JPOP 2013 Year in Review

[Owatari]

Seeing as there is a hopes for next year in jpop thread, I thought that we could also use a thread about this past year. What were the highlight and disappointments for you in the J-music industry this year? Acts that you got into or loss interest in? Song of the year? Album of the year? And anything else you mind comes up with!

 

For me 2013 Was slightly stale and I spent a lot of time discovering old music from the early 2000s. The best release for me this year definitely goes to RADWIMPS, eventhough it came extremely late in the year. But better late than never. Other highlights were probably Namie's album along with a new single from Ken Hirai and Kavka's album.

 

Also got some good recommendations like sakanation and  some LDH groups.

Only wish probably that more of my favorite acts released music this year since none of them did haha

[blank_stare]

Well things that I remember in 2013 are...

 

Avex got new groups such as VIVIVID and Faky.

Flower had more singles this year.

E-girls got invited to Kohaku.

Koki Tanaka was fired/quit KAT-TUN

Lots of 48 fam graduation.

Exile's Takahiro retires from the limelight.

Ayu has lost her title. (Sorry Ayu fans, as much as I'd like to say she's still at the top of her game, she lost it. Better luck next year.)

One Ok Rock had their World Tour. 

Visual Kei bands are almost non existent and lost their appeal.

Gackt and Iconiq are dating.

JE is lossing it with it's groups minus Arashi and SMAP.

Lady Gaga congratulated AKB48. (Lol.)

[His Majesty Robosexual]

I discovered a lot of good artists that are under the radar like Michita, Metome, Towa Tei, Ken Ishii, Cornelius, L.E.D, Jizue, Chouchou, 80kidz, and Agraph.

Mainstream Jpop had very little to offer. The only albums I remember listening to were i'mperfect (Ling tosite sigure), LEVEL 3 (Perfume), Embrace (Boom Boom Satellites), and Consolation (Kalafina).

Singles wise, access, T.M.Revolution, and Kalafina delivered.

But yeah, I was discovering some good music from early to mid 2000.

Lastly, I think my music preference has changed. Now I'm more of an electronic fan than a rock fan but I'll still keep an eye out for my favorites like Uverworld, Dir en grey, SID, and maybe Negoto.

[DocumentaLy]

This year was actually really good. The mainstream got worse than ever this year but under the surface there was a lot going on. The indie scene was really good with acts like Sakanaction, Passepied, KANA-BOON, The Novembers, and Kinoko Teikoku among others putting out really good releases. The urban scene was good as well with acts like Miliyah, AKLO, KLOOZ, Kreva, and Tamaki Roy among others having good releases this year. The best album would be Sakanaction's. Best song would be Kaname Kawabata's Let's Say I Do. I feel as if the rift is growing in Japanese music between what is good and what is popular. Years ago I could look at what was popular and see that it was good. With the things happening in the mainstream now, I can no longer say that. The quality of a lot of what is in the mainstream just isn't there anymore. It's like pretty much unless you like dance pop or cutesy pop, there isn't a whole lot happening. The variety in the mainstream has drastically decreased over the past few years. I'm glad that there is more than the mainstream scene or else I wouldn't even be part of the Japanese music fandom anymore. I would like for it to get better but in all honestly I don't really think it will anytime soon. Maybe in a few years when people outgrow this trend. But I do see inklings that there might me an indie push soon. Sakanaction is at the point where they get on Music Station with pretty much every single. They're going to Kohaku this year. androp, [Champagne], and The Mirraz debuted on Music Station this year. KANA-BOON, Passepied, tricot, Akai Koen, and Haruka to Miyuki among others released debut albums this year that got a fair amount of attention. In 2014, I hope that this push continues as is actually able to bring about a change in the mainstream.

 

 

Well things that I remember in 2013 are...

 

Avex got new groups such as VIVIVID and Faky.

Flower had more singles this year.

E-girls got invited to Kohaku.

Koki Tanaka was fired/quit KAT-TUN

Lots of 48 fam graduation.

Exile's Takahiro retires from the limelight.

Ayu has lost her title. (Sorry Ayu fans, as much as I'd like to say she's still at the top of her game, she lost it. Better luck next year.)

One Ok Rock had their World Tour. 

Visual Kei bands are almost non existent and lost their appeal.

Gackt and Iconiq are dating.

JE is lossing it with it's groups minus Arashi and SMAP.

Lady Gaga congratulated AKB48. (Lol.)

 

Until someone tops her overall sales, the title is still hers. She confirmed her status again in 2012 by being the first female and only soloist to crack 50 million. This year she also released 2 #1 albums which puts her 1 album away from tying Yumi Matsutoya's record for most #1 albums by a soloist. She beat Seiko's #1 album record with these 2 albums. She may not be doing that good right now but when you look at the big picture she's far ahead of the rest.

[Sunshiner]

I discovered Flower and Sakanaction this year and that alone made 2013 worthwhile. 

[blank_stare]

This year was actually really good. The mainstream got worse than ever this year but under the surface there was a lot going on. The indie scene was really good with acts like Sakanaction, Passepied, KANA-BOON, The Novembers, and Kinoko Teikoku among others putting out really good releases. The urban scene was good as well with acts like Miliyah, AKLO, KLOOZ, Kreva, and Tamaki Roy among others having good releases this year. The best album would be Sakanaction's. Best song would be Kaname Kawabata's Let's Say I Do. I feel as if the rift is growing in Japanese music between what is good and what is popular. Years ago I could look at what was popular and see that it was good. With the things happening in the mainstream now, I can no longer say that. The quality of a lot of what is in the mainstream just isn't there anymore. It's like pretty much unless you like dance pop or cutesy pop, there isn't a whole lot happening. The variety in the mainstream has drastically decreased over the past few years. I'm glad that there is more than the mainstream scene or else I wouldn't even be part of the Japanese music fandom anymore. I would like for it to get better but in all honestly I don't really think it will anytime soon. Maybe in a few years when people outgrow this trend. But I do see inklings that there might me an indie push soon. Sakanaction is at the point where they get on Music Station with pretty much every single. They're going to Kohaku this year. androp, [Champagne], and The Mirraz debuted on Music Station this year. KANA-BOON, Passepied, tricot, Akai Koen, and Haruka to Miyuki among others released debut albums this year that got a fair amount of attention. In 2014, I hope that this push continues as is actually able to bring about a change in the mainstream.

 

 

 

Until someone tops her overall sales, the title is still hers. She confirmed her status again in 2012 by being the first female and only soloist to crack 50 million. This year she also released 2 #1 albums which puts her 1 album away from tying Yumi Matsutoya's record for most #1 albums by a soloist. She beat Seiko's #1 album record with these 2 albums. She may not be doing that good right now but when you look at the big picture she's far ahead of the rest.

 

No I meant if we compare Ayu's past achievements and now she's on a decline, though she still making the #1 singles/albums but not as she used to. Probably put a blame on the idol scene but hey business is business. No matter what you do you gotta make money no matter how you do it. 

[DocumentaLy]

No I meant if we compare Ayu's past achievements and now she's on a decline, though she still making the #1 singles/albums but not as she used to. Probably put a blame on the idol scene but hey business is business. No matter what you do you gotta make money no matter how you do it. 

 

She's on the decline still but nobody is taking her title away from her because there is nobody to. Nobody's coming for her sales. The closest is Yumi Matsutoya and they're separated by like 10 million.

 

For Ayu, I don't place the blame on the idol scene. She isn't fond of promoting now. And isn't not as if idols and her shoot for the same demographic. Ayu's demographic is older and more female-based. Idols' fans base is musically younger and female and visually older and male, with the visual fanbase winning out.

[blank_stare]

She's on the decline still but nobody is taking her title away from her because there is nobody to. Nobody's coming for her sales. The closest is Yumi Matsutoya and they're separated by like 10 million.

 

For Ayu, I don't place the blame on the idol scene. She isn't fond of promoting now. And isn't not as if idols and her shoot for the same demographic. Ayu's demographic is older and more female-based. Idols' fans base is musically younger and female and visually older and male, with the visual fanbase winning out.

 

You're right. I didn't mean her title has been lost literally. (Should have rephrase that but oh well.) I just meant she's not doing as well as she used too. Though I hope next year she gets back up again.

[DocumentaLy]

You're right. I didn't mean her title has been lost literally. (Should have rephrase that but oh well.) I just meant she's not doing as well as she used too. Though I hope next year she gets back up again.

 

There is no real title to begin with. 

 

I hope she does have more successful but it won't kill me if she doesn't. To be honest I would rather have her make better music. Better music and more success aren't correlated though. Her personal life has angered a lot of people but she said that it's her life so she will live it as she sees fit. It's not like she needs the public. She hasn't needed them for years. I see her spending even less time in Japan are more time in LA if this relationship works out. I only really see her going to Japan in the future to release, do promo, and tour. She spends a good amount of time outside Japan as is.

[xprixgr]

The highlight for me was illion's debut. I just wasn't expecting to like Ubu as much as I did and it made him my favorite male act of the year.

 

Best albums were provided by Sakanaction and RADWIMPS. I normally don't give any release a 5 star rating but these two deserve it. There wasn't a single song on either album that I didn't enjoy and it confirmed that both acts are at the top of their game right now. I also discovered Kiyoshi Sugo. His album All In Black is another great release that came out this year and everyone should give it a try.

 

Aside from that, I have to say I've been losing interest in SID. I wanted more songs like Itsuka, Cosmetic and Milk but their latest releases sounded a bit too plain.

 

Lastly, I was disheartened to find out that Flower's long awaited album will only have 2 new songs as that gives me zero incentive to purchase it. 

[Ryusenkai]

What a long and crazy year it has been, but despite that, I can't say that it wasn't a good one.  Unlike a lot of people, while I do think that the mainstream pop scene has declined, there are still some shining stars to be found in mainstream pop/rock and rock.  My favorite albums this year go to RADWIMPS (actual favorite), Spitz, Sakanaction, Yuzu, and illion.  Like a lot of other people, UBU blew me away when I first heard it, and it still does - it was just such a departure from what Noda's done in the past.  Between that and Batsu to Maru to Tsumi to, I have to call Noda my favorite songwriter/composer this year - he just did amazing work and it deserves to be respected.  As to my favorite Single this year, that unequivocally goes to Southern All Star's Peace to Highlight, just for being an amazingly complete package that almost feels like an album all its own, despite being as short as it is.  Song of the Year is another matter entirely, and while I can't definitively pick one song, the following five deserve mentioning:  LAND - Yuzu, Eikou no Otoko - Southern All Stars,  Music - Sakanaction, Niji wo Matsu Hito - Bump of Chicken, REM - Mr.Children.  All of them affected me in some way, and while they're probably not all that surprising, they definitely colored this year for me in ways that I'll never forget.  Also been a great year for lyrics, with many acts releasing some incredibly meaningful pieces of work.  Before naming my favorite act, I'd also like to mention all the great recommendations I took and acts I discovered myself this year, like Akai Koen, androp, KANA-BOON, Folks (who are releasing their major debut soon), plane, and finally coming around to liking JUJU, when I really should have from the start.

 

Nonetheless, my favorite act on the whole this year has to be Yuzu, since no other group or singer has been near as consistent in releasing good, solid music the entire year, and having a great attitude the entire time.  They worked really hard and deserve all the praise and acclaim that they get, since they went from an act I wasn't sure about to one of my favorites over the course of this year.  Close runner-up is RADWIMPS.

 

Altogether, great year, and I'm really looking forward to the next, since I've already got some great albums to look forward to early on.  

[Twin<3333LovesMango]

The J-Urban scene has been great this year. Japanese Hip-Hop artists really challenge J-Pop in a way no other genre in Japan does.

 

ALKO - New Days Move single

SKY-HI (AAA) debut single

SIMON's new album

LB&Otowa album The Mad Bomber was cool

Everything for KREVA this year was great.

KLOOZ's debut album

AK-69's newest album & best album

YOUNG DAIS's sophomore album

SHUN's mini album

ZEEBRA new album

 

And so much more. I cain't wait for 2014

[Hemlock]

My year was mixed with good stuff and disappointing stuff but i had a great year overall. Artists such as OOR, Leo, Kana all let me down this year. I might have outgrown OOR now that i've discovered Ling Tosite Sigure, but i'm still wiling to give a listen to the next album whenever that comes out. Leo still hasn't released anything after her album that has even come close to being the same quality. I have more hope in Salley than i do in Leo right now. Kana was stuck in a rut but showed some signs of better things near the end. I really liked Flower but after so much similar sounding singles i'm not as excited for new singles as i used to be. Dream continues their downward spiral after their last album which is sucks more for me since i've been a fan of theirs for a while.

 

 

 

Pop this year was definitely the weak link for japanese music. I was even disappointed by Mika's album but even that was probably one of the better pop albums of the year. There's still some hope for this year when Tamurapan's album drops this week, so i'm looking forward to that. When it came time to nominating things for the pop categories for the awards i really blanked out and nothing immediately came to mind. But i also discovered some pop acts that i really like now like Bomi and Noanowa. And for all the shit that idols get on here there were probably more interesting idol music than regular jpop stuff this year for me. I enjoyed Ebichu's album, Momoclo and Dempa had some good stuff, Especia and Negicco showed that idol groups can produce some different styles and sounds than the typical idol stuff.

 

I had a really strong jrock year with newer acts like Akai Koen, Tricot, Kana-boon, Haruka to Miyuki. Illion was a pleasant surprise after going into the album with no expectations. Rad and Sakanaction continues to put out good stuff. Ling Tosite Sigure was a bit disappointing but I'mperfect was still good overall. Also started listening to bands like Base Ball Bear, Supercar, Vola & The Oriental Machine, Spangle Call Lilli Line, and some more this year. Spangle Call Lilli Line's Nano remixed with Tk from Ling Tosite Sigure especially was a big highlight for me this year. I also went back and made my way through some of L'arc's older albums that i really enjoyed. There's still a bunch of bands that i've been meaning to check out for next year.

 

The current quality of pop music made me want to expand my library to include more urban and electronic music. I did a little of that this year but i want to dig even more into those genres next year because this year i was really focused on digging into the jrock scene. I will also continue to look into the lesser known people, or at least ones that aren't really talked about on here. Some that i've discovered this year include Misato Kinoshita, Ichiko Aoba, Yukawa Shione, and Bird.

 

 

 

edit:

 

holy crap that's long. I must have rambled on a lot. Oh well it's already been typed might as well leave it. I will spoiler it haha.

[Timmeon]

All in all this year was quite good from my perspective. It started kinda slow but picked up around the mid-year. First the disappointing things:

AKB only released horrible drivel the whole year (except maybe for Heart Ereki, which was listenable). NMB released an album which was decent but the singles overall where not as good as last year. Ieiri Leo only had a few songs this year and except for Taiyou no Megami they were weaker than the stuff on her album. Good but not great, I would say. The same goes for the album by OOR. Zankyo Reference was ten times better than JinseixBoku. Total interest I lost in LiSA and Supercell. Supercell's new vocalist is still grating and the songs aren't on par either. LiSA got too much standard pop for me. Haven't listened to her newest album, but I don't fell the urge to either.

And Flower Flower let themselves take too much time to finally get a single or album out. Work faster, Yui, faster!

 

But apart from those mostly minor negatives, the year was quite great. With AKB more out of the picture I looked into other, better idols and found myself some Tokyo Girls' Style. My hunger for good female rock bands was satisfied with a new album by Scandal that isn't as pop as I feared and a great B-side compilation, amazing albums by FLiP and Shishamo and in general a rise in the number of such bands.

On the singer-songwriter front (in addition to Leo) Abe Mao had a strong year, miwa was good and I finally found a male songwriter in Takahashi Yu I like.

 

While I write this I listen to Passpo's new rockin' album. It's the perfect closing for the year.

 

Next year I will dig deeper into the rock/indie and more experimental idol scenes. Who needs mainstream pop when there are so many other great ripe fields waiting to be harvested.

[JSJ89]

the only i remember is lots of 48fam grads too, Mariko, Tomochin, Kuumin (whyyyy ), etc

[MoreTokyo]

Seiko Oomori released Mahou Ga Tsukaenai Nara Shintai, Kuro Rekishi, Ongaku O Suteyo Soshite Ongaku E, Oomori Seiko at Fujimigaoko Church, Zettai Shoujo, Poi Dol (Accompanied by Lai Lai Lai Team), No Lie Sense (First Suicide Note), and Tsumaran Yoru wa Mou Yameta. She's released much more material in a year in comparison to her contemporaries without losing quality between releases. Oomori has released touching, emotional, challenging, and raw material throughout the year that found her positioning herself as the most endearing and honest soloist in Japan. Uminote made their debut with the release of In Rainbow Tokyo that features challenging, fun, and experimental material along the lines of Words Kill People (Cotodama The Killer), Talking Baby Blues (Hey Boy Hey Girl), New War (In The New World), and Suicidal Season. In Rainbow Tokyo remains the strongest full length to come out of Japan this year because it's fun, emotional, and experimental. Words Kill People (Cotodama The Killer) had such an emotional, lasting, and powerful effect on me throughout the year. It's the strongest rock record that I've come across since Zero Comma Irotoridori no Sekai by Mass of The Fermenting Dregs.

 

Tricot, Akai Ko-En, Kominami Yasuha, and Wakusei Abnormal released their debut full lengths in The, Koen Debut, Chimera, and Anata Sonata that showcased their musicianship, experimentation, and dynamic nature of these acts. The Insect Kids, Moccobond, Inshowha, The Flickers, and Chou Chou Mergered Syrup also released phenomenal records that didn't receive the attention and exposure that they deserved. Kominami Yasuha, Bomi, Oomori, and Hanae establishing themselves as the next generation in female soloist. Mariko Goto solidified her career as a soloist with the release of m@u. Mariko has found a way to progress her brand of hardcore and sweeter sound by including electronics that weren't present on 299792458. m@u being released in December didn't have the opportunity to gain attention , which is a shame because m@U, Subarashi Sekai, and Dairo Chanto Mariko Chan are amongst the strongest records to come out of the independent rock community only second to Words Kill People (Cotodama The Killer) by Uminote.

 

Downy made their triumphant return after nine years with the release of Mudai that showcased their depth, dynamism, and progressive nature. Similarly, Leo Imai made his return after a four year absence with the release of Made From Nothing that remains the most distinct, off beat, and diverse release from an act this year. Hideki Yoshimura of Bloodthirsty Butchers ended up passing away on May 27th from acute heart failure. Hideki fronted Bloodthirsty Butchers for 26 years prior to his death releasing influential and emotional full lengths along the lines of Yamane, Lukewarm, and I'm Standing Nowhere. Independent rock lost one of the most influential, progressive, and emotional artist with his passing.

 

 

Seiho, Sapphire Slows, Jesse Ruins, Mushiba, Taquwami, Picnic Women, Hotel Mexico, and Cuushe release nuanced, intimate, and challenging electronic music that showcased the promise and strength within the scene. i-fls and Madegg has prolific out put throughout the year releasing countless records that only improved and stabilized in quality. However, the Japanese electronic scene took a blow with the disbandment of Hotel Mexico. Meg released Continue that remains a phenomenal exploration of 8-bit, electronica, and fantasy elements that showcased her conceptual nature solidifying herself as a soloist outside of Yasutaka Nakata. Tofubeats, Okadada, Fazerock, Banvox, Avec Avec, Gigandect, Romantic Production, Hijokaidan and Fragment collaborating and producing for idol groups. BiS and Hijokaidan that artist and idols are capable of working within the same space by releasing edgy and intense material. Negicco, Lyrical School, Especia, Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku, Dempagumi. Inc, Bandjanaimon!, Tokyo Girls Style, Lin!, Baby Metal, Vanilla Beans, BiS, Momoiro Clover Z, Bellring, and various other idols released off beat and challenging material that will hopefully change the nature of the idol industry and how it's perceived.

 

Kaela Kimura found herself breathing life into cover albums with the release of Rock. Kimura surrounded herself with Chara, N'shukagawa Boys, Chatmonchy, Pop Etc, Predawn, and various other artist to deliver a refreshing and unique take on the concept of a cover album.

 

Suiyobi no Campanella, Momose, Maria, Daoko, Punpee, The Otogibanashi, Carios & DKXO, Jimenusagi, Charisma.Com, and Izumi Makura released unique, off beat, and strong material within the urban community that kept rap quite interesting. Suiyobi no Campanella made their debut with the release of ãŠä¸ƒ that remains the strongest full length released in 2013 outside of In Rainbow Tokyo by Uminote. Suiyobi no Campanella are such a dynamic, experimental, and playful act that effortlessly brings together elements of rap, rock, electronica, and pop without anything sounding out of place. They deserve to gain much more attention from the urban community after releasing such a phenomenal record like ãŠä¸ƒ.

 

[DocumentaLy]

I'm loving how detailed some of these post are...

[His Majesty Robosexual]

Dammit, forgot to mention Taquwami, mushiba, Clean Tears, Akiko Shikata, and Rin'.

[Shino]

AAA and AKB48 disappointed me this year...esp. AKB...they lost their appeal, their old members are leaving, their songs have been on the decline....bad combo 

 

Ive come to the conclusion that May'n will never be sheryl nome and I will never hear a song as good as pink monsoon from her.

 

fell in love with dancing dolls and Maon Kurosaki.

 

oh and Faky tried it

 

I got more but I got to think 

[Amaya]

Well 2013 was a jam packed year full of debuts and great albums, it was thoroughly a great year in music for me. Although the pop scene wasn't really where my greats came from this they were more on the urban and indie scene. Best album is actually a tie now between RAD and Sakanactions album both exceptionally great albums strong material from beginning to end didn't skip a song in either albums gem of 2013. Debuts from Kavka great rock and pop Love corrida, KANA-BOON, Haruka to Miyuki, Akai Koen, Illion all amazing and challenging material being biased to illion but Kana-boon albums was great along with Haruka to Miyuki loved their song Mannequin such ethereal sound, definitely acts to watch. cinema staff have really come along this year great promo thanks to their tie in love all their material even though Boukyo was not as great I expected it to be, but the Great escape and Seinansei no Niji single were excellent. androp, Champagne, The Novembers,Indigo la End side project( enon kawatani), Lyu:Lyu and Fozztone great releases and BIGMAMA a little lacklustre.Visual Kei has taken a great downfall this year and the releases have not been great either Flumpool had great singles as well. Really glad as mentioned the chances some of these acts are getting to perform on music station etc the change is coming it better come fast!

The Gazette album was just ok and Alice Nine's releases were just ok as well, the scene is really going down. One Ok Rock got famous this year with a bad album but it was listen able to an extent loved the beginning and Clock Strikes.

The urban side had really good and bad releases. The good with Daichi, Yuya(so glad about his departure), Miliyah,AI, AKLO, Kaname, KEITA(pop/urban), MIHIRO, Davira Dj DecstreamJP, JUJU her heart beat song is beautiful and the bad Jasmine(less edm), BENI(no more covers!!!!). Trying to get into the rap taking it slowly SHUN's iffy, enjoyed Ken the 390 releases along with KLOOZ and guilty pleasure MARIA.

On the pop side FAKY ah yes life to jpop girls groups their singles grew on me but lots of potential to release great material. In addition notable debut by Yasuda Rei such a divine voice and her singles enjoyable. Kaho has piqued my interest with her voice and look forward to her future releases.As for continuing in pop Namie's album would be no.1 for me it was good at what it is pop she brought it along with her engrish. EXILE releases have not been my thing my year but The Second, Sandaime J Soul have more been along with Generations. As for the girl groups as much a E-girls I hope for fierce they haven't delivered only Flower has managed to keep interest with their releases this year.Other enjoyable releases were #JUST JIN,VIVID, Perfume, Towa Tei, Shiina Ringo and Kana Brand New day is probably my only memorable song from her hopefully she experiments with different sounds in 2014.Mademoiselle Yulia hurt me the most that album should be burnt and forgotten and Kuu needs to take a break her song are really predictable now. Queen Ayu as much as I'm in a love hate relationship with half of Love again, Merry Go Round is a good way to end your year(no mention of impending marriage here -_- just music)

[SeeYaWithYou]

People seem to have enjoyed this year in Jpop much more than I would have thought. Honestly, I really wasn't too into this year's releases. Maybe it's because I don't listen to rock music and it seems there were a lot of great rock releases according to the posts in this thread. Personally, I found myself completely underwhelmed by the releases this year and found myself having opinions that went against the majority. 

I guess I'll start of with talking about my favorite acts. Namie specifically has always been special in my heart, but I just wasn't 'feeling' her FEEL album. I felt it was waaayyyy too EDM oriented and it felt like Namie was almost stepping backwards in her quality. Her newer songs like Neonlight Lipstick don't seem to be getting any better. On the other hand I was strongly impressed with Kana this year, she still hasn't broken out of her samey song rut, but she was able to still keep my interest in her songs with Namida Iro and Sayonara, both played to her strengths and helped me fall back in love with Kana. May J. was able to reach success this year that she was never able to before with her cover album selling so well, and even tho I love me some mid tempo ballads, if she keeps this style forever it's going to get old real quick. 

Which brings me to my next thought, a lack of memorable ballads this year that really grasped my interest. Of course every cover album came with quite a few ballads, other than LUHICA (who lie rally saved my interest in j-ballads), there was nothing really worth noting. Of course there was FLOWER who I really did love at first, especially after Taiyou to Himawari, but after their new Snow White song, I literally cannot even listen to the group anymore because everything I hear from them now just blends together. But I did like Boyfriend and Hatsukoi. 

This year's disappointments really brought me down since some of my favorite adult idol groups (Ebisu Muscats and YGA) as well as BRIGHT disbanded causing SUCH a loss in great music. 

Another thing with this year was that I found myself being submerged in two styles which I don't typically fall in love with which was idol music and Anime Music. I literally do not watch anime at all, yeti found myself really interested in some anime singers such as LiSA (one of my all time favorite Japanese acts now), Haruna Luna and especially FripSide. They really just released nice powerful songs that just draw me in and made me really appreciate what anisong artists have to offer. For idols there were some strong releases this year in Predia, FLOWER, Cheeky Parade, LinQ and even Momoiro Clover Z. Cheeky Parade and LinQ pretty much came out of nowhere and released nice songs with good vocals that really summed up the idol genre perfectly without getting to experimental or unappealing. Morning Musume and the 48s highly dropped in quality of course, but tbh this year more than ever I have realized that I like AKB more for the reality aspect of it than the actual music. And not idols, but Perfume's releases (even MnM) have been great and I really enjoyed getting back into the group. 

I think that the fact I found myself listening more to genres of music that I don't typically listen to as opposed to the typical pop, ballads, and R&B I tend to lean towards speaks about the quality of music this year, at least in my opinion. I hope next year I will be able to get back into those genres at the level I was in years past, but you never know. 

 

Ew I wrote a lot. 

[Little Eight]

Positives of the year:

 

Miliyah's releases. I loved Emotion loads, probably one of my most played songs this year.

Rin Toshite Sigure's album was awesome and I glad I discovered it because they have a good back catalogue too!

Boom Boom Satellites album, I love all their albums so no exception there. It seems like Michiyuki is recovering well from his brain tumour too.

Faky seem pretty promising. Love Better Without You.

Weather Girls made a nice little pop album. Need some mindless pop to balance everything out.

Amiaya finally released some good songs. Star Line and Dio >>>>>> Play That Music.

Sakanaction were solid as usual.

Czecho No Republic had some really good songs. I think Mai is really bringing out some more angles within the group now she is a actual member.

BiS cos Saki 

 

Negatives:

 

I expected more of Shishido Kavka's album. I felt quite bored towards the end.

Vivivid weren't as good as I hoped they would be. Felt too generic.

I don't even know what I feel about Perfume at the moment. I want better songs next year.

Kyary's 2nd album wasn't as good as the first and I feel as if the singles were the most enjoyable songs but I'm not sure if that is just cos I am used to them more than the album tracks or they are just the best songs on the album anyway.

 

I felt as if I listened to more pop than anything this year and I think it was a conscious effort to try and get more into more genres. But I kind of got lost. I expected the albums from the soloists I listened to be better quality than the idols, which they are but then I feel that too many fall down the fill the album with ballads route. I want a album that has no ballads, just solid tunes all the way through but I seem not to have found much in the way of that yet. But jpop is a vast ocean so something will pop up soon enough. I try not to be too discrediting of idols because I actually like some (take Weather Girls for example) but most seem to be wanting to go down the AKB route and everything just becomes the same. Very few idol releases actually impressed me this year. You can be an idol group and not sound exactly the same as everyone else but again need to find them out. BiS are doing things differently in their sound and Dempagumi. Inc have a little soft spot with me cos of Moga and their work with Usagi Kanae but they still aren't exactly what I am looking for.

 

I think next year I need to try and listen to more Japanese releases, I have been really busy and haven't listened to as much as I wanted to this year, haven't looked into as many genres as I wanted to, and just was stuck with becoming quite dissatisfied with a lot of things within pop. I might finish the rest of the year with listening to some stuff within this thread itself cos it looks like there are some good suggestions around.

 

I am enjoying reading everyone's posts as well 

[Owatari]

These are some really good and detailed post! Glad everyone is sharing and not attacking.

 

For a more detailed response of the year for me

 

2013 was the year I actively searched for more music and asked for recommendations. I decided to expand outside of the few artist I constantly have on repeat. The new acts i listened to or listened to more were probably Perfume, SiM, Ishiyaki Huwie, and Kavka. I'm glad I came across Huwie by accident, because his album was definitely one of the best I've heard this year. I think that just goes to show that the indie scene definitely has a lot to offer. Kavka did pretty well too. Love Corridor definitely took me by surprise and I though it had the perfect blend of pop and rock which a lot of songs seemed to be missing for me this year. Perfume has been popping up all over the places I've been for the last two years and I finally decided to download some of their albums and they definitely had their moment this year with Level 3. I don't remember who it was, but whoever posted about SiM thank you. DUBSOLUTion #4 and Rosso & Dry are probably within my top songs released this year.

 

I definitely agree with the sentiment about the mainstream and pop generally going down. I think there were some decent efforts put out. Although nothing ground breaking, I though Namie's team put out some decent feel good pop like lalala. The album was nothing extravagant, but that wasn't what I was looking for so good job to namie. Also, kind of unrelated, but I've never been able to listen to Ayu's voice, but this year, for some reason, I actually got into some of her songs and whatever it was about her voice just went away.

 

Most of the summer was about discover old music Kira Kuni (Crystal Kay), Heaven (Masaharu Fukuyama), Soba ni Iru ne (Thelma Aoyama) and Papillon (Shimantani Hitomi) just to name a few probably racked up the most plays this summer despite most of these being like 5 and 10 years old.

 

Much like others, I definitely have to give kudos to illion and RADWIMPS. Thank you Ryusenkai for reminding me about illion's album. These definitely are my top two releases of the year.

 

Only ire is I wish there was more diversity in the artist being recognized and in the mainstream. Cause those year end charts, especially oricon's singles chart is just the same acts. Also as stated in my original post wish more of my favs released music this year because there were a lot of dull points in the year. 

[Hemlock]

Also, kind of unrelated, but I've never been able to listen to Ayu's voice, but this year, for some reason, I actually got into some of her songs and whatever it was about her voice just went away.

 

 

this same exact thing happened to me this year. Almost like a flip of a switch her vocals didn't bother me anymore and i started to like her. Very strange and i can't explain it but i won't complain. 

[Kuromitsutou]

Mr.Children, Bump of Chiken, RADWIMPS and Spitz keep being awesome 

Finally got interested in Sakanaction

flumpool is consistent in releasing generic poppy stuffs, and now only focus on learning Chinese 

WEAVER's change in sound and long hiatus 

A-sketch keeps pissing me off by bring their artists to every Asian country except mine  -_-

Totally lost interests in ONE OK ROCK, Ms.OOJA, Shimizu Shota and JASMINE

Nogizaka46 finally step up their game, released high quality singles throughout the year and is enjoying significant rise in sales and popularity just drop that new center plz