crap. HERE SHE WAS! I was beyond ecstatic. The whole rest of the shopping trip I couldn’t wait to get back to the car so I could listen to that CD. I played it the whole ride home, I played it when I got home, I played it driving to and from work every day, I played it to death. It is not an exaggeration to say that I LOVED and still LOVE that album.

Nanase is very awesome as she was and still is very much Rock n’ Roll. She is the standard to which I hold up all other JRock female artists. I read that in the summer of 07 she went back into the studio to start work on her new album. I can’t wait to see what she has in store!

I’m going to leave you with an invitation to blog about your own first Jpop CD purchases, a promise for an almost decade on track by track review, and the PV for one of my favorite tracks off FOXTROT, Jealousy. Amazingly I couldn’t find the video on Youtube, so I’m providing the Veoh link.

The video is a RIOT to watch. Nanase and her caucasian boyfriend take in a gay homeless man. Said gay homeless man then proceeds to seduce Nanase’s boyfriend into bed. Nanase catches them together, then walks the streets in gloom/despair and runs into a bunch of tranvestites under a bridge. Later gay homeless man attempts to stab Nanase in jealousy, but her boyfriend takes it to the gut instead and instantly dies. In a rage, gay homeless man decides to smash a very nice white car with a sledgehammer for no reason whatsoever. Also, there are random shots of Jell-o/jelly falling to the floor throughout. But the song…. the song is awesome.

Across the Board

Several nights ago I had another H!P dream. It took place in feudal Japan and starred Takahashi Ai and Sean Bean ♥♥♥♥ Anyway all I remember is that Ai-chan lived in a house at the top of a really tall hill and there was a flight of wooden steps inlaid into the hillside. Sean Bean lived at the bottom of the hill and was like her bodyguard or something. Everyone was wearing traditional Japanese clothing too. Not really kimono, but the everyday man’s dress of the period. Pretty cool dream, kind of Blade of the Immortal-ish. But that’s not the reason for this post.

First bit of news! Morning Musume’s upcoming single title has been released, Resonant Blue. It doesn’t really strike me as a title for an energetic song. Blue is known to be a calming color, and for it to resonate calmness, my thoughts tend to stray towads the ballad category. Though really, title sometimes has nothing to do with the song itself, and Nanase Aikawa’s Midnight Blue is anything but calm.

The PV for C-ute’s Lalala Shiawase no Uta has been released. The song is really cute and energetic, the beat is great, a very happy song and something I’ll definitely listen to when I need cheering up. I like it! (Hey Mikey!) The costumes are cute, though I think they could do without the second layer of feathers. The lining at the top is enough, and what is with the putting on make up theme in the videos? I’m having flashbacks to Pretty Guardian Sailormoon and Luna always applying make-up when she wasn’t eating.

Buono’s latest PV, Renai Rider, is out, has been for a while. I’ve just been out of the loop for a bit. The song is really awesome, as has been commented on before by many others. The girls are all in top form, especially Momoko, who I have problems with in Berryz when they make her do that cute nasally thing with her voice. Here she just nails it and it’s awesome. (Does her jacket really say Suicide of Love?) Could the awesomeness be attributed to the fact that Tsunku had nothing to do with this track? Perish the thought.

Congratulations to Kaorin on the birth of her son!

Lastly for those of you currently going through the jaded phase of your H!P fandom, stick with it. This happens to everyone, especially after their favorite idols split their favorite group, are rocked by scandal, or idol fandom just suddenly seems ridiculous in the first place. You liked these girls at the first for something, for me it was the music, and after my own jaded period, (I would say late 2005 - late 2006) it was the music that drew me back in. Something will spark again and you’ll be pulled right back. Be patient. I won’t lie and say your fervor will be back to what it was in the beginning, but you’ll reach another level of fandom all together. One where the sun may not rise and set with your favorite idol, but the day will be brighter because of them.

Yuki - Wonderline

Yuki is for me, the undisputed Queen of weird Jpop. And I totally love her for it. It wasn’t until I heard Nagai Yume back in 2005 that I discovered her. I absolutely fell in love with that song, and started to notice her in various advertisements in Jpop magazines I ran across. At the time, I have no idea why, I didn’t really do a lot of research into her, but somewhere in the back of my head made a mental note to keep an eye out for more of her material. It wasn’t until February of 2007 that I ran across her last original studio album, Wave, at a Japanese store. I snatched it up immediately, and it’s been in heavy rotation since. I love that album to death! (Hadaka no Taiyo and Birthday being favorite tracks.)

This is a woman with some serious talent! She’s got a strange fashion sense that I completely envy, and her songs are just amazing. I seriously have yet to hear a song by Yuki that I do not immediately adore. I could gush for hours about how much I love her. I will admit right off the bat that she definitely is not for everyone. I know people who have been completely turned off by the nasality of her voice. But the same could be said of Bjork whom I also love, but people find a might strange. But it’s that same uniqueness of sound that completely blows me away!

The point of this post, as I get to it, was to review Yuki’s latest single and PV, Wonderline.

First the song. What can I say about it? If had me from the moment the chorus kicked in. Yuki has this ability to convey, in her voice, complete confidence. It’s like she’s making a declaration. I can’t quite find the words to describe it. She has such a powerful voice, emotionally. She’s telling you this is how it is and that’s that. But it’s not to say she comes across as a badass or anything like it. Yuki’s songs are songs I definitely want to learn the lyrics to so I can sing along and feel that same feeling of upbeat confidence and surety every time I hear the song. With their (mostly) upbeat electronic feel, they’re right up my alley.

Well hell, give her a shot and let me know what you think yourself.

One thing that is also awesome about Yuki is her ability to move her body. She can dance in some amazingly flowing movements. Everything about her is surreal. The whole PV could have been her floating about that chair in the desert and dancing and I would have thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Along for the package though is a strange self-animated pirate guy (who just might be Yuki herself in costume) and some sailor-suited kids who run around with red balloons and play chess in the ocean. Like I said, weird it is, but also, completely, completely awesome.

Perfume - Baby Cruising Love

Oh my God Perfume, how I love you. So, so very much. How I love your new single Baby Cruising Love so very, very much.

I can tell you right now, without a doubt, that this will be the song that will carry me through the winter and into spring. It is so very relaxing to listen to. Despite the heavy bass I am filled with a warm, uplifted but peaceful feeling when I hear it. Baby Crusing Love is one of those songs I will most definitely close my eyes and sing along to, except when I am driving at which point I will roll down the windows, blast it, and drive around. Ah, how I long to be back home in Maine with it’s long, long, very long roads with nary a stop light or stop sign and the summer sun shining. (Seriously, I can turn left or right out of my driveway in Maine and drive 30 miles in either direction before I hit a stop sign or stop light). Somehow this song makes me nostalgic for those peaceful summers at home.

The PV itself is very cool. The animation of the light ball by GONZO is very, very cool. This is their first not heavily digitized PV in a long time and mostly features the girls damncing in front of a light board. Simplistic, but very classy.

This single is a definite must buy.

Link to higher quality Veoh file