J-pop

Anime, Game Music, Japanese, Reviews

Kenji Ito Wants to be a Pop Star: DystopiaGround #003 (Review)

March 25, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 5 Comments Share this

Ever heard of DystopiaGround? If you’re like me, probably not, but I’m sure a few of you out there have. In their own words, “This group of musicians is aiming at becoming the number 1 A-Pop artist in the universe.” I hadn’t realized that A-Pop had become its own genre, but I think you understand that this group creates the J-Pop and J-Rock tracks that you’d expect to hear as anime opening and ending themes.

While vocalist nao is the heart and soul of DystopiaGround, the body is provided by an assortment of composers, which now includes Kenji Ito. I was not only fascinated by the concept of this ‘A-Pop’ group, but more so that Kenji Ito, who most of us know for his orchestral and live instrument work, would be involved.

Join us as we take a look at DystopiaGround #003 featuring Kenji Ito and other artists. (more…)
Japanese, Reviews

K Does The J-Drama Thing: Aitai Kara Single (Review)

March 18, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on K Does The J-Drama Thing: Aitai Kara Single (Review) Share this

We’ve featured K a few times on the site. Yeah, he goes by just “K,” which is apparently to acknowledge his Korean background despite the fact that he has now made a name for himself singing J-pop. I loved his playful Traveling Song album as well as his goofy Christmas album a couple holidays ago.

Here we have a single of from 2010 titled “Aitai Kara,” which was featured as the main theme to the Japanese film Shun Matataki. The film is a drama about a young woman who loses her boyfriend in a fatal accident along with her memory from the shock of the event.

Does K effectively capture this with his ballad? Find out in our review. (more…)
Japanese

Help Japan With HearJapan

March 14, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Help Japan With HearJapan Share this Help Japan With HearJapan

We’ve all heard about the devastation in Japan, and people are likely wondering how they can help. Our friends over at HearJapan have just announced a fundraiser that will be running all this week where 50% of all sales will be donated to the charitable group Japan Platform. This is an easy way to give, and while you may be asking yourself, “Why only 50%?,” HearJapan will actually be taking a loss on this and writing it off as their contribution to the relief efforts.

Check out the HearJapan catalog which features over 5,000 artists and 40,000+ songs, all with streamable clips. You can also learn more about Japan Platform here.

Hit the jump for the official press release from HearJapan. (more…)
Japanese, Reviews

SAWA Soars: I Can Fly EP (Review)

December 31, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this SAWA Soars: I Can Fly EP (Review)

We’ve covered SAWA quite extensively on OSV. If you don’t recall, however, she’s the Japanese vocalist responsible for much of the vocals heard in The World Ends With You. Since then, our reviews of her releases have been pretty mixed, but I think she just may have corrected her trajectory this time around with a much softer release.

[Update: we’ve since been informed that this SAWA is not the same artist as the band, SAWA, that was featured on The World Ends With You. The band has since disbanded, and this SAWA is not associated with the band in any way. While this is an interesting coincidence, this SAWA stands on her own. Thanks Cait!]

Hit the jump for our review of SAWA’s I Can Fly EP. (more…)
Japanese, Reviews

Everything I Hate (And Love) In J-Pop-Land: Kana Nishino’s “LOVE one.” (Review)

November 12, 2010 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on Everything I Hate (And Love) In J-Pop-Land: Kana Nishino’s “LOVE one.” (Review) Share this

Today we’re going to talk about Kana Nishino’s debut full album, “LOVE one.” This album, released in June 2009, reached #4 on Japanese pop charts, and sold over 200,000 copies. To give perspective as to Nishino’s growing popularity, her 2010 CD “To Love” sold over 500,000 copies, and is #1 on charts. Why are we talking about the old album and not the new? Because we’re interested in roots, that’s why! And it’s also what we had on-hand.

Nishino’s debut album includes all sorts of theme song singles for TV anime and film. We’ll get into the details of that after the jump. Until then, let me prepare you: I generally loathe real-life lolicon pop stars, and I get that strong impression from Nishino. But is there something enjoyable, something easy and appealing, about her music? Find out after the jump! (more…)
Anime, Japanese, Reviews

Durarara!!’s Outro Theme By Yuya Matsushita: Trust Me (Review)

November 5, 2010 | Chris Nguyen | 4 Comments Share this

The diversity of musical genres found in more recent anime intros and outros is more or less nonexistent with each new show seemingly embracing the latest J-pop or J-rock artist without bringing much musical variety. Though it’s not the ideal state of affairs, there are a few that are worth trying out, like the first outro theme to Durarara!!, an anime that premiered last January, which features Yuya Matsushita’s “Trust Me” and feels almost like a breath of fresh air. I say “almost” because the J-pop isn’t entirely removed from the song. Rather, it morphs into a slightly different form from the usual intro/outro fare.

How different you ask? Check it out after the jump! (more…)
Anime, Japanese, Reviews

Abingdon Boys School Single Not Exactly Earthshaking – Kimi No Uta (Review)

October 15, 2010 | Chris Nguyen | 1 Comment Share this

As someone who’s been a lifetime California resident, earthquakes are one of Nature’s forces that must be reckoned with. And when one strikes a major city, it causes hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage. No less significant is the human cost, measured in lives lost as well as the emotional trauma wreaked upon the populace. Needless to say, it’s a pretty grim picture.

That makes the choice for Tokyo Magnitude 8.0’s opening all the more puzzling. The music is performed by the Japanese pop-rock group Abingdon Boys School, which has impressed with “JAP,” the opening to the anime adaptation of Capcom’s Sengoku Basara. But here, I’m not sure their music fits in with the theme. If you’re curious to find out why Kimi no Uta is such a strange choice, read on after the jump. (more…)