TWIJ…#37
17th October 2007
Another slow week - probably the calm before the storm as next week sees an avalanche of releases, particularly from the anisong side.
Last week’s reviews’ chart placings
Singles
01. DAYBREAK’S BELL. L’arc~en~Ciel (115,673)
06. LOVE★GUN. Hirano Aya (12,536)
10. Key~Yume Kara Samete~. Nagase Miyu (6,048)
11. I Love You no Katachi/Haneyume. Yaida Hitomi (5,854)
16. Tuning Note. Fujiki Naohito (4,812)
32. Aoharuiro. Onsoku Line
Outside top 50: RYTHEM
Albums
01. Sazanami CD. Spitz (116,229)
07. ALL LIVE BEST. Suga Shikao (16,327)
12. 2007. SOPHIA (12,868)
13. Wonderful World. JUJU (12,801)
23. Lucky Star ED Theme Collection. Shiraishi Minoru (8,840)
Holy shit, the singles chart is dead if you only need to sell 6k copies to reach the top 10. Guess chaku-uta is really killing the single CD format. Gone are the days when bands like Mr.Children, B’z and GLAY easily sped past the 500k mark within the first week….
Hirano Aya ended up not selling a whole lot of copies… though if Lantis had released LOVE★GUN 2-3 weeks earlier it’d had barely scraped the top 10, a year ago she wouldn’t have even been top 20. Looks like some way to go before she can even think of challenging Mizuki Nana (MASSIVE WONDERS sold 41,838 in its first week). Oh, and AKINO’s Sousei no Aquarion has seen a bit of a mini-revival in the charts - it’s at No.33 this week and has finally pushed past the 50k mark some 2 and 1/2 years after its initial release.
Singles
Shichitenhakki☆Shijoshugi!. KOTOKO
I’m searching for an appropriate word to describe this….. Pointless? Cheesy? Let’s settle for ‘Crap’. I can’t quite remember the last time I really hated a KOTOKO song but oh well, can’t keep making good stuff all the time. I still like it better than the new Hayate no Gotoku! ending theme by Utatsuki Kaori though.
Watch: Shichitenhakki☆Shijoshugi! PV
First day Oricon chart placing: No.05
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Sakasama World. GOING UNDER GROUND
This is GUG’s 20th single, and also the final one leading up to their official 6th album Oyasumi Monster due next month. The last two singles only debuted in the 30-ish positions, and I don’t think that Sakasama World is a particularly good advertisement for the album either. It’s just more of the same old catchy, rocking GUG that only fans will like, with nobody else paying much attention. The bagpipes-featuring Holiday is brilliant though; it also has a reggae sequence in the middle of the song that completely took me by surprise. Their best stuff never makes it as the A-side -_-
Watch: Sakasama World PV
First day Oricon chart placing: No.15
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Unabara no Tsuki. Ando Yuko
It’s been a year since her last single The Still Steel Down. Ando’s singles don’t really do too well, averaging round the 40s, but Unabara no Tsuki is the theme song for Jigyaku no Uta (starring Nakatani Miki & Abe Hiroshi) so that’s helped sales along a bit. To be honest I find it dull as hell, especially as it clocks in at a mind-numbing 7 minutes 17 seconds. The c/w is a rather nifty cover of Yakushimaru Hiroko’s Woman~W no Higeki yori~ so it makes up for things a little.
Watch: Unabara no Tsuki PV
First day Oricon chart placing: No.09
Rating: ★★★☆☆
LIBERTY. Salyu
Routinely hailed as one of the best voices in Jpop, but the first thing that hits you upon hearing LIBERTY is - Salyu, why the hell are you singing so weird? But after a few listens it started to grow on me and now I absolutely love it. No Kobayashi Takeshi in sight, so no boring old soft rock arrangements either yay - instead we get some really nice strings. It’s refreshing to hear something different from Salyu, and I hope we get an album soon - she’s got another single out next month.
Watch: LIBERTY PV
First day Oricon chart placing: No.11
Rating: ★★★★☆
Discommunication. 9mm Parabellum Bullet (released 10th October)
The indie favourites have made a smooth transition to major label land, and this is their first release under EMI. There’s only two tracks on the e.p. - Discommunication is pretty much standard 9mmpb rock but the best thing about this is the second track. It’s a live set from their The World tour, ripping through most of their best songs like Caucasus, Mr. Suicide, Heat-Island and (teenage) Disaster in 35 minutes. Awesome stuff.
Watch: Discommunication PV
First week Oricon chart placing: No.09 (9,264 copies sold)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Albums
Tackey & Tsubasa Best. Tackey & Tsubasa
Shh, don’t tell anyone. I went through a T&T phase when they first appeared on the scene (around 2002), I had a friend who was mad crazy about Takizawa Hideaki and ended up being converted. As a result, the first half of this best of collection (up until One Day, One Dream) brings back somewhat fond memories. It’s been more than 4 years since I last heard True Heart ^^; And Ki.Se.Ki is love!! Thank goodness I stopped listening to them sometime round 2004 cos everything from Kamen onwards sucks balls. And once again, Johnny’s/Avex bleed fans dry with three versions of this album. Stupid sods.
First day Oricon chart placing: No.01
Rating: ★★★☆☆
abingdon boys school. abingdon boys school
Rock suits Nishikawa so much better than the gay-dance pop of T.M.Revolution ^^; abs have been heavily hyped thanks to their frontman, with tie-ins to popular anime and also featuring on various tribute albums. So I did come into this with pretty high expectations, having loved INNOCENT SORROW and the cover of BUCK-TICK’s Dress. And those expectations are sadly unfulfilled, as the album is boring and repetitive; using the same template for each song & just tweaking a chord here or a melody there. Apart from the two tracks I mentioned and Via Dolorosa everything’s just too same-y. Bit of a disappointment overall, but I’ll look forward to their next single BLADE CHORD in December. Oh, and someone tell me what’s so different about the album version of HOWLING cos I can’t -_-
First day Oricon chart placing: No.02
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
poco A poco. Matsushita Nao (released 10th October)
I was dreading listening to poco A poco after someone apparently decided that it’d be a good idea for her to sing but thankfully there’s only 3 vocal tracks on it. Let me just mention that Matsushita’s not a singer, but an actress and a classically trained pianist - she was due to graduate from Tokyo College of Music in July & recently played with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
poco A poco features more of Matsushita’s compositions/arrangements than her debut dolce, including a jazz reworking of chocolat from and a piano version of DREAMS COME TRUE’s Mirai Yosozu II, which was featured in the movie of the (almost) same name that Nao starred in. Sadly there’s nothing on here that’s as epic as dolce’s Concerto for Catherine but it’s still a good easy-listening album. Perfect for those who like Sakamoto Ryuichi and Hisaishi Joe - and Nao’s much easier on the eyes than those two elder statesmen ^^; I really do hope she doesn’t drop the piano in favour of singing…..
Watch: Chocolat live
First week Oricon chart placing: No.39
Rating: ★★★★☆
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Next week sees the release of Chihara Minori’s CONTACT album! I’ve not placed an order yet, but will probably pick it up along with Mizuki Nana’s new one next month.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:06 am
Sorry to posted to as rather unrelated question.^^; I remember last time you told me a site for checking events in anime related events in Tokyo. I’m pretty sure I did bookmark it but since I add bookmarks so oftenand never organize them so I can’t see to find it.^^; Mind if you tell me again and maybe some other new links or stuff you think would be useful to me?
Going on Saturday for a week. Still haven’t really gotten anything planned out.^^; Was hoping to attend School Days radio event but can’t send in application since don’t have Japanese address.>_< Did see Asumi Kana would be manager of the day at one of west animate location on 28th also but unlikely I'd take train to there just for it.^^; Plus I'm sure I'd get lost...hehe.
Thanks in advance. Any useful info from anyone else are welcome too.^^
October 25th, 2007 at 9:06 am
It was Saiani and Springs IIRC. Looks to me like most events are on the Saturday ^^;; I myself been rather busy lately so not really keeping up with things…. enjoy your trip ^_^
October 28th, 2007 at 2:27 am
Thanks. Doesn’t look like there are too many interesting events during my stay here or at least the more interesting one require you to sending the application(think the reason they didn’t give me the info on school days radio even because just heard from the radio mentioning they have sorta test on the anime and I told them I hated Makoto too much never watched more than episode 4.^^;), buy tickets ahead.(http://otasuke.new-akiba.com/event/6197 This Hirano Aya one seems ok and pretty cheap too but sold out…^^; Even the Little Non event with Kitmura Eri as guess tomorrow is all gone.) or not around Tokyo area.>_< First day here sucks as the stupid typhoon was here so had to fight the wind and rain while taking my stuff to the apt…^^; So ddin’t domuc even though arrive here during afternoon.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Since I didn’t really plan much so was being stupid hoping I find or even get in School Days radio event.^^; Actually went down to Ikebukuro to look around… Of course nothing…Ikebukuro is alot less busy on Sunday than I imagined. Went back to my apt and look up the info to see if anyone reveal the place and also check out the Little Non one. Then decide to go to that one’s location. Using my crappy Japanese to ask one guy there and told me I’m fine since there will be pass available by the door. Got there around 5 and waited two hours then finally time to go. The pass is 1,500yen and 500yen if you want a drink there. Don’t have change so gave them 2,000yen and he didn’t ask me.^^;
The place, Dress Tokyo is pretty small(B1 of Dress Cafe) and there were that many people probably around 30 or so. Actually only like less 1/3 there actually seen the anime so I guess even less seiyuu fans there. As expected, no pictures.^^ The even was in two parts, one is the radio and the other is like the questionarie. You can get autographed Rin drawing by the band members and Kitaeri around the end but they used this stupid method…rock scissors and paper.^^; Surprisngly no one cheated. So it was smooth. Of course I didn’t get anything…hehe. After that I waited around the door a bit. Kitaeri did come out after chane into shorts(which waas probably even shorter than her skirt…^^; Wonder what’s the point…hmm…) Didn’t try to take pictures or went up for autograph since didn’t see anyone do plus I don’t want them misunderstand me as a weirdo when my spoken Japanese isn’t good and the manager and some employee from Lantis and Bandai Visual were with her also.
October 28th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Cool, KitaEri XD Nice that you got to an event after all, heh. I should make it a point to go to one myself next year… though I’d probably be completely out place amongst the male otaku…. saw any girls at the event? ^^;;;
I think the Rock-Paper-Scissors thing is pretty common in giving away stuff at events. Gets the audience involved a bit that way I suppose… Maybe KitaEri changed into shorts as a bit of fanservice ^_^ Or maybe something unfortunate happened to her skirt…… not that I want to think what that may be, heh.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Just noticed I made so many typo.^^; There was only like…one female audience there I think even though like I mentioned already the otaku precentage wasn’t that high. Can’t say I did hear any loud cheer or whatever when KitaEri was getting on the stage or leaving the place so I guess there wasn’t really that many seiyuu fans like me.^^;(Should’ve done something …) I almost missed her leaving as it as it was rather quiet or maybe Japanese custom is different? Anyway, I was quite surprised by that. Probably due to that, she wasn’t doing her thing much which is a shame.^^; Also she was a guest I supppose. Seems more people are there for the band or better yet the vocal, Nozomi mainly.^^;
There were quite few interesting answers from the question event like her Kodomo no Jikan’s abbreviation which is obviously Kojika so she can’t really change that like the rest…being inovled in the series and all. So she just added stuff after each like this,”こ”つくりは”じ”かん”か”かる. There’s also like how do you find yourself being an adult. She mentioned selling her manga collection(which she would never do before) when she needed spent her pay buying stuff she wanted(kid-like) and need more money later. Yet thinking “I’ll buy them all back later on when I get paid and not used but brand new ones still.” which is again a bit kid-like. The answer sorta contradicts itself.^^; Also we know she uses a Mac G4. As we already know she can draw as being involved in doujin activity before. So her Rin protrait was very nicely done with the kirakira shoujo eyes.^^ Nozomi’s was actually pretty good to and the guys’ were well.^^;
I guess she wanted to be safe from the wind by changing into shorts?^^; The typhoon was on Saturday but yesterday was all sunny(Luckily that was a quick typhoon.) and hardly any wind though. Just looked around and found Little Non’s net radio so the first radio part would probably be up next Friday. http://www.cho-animelo.com/housou
Still check to see what other events I can go but not too many interesting or during my stay. There’s that Morinaga Rika’s band stuff but that’s more for music…Anime Center radio one on tomorrow(30th) I can go but doesn’t seem to be any guest. Surprisingly there aren’t many events on Halloween which kinda sucks… Wasedasai looks really good but I’m leaving on 3rd.>_< Might be able to see Tanaka Rie since it's starting at 10am but you just know it's gonna be freakin' crowded... They also have different seiyuu for different event at the campus(gakuensai..duh!) like Seki Tomokazu & Paku Romi and lame ass Shiraishi...etc. Guess I should check out the events info earlier next time I do plan to come. Another Aquaplus festa on Dec 2nd looks really good...only ticket on sale on Nov. 3rd.>_<
October 31st, 2007 at 9:20 am
Went to Anime Center radio recording on Tuesday while finishing up browsing Akiba for the second day. Sure were alot of female audience there as Miyata Kouki is the host. I was there hoping they’d have a guest since it’s close to Halloween and all but turned up none.>_< The girls also went a bit excited hearing next time they’ll have Narita Ken as guest…^^; Have to say it was pretty so so. I probably would leave after the recording where they have this service talk show for the live audience if I could. Oh well, since it was free with a little bit of luck(they give out raffle tickets from 11 and draw at 4:30) so can’t complain I guess.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:49 am
Ah too bad TAC didn’t have any guests on then, since they usually do when I listen to the show on JOQR. I remember there was once when KitaEri was the guest and that was quite fun. Dunno why Miyata gets that many female fans, he looks so weird. Must be cos he does a lot of BL stuff ^^;
October 31st, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Well most of the male seiyuu don’t sell by their looks obviously but I do agree his face is a bit weird… Actually sorta like a deformed Fukuyama maybe?^^; I can only remember him from one of my favorite, Yoshinoya-chi no Gargoyle and that odd female oriented series hidden in shounen skin, Kyou kara maou.(I actually finished watching it back then probably for the few decent looking female character and the cast.) Or maybe I just don’t really watch the stuff he’s usually in I suppose.^^;
Went to Nakano today ’cause heard it’s a good place to do some shopping(anime/manga/game related, collector stuff and souvenir) and decent cheap foods. Not too badn since Mandarake is there and they have whole bunch of different divisions in the same place. Not recommand to go on Wednesday though as some of the stores close on Wednesday and I was just happened to be there…
November 1st, 2007 at 9:08 am
I don’t think Salyu will be releasing another album for a while. The pattern for her last two albums have been—release 4 singles, then an album. So far, she’s released one single (Liberty). Another one’s due out next month. That means two more singles. But considering how it’s back-to-back single releases, that might mean an extra single squeezed in. There hasn’t been any mentions of recording another album on her blog either, so I think the next album will probably be out next Spring at the earliest, and perhaps even Summer/Fall