6 posts tagged “shiina ringo”

I was originally going to migrate all my personal and music talk over to tumblr since I usally don't have much to say here anyway, but I like the interface and media features here at Vox. Who knows? Maybe that Dreamwidth everyone's clamoring over will prove to be a perfect fit?

A lot has happened since the last posts, namely the release of BoA and Utada's aforementioned US albums. My friend and I decided to officially break up with Utada after the Epic Failure that was This is The One. Bitch led us on with promises of good 90s pop (Distance?) and a return to the quirky attitude of her other English work (Exodus?) but no. It was just a garbled mess of thin vocals, Stargate beats, and forced pop culture allusions. Stop trying so hard.

On the other hand, BoA's album is just one summer dance song after another ("Girls on Top" notwithstanding. I never understood the appeal of the Korean version, and the English one is just silly). "Energetic" and "Hypnotic Dancefloor" are hot. Go check them out on Amazon or iTunes.

We've also got new music form Koda Kumi and my girl Ayu, with Bonnie Pink and Shiina Ringo (!!!) waiting in the wings. 2008 was a rough year for Koda Kumi what with her opening her big mouth and spending the rest of the year trying to make up for it with lame apology ballads. However, her latest original album Trick actually had some really good dance pop on it. Like, "BUT" good. She had me worried that the lead-in single "TABOO" would be the only slightly tolerable track on the album, but songs like "Hurry Up!" and "This Is Not A Love Song" easily exceeded all of my expectations. Of course, the album as a whole is kind of a hot mess (it wouldn't be a Koda Kumi album if it weren't), but the aforemented tracks along with "show girl" and "Driving" made it a worthwhile purchase for me (...from ebay).

Kuu also finally released her remix and collaboration collections that were originally listed by HMV HK right on the eve of her controversy last year. I don't have much interest in the remix CD, but I was anxious to get my hands on Out Works & Collaboration Best. It didn't disappoint, though I was somewhat surprised that her collaboration with her sister wasn't on it. I suppose it would be more fair and maximize profit for both artists if it wasn't put on the Kuu album? It doesn't really matter to me, what with my having zero interest in misono.

If Ayu's newest album NEXT LEVEL has one weak point, it's that -- like GUILTY -- its evident upon first listen that the direction of the album changed (or rather, was conceived) after the release of the first single. I suppose that's a hazard inherent of an industry that pushes for the constant release of singles. Too many times, albums after thrown together as afterthought with little rhyme or reason in regard to flow or concept. Fortunately, although "GREEN" and "Days" sound a little out of place, the rest of NEXT LEVEL flows wonderfully and is probably one of the most cohesive J-pop releases to come out in awhile. It shows great discretion in the use of interludes to keep the energy going, and the new album-only tracks are fantastic. I love "LOVE 'n' HATE" with its "Candy Shop"-esque beat. I'm so glad to be having fun with Ayu again after GUILTY.

However, it's a little perplexing that such a fun, western-friendly (what with its strong beats and frequent use of English) comes right when all of her music is removed from international iTunes. Perhaps perplexing isn't the right word for that... what was perplexing about all of this was that Rule/Sparkle -- the last single before NEXT LEVEL -- got a simultaneous international release on the eve of Avex's withdrawal from international iTunes. I hope more people get a chance to hear Ayu's new music soon...

FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN COMPLETE 【通常版】 [Blu-ray]

On the non-J-pop front, there's of course the recent release of Advent Children Complete that I enjoyed very much. I already posted some prileminary thoughts about the changes on my LJ, though it was a friends-only entry, so I might post those here later... This post is already a whole lot of nothing.

I will say that the packaging was very nice. I hope the US version is remotely as nice. No more of that cheap-looking blue plastic? No?

Edit: So apparently Tofu Records folded? \0/

(unceremoniously x-posted from a private LJ entry to make my Vox feel like it has purpose)

I wish Safari would stop crashing. 

And what's up with this "pay $50 to upgrade Parallels so it'll actually work in Leopard" thing?

KISS

L'arc~en~ciel's latest is on iTunes.  I'm not the biggest fan of the band, but their albums are fun.  This isn't much different, and "Hurry Xmas" is, like, hysterical.

I was kind of worried that Sony (and its J-pop sub-label that will not be named) was holding back its artists in favor of exclusive distribution elsewhere -- why else would it pull Angela Aki before FFXII hit or sit on popular fluff-artists like Mika Nakashima? -- so this release is a pleasant surprise.  This iTunes release isn't issued by -- ugh -- Tofu Records.  I guess its still managed by the creme de la creme of village idiots.

I mean, really. The otaku =/= J-pop's only demographic in the west.  Yes, anime and video games are responsible for introducing many artists to listeners outside of Japan, but I'd wager that most people that are "otaku" enough to actually fall for its easy, breezy, wapanesy "marketing" wouldn't actually pay for its music.  They like the music because it's from Over There. Making it readily available Over Here kind of kills the allure for those shallow schmucks.

So why doesn't it just, I don't know, try to connect with Real Live music fans? 

Also: Emi Music, why haven't we gotten old Utada Hikaru singles (you know, the good ones?) like the UK iTunes, or, like, ANY Shiina Ringo?

In other news, Ayu's new Vivi shoot is haute.  I can't wait to get my hands on this issue!  She's been looking exceptionally beautiful lately.

I have an accounting mid-term tomorrow.  I am shopping online to make myself feel better.

BUT/愛証

So "BUT" is awesome?  This is the type of stuff Koda Kumi should be doing to compliment her hip hop songs.  No more of this Suppa Kawaii J-pop shit.  Although I'm still kinda pissed that she hasn't had any stuff added to US iTunes yet (I wonder if her past US releases have something to do with it?), the sample was enough for me to pre-order the single.

...And m-flo's new album.  I didn't realize how ridiculously excited I was for this album (or that I hadn't already pre-ordered it) until it popped up during a search.  I really need some new m-flo.

In other news, I finally got the latest ViVi.  Koda Kumi's photoshoot and story was fairly boring.  She keeps taking these... monkey-ish pictures lately.  Although this magazine wasn't too bad by comparison, I know she can take a picture--beautiful pictures even.  I've said it once and I'll say it again: stop with the Suppa Kawaii crap.

A BEST2-BLACK-(DVD付)

Ayu's diary was really cute, per usual.  I'm so excited for A BEST 2.  I liked the changes to the "NEVER EVER" set from COUNTDOWN LIVE.  The big wigs were a bit too much in the original arena tour.

I can't decide how I feel about Utada Hikaru's new song.  It reminds me a lot of "BLUE" -- which I loved -- but I also feel like we should be over this by now.  It's like the "COLORS" single; it sounds too much like a leftover from the previous album.  I'll probably wait to get the overseas version (or iTunes?  Please?).

And Mika Nakashima has a new album?  Totally didn't realize that.  I'm not sure if the reggae tracks will help it surpass MUSIC in the Sheer Awesome department, and I'm still a little angry with her for making THE END, so I guess this will be another Overseas purchase eventually

平成風俗(初回限定盤)

(ironically, today's the first in a week that it's not raining, but I digress)

Huzzah for international Amazon, which will be thorougly abused over the course of this post.  The store where I usually shop for CDs will remain open for another month (!!!), thus another shopping trip.

Eternal Rain (完全限定盤)(DVD付)

I finally bought Rain's latest album today and can now say with confidence that he is destined for success here in the US (whenever that album comes--I thought it was planned for later this year?).  This album is even better than his last, and the English version of "Sad Tango" sounds amazing.  He's virtually done away with his accent!  The translation is also very well done with no more abuse of the English language than a native speaker (who more than likely did the translating, which is certainly a bonus).  All in all, I am both pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed. 

'Also picked up an older Jolin Tsai album (Don't Stop) because I've been on a Jolin kick and I figure I don't really need to save for a Wii since it doesn't look like I'll be able to get my hands on one anyway (but Twilight Princess will look pretty on my shelf...).  It's really cute without being particularly obnoxiously. 

Just can’t help it.

I also finally got my Tokyo Jihen DVD in the mail (which I took a photo of before realizing my laptop doesn't have a place to insert that... card-thing.  I'll figure it out eventually...).

The concert itself is absolutely amazing and proved to be well worth the wait.  This is my first Tokyo Jihen concert, and it was definitely a nice change of pace to see Shiina Ringo dancing around and smiling; she's really one of the entertainment industry's few... natural beauties.  She's so graceful in everything she does (even her screaming), and it certainly helps that her wardrobe is fabulous.  I want her clothes kthanx.

The choice of editing was very interesting, but it does make you wonder if she just didn't like the original footage.  Nonetheless, it makes for an enjoyable hour or two.  I'm so glad it finally came; and the packaging is really cool!   I actually took it to work the next day to show it off. 

ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2006 A~(miss)understood~

Other than that, I've vowed to sit tight until the Ayu Explosion in November.  Even this month's Vivi won't be hitting local shops until next month, so it's come to counting down the days for the (miss)understood tour, which I can't wait to see.  (miss)understood was the only album for which all I could think about was how amazing it'd look live; I've been sitting patiently for the last year, and now I 'm not sure I can wait any longer.  I'm almost more excited for this than I am for Final Fantasy XII.  Almost.

...and I can't believe that's actually coming out.  This is like Advent Children all over again (only without the tears and general distress).  It's been delayed so long, it doesn't feel like it's ever coming.