Wow, so much time has passed since my last entry.  Lots of new stuff and events have unfolded to make this a good year.  On to the J-Pop goodies:

Salyu "Liberty"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvXQlqcokzY

My favorite song of her's so far.

MISIA "Royal Chocolate Flush"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDPaoNPfUrg

2nd single since her return to BMG Japan.

Ketsumeishi "Fuyu Monogatari"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQxH3iTZ4cM

New winter song combining strings and hip-hop.

Remioromen "Wonderful & Beautiful"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx3JpJXtSlY

New winter tune.

Tokyo Jihen "Senko Shojo"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1rqXX1O7TM

Video with a twist.

     Been so busy lately going to lots of parties and events.  Updating for a friend.  I decided to just make a random video post.  Enjoy.

Seamo & Bennie K "A love story"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRtb3l6TX4A

m-flo loves Crystal Kay "REEWIND/I like it"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNU7iBmaucI

SUITE CHIC feat. AI "Uh, Uh..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7i4cXVt8Ek

KOHL "ELEVEN NINE"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgkJknepgqI

Remioromen "3月9日"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9LpL8ELKYg

and a korean video just for fun:

Rumble Fish "Proposal"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzh75qI35wE

Music explosion.  Lot's of new releases this time.  Here are some of the ones that caught my attention:        

No Regret Life "Day by Day"

Not as catchy as "Akogare no Hate" but still o.k.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3woUuxlMfk

Straightener "Train"

Another new release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRYXnUsRat0

Ikimonogakari "Uruwashiki Hito/Seishun no Tobira"

Fun trio.  "Seishun no Tobira" is the theme song for the Japanese release of "Monster House" (yes, the movie).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZTxzG44S7M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Grl_KdHQU

Kozue Takada "Sekai no Hate made"

Mellow but pretty good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYkW_ub-iDM

UNDER THE COUNTER "I Know That Panda Was Stoned"

Indie band with an album full of good songs. 

http://www.utcweb.jp/discography/video004.html

keitaku "Days"

The lead singer reminds me of Hirosawa Tadashi.  Keitaku is good but should be played when you want to relax.

Reason

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/34051_02.wax

君を想う

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/34051_04.wax

voice

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/15943_01.wax

トマト

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/34051_06.wax

CHARI

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/34051_08.wax

KTC

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/34051_09.wax

きっと誰かが

http://columbia.jp/artist-info/keitaku/wax/15904_02.wax

Ringo Shiina "Heisei Fuzoku"

Shiina begins her solo career again with this duet.  Her brother, Junpei, sings pretty good but the real treat is the video.  Very reminiscent of Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet".

Konoyo no Kagiri

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4riLHieEg8

Hiroki Maekawa "Nikotama"

2nd single from this AVEX TRAX singer. 

http://www.avexnet.or.jp/avexdb/maekawa/asx/YICD-70029_001.asx

Janna Da Arc "Singles 2"

Time for a new best-of from them.  "Furimukeba" almost claimed the top spot on the Oricon charts when it was released.  Pretty good ballad.

Furimukeba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOH03E-V06M

     Lot's of new J-Pop on the way.  A few AVEX stars are going to be releasing best-of's.  Ayumi Hamasaki will release A Best 2 at the end of this month which looks like an attempt to restart her career which has been chipped away by ero-kawaii creator Koda Kumi.  She's set to release her 3rd best-of in March.  I really think she's sold her soul to the AVEX devil now.  Finally, Ai Otsuka will be releasing her first best-of and probably and original album later in the year since none of her current singles are included in it.

Here are some new and upcoming releases:

Utada Hikaru "Flavor of Life"

Her "Flavor of Life" ballad version will be the theme song to Hana Yori Dango 2. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S2Ga3mUPnc

Ai Otsuka "CHU-LIP"

A newly blonde Ai in a very, very  weird video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNnahYqGchA

MONKEY MAJIK + m-flo "Picture Perfect"

I'll be curious to know how this does on the charts.  Oh, and lead singer in MONKEY MAJIK is Canadian and signed to AVEX.  This gives hopes to all the gaijin waiting for their big J-Pop break.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jul-z2wiDE4

Every Little Thing "14 messages ~every ballad songs 2~"

ELT is going to release their second ballad best-of.  Kaori Mochida has gone off and cut her hair again.  I personally wish she'd leave it long.  Here's a link to "UNSPEAKABLE". 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-CNBhU2XWk

Kazuyoshi Saito "Wedding Song"

This song did o.k. on the Oricon charts.

http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/saito/asx2007/VICL-36205-01FB.asx

I've been going through some of my old CD's and listened to Bjork's "Vespertine".  I know some people think she's out there and she probably is but the lyrics to that album are really good.  I tend to focus more on lyrics than music.  Here are some I enjoyed from that album:

IT'S NOT UP TO YOU

I wake up
and the day feels broken
I tilt my head
I'm trying to get an angle

'Cause the evening
I've always longed for
it could still happen

How do I master
the perfect day
six glasses of water
seven phonecalls

If you leave it alone
it might just happen
anyway

It's not up to you - well, it never really was...

If you wake up
and the day feels a-broken
just lean into the crack
and it will tremble
ever so nicely
notice
how it sparkles
down there

I can decide what I give
but it's not up to me
what I get given

Unthinkable surprises
about to happen
but what they are

It's not up to you
well, it never really was...

There's too much
clinging
to peak
there's too much
pressure

      It's a new year.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  It was good to spend it with friends and family.  Hope everyone else is fine.

Here are some J-Pop releases that have caught my attention:

Mr.Children-"FAKE"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lz6KvjPsMA

Their new single is already sold out through online retailers.  I can't believe I missed it.  Good thing is they will be releasing their new album "HOME" in March celebrating their 15th anniversary.

OLIVIA "The Cloudy Dreamer"

OLIVIA is releasing another mini-album and promoting the song "Stars shining out".  It's interesting.  I could see this playing in the U.S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYRPSQfZtys

Crystal Kay-"Kitto ein ni"

This is the themesong for the movie "Boku wa imoto ni koi wo suru" which is disturbing.  The plot for the movie is based on the manga by Kotomi Aoki.  I'm not sure about the lead actress but I know the main actor is played by one of the members of ARASHI.  It's a nice ballad, anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7CmJlwiPPo

Kaela Kimura-"Snowdome"

Another weird video from her.  She sure has her niche covered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlhxRFkZ_Dk

THE SOL-"THERE WAIT"

Indies band.

http://qrclip.net/cd/rwbtys/s03/

I'd put more stuff but I"ll save it for another entry.