jpop year in review
Note that this review does not include any Hello! Project, because more than likely I will make a seperate list for that.
I loved this year, actually. A lot of j-hiphop was really shitty this year but there was a lot of awesome stuff that just kicked my butt in other genres, so yeah.
Best solo artists:
Ai Otsuka -- I know I've been harsh on her but that's just because I expected even more out of her after the first album. She's still an awesome performer and songwriter, and seems like such a fun, sweet person that I just can't dislike her. Certainly, there are no other solo artists that have had more of an impact on Jpop this year.
Runner-up: Koda Kumi -- She rocks. But this year just hasn't been THAT good, at least compared to 2004.
Best groups:
dream -- Not a very successful year for dream, but with the release of 777 another side story (by far my favourite dream album right now), followed by Natsuiro which is also wonderful, and the solo release of Sayaka which I also count towards dream =P, I think this year has been sweet for them.
Most improved:
capsule -- I'm having a hard time thinking of anything for this category, but capsule's second album of the year Lounge Design Killers is a lot better than Nexus-2060. Of course, I like their 2004 album Sound Furniture better than either of those, but still...
Best new acts:
AKINO -- Dramatic pop/rock composed by Yoko Kanno and sung by one of the best voices in Jpop? Oh my God. I can't stop listening to the 3 songs I have by her. wub.gif
Nakanomori Band -- What can I say? Anybody who doesn't like them probably just doesn't like music.
High and Mighty Colour -- Nu-metalish, but it's good stuff anyway.
Best songs:
Nakanomori Band - Datsumannera -- Sue me, it's practically a Shaka Labbits song, and Shaka Labbits is <3
Nami Tamaki - Get Wild -- I've always liked TK's work, and this is one of his better ones, I think.
Koda Kumi - No Tricks -- About five million times better than anything else she's released ever, and that's saying a lot considering how awesome her stuff is.
Best looking PVs:
Hitomi Shimatani - Falco -- The PV is a bit overblown in my opinion, and not as good as Mermaid as a song, but it's still a pretty awesome PV, and I normally don't even notice PVs.
Best looking CD covers:
THE BACK HORN - Headphone Children -- It looks cool, with its black and whiteness and stuff.
Best singles:
THE BACK HORN - Kizuna Song -- I was addicted to this song for months, it's unbelievably beautiful, and it has a great b-side as well.
D.D.D. - Heart -- Good stuff, it took me a few listens to really get into it but it's a nice smooth song.
Nakanomori BAND - Oh My Darlin' -- 2 b-sides and instrumentals, and all the songs on it rock, it's a sweet deal!
Shinohara Tomoe - Aso FEVER 2005 -- The b-sides were less than spectacular but I have to mention this single cause that a-side is just LOVELY. It's Shinohara as I haven't heard her in almost 10 years.
Best albums:
THE BACK HORN - Headphone Children -- Loved nearly every song on this album to death, I still listen to this on the way to school.
DEPAPEPE - Let's Go!!! -- There's something special about a pop album with no vocals on it, and hardly any instruments outside of acoustic guitar. These guys manage to make it work without even resorting to jazz solos. It's pretty awesome.
Pleasant surprises of this year:
DEPAPEPE - Let's Go!!! -- I didn't know them and I certainly wasn't expecting it to be any good.
Shinohara Tomoe - Aso FEVER 2005 -- Came out of nowhere and kicked my ass.
Biggest disappointments this year:
m-flo -- They have been pretty shit this year.
Teriyaki Boyz -- An insanely bad album. I seriously can't think of any way that it could be worse. Maybe if they added another remix that was JUST DOWNSPEEDING THE SONG.
Rip Slyme -- Nothing?! NOTHING!?!
... Fuck it, pretty much all j-hiphop this year -- What a fucking dismal year for j-hiphop! The only remotely good thing was HOME MADE KAZOKU - JOYRIDE as far as I'm concerned.
I loved this year, actually. A lot of j-hiphop was really shitty this year but there was a lot of awesome stuff that just kicked my butt in other genres, so yeah.
Best solo artists:
Ai Otsuka -- I know I've been harsh on her but that's just because I expected even more out of her after the first album. She's still an awesome performer and songwriter, and seems like such a fun, sweet person that I just can't dislike her. Certainly, there are no other solo artists that have had more of an impact on Jpop this year.
Runner-up: Koda Kumi -- She rocks. But this year just hasn't been THAT good, at least compared to 2004.
Best groups:
dream -- Not a very successful year for dream, but with the release of 777 another side story (by far my favourite dream album right now), followed by Natsuiro which is also wonderful, and the solo release of Sayaka which I also count towards dream =P, I think this year has been sweet for them.
Most improved:
capsule -- I'm having a hard time thinking of anything for this category, but capsule's second album of the year Lounge Design Killers is a lot better than Nexus-2060. Of course, I like their 2004 album Sound Furniture better than either of those, but still...
Best new acts:
AKINO -- Dramatic pop/rock composed by Yoko Kanno and sung by one of the best voices in Jpop? Oh my God. I can't stop listening to the 3 songs I have by her. wub.gif
Nakanomori Band -- What can I say? Anybody who doesn't like them probably just doesn't like music.
High and Mighty Colour -- Nu-metalish, but it's good stuff anyway.
Best songs:
Nakanomori Band - Datsumannera -- Sue me, it's practically a Shaka Labbits song, and Shaka Labbits is <3
Nami Tamaki - Get Wild -- I've always liked TK's work, and this is one of his better ones, I think.
Koda Kumi - No Tricks -- About five million times better than anything else she's released ever, and that's saying a lot considering how awesome her stuff is.
Best looking PVs:
Hitomi Shimatani - Falco -- The PV is a bit overblown in my opinion, and not as good as Mermaid as a song, but it's still a pretty awesome PV, and I normally don't even notice PVs.
Best looking CD covers:
THE BACK HORN - Headphone Children -- It looks cool, with its black and whiteness and stuff.
Best singles:
THE BACK HORN - Kizuna Song -- I was addicted to this song for months, it's unbelievably beautiful, and it has a great b-side as well.
D.D.D. - Heart -- Good stuff, it took me a few listens to really get into it but it's a nice smooth song.
Nakanomori BAND - Oh My Darlin' -- 2 b-sides and instrumentals, and all the songs on it rock, it's a sweet deal!
Shinohara Tomoe - Aso FEVER 2005 -- The b-sides were less than spectacular but I have to mention this single cause that a-side is just LOVELY. It's Shinohara as I haven't heard her in almost 10 years.
Best albums:
THE BACK HORN - Headphone Children -- Loved nearly every song on this album to death, I still listen to this on the way to school.
DEPAPEPE - Let's Go!!! -- There's something special about a pop album with no vocals on it, and hardly any instruments outside of acoustic guitar. These guys manage to make it work without even resorting to jazz solos. It's pretty awesome.
Pleasant surprises of this year:
DEPAPEPE - Let's Go!!! -- I didn't know them and I certainly wasn't expecting it to be any good.
Shinohara Tomoe - Aso FEVER 2005 -- Came out of nowhere and kicked my ass.
Biggest disappointments this year:
m-flo -- They have been pretty shit this year.
Teriyaki Boyz -- An insanely bad album. I seriously can't think of any way that it could be worse. Maybe if they added another remix that was JUST DOWNSPEEDING THE SONG.
Rip Slyme -- Nothing?! NOTHING!?!
... Fuck it, pretty much all j-hiphop this year -- What a fucking dismal year for j-hiphop! The only remotely good thing was HOME MADE KAZOKU - JOYRIDE as far as I'm concerned.