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.

Making out like a bandit

I’ve been away, then came back home and had computer troubles, but I just HAD to tell you about my new favorite store in NYC. Book Off. I had heard about this chain in Japan, and was excited to find out they had a store in New York City, a short walk off Broadway. As I was visiting my parents in the area, I couldn’t help but request a stop.

This store is fantastic. I expected to walk out with a bunch of photobooks, as they are a used and new bookstore, but what I walked out with instead was a BOATLOAD of CDs. Which will be added to the collection shortly. I cleaned them out of Hello! Project material though. Used CDs were $3 - $7, and in immaculate condition! You’d think they’d never been played.

DVDs
Kiiro.Aoiro.Akagumi Singles PVs
Morning Musume - Roman My Dear Boy Single PV
Morning Musume - Musical - Edokko Chuushingura

CDs
Tanpopo - All of Tanpopo
Pucchi Moni - Zenbu
Maki Goto - Premium Best - First Press w/bonuses

Manga
Musume Monogatari 2
Musume Monogatari 3

I did pick up a lot of non-H!P related stuff as well, my absolute favorites being the limited edition Buck-Tick Devil and Freud boxset. (Holy crap!) and Yuki’s album Wave, which is just a fantastic album.

We were planning on hitting a couple other major Japanese bookstores in the area, but it was bordering on 20 degrees outside and we were frozen solid after walking almost 2 miles to get to the store in the first place. If you’re in NYC this store is a must stop shopping destination!