Jpop Recommendations - Girls Be Ambitious

Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 by Steven

The Jpop album Girls Be Ambitious was released March 26, 2008 which featured a variety of popular and talented female artists. I was glad the female voices were typically lower pitched, but wasn't too happy about the rapping.

ArtistSongDetails
Crystal KayTears
Slower paced song with excellent vocals
ARIA
I Love You
Pop, the song's hook is the excellent piano instrumental
MINMI
Aisuru Toiu Koto
Pop/Soca, excellent vocals from my favourite Soca Jpop artist
DOUBLE
SPRING LOVE
Pop
Leah Dizon
Koi Shiyou
Pop, I like this song minus the chorus
Orion
Once More
Pop, I'm a sucker for piano yet again

Of the 26 tracks, only 5 songs matched the Jpop I enjoy. I was slightly disappointed, but then again, the percentage of songs I enjoy in the Oricon SINGLE WEEKLY TOP 30 is usually just as bad.

Highly Recommended Jpop - January to April 2008

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 by Steven

2008 has started with an incredible amount of releases from some of my favourite Jpop Artists as well as some who I've recently discovered.

There were a lot of albums containing older songs, such as Ken Hirai's Pop Star or any song from the brilliant's green single collection. However, if you've missed them before, it's a good opportunity to get them now.

Albums/Singles

  • ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - World World World
  • Ben Arashino - Chapter One ~Complete Collection~
  • CHEMISTRY - Face to Face
  • EXILE - Pure / You're my sunshine
  • GLORY HILL - DAYBREAK e.p.
  • Hikari - Naked
  • Ken Hirai - FAKIN' POP
  • Koda Kumi - Kingdom
  • KOKIA - Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi
  • Leah Dizon - Love Paradox
  • melody. - Lei Aloha
  • mihimaru GT - diverge
  • Monkey Majik - Together/Akari/Fall Back
  • Nami Tamki - Don't Stay
  • Namie Amuro - 60s 70s 80s
  • Rimi Natsukawa - Ano Hana No Youni
  • the brilliant green - complete single collection '97-'08
  • Utada Hikaru - HEART STATION
  • YUI - I LOVED YESTERDAY
  • Yuna Ito - WISH
  • ZEEBRA - BUSHIDO
I decided to summarize my favourite Jpop songs in a tabular format, so you can quickly scan for songs that interest you.

ArtistSongDetails
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
After Dark
Rock, the popular song used in the opening for the anime Bleach
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Korogaru Iwa, Kimi ni Asa ga Furu
Rock
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Travelog
Rock
Beni Arashino
Cherish
Pop, an old favourite of mine
Beni Arashino
FLASH FLASH (feat. KOHEI JAPAN)
Pop, rapping
Beni Arashino
Goal
Pop, an old favourite of mine
CHEMISTRY
Kagayaku yoru
Pop, song supported by Monkey Majik, which means amazing guitar
EXILE
Pure
Pop, on the slower side but excellent male vocals
GLORY HILL
DAYBREAK e.p.
Punk/rock, sounds like ELLEGARDEN (including unintelligible English)
Hikari
Sowelu
Pop
Hikari
Still lovin' you
Pop
Ken Hirai
Pain
Pop
Ken Hirai
Pop Star
Pop, if you haven't heard this song before you should!
Koda Kumi
anytime
Pop
Koda Kumi
Under
Pop
KOKIA
Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi
Pop
Leah Dizon
Love Paradox
Pop, surprisingly good for a Leah Dizon song
melody.
Haruka -Eternal Version-
Slow song
mihimaru GT
diverge
Pop
Monkey Majik
Akari
Pop
Monkey Majik
Fall Back
Pop, the rap sucks but the rest of the song is good
Monkey Majik
One More Chance
Pop, the surprisingly good b-side
Nami Tamaki
visualize
Dance, reminds me of her song "Believe"
Nami Tamaki
Promise
Slow song
Namie Amuro
NEW LOOK
Pop
Namie Amuro
ROCK STEADY
Pop
Namie Amuro
WHAT A FEELING
Pop
Rimi Natsukawa
Ano Hana No YouniSlow song
the brilliant green
Ai no Heart Ai no Hoshi
Rock
the brilliant greenRainy Days Never Stays
Rock, one of my favourite tbg songs ever
the brilliant greenI'm So Sorry Baby
Rock
the brilliant greenStand By Me
Pop, another one of my favourite tbg songs
Utada Hikaru
Beautiful World
Pop
Utada Hikaru
Flavor Of Life -Ballad Version
Slow song, my absolute favourite song from this album
Utada Hikaru
Stay Gold

YUI
My Generation
Pop
YUI
Namidario
Pop
Yuna Ito
Mahaloha
Pop
ZEEBRA
BUSHIDO
Rap, this is what Japanese rapping should be like