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Channel-Ai Community Blog - JPop reviews, articles

Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Hot Releases @ March 2008 (Part II)

Stephanie ~ Stephanie

Release Date
Mar 05, 2008
Sony Music Records
Genre: Pop Dance
Official Website , Wiki

This is the first album of newcomer artist, Stephanie.
As many other pop dance artist, her debut album was a hit since she contributed in Gundam000 series' soundtrack. Kinda remind me of Tamaki Nami's style...Anime fans should check this out.

Tracklist:
01. 君がいる限り (Kimi ga Iru Kagiri)
02. フレンズ (Friends)
03. Life
04. ANGEL GIRL
05. Fallin’
06. Shiny Days!
07. Smile and Turn Away
08. Beyond Myself
09. Truth
10. To.Be.Me
11. Winter Gold
12. because of you

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Thelma Aoyama ~ Diary

Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Universal Music Records
Genre: R&B
Official Website

OK...another noewcomer with her debut album was Aoyama Thelma. Her musics are mixes from pop to common R&B. Since I don't really into R&B, you may check it yourself. So far, her hit was 'Soba ni iru ne' feat. with SoulJa..

Tracklist:
1. My Beginning
2. Soba ni Iru ne (そばにいるね) feat. SoulJa
3. ONE WAY
4. My dear friend
5. Last Letter
6. RHYTHM (リズム)
7. GOOD TIME REMIX feat. MIKU from YA-KYIM
8. HIGHER
9. Paradise
10. This Day feat. Dohzi-T
11. Kono mama de (このままで)
12. Anata ni aete Yokatta (あなたに会えてよかった)
13. Mama e (ママへ)
14. DIARY

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EXILE ~ Catchy Best

Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Avex Trax
Genre: Jurban | R&B
Official Website

Well...shortly, this is the latest 'Best of' album of 3 other more. The next 'Best of' album of Exile planned to be released next month. I think most of us have know Exile by now. They've released so many hits in R&B and jruban world. Exile basically is a mix between pop and jurban style music and one of the 'older' band.

Tracklist:
1. Overture for EXILE PERFECT YEAR
2. Choo Choo TRAIN
3. Fly Away
4. Together
5. Carry On
6. real world
7. HERO
8. EXIT
9. Everything
10. WON'T BE LONG feat. NEVER LAND
11. SUMMER TIME LOVE
12. Toki no Kakera ~Tokinokakera~ (時の描片 ~トキノカケラ~)
13. I Believe
14. Pure
15. You're my sunshine
16. Ginga Tetsudou999 (銀河鉄道999) feat. VERBAL (m-flo)

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Ayumi Hamasaki ~ Ayu-mi-x 6 -Gold-

Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Avex Trax
Genre: Pop Dance, trance

One of Japanese former Diva has finally released another series (6th) of mix albums... The tracks inside this mix album are basically the recomposed from her the same titled original version, and have more trance adn remixes 'feels'

Tracklist:
1. STEP you × THE YOUNG PUNX!
2. Moments × dj KENTARO
3. talkin' 2 myself × STONEBRIDGE
4. Beautiful Fighters × MSTRKRFT
5. INSPIRE × ARMAND VAN HELDEN
6. Greatful days × PARA ONE
7. Startin' × SHINICHI OSAWA
8. glitter × SOUL CENTRAL
9. BLUE BIRD × 7TH GATE
10. ourselves × COLDCUT
11. Ladies Night × AFRA & INCREDIBLE BEATBOX BAND
12. HAPPY ENDING × MAD PROFESSOR

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Ayumi Hamasaki ~ Ayu-mi-x 6 -Silver-

Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Avex Trax
Genre: Pop Dance, trance

Tracklist:
1. GAME × YOJI
2. Together When... × CO-FUSION
3. No way to say × HIGH CONTRAST
4. alterna × FREEFORM FIVE
5. HEAVEN × DAISHI DANCE
6. fated × MAKOTO
7. About You × BLACK STROBE
8. decision × FORCE OF NATURE
9. JEWEL × STEPHANE POMPOUGNAC
10. CAROLS × PLAYGROUP
11. part of Me × CARL CRAIG
12. walking proud × CALM

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Tamaki Hiroshi ~ Bridge

Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Avex Trax
Genre: Pop

Wow I just recently know if Tamaki Hiroshi was a singer too. If you ever watched Japanese Dorama Nodame Cantabile, he is one of the main actor there as Shinichi Chiaki...
After have a listen, his voice basically clear and has it's own style. The musics seems like common typical pop with a little rock sense. But it suits well...Another great release for easy listening jpop lover.

Tracklist:
1. Odoro Yo -album version-
2. MY VOLTAGE
3. Yakusoku
4. Time to Pass
5. RABAIBA ~Kanashimi ga Mata Kurikaesou to Dareka ni Ai wo Utau~ -album version-
6. Kimi no inai heya de
7. WITH
8. Beautiful Day
9. Dakishimetai -album version-
10. Kibou no Umi
11. DANCE (Bonus Track)/Anthony Bailey

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Skoop on Somebody ~ Stay Or Shine [CD+DVD Limited Edition]

Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Sony Music Records
Genre: Pop | R&B
skoop.jp

SOS' songs were categorized as R&B. But in this latest album, looks like most of the tracks are slow pop with a little mix in R&B style. But overall, the tracks here are relatively 'easy listening' and more 'slow' than other R&B singer artists...If you like Exile, you may mostly like Skoop On Somebody's songs.

New album from JPop/R&B group Skoop on Somebody!
Oh well, here also the latest album from Skoop On Somebody. So far I did not listen to much, if any at all, form them. And seems this had a reason since mh... this sure is not my cup of tea. A bit too... gay maybe. :S
Yeah, at least no music for me but there sure are a few fans around here so i'm posting this.
What more to say, well if you like music from bands like SunSet Swish this might be something for you, at least give the previews a try.
-comments by MellowB@jpopsuki-


Preview: (Shining Days PV)

Tracklist:
1. Shining Days
2. SPLASH
3. Brown Eyed Soul feat.JIN
4. All For Love~愛こそすべて~
5. Interlude~SOS~
6. さよならが生まれた場所
7. アンセリウム
8. Going
9. Dear
10. Fly
11. Set me free
12. To You
13. STAY OR SHINE

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Flow ~ Isle
Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Kioon Records
Genre:

4th full length album from Pop-Rock group FLOW!
And another good one for today, the new album by FLOW.
I admit that i'm not a huge fan of their stuff but they are one of the male bands that i sure can listen to. Their music is a nice mix of Pop and Rock, more on the rock side for that. Could be nicely compared to ORANGE RANGE or UVERworld if you want to.
So yes, good stuff and they even team up with some other artists on this one... azumi. <3>
-comments by MellowB@jpopsuki-

Some PVs: (arigatou PV) | (Answer PV) | (Fuyu no ameoto PV)

Tracklist:
01 - Answer
02 - Re-member(Album Mix)
03 - fuyu no ame oto
04 - tsubaki
05 - Welcome to my misery
06 - Carry on
07 - COLORS(Album Mix)
08 - hidamari feat.azumi from wyolica
09 - Smells like thirty spirit
10 - SURVIVE ~mission No.149~
11 - NIGHT PARADE by FLOW ∞ HOME MADE kazoku
12 - Around the world(Album Mix)
13 - taiyou no uta
14 - arigatou

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High and Mighty Color ~ Rock Pit

Release Date
Mar 19, 2008
Sony Music Records
Genre: Rock | Pop
Wiki

5th full album from JRock fusion group HaMC. They also known as 'Haikara' in Japan. Haikara is one of my fave band with a very strong unique style. Their songs are basically in rock style, but they've successfuly recreate another style mixed with speed pop with female vocalist, Maki. mmm maybe similar to UVERworld?... Just check out this featured band!!

Some Preview:
(Amazing PV) | (Flashback PV) | (run run run PV)

Tracklist:
01 - Amazing-Prelude of ROCK PIT-
02 - Break now!
03 - TOXIC
04 - FLASHBACK -digital grain mix-
05 - HINATA
06 - EARTH
07 - -SKIT-
08 - GAMBLING
09 - MEKIMEKI
10 - ZERO SYMPATHY
11 - ROSIER
12 - Tokyo NIGHTS

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Shoko Nakagawa ~ Big Bang!!!

Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Sony Music
Genre:
Official Website

Debut full album from Shoko Nakagawa.
Well, here we go with the debut full album (no, i do not count the anime cover one's) from singer turned cosplaying, cat eating, manga drawing, gravure idol nerd girl Shoko Nakagawa. :>
Beside her many other "talents", also singing is part of that since some time now. With already 5 singles released which for sure esp. her fans liked, now here her first full album.
What should i write about her... mh. Well i think she is some rather strange figure, at least for me. esp. that "cat eating" is something that made me go wtf?. xD But yeah, thats most likely what most westerners saw from her first and thats how she got "popular" over here. Its for sure not the only thing that she is good at... seems she is pretty decent at music too. I didn't listen to any of the singles before, guess i watched a few of her PVs but none of which i can remember now.
Listening to the album right now i can say that its not bad. Starts good with some faster Pop-Rock songs and her voice is kinda ok too. So yeah, if you indeed did like some of the previous singles, get this album and give it a go. If she is new to you, try the previews below as usual.

-MellowB@jpopsuki-

Some of her PVs: (Sorairo Days PV) | (Snow Tears PV) | (calling location PV)

Tracklist:
1. We Can Do It!!
2. Sorairo Days (空色デイズ; Sky-colored Days)
3. Koi no Kioku (恋の記憶; Memory of Love)
4. snow tears
5. Brilliant Dream -shoko☆planet mix-
6. Fruit Punch (フルーツポンチ)
7. Strawberry Melody (ストロベリmelody)
8. pretty please chocolate on top
9. calling location
10. happily ever after
11. starry pink
12. Sukashikashi Pan Sukoshi Hen? (スカシカシパンすこし変?)

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Utada Hikaru ~ Heart Station

Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Toshiba-Emi Japan
Genre:
Official Website

The latest album from Hikki!! with her irreplaceable style over decades! For Hikki fans all over the world, this is definitely a should have album. Keep up the good work! Ganbatte!!

Tracklist:
1. Fight The Blues
2. HEART STATION
3. Beautiful World
4. Flavor Of Life-Ballad Version-
5. Stay Gold
6. Kiss & Cry
7. Gentle Beast Interlude
8. Celebrate
9. Prisoner Of Love
10. TAKE 5 (テイク5)
11. Boku wa Kuma (ぼくはくま)
12. Niji-iro BASU (虹色バス)
13. Flavor Of Life (Bonus Track)

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OK phew~~That's it the great releases @ March 2008!!

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

Hot Releases @ March 2008 (Part I)

Showta ~ Eve [CD+DVD Limited Edition]
Release Date Mar 05, 2008
King Records
Genre: Slow Pop

mmm a newcomer...I don' really know Showta though ^^
This is her first album and I think it's easy listening. The musics are for common slow pop lovers...Overall, great release I think..very relaxing.


Tracklist:
01 - Negaiboshi
02 - Gozen 2ji no Angel
03 - Haru na no ni
04 - Tameiki Botan
05 - Watashi no Haru ga Hajimaru
06 - Yubikiri
07 - Ichi Kousen
08 - Sausage
09 - Trans-winter ~Fuyu no Mukougawa~
10 - Kimi ni, Kaze ga Fukimasu You ni
11 - Hitoshizuku

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Siva ~ Copy

Release Date
Mar 19, 2008
Free-will Records

Siva is a rather new VK band consist of :
Nautical mile (Vocal), Yuichi (Guitar), Depending weaving (Guitar), Cell (Bass), Fog (Drums)
. They started at 2006. For any J-rock lovers this album is a VK style music similar to Laputa, Mucc, etc
Visit their website here

For a preview: BRAVE PV click here

Tracklist:
01. Riot
02. Maniac.W.L
03. Isolation
04. Psychedelic bar
05. No thank you
06. Ash
07. Youen
08. New born=kills newly
09. Rengoku
10. Olive
11. Sence
12. The back bottom

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Mucc ~ Shion
Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Universal Music Records
Genre: VK Rock

Latest Album from Mucc!!
Great Album!! very recommended!!





Tracklist:
01 - Suion
02 - Fukuro No Yurikago
03 - Nuritsubusunara Enji
04 - Fuzz
05 - Game
06 - Flight
07 - Anjelier
08 - Chiisana Mado
09 - Semishigure
10 - Shion
11 - Sorawasure
12 - Shiva
13 - Libra

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SATOMI' ~ Angelite

Release Date
Mar 26, 2008
Avex Trax
Genre: R&B | J-urban

One of the major release on R&B world after her previous album: Diamondly. If you like musics from the artist like Miliyah Kato, May J, etc, maybe you should consider this...
Some PVs:
(Baby Doll PV) | (Candy Magic PV) | (Yesterday PV)

Tracklist:
1 Angelite’S Intro
2 Baby Doll -Album Version-
3 What!?
4 True To Me
5 Bright Will
6 Tear
7 Because Of U Feat. Ag(D.I.T.C.)
8 Secret Love
9 Angelite’S Interlude
10 Drive Feat. Shizoo
11 Blowin' My Mind
12 Nonsense Feat. Lord Finesse(D.I.T.C.)
13 Everything
14 Angelite’S Interlude
15 I Remember
16 Re: My Sista
17 Singin' About You… -Lead Main Version-
18 I'll Never Leave Ur Love

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Luna Sea ~ Complete Best

Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Universal Music Records

Wohoo!! Finally... Luna Sea Best Album!! contain all great songs... Will they come back and release another album after all these years? We'll see...




Disc1
1.Believe
2.In My Dream(With Shiver)
3.Rosier
4.True Blue
5.Mother
6.Desire
7.End of Sorrow
8.In Silence
9.Storm
10.Shine
11.I for you
12.gravity
13.Tonight
14.Love Song

Disc2
1.Loveless
2.Dejavu
3.Slave
4.Sweetest Coma Again feat.DJ KRUSH
5.WithLove
6.Be Awake
7.Crazy About You
8.Jesus
9.Providence
10.Breathe
11.Up to You
12.Precious...
13.Moon
14.Wish

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Fullarmor ~ Cataract
Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Indies (Lion5 Records)
Genre: Instrumental

mm don't really know this one...All tracks are instrumental band. Pretty good, but sounds like BGsounds to me...>.<




Tracklist:
01 - ELEPHANT KING feat.タブゾンビ
02 - Good Morning Charlie
03 - ナイアガラ
04 - GERMAN BREAD
05 - 華厳-kegon-
06 - CATARACT
07 - SOUP & SANDWICH(strobe)

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Suemitsu & The Suemith ~ Shock On The Piano
Release Date Mar 19, 2008
Kioon Records
Genre: Speed Pop (piano)

Actually he's new to me too. But hey... he's rock!! His music style is there's piano sound on the background (sounds like Younha indeed), accompanied by a band, and what the speed!!!
I think this will become one of my favourite artist...
A Highly Recommended one ^^

Latest album by Piano-Pop-Orchestral project SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH!
Weee~ finally, that awesome piano player with the rapid-fire but smooth vocals is back once again with his second major album! Guess he is rather popular around here when i have a look at the completed count of the last two albums that I've posted here. Great to see that and no wonder at all since man, that guy rocks.
I still stick with my "male Younha" definition, even if its a bit odd and may not be that fitting after all. xD
But still, its fun and i like that guy almost as much as Younha. :>
His music style sure is a bit different, mixing lots of different styles in here together with the piano sound...
like rock, some orchestral parts and pop here and there. But all in all a great mix and that with some unique singing.

-comments by MellowB@Jpopsuki-

Some previews (must check these out):
(Rock a nova PV) | (Sagittarius PV) | (Boy'z, Boy don't Cry PV) | (Sharbet Snow and the Airplane PV)

Tracklist:
CD1
1. Shocking "SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH" (Also sprach Zarathustra Op.30 ~ Einleitung)
2. Rock a Nova
3. Teddy Bear
4. The Island March
5. It's a Brand New Day
6. November is the Ballade
7. Boyz,Boy Don't Cry
8. ID
9. Peppermint Blue Vespa
10. Chill is a Drug
11. Spellbound
12. The Indication
13. Sagittarius

CD2
1. Skyscraper (at the Venue in 1968 Version)
2. Mini Cooper (on the London Streets Version)
3. Petite reunion (25 Leichte Etuden Op.100 - 4) (Kidz, Kid Don't Cry Version)
4. The Entertainer (Astaire pt.2)

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Kra ~ Escape

Release Date Mar 12, 2008
King Records
Genre: VK Rock

Latest Album from Kra!! Looks like their music become a little more 'melodius' lately...




Tracklist:
01 Chinkonka
02 MH
03 Shunshoku no hana
04 Yell
05 Aitai riyuu
06 Monochrome
07 Aenai riyuu
08 Furitsuzukeru kotoba
09 ParAdE .mp3
10 Dare no tame ni kane wa narihibiku

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Younha ~ Songs - Teen's Collection [CD+DVD]
Release Date Mar 26, 2008
Epic Records Japan
Genre: Piano-Pop

A Latest album By Younha to the date!! I've always love to hear her songs since her first debut. very high spirited young artist!!

Some preview if you don't know Younha:
(Password 486 MV) | (Houkiboshi PV) | (My Lover PV)

Tracklist:
01 - Yubikiri -Nihongo version-
02 - Houki Boshi
03 - Motto Futari de
04 - Tacchi
05 - Yume no Tsuzuki
06 - My Lover
07 - Te wo Tsunaide
08 - Ima ga Daisuki
09 - Inori
10 - Hakanaku Tsuyoku
11 - Scratch On The Heart
12 - Kono Kokoro
13 - Password 486 -Nihongo version-

New releases on jpopsuki