Not sure what's going on with my other post, which I don't think is bumping up anymore: https://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=3036337&mesg_id=3036337&listing_type=search

minamisenju: https://youtu.be/jdSImgLJBLY?t=32
Fis tel: https://youtu.be/w2FQ2ZHwUA0

https://youtu.be/zXCwf6uvuZU

Their only song I was previously familiar was "Yakusoku," but I've been hooked this one from their new EP: https://youtu.be/Q0fLoEVwm3k

A bit more poppy than the R&B stuff people may be used to from her, but I'm enjoying it: https://youtu.be/QPWu9zc2wfQ

Not really a fan of the vocal layering for the chorus, but I enjoy the verses and electric piano, bass, and drums on this single: https://youtu.be/ce3JGQGrfGI

Album was released last week, and Vaundy worked on some of the songs on it.

It's ME: https://youtu.be/Sh0KLOL97cE
lemonade: https://youtu.be/3nSBhYZ59h0
Tremelo: https://youtu.be/AhsJVwE1lFk

https://youtu.be/0m0w1wEReOI

https://youtu.be/aVatpxBTfZs

English K-Pop-ish song from a Japanese girl group. The attempts at imitating K-Pop from Japan usually sound or look a bit off, but I would have guessed this was from Korea without research. Maybe the big Japanese labels are tired of Korea taking over the global pop scene. The style is definitely that bratty girl crush sound I've come to expect from some K-Pop groups, but it seems like they are trying to appeal to the international and Japanese K-Pop fans, and I think they also have promoted in Korea.

The lyrics obviously aren't meant for me, and these kind of girl power-y lyrics written by someone from these huge corporations/labels comes off as shameless pandering, but teen girls need their anthems too. Prechorus is absolutely fire, though.

https://youtu.be/HDzYIT8Nu-M

Not familiar with the TV drama that this apparently comes from, but every now and then the songs used for dramas openings and endings are really good. The vocalist reminds me of one from Tahiti80 (https://youtu.be/HAMpS9gEAP0) and the guy from Hot Chip for some reason.

They have a release soon that I'm kind of interested in. Seems like a couple of young people just making pop punk or whatever else they want.

A.O.U (electronic, house-ish): https://youtu.be/9XbxjZKqvnw
take a chance (pop punk): https://youtu.be/Zt-lRBFj3Y0

https://youtu.be/T_1BTPkSXZU

I don't usually watch lyric videos, but watching this made me realize just how good my Japanese reading has gotten after I started to seriously study and practice because of the pandemic. I'm at the point now where I can read everything and keep up, although there are vocabulary I don't know the exact meanings off, and it takes me longer to process or understand grammar. Another thing I noticed was the lack of any English, I think even including even English loan words, which feels rare in any modern Asian pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFWv7jy5gXM

Second single and music video from her new EP, Echo Chamber.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHMTwkf6Z8A

Theme song from a movie called AMIKO.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgLV7l_2qDo

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b77y39iqxWk

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I'm way behind on checking out full albums.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nupyi5Avalo

The song and video are inspired by them having their stuff stolen while on tour in the US this year.

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There are certainly some Deafheaven-y Blackgaze elements here, but the J-Rock guitar and bass parts work really well too somehow with the screamo and spoken word vocals.

https://youtu.be/9oja9xbDxTo

Highly recommended to anyone checking out this thread. I think anyone following my posts over the years and knows my general tastes can see that record was basically made for me.

one of the singles from the album: https://youtu.be/IsVyACY3QDw
full album: https://youtu.be/9oja9xbDxTo
buy from Bandcamp: https://asunojokei.bandcamp.com/album/island
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1PddlbV2O6RL1Dfu670pYo?si=qgvL-vbZRc6zZL5EByjUmw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89/1633427633

I haven't bought a vinyl record since maybe '08 or '09 but think I might have to pick this up if it does get a vinyl release, which I'm sure would have a very limited run.

My friend that wrote the Pitchfork review for Utada'a latest is doing one for this album, although I'm not sure if it will be for Pitchfork or another publication. I don't have a TikTok account, so I I miss out on the random songs that get popular on there, which are often sped up versions, and the artist even eventually put out an official sped up version.

See Tinh (TikTok remix): https://youtu.be/fCRVKd4ra0A
See Tinh (official): https://youtu.be/gJHSDZfJrRY
official sped up version: https://youtu.be/3BbAgRg_XKQ

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hoang-thuy-linh-link/

Fujii Kaze's Shinunoga E-Wa...

sped up: https://youtu.be/RRrsxoUqpwo
original: https://youtu.be/3zh9Wb1KuW8

It's kind of crazy seeing him become a pop star, because I remember watching some of his videos when he was just some random kid uploading piano performances/covers on YouTube about 10 years ago.

Matsuri (a single from earlier this year): https://youtu.be/NwOvu-j_WjY

Pretty sure I've expressed how disappointed I've been with most of her output, and there are a lot of forgettable songs on here, BUT I do love one of the new songs:

強くなっちゃったんだ、ブルー (Getting Stronger, but so blue): https://youtu.be/DRih_KDJX00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFKJicrsJI8

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American band (noise, experimental), but some of the tracks from their latest have some Asian lyrics and guest features.

AMITA DRIVE: https://youtu.be/3PH0hSTg8Fw

FEEDBACK LOOPS: https://youtu.be/ffuRxB5jHEU

great short little debut EP with some 2000s-styled R&B influences:

https://youtu.be/BCL98m0f3Kk

https://soundcloud.com/danpiamuzik/newjeans-bad-cookie

Red Velvet's "Bad Boy" is possibly my favorite k-pop song ever, and its instrumental works perfectly with NewJean's "Cookie" (can't get over how good the bridge is).

ROYAL: https://youtu.be/pXbugSyo0tI

This is the b-side to their single that was a pretty big hit earlier this year. I'm a sucker for these kind of prechoruses, and the sequencing of the vocals and the melodies are good demonstrations of what I like really like about k-pop girl groups.

released last year: https://youtu.be/RJMH7WjjPh0

https://p-vine.lnk.to/wKPiWw

Really happy to visit again after three long years. Haven't found many shows I want to see yet except maybe Big Thief or Elephant Gym, and there aren't many Japanese acts I'm interested in that are currently on tour, but I probably need to do a deeper search.

I think I might try to buy a few records this time around; the yen is currently very weak! If anyone has any records they'd like for me to keep a look out for and pick up for you, just let me know, although I'll have to see what my luggage situation is like.

https://craftrock.jp/cir2022/

Found out about this "festival" with shows held concurrently across 6 different live venues in Kichijoji. Mostly interested in seeing downt, tricot, and Suzuki Mamiko. I'll probably also see LITE, bed, downy, illiomote, and yuragi if the schedules don't overlap.

I think most of the stuff I'm looking for is sold out: Mondo Grosso's previous two albums), overnight by showmore, The Wisley Brothers, Shade by iri, Ampersands by Mei Ehara, Deep Green by Suzuki Mamiko...I could go on.

I probably just need to wait for represses (if that ever happens) and make sure I don't miss out like I did with Deep Green.

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>I think most of the stuff I'm looking for is sold out: Mondo
>Grosso's previous two albums), overnight by showmore, The
>Wisley Brothers, Shade by iri, Ampersands by Mei Ehara, Deep
>Green by Suzuki Mamiko...I could go on.
>
>I probably just need to wait for represses (if that ever
>happens) and make sure I don't miss out like I did with Deep
>Green.

I found a pic of the Mondo Gross record from a 2018 trip and wish I had bought it then: https://i.imgur.com/jl85S3X.jpg

I'll keep an eye out for some of this stuff on the off chance it's still sitting in some crate, especially when I visit some smaller towns and areas. I'm really hoping Suzuki Mamiko will perform some songs from Deep Green at the festival I posted about earlier.

Thanks a lot. Would be great if you found anything but obviously, no expectations. I'm so close to pulling the trigger on some of these records on Discogs while the yen is still weak and they "only" cost 100 bucks.

That festival sounds great. Definitely jealous.

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and downt was the highlight for me. They were who I was most excited to see, and they sounded great live. Took some pictures with the band after the show, and they mentioned they have a show with asunojokei next year, although it's a bummer I won't be able to go.

tricot was really good too. Even when they played songs that aren't exactly my favorites, the energy was great (especially Motifour)! Best moments were when they played "POOL" and "Ochansensu-Su."

I wasn't interested in many acts on Sunday, but I'm still glad I went to see Mamiko playing with a live band. She played my favorite song from her latest album ("Dokka no Doyoubi"). She also performed "Jam" with iri's vocals on a backing track. I don't know if it was on purpose or not, but it seemed like Mamiko came in at the wrong time on a part of the song after the first verse or so, and she started over from the top. She also performed jazzy versions of "Blue" and "Contact" (my favorites from the Deep green EP). There was no guitarist in the band, so the guitar sample that really makes "Blue" for me was missing. Although these versions were different than the originals I love, I appreciated getting to hear these renditions I'd only be able to catch live (or maybe live recordings.

I was interested in seeing illiomote, and I imagine it would have been a fun show, but their set conflicted with Mamiko's.

bed isn't one of my favorite bands, but their sound really works in a live setting. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed their show, and it helps that they played songs from their discography I enjoy. Not the biggest fan of instrumental noodling and wankery for live shows, but LITE was solid, and they did play one of my favorites of theirs ("Bond").

I'm not a drinker, but I still tried one of the craft beers served at the venues. Yup, still don't like beer.

I've been incredibly fortunate to see tricot three times in Texas but I don't have much hope of seeing people like downt or Mamiko Suzuki. I recently missed Haru Nemuri due to work and also missed paranoid void right before the pandemic because they were playing some venue in town that I'd never heard of and I didn't know they were on your. Other than that, no real opportunities to see any Japanese bands, at least without flying across the country which I may have to do some time if the opportunity arises.

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Obviously not just for concerts, but they're definitely something I enjoy while in the country. Missed chances to see tricot several times over the years due to various reasons, and it was long overdue to finally see them. I don't think I'd ever travel across the U.S. to see one particular band, but I probably would travel to Canada to catch the Next Music From Tokyo tours if they resume.

Definitely a life highlight. Unfortunately that trip was before I was really into concerts in general and before I had any knowledge of Japanese music but obviously the trip was still really worthwhile; just a little bit of a missed opportunity.

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>Definitely a life highlight. Unfortunately that trip was
>before I was really into concerts in general and before I had
>any knowledge of Japanese music but obviously the trip was
>still really worthwhile; just a little bit of a missed
>opportunity.

What part(s) of the country were you in? I would have loved to study abroad there back then, but it wasn't in the cards.

I did some traveling during Golden Week and went as far north as Sapporo and as far south as Hakata. Outside of that, a couple of trips to Osaka and two days right at the end in Tokyo it was all Kyoto. Half the time was study abroad and half was an internship. And at the end I didn't wanna leave.

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I spent a few days in Kyoto this trip with most of my time around Nishiki Market and Higashiyama areas. For the OKPs, I did find these in the Boom Bap section in the Jet Set Records store in Kyoto:
https://i.imgur.com/o7DZpkV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8MViKR3.jpg

No major record finds this trip, although the Samurai Champloo soundtracks were finally reprinted: https://i.imgur.com/5qpbyD1.jpg

While walking back to the train station after a trip to Osaka's Koreatown, I did find a local rapper's used clothing store where he also sells his own brand of clothes (he comes in at 1:23 on this song that he shared: https://youtu.be/vN_xmhVW5Mw). I just happened to spot some record crates while walking through the shop and decided to check it out:
https://i.imgur.com/zXC2g4Q.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vaQ8HIt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oWiDyoi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B4qBlXF.jpg

I never want to leave at the end of my trips, and I'm still going through a bit of a withdrawal from this recent trip. I still haven't visited northern Japan, but that's something I will certainly have to do next visit.

"First Love" (https://youtu.be/o1sUaVJUeB0) and "Hatsukoi" (https://youtu.be/FtHpWnr99OY), which also means "first love."

Netflix Trailer: https://youtu.be/RYmQHMC8NII

Hikari Mitsushima plays the older version of one of the main characters, and you might also recognize her name from her vocal performances on MONDO GROSSO's "Labyrinth" (https://youtu.be/_2quiyHfJQw) and "IN THIS WORLD" (https://youtu.be/9jL4t8ABGmI).

I enjoyed the series, and it had great cinematography and good acting, the two areas where Japanese dramas usually falter. Also enjoyed how a lot of the settings in the series were outside of Tokyo (Sapporo).

>Hikari Mitsushima plays the older version of one of the main
>characters, and you might also recognize her name from her
>vocal performances on MONDO GROSSO's "Labyrinth"
>(https://youtu.be/_2quiyHfJQw) and "IN THIS WORLD"
>(https://youtu.be/9jL4t8ABGmI).

But I'm afraid of them ruining the magic because those two songs are incredible.

I might have to check out this series though.

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https://youtu.be/MTPiaDzacSI

Starting watching this anime once I heard the ending song written by Ikkyu of tricot. The song sounds very tricot-y with the kind of melodies I like most from the band's own music, which has me wondering who is responsible for writing some of my favorite songs from them. The show is about a social recluse that wants to start a band and get popular/gain fans, and a lot of the show is set in Shimokitazawa. The venue they play at is actually Shelter (the upcoming show from downt and asunojokei I've mentioned will be there), although it's called "Starry" in the show. The music in the show is actually pretty enjoyable, especially the guitar parts like this: https://youtu.be/NQa4zpOLkAo

https://tricot.lnk.to/Fudeki

"OOOL" is probably my favorite from my initial listens.

https://p-vine.lnk.to/iXRcMxfX

https://youtu.be/pSUydWEqKwE

A pre-release single (b-side?) for their upcoming release early next year. A Baltimore/Jersey club-ish beat, and I made the mistake of listening to it on my phone's speakers and missing out on the lower basslines/notes.

https://youtu.be/-_3wOty4jv8

This might not be available yet if your region is behind Japan's time zone (already Dec 23rd there). Their discography made up a huge chunk of my music listening in Japan last month, and this new EP is a lovely addition. I have a feeling "In This Room" in particular is going to ge a lot of play, as well as "April's Monster."

https://linkco.re/4MSB6xpN?lang=ja