Oh my god.....Internet..... @_@
So, I think it's obvious from the title of this post that I'm not back yet. I've completed my move, but I've been having trouble convincing Comcast to give me internet, so I don't actually have any way of posting or doing my research. (I'm posting from a cafe right now, but you can imagine how I might not want to pay a $5 per hour "coffee charge" for the internet.) Until Comcast hooks me up, I can't really post, and I don't have any word from them yet on when I'll get a connection. Right now all I can promise is that I'll start working again as soon as I have the internet. Thanks for being so patient - I can't wait to make my comeback! :D
Showing posts with label site news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label site news. Show all posts
Sep 15, 2011
Sep 3, 2011
Hiatus Update
Hello all!
It's the beginning of September, and I figured it was about time for an update.
The good news: my husband and I were able to recruit my sister for childcare until she goes back to school at the end of the month, which took a lot of pressure off us in terms of my husband being able to wrap things up at his job and me being able to pack. We found a place in Portland (woot!) and will be moving up there on the 10th. Best of all (for me...maybe not for the blog), I'll have my weekends back! Wahoo!!!
The bad news: the site will be on hiatus until at least the 12th while I get the rest of our stuff packed up and moved out. It's looking like I might have to use the rest of my vacation for it, too, which is sad, because I wanted to use it to see Dreams Come True in Seattle. *has a sad*
So I'll make the promise to be back, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, on the 15th. Hopefully that'll give me enough time to finish this crazy thing, at which point I can go back to my routine of being unstressed, listening to Japanese music, and providing awesome commentary on it. Also, buying tea from the specialty spice place down the street from us. And sipping coffee from cute little corner bistros for breakfast. And going to Japanese lives on weeknights because I only have to make a 15 minute drive to get back to my house to sleep at night. You know. The usual.
squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
To hold you over, here's the playlist I've been using to pack to (after the jump). I literally could never get sick of listening to this music.
It's the beginning of September, and I figured it was about time for an update.
The good news: my husband and I were able to recruit my sister for childcare until she goes back to school at the end of the month, which took a lot of pressure off us in terms of my husband being able to wrap things up at his job and me being able to pack. We found a place in Portland (woot!) and will be moving up there on the 10th. Best of all (for me...maybe not for the blog), I'll have my weekends back! Wahoo!!!
The bad news: the site will be on hiatus until at least the 12th while I get the rest of our stuff packed up and moved out. It's looking like I might have to use the rest of my vacation for it, too, which is sad, because I wanted to use it to see Dreams Come True in Seattle. *has a sad*
So I'll make the promise to be back, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, on the 15th. Hopefully that'll give me enough time to finish this crazy thing, at which point I can go back to my routine of being unstressed, listening to Japanese music, and providing awesome commentary on it. Also, buying tea from the specialty spice place down the street from us. And sipping coffee from cute little corner bistros for breakfast. And going to Japanese lives on weeknights because I only have to make a 15 minute drive to get back to my house to sleep at night. You know. The usual.
squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
To hold you over, here's the playlist I've been using to pack to (after the jump). I literally could never get sick of listening to this music.
Aug 12, 2011
Hiatus Freaking AGAIN
So some things have come up in my life that require me to take yet another effing hiatus. Long story short, we've completely lost access to childcare, so my husband has to quit his job to take care of our son. Unfortunately, his job provides the place we live, so we also have to move. (Before you ask, I can't quit my job for a number of reasons, foremost of which is that I have the bigger income, the retirement account, provide the health care, etc.) Worst of all, we're losing our current day care in less than two weeks, so that's all the time we have to find a place, get packed, and moved in. So I'm going to be packing and cleaning and calling apartments for openings like a crazy mad woman (yeah, double crazy) until the beginning of September. At which point I'll be unpacking and cleaning like a mad woman, but at least then I won't have a deadline as tight as a noose.
So I'll see you all in September. As a parting gift I offer you the following discs that I would have written about. They're all good (and surprisingly so in two different cases).
- Chemistry, "independence" (Single, Pop)
- Buono!, "Partenza" (Single, Pop)
- SCANDAL, "BABY ACTION" (Album, Rock)
- Tanimura Nana, "NANA BEST" (Album, Pop)
Also, don't bother with Yamashita Tetsuro's "Ray of Hope." It sounds like he was purposefully trying to recreate horrible 90s ballads.
Until we meet again, friends.
So I'll see you all in September. As a parting gift I offer you the following discs that I would have written about. They're all good (and surprisingly so in two different cases).
- Chemistry, "independence" (Single, Pop)
- Buono!, "Partenza" (Single, Pop)
- SCANDAL, "BABY ACTION" (Album, Rock)
- Tanimura Nana, "NANA BEST" (Album, Pop)
Also, don't bother with Yamashita Tetsuro's "Ray of Hope." It sounds like he was purposefully trying to recreate horrible 90s ballads.
Until we meet again, friends.
Aug 8, 2011
How Can I Help You?
Now that I've changed the format of the blog, I'm having a lot more fun. It's great to be able to review music I like it, instead of reviewing mediocre music just because my J-Music Wheel of Fortune commanded me to write about it.
Still, I feel like there's more out in the J-Music world that I could be learning, and thus sharing with all of you. I mean, I'm constantly translating interviews to post on Gaijin Kanpai; should I post those here, too? I see news from Tokyohive; should I pass along the interesting stories? Maybe I should translate more lyrics, like I did for "Sora ga Natteiru." Maybe I should pass along interesting PVs and other interesting videos. Maybe I should post videos of cats! (Hmm...perhaps not.)
I want to hear what you think. Go over to my Facebook page and vote on the poll I created. ("Like" the page while you're at it. Do it!)
Still, I feel like there's more out in the J-Music world that I could be learning, and thus sharing with all of you. I mean, I'm constantly translating interviews to post on Gaijin Kanpai; should I post those here, too? I see news from Tokyohive; should I pass along the interesting stories? Maybe I should translate more lyrics, like I did for "Sora ga Natteiru." Maybe I should pass along interesting PVs and other interesting videos. Maybe I should post videos of cats! (Hmm...perhaps not.)
I want to hear what you think. Go over to my Facebook page and vote on the poll I created. ("Like" the page while you're at it. Do it!)
Jul 21, 2011
7/20/11 Releases (Part 1) and Update
What with the continual Robot War skirmishes at my house, I've been getting so behind on listening to music that I'm afraid there won't be a Part 2 for the 7/13 releases. There was a lot of good music that I did get to listen to (which I'll list below so you can check it out) and a lot that I suspected would be good but didn't have time to listen to (which I'll also list), but that's precisely why I can't post on them; there's too much, and I started too late on that week. So: my apologies.
As for the week of 7/20, so far I've listened to Buono ("Natsu Dakara!"), Ikimonogakari ("Warattetainda/NEW WORLD MUSIC"), and NMB48 ("Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo") and it's all boring and lame. I'll be getting more music from this release week today, and I'll (hopefully) have some good music for you on Saturday!
GOOD STUFF FROM 7/13
ViViD, "BLUE" -- VK, single
NIKIIE, "*(NOTES)" -- Pop rock, album
School Food Punishment, "Prog-Roid" -- Rock, album
Fear, And Lothing in Las Vegas, "NEXTREME" -- Rock, EP
Naomi & Goro & Naruyoshi, "Calendula" -- alternative, album
HEARD IT'S GOOD, BUT DIDN'T GET TO HEAR
Arukara, "Kocchi wo Miteiru" -- Rock, album
Straightener, "YOU & I/Hitsu no Muro ha Oku wo Noboru" -- Rock, single
As for the week of 7/20, so far I've listened to Buono ("Natsu Dakara!"), Ikimonogakari ("Warattetainda/NEW WORLD MUSIC"), and NMB48 ("Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo") and it's all boring and lame. I'll be getting more music from this release week today, and I'll (hopefully) have some good music for you on Saturday!
GOOD STUFF FROM 7/13
ViViD, "BLUE" -- VK, single
NIKIIE, "*(NOTES)" -- Pop rock, album
School Food Punishment, "Prog-Roid" -- Rock, album
Fear, And Lothing in Las Vegas, "NEXTREME" -- Rock, EP
Naomi & Goro & Naruyoshi, "Calendula" -- alternative, album
HEARD IT'S GOOD, BUT DIDN'T GET TO HEAR
Arukara, "Kocchi wo Miteiru" -- Rock, album
Straightener, "YOU & I/Hitsu no Muro ha Oku wo Noboru" -- Rock, single
Jul 10, 2011
Hiatus is OVER
Damn if that didn't take long enough!
My apologies. You'd never believe everything that's happened to me since the beginning of June. Let's just say that we had a mini Robot War at my house, and we'll call it close enough.
Anyway, the hiatus is over! And I'd like to take this opportunity to announce a change in format for the blog. Previously I would assign myself one or two new releases to listen to and review each day, but I found that my assignments were usually not music I was terribly interested in. Occasionally I'd see something that I was determined to listen to and would plug it into the calendar, but for the most part the process of assigning myself music was very hit and miss. (Mostly miss.) I was starting to dread listening to my assignments, because I knew that I probably wouldn't like what I was hearing. In the mean time, I started listening to everything that was released in the week in order to pick out music for GKAA. I noticed that there was good music coming out, and that I was just missing it when I chose my reviews because only one or two CDs out of twenty or more were the good ones.
That got me wondering how I could review the good music instead of the lame music. Finally I decided that I'd just keep listening to all the new releases, then post about what I felt strongly about (either good or bad). That would keep me from writing a ton of posts saying "Well, this wasn't really that great, but I guess it wasn't that bad...." and help me look forward to listening to the music again.
So that's the new format. Right now I think I'll be posting once a week, but that will probably move up to two or three times a week soon. (Trying to compile all that information and music and save up all that passion for a week is actually a pretty tough task.) I'll be starting tonight, and will do my best to keep on a weekly schedule. Can't wait to get started!
My apologies. You'd never believe everything that's happened to me since the beginning of June. Let's just say that we had a mini Robot War at my house, and we'll call it close enough.
Anyway, the hiatus is over! And I'd like to take this opportunity to announce a change in format for the blog. Previously I would assign myself one or two new releases to listen to and review each day, but I found that my assignments were usually not music I was terribly interested in. Occasionally I'd see something that I was determined to listen to and would plug it into the calendar, but for the most part the process of assigning myself music was very hit and miss. (Mostly miss.) I was starting to dread listening to my assignments, because I knew that I probably wouldn't like what I was hearing. In the mean time, I started listening to everything that was released in the week in order to pick out music for GKAA. I noticed that there was good music coming out, and that I was just missing it when I chose my reviews because only one or two CDs out of twenty or more were the good ones.
That got me wondering how I could review the good music instead of the lame music. Finally I decided that I'd just keep listening to all the new releases, then post about what I felt strongly about (either good or bad). That would keep me from writing a ton of posts saying "Well, this wasn't really that great, but I guess it wasn't that bad...." and help me look forward to listening to the music again.
So that's the new format. Right now I think I'll be posting once a week, but that will probably move up to two or three times a week soon. (Trying to compile all that information and music and save up all that passion for a week is actually a pretty tough task.) I'll be starting tonight, and will do my best to keep on a weekly schedule. Can't wait to get started!
Apr 27, 2011
Going on Temporary Hiatus
Well, I guess my good intentions weren't enough. I've flaked out for a week now, because I've got to get things ready for my move. That's right, Shannon's job is taking us out of Salem and into Lincoln City, which is why I'm feeling the need to pare down - who wants to take all the CRAP that we have all the way there? "Not me" is certainly one valid answer. Sadly, because of all the work surrounding the move, I don't expect that it's going to get easier for me to post anytime soon. So here's the deal: let's consider me on hiatus until June 6th, to give me time to pack up, close down my house here, move to the new town, and settle in. After that, I shouldn't have anything big standing in my way.
See you in June!
See you in June!
Apr 4, 2011
Down Week Rewind: GLAY and "Global Communiation"
Thanks to everyone who answered the survey! I got some responses saying I should take a day off (so I took a couple for my sister's birthday, as you may have noticed - it was lovely, thank you!) and some responses saying that I should review the singles and albums that got me into Japanese music. Now that I've had my days off, I'll be doing the rewind. First up: GLAY's single "Global Communication!"
The very first song I ever heard that was definitely Japanese music without coming from an anime soundtrack was GLAY's "Global Communication." I figured that it's title perfectly described what I wanted to attain by listening to Japanese music, so how could I possibly go wrong with it? I remember the first time I heard it. I had exactly two thoughts: "This shit is weird," and "This sounds way too much like American music." I don't know what I was expecting. I'd already been listening to anime music. I knew Japan had electric guitar and synthesizer technology. I knew it wasn't all shamisen and taiko. But "Global Communication" sounded so mainstream pop-rock that I had trouble swallowing it. I obviously wound up coming back to it later, and it continues to get at least 85% of the credit for what got me into Japanese music, but at the time I was less than impressed.
It's hard to review it now, when I've been listening to it for ten years. It's part of the "soundtrack of my high school years," for gods' sake. I'm not even going to try to pretend that I can review it as though I've just heard it for the first time, in a complete GLAY vacuum. I won't try. "Global Communication" is one of the songs that I think of as being part of the First GLAY Golden Age. These are songs that GLAY recorded after they'd hit their stride at a major label, but before they had their souls crushed by the recording industry machine. Included in this list: "Glorious," "Mermaid," "Survival," "Winter, again," and "Yuuwaku;" classics all. Still, despite being a classic, "Global Communication" still isn't one of my favorites: I'd give it a ranking of three or maybe three-and-a-half stars out of five. I like the synth elements, the guitar work is great as always, and I like that it's very upbeat, but it's a little too poppy for my taste and Teru's "Ooh yeah!" gets annoying when you've heard it for as long as I have. Also, with all the guitars and synth and drum the sound tends toward the messy side, which makes it a touch difficult to listen to. Still, it's a solid song from a good time in their discography, and I'm happy that this was my first instead of something ridiculous like "Trouble on Monday," or worse, "Shuumatsu no Baby Talk." Definitely a worthy track for newbie and oldbie alike.
(Sadly, the PV isn't as good as the song. Such is the nature of GLAY PVs. This is a fact I have sadly learned to live with.)
The very first song I ever heard that was definitely Japanese music without coming from an anime soundtrack was GLAY's "Global Communication." I figured that it's title perfectly described what I wanted to attain by listening to Japanese music, so how could I possibly go wrong with it? I remember the first time I heard it. I had exactly two thoughts: "This shit is weird," and "This sounds way too much like American music." I don't know what I was expecting. I'd already been listening to anime music. I knew Japan had electric guitar and synthesizer technology. I knew it wasn't all shamisen and taiko. But "Global Communication" sounded so mainstream pop-rock that I had trouble swallowing it. I obviously wound up coming back to it later, and it continues to get at least 85% of the credit for what got me into Japanese music, but at the time I was less than impressed.It's hard to review it now, when I've been listening to it for ten years. It's part of the "soundtrack of my high school years," for gods' sake. I'm not even going to try to pretend that I can review it as though I've just heard it for the first time, in a complete GLAY vacuum. I won't try. "Global Communication" is one of the songs that I think of as being part of the First GLAY Golden Age. These are songs that GLAY recorded after they'd hit their stride at a major label, but before they had their souls crushed by the recording industry machine. Included in this list: "Glorious," "Mermaid," "Survival," "Winter, again," and "Yuuwaku;" classics all. Still, despite being a classic, "Global Communication" still isn't one of my favorites: I'd give it a ranking of three or maybe three-and-a-half stars out of five. I like the synth elements, the guitar work is great as always, and I like that it's very upbeat, but it's a little too poppy for my taste and Teru's "Ooh yeah!" gets annoying when you've heard it for as long as I have. Also, with all the guitars and synth and drum the sound tends toward the messy side, which makes it a touch difficult to listen to. Still, it's a solid song from a good time in their discography, and I'm happy that this was my first instead of something ridiculous like "Trouble on Monday," or worse, "Shuumatsu no Baby Talk." Definitely a worthy track for newbie and oldbie alike.
(Sadly, the PV isn't as good as the song. Such is the nature of GLAY PVs. This is a fact I have sadly learned to live with.)
Mar 31, 2011
JM365 Needs Your Help!
The earthquake/tsunami one-two-punch on Japan has resulted in several singles and albums being postponed until April, and so I'm quickly running out of new music to write about. I'm thinking the new Berryz Koubou album tonight, but after that I've got nothing.
So here's where I need your help: what should I do? Please reply by 4/1, 12:00 PDT.
UPDATE: The survey is closed. Thanks for voting!
So here's where I need your help: what should I do? Please reply by 4/1, 12:00 PDT.
UPDATE: The survey is closed. Thanks for voting!
Mar 23, 2011
Well dammit
Look what I went and did, you guys.
I told everyone on GK about this blog today.
DAMMIT.
Now I'm going to actually be held accountable for producing content on a regular basis. No excuses anymore. And I don't even know what I'm going to review for tonight.
...
Wish me luck!
I told everyone on GK about this blog today.
DAMMIT.
Now I'm going to actually be held accountable for producing content on a regular basis. No excuses anymore. And I don't even know what I'm going to review for tonight.
...
Wish me luck!
Mar 21, 2011
I suck, but it's okay
So I didn't post the day after that last post. Or the day after. Or the day after.
Gotcha!
Hahahahahahahaha!
....
Anyway, I do have an excuse. I had been planning to do a review of Sakanaction's single, "Rookie," that was released on 3/16. I even had the thing 95% written! But then I got word from my friends at Gaijin Kanpai that Zer0 will be on hiatus for a little while and I'll be filling in for her next week, and also that our planned single review (move - "Overtakers feat. KAWAMURA RYUICHIxSUGIZO") fell through, so we'll instead be reviewing Sakanaction's "Rookie."
So, woot me! Come listen to me on Wednesday on the uStream if you really want to know what I have to say about "Rookie" and/or you want to hear me trip over my tongue like Gene Simmons with a fleshy jump rope and back-pedal faster than Lance Armstrong moving backwards through time at light speed. If nothing else, I know it'll be amusing.
(UPDATE: Here's the show I was on! It was awesome!
Gotcha!
Hahahahahahahaha!
....
Anyway, I do have an excuse. I had been planning to do a review of Sakanaction's single, "Rookie," that was released on 3/16. I even had the thing 95% written! But then I got word from my friends at Gaijin Kanpai that Zer0 will be on hiatus for a little while and I'll be filling in for her next week, and also that our planned single review (move - "Overtakers feat. KAWAMURA RYUICHIxSUGIZO") fell through, so we'll instead be reviewing Sakanaction's "Rookie."
So, woot me! Come listen to me on Wednesday on the uStream if you really want to know what I have to say about "Rookie" and/or you want to hear me trip over my tongue like Gene Simmons with a fleshy jump rope and back-pedal faster than Lance Armstrong moving backwards through time at light speed. If nothing else, I know it'll be amusing.
(UPDATE: Here's the show I was on! It was awesome!
Mar 17, 2011
*GASP*
*splutter*
*gasp*
*hack hack cough*
*violent, spasmodic coughs*
*collapse on newfound beach*
Oh my god. I'm back. I'm here again.
*fearful giggles*
(You wouldn't believe what I've seen, the things I've... washed off my hands.)
(My chainsaw. Where's my chainsaw?)
It's been 17 days since we were separated by the tides of time, and in that time the tides of the ocean have been doing naughty things to Japan. I can't say that I would have been here if Japan hadn't been hit by the Earthquake-Tsunami One-Two Punch-Kick In The Face From Nature, so I won't. But I will say that my thoughts and prayers and love and fear and dread and hope go out to everyone over there, as well as to anyone in the world who has someone that was affected.
I'll also say that I'm planning to start writing my reviews again. "Oh no!" you say? Oh yes. OH YES.
I'm sure that many of you are upset, nonplussed, or possibly excited by this news. Good for you, wherever you may be emotionally. I'll be picking up with a new selection of albums and singles rather than trying to go back and cover what I missed. I may double up one some days if I have a little free time, but we'll see how it goes. In the mean time, I apologize for the disruption of service; we'll be back up and running tomorrow.
*gasp*
*hack hack cough*
*violent, spasmodic coughs*
*collapse on newfound beach*
Oh my god. I'm back. I'm here again.
*fearful giggles*
(You wouldn't believe what I've seen, the things I've... washed off my hands.)
(My chainsaw. Where's my chainsaw?)
It's been 17 days since we were separated by the tides of time, and in that time the tides of the ocean have been doing naughty things to Japan. I can't say that I would have been here if Japan hadn't been hit by the Earthquake-Tsunami One-Two Punch-Kick In The Face From Nature, so I won't. But I will say that my thoughts and prayers and love and fear and dread and hope go out to everyone over there, as well as to anyone in the world who has someone that was affected.
I'll also say that I'm planning to start writing my reviews again. "Oh no!" you say? Oh yes. OH YES.
I'm sure that many of you are upset, nonplussed, or possibly excited by this news. Good for you, wherever you may be emotionally. I'll be picking up with a new selection of albums and singles rather than trying to go back and cover what I missed. I may double up one some days if I have a little free time, but we'll see how it goes. In the mean time, I apologize for the disruption of service; we'll be back up and running tomorrow.
Feb 26, 2011
Last day for survey
Last day to respond to the survey!
I know....I got it out late this week.
I know....I was very bad last week about writing the reviews. (Though I'm getting them done now - did you see how many I got done last night?)
But I've only gotten 2 responses. Let me know what you want to hear about!
I know....I got it out late this week.
I know....I was very bad last week about writing the reviews. (Though I'm getting them done now - did you see how many I got done last night?)
But I've only gotten 2 responses. Let me know what you want to hear about!
Feb 23, 2011
Survey results!
Okay, so I've been gone several days. I suck. :p
Anyway, here are reviews for the week! Which I promise you'll be seeing soon!
Aqua Timez - "Carpe Diem"
Rie Fu - "For You"
Yuzu - "2 -NI-"
Kobukuro - "Blue Bird"
AKB48 - "Sakura no Ki ni Narou" (Type A)
DEEP - "LOVE STORY"
hitomi - "Umarete Kurete Arigatou / Smile World"
MAY'S - "Cruising"
You'll notice that's eight days rather than seven. It's because one of last week's albums crapped out, so I replaced it with Aqua Timez. You're welcome.)
I'm amazed at the response to the survey! I got five answers back, which is 4-5 more than I was expecting! Let's do it again!
Anyway, here are reviews for the week! Which I promise you'll be seeing soon!
Aqua Timez - "Carpe Diem"
Rie Fu - "For You"
Yuzu - "2 -NI-"
Kobukuro - "Blue Bird"
AKB48 - "Sakura no Ki ni Narou" (Type A)
DEEP - "LOVE STORY"
hitomi - "Umarete Kurete Arigatou / Smile World"
MAY'S - "Cruising"
You'll notice that's eight days rather than seven. It's because one of last week's albums crapped out, so I replaced it with Aqua Timez. You're welcome.)
I'm amazed at the response to the survey! I got five answers back, which is 4-5 more than I was expecting! Let's do it again!
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.
Feb 11, 2011
Choose the reviews!
Although I'm the one writing the reviews, you guys are the ones reading them. Shouldn't you be able to choose what's reviewed? Choose what you'd like me to review during the week of 2/20 - 2/26 in the survey below!
I'll review the 4 most popular singles and 3 most popular albums; or, if it turns out that I don't get that many responses, I'll pick my own. Happy hunting!
UPDATE: The survey is closed. Thanks for voting!
I'll review the 4 most popular singles and 3 most popular albums; or, if it turns out that I don't get that many responses, I'll pick my own. Happy hunting!
UPDATE: The survey is closed. Thanks for voting!
Feb 8, 2011
Day 31 - Kaggra, Koda Kumi
Happy One Full Month! Although there have been some bumps in the road, I've made it for 31 full days! If I can make it this far, I can do anything!
So maybe now I should stop labeling the day?
Yeah. I probably should.
Sadly, I was supposed to review three different CDs today, and I couldn't get my hands on one: KAT-TUN's "Ultimate Wheels." I've seen the PV and I'll say that I (surprisingly) like the song itself, but I can't very well review the single on the merits of just one song. Sorry! Here's the PV though, for your consideration and enjoyment:
Kaggra - Hyakkikenran
"Hyakkikenran" is a perfectly serviceable rock album, but nothing all that special. My biggest problem with it is that it's just light - light on rock flavor, light on visual flavor, light on Asian flavor, light on strength. The music is fine, but there's nothing that stirs me up or makes me want to dance or move or even pay attention to it. Need background music for a party? Assuming your friends like rock, "Hyakkikenran" is perfect. It would provide background noise that sounds good and might get the occasional head bob, but won't interfere with conversation. And it sure as hell won't inspire people to suddenly start dancing in your living room - no spilled drinks or coffee table-related injuries! Woot! But if you want something to listen to because you want to, I don't know, listen to some good music... Well, "Hyakkikenran" just doesn't fit that bill. Sorry.
Koda Kumi - POP DIVA
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but when "POP DIVA" came on, I instantly got excited. Darn it! I didn't want to like this single, didn't want to like anything by Koda Kumi. Kumi, after all, is known for being nothing if not uber-classy. Here, check out some of her lyrics:
Yup. These aren't lyrics from anything on "POP DIVA," but they do show why I don't want to like any of Kumi's music. (I like sex as much as the next girl, but these lyrics are kinda gross. I mean, "Hot spray?" *shudder*) But damn it, "POP DIVA" is good! It's catchy, strong, well-constructed/mixed/produced, and Kumi's vocals are right on. The PV goes places that I never expected from a mainstream Japanese female artist. Even the instrumental is good - repetitive, but perfect for dancing to. Thankfully for my conscience, "BLACK CANDY" isn't nearly as good, and neither is it's instrumental - they're both classic B-sides that won't see the light of day again until a best-of anniversary album comes out. Whew! If I'd liked an entire Kumi single, I'd have had to question where my life was headed.
So maybe now I should stop labeling the day?
Yeah. I probably should.
Sadly, I was supposed to review three different CDs today, and I couldn't get my hands on one: KAT-TUN's "Ultimate Wheels." I've seen the PV and I'll say that I (surprisingly) like the song itself, but I can't very well review the single on the merits of just one song. Sorry! Here's the PV though, for your consideration and enjoyment:
Kaggra - Hyakkikenran
"Hyakkikenran" is a perfectly serviceable rock album, but nothing all that special. My biggest problem with it is that it's just light - light on rock flavor, light on visual flavor, light on Asian flavor, light on strength. The music is fine, but there's nothing that stirs me up or makes me want to dance or move or even pay attention to it. Need background music for a party? Assuming your friends like rock, "Hyakkikenran" is perfect. It would provide background noise that sounds good and might get the occasional head bob, but won't interfere with conversation. And it sure as hell won't inspire people to suddenly start dancing in your living room - no spilled drinks or coffee table-related injuries! Woot! But if you want something to listen to because you want to, I don't know, listen to some good music... Well, "Hyakkikenran" just doesn't fit that bill. Sorry.
Koda Kumi - POP DIVA
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but when "POP DIVA" came on, I instantly got excited. Darn it! I didn't want to like this single, didn't want to like anything by Koda Kumi. Kumi, after all, is known for being nothing if not uber-classy. Here, check out some of her lyrics:
"Throw everything away and be free / I want your hot spray"
"So baby take me, lick me with your tongue
Do it real well, make me say (Yes! Yes! Yes!)
Deeper and then deeper still
It’s S E X, come on"
"I want another climax
One more time, one more time
Let’s do it again and again, all night
We don’t need time out
So do, do, do me all night until the morning comes"
Yup. These aren't lyrics from anything on "POP DIVA," but they do show why I don't want to like any of Kumi's music. (I like sex as much as the next girl, but these lyrics are kinda gross. I mean, "Hot spray?" *shudder*) But damn it, "POP DIVA" is good! It's catchy, strong, well-constructed/mixed/produced, and Kumi's vocals are right on. The PV goes places that I never expected from a mainstream Japanese female artist. Even the instrumental is good - repetitive, but perfect for dancing to. Thankfully for my conscience, "BLACK CANDY" isn't nearly as good, and neither is it's instrumental - they're both classic B-sides that won't see the light of day again until a best-of anniversary album comes out. Whew! If I'd liked an entire Kumi single, I'd have had to question where my life was headed.
Feb 1, 2011
Day 24 - Fail Day 2
If it just wasn't a triple feature....
Today killed me. Work, house, baby, husband... It started bad and ended not-so-bad, but now I'm tired and don't have the energy for the music. :( Here's the deal: I'll do double features for the next few nights, as long as I can have this one night off. See, I've already updated the calendar! Okay?
Deal?
Deal.
See you tomorrow.
Today killed me. Work, house, baby, husband... It started bad and ended not-so-bad, but now I'm tired and don't have the energy for the music. :( Here's the deal: I'll do double features for the next few nights, as long as I can have this one night off. See, I've already updated the calendar! Okay?
Deal?
Deal.
See you tomorrow.
Jan 23, 2011
PV Fight Break-Up
Starting today, I'll be ending the PV fights.
It's not that I don't love doing them, but...well, they take up a lot of time, and I don't tend to get a lot out of them. Yeah, sure, it means I have an excuse to watch a billion PVs and write about them, which is great, but that's also the problem. Although it may not look like it, I put a lot of work into each little one paragraph review: I watch each PV at least twice (usually more like four or five times), looking at them from every angle I can to see if there's an interesting or artistic angle. If there is I watch even more to pin down exactly what I like and then express it clearly in writing. And if there's not, well, it take a lot of brain power to wittily rip apart those cloned pieces of crap, okay? While brain power is usually not all that limited, time really is, and I just can't afford to spend over an hour on each PV that comes out: I'd be homeless and alone, huddled outside a Starbucks to leach internet and gnawing on my headphone cable for nutrition. All to give you PV reviews.
Well I'm not doing it! I like my apartment, and my husband, and my baby, and my food.
But I do still love to watch and write about PVs. I don't want to stop watching them - any of them. One half of the reason I started this blog was so that I'd have a way to force myself to listen to new releases, and the other half was to force myself to watch and review PVs. (I really wanted a Top 5 PVs of 2010 article for GK, but that's hard to do when you've seen less than 1% of what's out there.)
But how can I satisfy my simultaneous desires for PVs, reviews, home, family, and food?
Well, net-friends, I'll be watching every PV that I can get my twisted, avaricious claws on, but I'll only be reviewing those things that I feel are noteworthy. Let's face it: there are so few that have anything unique, interesting, or truly wretched. Most of them are the 98% of the bell curve: countless "watch the band play the song" PVs, countless "couple montage with happy ending" PVs, countless "everybody's partying in the club" PVs... Concepts recycled so frequently that they may as well start recycling footage. There's almost nothing that's in the extreme 1% on either side; so few PVs like "Diver" or "Ballad" or "ONE," or like "Daisuki Da Yo," for that matter. So I'll be saving my virtual breath for those. If a PV is spectacular or wretched, expect to see a review. But if it's mediocre, why waste my time?
Thanks for understanding. I really don't want to have to eat rocks off the street to give you your PV review fix. (You should seriously consider getting professional help. Abusing strangers to feed your addiction is just wrong.)
It's not that I don't love doing them, but...well, they take up a lot of time, and I don't tend to get a lot out of them. Yeah, sure, it means I have an excuse to watch a billion PVs and write about them, which is great, but that's also the problem. Although it may not look like it, I put a lot of work into each little one paragraph review: I watch each PV at least twice (usually more like four or five times), looking at them from every angle I can to see if there's an interesting or artistic angle. If there is I watch even more to pin down exactly what I like and then express it clearly in writing. And if there's not, well, it take a lot of brain power to wittily rip apart those cloned pieces of crap, okay? While brain power is usually not all that limited, time really is, and I just can't afford to spend over an hour on each PV that comes out: I'd be homeless and alone, huddled outside a Starbucks to leach internet and gnawing on my headphone cable for nutrition. All to give you PV reviews.
Well I'm not doing it! I like my apartment, and my husband, and my baby, and my food.
But I do still love to watch and write about PVs. I don't want to stop watching them - any of them. One half of the reason I started this blog was so that I'd have a way to force myself to listen to new releases, and the other half was to force myself to watch and review PVs. (I really wanted a Top 5 PVs of 2010 article for GK, but that's hard to do when you've seen less than 1% of what's out there.)
But how can I satisfy my simultaneous desires for PVs, reviews, home, family, and food?
Well, net-friends, I'll be watching every PV that I can get my twisted, avaricious claws on, but I'll only be reviewing those things that I feel are noteworthy. Let's face it: there are so few that have anything unique, interesting, or truly wretched. Most of them are the 98% of the bell curve: countless "watch the band play the song" PVs, countless "couple montage with happy ending" PVs, countless "everybody's partying in the club" PVs... Concepts recycled so frequently that they may as well start recycling footage. There's almost nothing that's in the extreme 1% on either side; so few PVs like "Diver" or "Ballad" or "ONE," or like "Daisuki Da Yo," for that matter. So I'll be saving my virtual breath for those. If a PV is spectacular or wretched, expect to see a review. But if it's mediocre, why waste my time?
Thanks for understanding. I really don't want to have to eat rocks off the street to give you your PV review fix. (You should seriously consider getting professional help. Abusing strangers to feed your addiction is just wrong.)
Jan 16, 2011
Day 8 - GIRL NEXT DOOR - Freedom
I've never heard any GIRL NEXT DOOR!
(I had no idea they were dance pop.)
(Is it wrong of me to always expect rock when I like the name of a band/group?)
(Don't answer that.)
Because of the singer's voice, "Freedom" has kind of a Hamasaki Ayumi-type feeling, and the heavy reliance on post-processing doesn't help. Not a bad thing! But it's more heavy-handed than I'd like. Still, it's a fun catchy song, and it's easy to see why Zer0 liked the single enough to add to her list.
"Sayonara" sounds like a sad song trying to be happy. More maybe vice versa. The music is upbeat, but there are a lot of chimes. There's the slightly minor-keyed chorus, but there are also synthesizers. A song that suffers from a major identity crisis. Not my favorite on the single.
"Seeds of dream" sounds a little like Gundam music for the first minute or two, then rapidly turns in to DDR music. Listening to it, I was thrown back in time to college, to the basement of the EMU trying to beat "Butterfly" on medium then walking home with no shirt on because I was too hot. Figurative time travel, of course. Though if the CD came with scrolling, multi-colored dance steps it would have created enough temporal force to literally displace my body in space-time. That's not precisely a bad thing - I loved college! - but it is a little unexpected, and would likely turn off a lot of people in America. Even I don't think I could listen to it too often.
"Freedom (instrumental)" is solid music, though I liked it better when there were lyrics. That is, I liked it better when I wasn't listening too closely to the music. Not that it's bad! Not at all. I enjoy it quite a lot: it has these gorgeous high-pitched melodic elements and a rock vibe that I can get behind; I can see myself dancing to this at a club. It's good! But I don't think that it could stand up next to all the great dance music from MiChi and HALCALI that I've just discovered. For one thing, it has a yucky clap track that I could do without. Also, those pretty melodic bits don't last all that long, and they really are the best part of the song.
Overall, it was a pretty good single, and it kept being pretty good all through. On the other hand, I wasn't in love with any of it. How many times in a review should I have to say "Not that that's a bad thing?" I rest my case.
[PV] GIRL NEXT DOOR - Freedom
Uploaded by Maki-dream. - Explore more music videos.
Also: Woo! An entire week! :D Other than the JYJ mishap, I think I'm doing pretty well. Wish me continued luck, because I'm sure I'll need it.
(I had no idea they were dance pop.)
(Is it wrong of me to always expect rock when I like the name of a band/group?)
(Don't answer that.)
Because of the singer's voice, "Freedom" has kind of a Hamasaki Ayumi-type feeling, and the heavy reliance on post-processing doesn't help. Not a bad thing! But it's more heavy-handed than I'd like. Still, it's a fun catchy song, and it's easy to see why Zer0 liked the single enough to add to her list.
"Sayonara" sounds like a sad song trying to be happy. More maybe vice versa. The music is upbeat, but there are a lot of chimes. There's the slightly minor-keyed chorus, but there are also synthesizers. A song that suffers from a major identity crisis. Not my favorite on the single.
"Seeds of dream" sounds a little like Gundam music for the first minute or two, then rapidly turns in to DDR music. Listening to it, I was thrown back in time to college, to the basement of the EMU trying to beat "Butterfly" on medium then walking home with no shirt on because I was too hot. Figurative time travel, of course. Though if the CD came with scrolling, multi-colored dance steps it would have created enough temporal force to literally displace my body in space-time. That's not precisely a bad thing - I loved college! - but it is a little unexpected, and would likely turn off a lot of people in America. Even I don't think I could listen to it too often.
"Freedom (instrumental)" is solid music, though I liked it better when there were lyrics. That is, I liked it better when I wasn't listening too closely to the music. Not that it's bad! Not at all. I enjoy it quite a lot: it has these gorgeous high-pitched melodic elements and a rock vibe that I can get behind; I can see myself dancing to this at a club. It's good! But I don't think that it could stand up next to all the great dance music from MiChi and HALCALI that I've just discovered. For one thing, it has a yucky clap track that I could do without. Also, those pretty melodic bits don't last all that long, and they really are the best part of the song.
Overall, it was a pretty good single, and it kept being pretty good all through. On the other hand, I wasn't in love with any of it. How many times in a review should I have to say "Not that that's a bad thing?" I rest my case.
[PV] GIRL NEXT DOOR - Freedom
Uploaded by Maki-dream. - Explore more music videos.
Also: Woo! An entire week! :D Other than the JYJ mishap, I think I'm doing pretty well. Wish me continued luck, because I'm sure I'll need it.
Jan 14, 2011
Day 5 - Day of Fail
So, yesterday I was supposed to listen to something by JYJ, but wouldn't you know it, since there wasn't any specific single listed, I didn't actually listen to them at all. Awesome. Day 5 - my lucky day! - is a day of fail. I'm still going to be listening to Jaylee's JYJ single pick just as soon as I know what it is. And by "just as soon as," I mean as soon as I find out what it is, I'll tack it to the end of the list.
There is one really great thing that's coming out of all this, though: I'm listening to a lot more Japanese music, just like I wanted. You might have noticed the huge stack of PVs I put up in addition to all the music I'm scheduled to listen to. It's because now that I have something to motivate me, I've re-found my love for Japanese music! Woohoo!
I hasn't realized it when I first started this blog, but there are a lot of things that I want to do with Japanese music: I want to see all the PVs that I can, I want to listen to all the music that I can, I want to write reviews, I want to translate interviews... Everything that I'm doing at Gaijin Kanpai (they have a new episode up, btw - "BatFish" - you should check it out!), but on a much wider, grander scale. The only thing keeping me from just doing it for GK is that they need consistent content; that is, it needs to be of consistent quality and maintain a consistent level. I mean, I could produce three articles in a week, but then the next week I can barely eke out one. I have a job. I have a baby. I have a husband. I have a mother that just got out of the hospital and needs help at home. Life gets in the way sometimes, and I don't want GK to suffer.
But you guys? Feh. You guys can suffer my bad writing and my inconsistent level of content. Right?
Guys?
There is one really great thing that's coming out of all this, though: I'm listening to a lot more Japanese music, just like I wanted. You might have noticed the huge stack of PVs I put up in addition to all the music I'm scheduled to listen to. It's because now that I have something to motivate me, I've re-found my love for Japanese music! Woohoo!
I hasn't realized it when I first started this blog, but there are a lot of things that I want to do with Japanese music: I want to see all the PVs that I can, I want to listen to all the music that I can, I want to write reviews, I want to translate interviews... Everything that I'm doing at Gaijin Kanpai (they have a new episode up, btw - "BatFish" - you should check it out!), but on a much wider, grander scale. The only thing keeping me from just doing it for GK is that they need consistent content; that is, it needs to be of consistent quality and maintain a consistent level. I mean, I could produce three articles in a week, but then the next week I can barely eke out one. I have a job. I have a baby. I have a husband. I have a mother that just got out of the hospital and needs help at home. Life gets in the way sometimes, and I don't want GK to suffer.
But you guys? Feh. You guys can suffer my bad writing and my inconsistent level of content. Right?
Guys?
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