The J-Music Lovers' International Assembly

[Ryusenkai]

Ha maybe. Yeah, "INAZUMA" is really nice so it looks like I'll be buying this mini album as well.

 

 

No problem and good luck!

 

I've been listening to both "INAZUMA" and the new LAMP IN TERREN song a lot in the past day or so.  First time in a little while that a pair of songs have grabbed me this completely.

[Ryusenkai]

Has anyone listened to Domoto Tsuyoshi's Tu? because it's a pretty great album imo, also totally unexpected.

 

The album was in my Top 15 from last year and I did talk it up as a nice entry-level album for people new to the funk genre, since mixing it with pop stylings makes it a lot easier to dip your toes in if you're not used to it.  The one thing I remember distinctly disliking about "TU" was its intro track, which I found kind of obnoxious.  Otherwise though, another great addition to Tsuyoshi's solo catalog, which I've always found to be pretty darn good.

[Ryusenkai]

 

 

[Ryusenkai]

 

Now for FOLKS and Usui Miton to release something.

 

The more, the merrier this year.  I don't expect anything from FOLKS until the height of summer (i.e. July or August) at the earliest though.  Miton though, I think he's due to release something new soon, so we can hope.  For now, I think "TAXIS" will serve admirably (just a week and a half to go).

[Ryusenkai]

oh i love this

 

It's my most anticipated release this month, since it's just such an interesting blend of sounds.

[Ryusenkai]

 

 

[Ryusenkai]

Reminds me of Okami a bit.

 

You're the second person to mention a slight similarity in the art style to me, which I don't disagree with.  It's the studio behind Bastion and Transistor though, so I trust them to make something great with it.  Plus the music will undoubtedly be fantastic.

[Ryusenkai]

This Naka Koh album is amazing. Waiting for the lyrics so I can translate them.

 

Even his pre "RAFT" material is good.

 

 

 

"TAXIS" was well worth the (relatively short) wait - only thing is that I wish there was more material, since phenomenal as it is, it just leaves me wanting even more.     Still, far and away the best mini-album I've heard this year.

[Ryusenkai]

 

[Ryusenkai]

My computer is finally on the mend!  -_-  Should be back to 100% within the next few days hopefully.

[Ryusenkai]

TAXIS is good. yooooooo

 

It's arguably my favorite release this year, if the avatar isn't enough indication.  Uses the EP format to its utmost to produce something pretty special.

[Ryusenkai]

Come back to this forum after 3 weeks and it's still such a mess.

 

Anyways, thoroughly enjoyed Kasarinchu's and UNCHAIN's albums.

 

I need to pick up the new Kasarinchu album now that my computer's finally (mostly) working again; only just got around to looking at the new Straightner (which was really great) and cinema staff (up next) as a result.

[Ryusenkai]

I can send it to you if you want since I had to import it and I'm not entirely sure if it's online.

 

Would appreciate it, if you don't mind. 

[Ryusenkai]

This question might serve better as its own thread, but just out of curiosity when was the last time JPOP truly excited you?

 

There are things I look forward to, but nothing has really captivated me in quite some time.

 

Also congrats to anyone graduating!

 

Thanks!

 

I suppose that really depends on whether or not you just mean Pop or J-music as a whole, since those are really different things if I'm being totally honest.  Since there's definitely been a few releases this year that really got me, but... maybe one or two I'd label as kinda close to pop?

[Ryusenkai]

Interesting. I didn't really have much anticipation going into them, but they were good.

 

 

You're welcome. I was 99% positive you were graduating, but was hesitant to congratulate you.

 

Whenever I use JPOP, I use it as a term that encompasses all of Japanese music. So I guess that changes things. Because looking at just mainstream pop things are even worse for me.

 

I actually graduated a couple weeks ago, but yeah. 

 

Not sure if these will be your thing, but my favorite pop-esque releases from last month were ayU tokiO's "Aratanaru Kai" and Hideki Kaji's "THE BLUE BOY".  Maybe give them a try (the former is pretty unconventional as far as song structure goes, which is what really gets me about it, while the latter is just fun).

 

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2016 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was so happy to see that in my sub. box earlier; no more need to go to other sites to watch their Music Videos!

[Ryusenkai]

Artistically, this might be one of the most interesting music videos I've come across in a good while: 

 

 

[Ryusenkai]

Random, but how are you liking Zen Zen Zen Se and Aria?

I always thought Tentai Kansoku was BoC's only relevant song.

 

Mmmm.  "Tentai Kansoku" is definitely BUMP's only real enduring hit, if you go by karaoke rankings, though I think the argument could be made that "Karma" was also a hugely influential song for them (they've had decent digital success these past couple of years as well).  As to "aria", I'm of two minds about it, since I like a lot of the touches to the track (the organ, the synth underneath the second verse, the COSMONAUT-esque faded vocal effects) and the lyrics, even though the subject matter isn't anything new for them - still well written.  However, the song itself is very much an updated version of their late 00s output (which I think is a little lazy), and I was really hoping for something dipping further into the electro-rock vein that they've been teasing at these past few years.  It's possible that their Sangatsu no Lion theme song will satisfy that craving though, so I'll be patient.

 

"Zen Zen Zense" is a hell of a lot of fun to listen to, but I do think it's one of RAD's simpler songs.  Kind of an extracted, diluted version of one of their more typical tracks.  However, this is the rearranged movie version of the song, and the original will be included on their album coming in November, so I'm curious to see just how different their vision for the track ends up being compared with what they tuned for Kimi no Na wa.

Edited September 2, 2016 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

https://instagram.com/p/BKvb3ZMh2mb/

 

Hopefully a new album is around the corner.

 

I'd be on-board with a full-length release from Ko, given how much he's impressed me thus far.  Frankly, I'll take any new material from him really. 

[Ryusenkai]

I'm hopeful he will release a full album soon, but if he decides to release another mini I won't complain. He'll just be the new FOLKS. Kings of mini albums lol

 

Speaking of which, FOLKS need to release something by early next year.  >_>

[Ryusenkai]

It just dawned on me that it's been 11 months since their last official release. The doughnut song we got 3 months ago was nice (can't remember the official title), but it'll be interesting to see where they go from here since they have their own label now.

 

I just need goodbye holiday to do the same thing. 

 

Yeah, it's been almost a year since "BLUE & YELLOW", and while "Chroma Key Donut" was nice, I really would like something new from them.  Since they seem to have an idea of where they want to go, so I'd like to see it come to fruition.

[Ryusenkai]

Hello,

 

Thought I should introduce myself to the Jpop community here since I am a huge Jpop fan. 

 

In terms of my taste in music, it's surprisingly eclectic. I listen to anything from contemporaneous stuff like idols (48G, Johnnys, H!P), female/male soloists like Jpop queens to acts like superfly, numerous rock bands. I also listen to older material from the likes of Akina Nakamori, TM Network (and by extension any Tetsuya Komoro's body of work like trf, namie etc), CHAGE&ASKA and Matsutoya Yumi.

So pretty much anything in the mainstream since its incredibly diverse that there's always something to discover every time it overwhelms me sometimes. 

 

Based on my profile picture, you can guess that I am a big Southern All Stars fan but they might be a bit too old fashioned for this crowd. I'm also a huuuuge B'z fan so if anyone has anything B'z related stuff to talk about, I'm there. But also have an open mind to discover acts I have never listened before.

 

So yeah, hoping to make this section one of my mainstays for discussion for jpop related stuff.

 

Apologies for the wall of text.

 

TL;DR: Hi and I love Jpop, nice to meet you all 

 

Hello!  I'm probably one of the only other big SAS fans you're going to find here (reminds me that I really do need to go reacquire "Sakura" at some point in the near future), though I do lean somewhat towards the Mr.Children end of the SAS/Mr.Children/B'z triangle.     I like all three though, since they each bring something different to the table. 

 

Since you like SAS so much, can I presume that you like Kuwata's solo work as well?  Given that we're far more likely to get another album from him before we do from the band (and I've plenty to gush about there anyway).  Likewise, what do you think of the new B'z song that's being used for Shippu Rondo?  I personally find the glam rock stylings to be a bit of a nice change of pace for them - less serious and a little more out there fun.

 

Apologies if any of that seems pushy, just isn't often that I actually find someone that likes older acts in the same vein that I do. 

Edited October 3, 2016 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

 

 

I kinda of like this

 

"Feel like" grows on you a lot.  Tis lighter than [Alexandros]' usual material, but not in a bad way, and it seems like a natural extension of their sound.  Plus the English being good kind of helps a bit. 

[Ryusenkai]

So I checked Aichun and saw that Weaver released a new single.

and was like "Hmm...where is Frederic? It's been almost a year since OTOTUNE." (a few of the songs were my jams).

So I did a quick search on the Tube.

....

I'm so mad that I missed this. omg!!

 

I like it more than their newest one.

 

Their debut full-length is out this week, so you'll have a few more new songs to listen to as well.  Though I wasn't much a fan of the lead song either; the way it's mixed just doesn't mesh well with the singer's voice, since it makes the track sound strident and... frankly just not pleasant to listen to.  "Only Wonder" was great though.

Edited October 18, 2016 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

new Sakanaction single is good 

 

Told you!  Honestly, they've been pretty on top of their game this whole era; now they just need to release a great album to cap things off.    "Tabun, Kaze" and "moon" are really well layered in particular though, so kudos to them for taking their time and doing it right.