In reference to my want to completely sustain with the J-pop trade, I’m planning on doing a weekly round-up of any new releases which have caught my ear. A few of these might have been lined on the weblog already, however my hope is that this can develop into a one-stop store for anybody keen on what’s new in J-pop.
With that in thoughts, right here’s the place you are available in: I’m one individual with one set of musical preferences, so please embed some other new J-pop tracks you’ve loved within the feedback so we are able to get a fuller spectrum every week.
*And identical to I do with my critiques, I’ll wait till full variations of songs can be found earlier than posting them on this round-up. It will principally apply to Johnny’s teams, who nonetheless restrict the vast majority of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited variations.
2023 Index: Feb 1 – Feb 18 // Feb 19 – 25 // Feb 26 – Mar 3 // Mar 4 – Mar 10 // Mar 11 – Mar 18 // Mar 19 – Mar 25 // Mar 26 – Apr 1 // Apr 2 – Apr 8 // Apr 9 – Apr 15 // Apr 16 – Apr 22 // Apr 23 – Apr 29 // Apr 30 – Could 6 // Could 7 – Could 13 // Could 14 – Could 20
AI – Respect
Old-fashioned hip-hop for the win!
Ballistik Boyz – Ding Ding Dong
I’m bored with this fashion, however Ding Ding Dong is a very robust iteration of it. Its refrain hits arduous and begs for replays. It’s most likely my second favourite single of the week.
Bullet Prepare (Chotokkyu) – Name My Title (single of the week!)
That is so upbeat and summery. I actually like its vitality and the refrain is a complete earworm. Name My Title is my favourite Bullet Prepare single in awhile and it’s additionally my single of the week.
Da-iCE – Scene (Album)
Da-iCE’s new album is out this week. Total, it’s slightly subdued for my style. However, there are just a few standouts. Past Funky Leaping, which I featured just a few weeks in the past, I benefit from the pounding electronics of the title monitor.
Girls² – Letters
There’s a lightweight contact to this sentimental dance monitor that makes it fairly satisfying. The refrain is soooo tacky, although!
INI – INItialize (b-side of the week!)
Not solely is Fanfare INI’s strongest single but, however its accompanying b-sides are additionally among the many group’s strongest work. All three are nice, however I’m leaning towards INItialize – principally resulting from its propulsive refrain.
Lead – See Your Coronary heart
Lead have been round for therefore lengthy! It’s superb that they’re nonetheless releasing music. See Your Coronary heart isn’t amongst their greatest, however its brisk dance sound is enjoyable.
Maharajan – Semi Dancefoor
That is actually funky and the video is decidedly bonkers.
Okamoto’s – The place Do We Go?
A strong rock tune that takes me again to the 90’s.
One N’ Solely – Reflection
I really feel like this group has launched so many mvs for his or her latest album. My opinion has diversified tune to tune, however this is among the higher efforts. It form of loses me through the pre-chorus, although.
ORβIT – Enjoyable
I recognize what the tune is attempting to do (I miss tropical home!), but it surely finally ends up coming throughout too generic for its personal good. Even so, it’ll be good for summer time.
Reol – Glitter
Reol is again to the fashion I really like most from her. Glitter’s brisk, nimble beat suits her idiosyncratic vocals like a glove.
Superfly – Warmth Wave (Album)
Superfly already launched her greatest new songs as singles final yr, but it surely’s good to have an album to tie all of them collectively. Of the b-sides, the album’s stomping opener is my favourite.
ukka – Surprise Little Love
I’m unsure concerning the vocals, however this has potential. I just like the sweetness of the melodies.
FlowBack – Heartbreaker (2017)
Nonetheless one of many BEST retro-80’s throwbacks of the final decade — and it pre-dates the development by just a few years! I can by no means get sufficient of Heartbreaker.
