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?

UMG plans a strong release schedule for the second half of 2008 with new albums from Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls, Paulina Rubio, Akon, The Killers, Bon Jovi, Keane, Fall Out Boy, Ne-Yo, Tokio Hotel, Hikaru Utada, Mylène Farmer and Florent Pagny.

Okay, maybe she will make the same mistake twice. At least we haven't heard anything about a 2008/early-2009 release for the US. She did moderately better in Europe, so this is right on target. Hopefully Utada's team will get a good US campaign for the second half of 2009.

I also hope this follows Exodus' lead and brings us something new and different (and, you know, fun). No more of this HEART STATION rut.

• Vivendi Report via Businesswire (a la Utada-Online)
  

TABOO

I'm torn. I like Kuu doing quasi-r&b/dance stuff -- certainly after that horrible "MOON CRYING" hole she dug herself into -- and I've forgiven her for her imitation of western artists in the past, but this is normally because I like her version better. The 30 second sample of "TABOO" sounds like it was ripped from Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, an album already polished to perfection. I don't know if Koda Kumi is capable of carrying that torch. I hope she is; "BUT" is lonely at the top.

One thing in which I am confident is that the PV will be terrible. She hasn't had a good one in awhile, and this is just asking for a cheap imitation of Rihanna's "Disturbia" video.

Oh yeah: I was scanning the radio when I stumbled onto the chorus of Ne-Yo's "Closer", and the first thing I thought was that it sounded like a J-pop song. I haven't heard it much since, so this may be written off as little more than a knee-jerk reaction.

(I went on iTunes looking for "Closer" because the chorus was catchy, but ultimately decided against the purchase because of the slow opening... and the remixes didn't sound like they would save it. I never liked Ne-Yo because I don't like most r&b ballads, and that's all I could remember of him from the radio. Never disliked him, either. It just wasn't my cup of tea, I guess).

There are several songs on American charts right now that give me the Avex-produced vibe. It makes me wonder if -- on top of the seemingly-increased targeting of Asian Americans as consumers of luxury goods -- it's almost time for a J-pop invasion. Like, for real this time. 

Speaking of which, here's a quick pointer for Kingdom Hearts Utada Hikaru fans: no new US album this year. It's an important election year again; she's not going to make the same mistake twice.

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)

8:30 in the morning is way too early to talk about rocks.  I have to run to a computer lab and schedule/run to EB and pick up FFXII between classes today, so I'm wondering if it's even worth going to lab?  We get to drop one, but that feels cheap.  I almost skipped two labs ago because I was ready to cry, but I ended up going for the last hour and immediately felt bad since our TA was so nice about it.  Don't be nice when I consider playing hooky.  Scare me into submission!

I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to request the (miss)understood tour be shipped with boku wa kuma.  Now I won't get it until December.

Exhibit A: Dashing Sky Pirate

Nevertheless, HAPPY FFXII DAY!  I got the guide yesterday after I ran up to EB and whined about not being able to go to the party.  I'm reluctant to thumb through it too thoroughly (I did that with the KHII guide and ended up spoiling myself silly.  I've made it this far-!)  It's so pretty.  Fran was my bonus covergirl; I'm so excited to meet her and Balthier, even if Basch is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread.  He may be so, but he's not dashing.

And the metal Collector's Edition box for the game is sexy.  I had my doubts from the promotional artwork, but actually playing with the display boxes has me thoroughly convinced it'll be a great buy for the box alone.

All in all I've been in fairly high spirits recently; it turns out pretty much everyone is coming up to visit us for some holiday or another (cousins are coming for Thanksgiving [KHII with youngest should be fun]), and Grandpa's coming up for Hanukkah [for which I can never decide on a spelling]).  The real moral of this story is that now I don't live at home so I have to do minimal entertaining.  Huzzah!  Hostess I am not.

In summary, it's almost enough to make me forget how much the Japanese direct-style perfective makes me want to shoot myself.