Looking for 2 types of Jpop: the cheesy ones and the good ones

[Vertigo-1]

Nice thread. I'll also add Yoko Ishida to the list. Her two domestic CDs are quite nice and easily available at most Suncoasts.

Also while I don't think she has an actual album, I'd recommend Rie Tanaka for her amazingly lovely voice. If she did have an album I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

BillyC: Might want to look into some Japanese anime OSTs. A lot of the singers mentioned are ones that did opening and closing themes for anime shows and that's where we began taking notice of these artists. And IMO these are usually the J-pop singers that actually have decent voices and songs.

 

[KrazyIvan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyC Can anyone recommend a link to where I can hear sound clips for these and other J-pop artists (preferrably English) Most of these recs have no music clips on Amazon. Edit: I meant English website...not music Thanks

Jpopsuki TV has a shoutcast that I watch. They also have a radio stream but it seems it has been down.

 

[saint.panda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyC Can anyone recommend a link to where I can hear sound clips for these and other J-pop artists (preferrably English)

You can sometimes find popular titles on webradio: http://www.japanaradio.com/

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha tee hee... Actually, right now I'm listening/watching to the music video again for "tsumetai hana" based on your post! Tomoko is such a cutie.... Best, -Jason

I think Jason got a glint in his eye when I brought trashy Depeche Mode and New Order NON-reference quality discs to the minimeet hehe...soon he will be one of us and just bring the music he likes - watch out, here comes SPEED!

All joking aside, it's too late for him. He already brought J-Pop to the NYC meet to try out the Eastsound CDP I believe.

 

[Aman]

Do The Seatbelts count? They're sick!

 

[Salt Peanuts]

She's been around for a while, but also try Matsutoya Yumi.

 

[JefferyK]

Deleted.

 

[saint.panda]

Today I received a CD box-set called "Harmony - Jpop meets Classics". This 6 CD set takes famous songs by 6 famous jpop artists/groups and converts it into orchestral music. The pieces are played by the Warsaw National Philarmonic Orchestra (Poland) and Janacek Philarmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic). It's mostly chamber music, which suits the mood of the songs very well, but there are a few fully orchestrated pieces as well.

It contains songs by Ayumi Hamasaki, Hitomi, Do As Infinity, Every Little Thing, Utada Hikaru, and Globe + TRF. I like some of the classical versions much more than the original and vice versa.

zChan was kind to enough to help me buy the set because it's incredibly rare and hard to find.

So far, I absolutely love it (some of the CDs more than others). Only drawback: 14,000 Yen.

How's that for jpop fandom? But since I've got a faible for jpop and classical music with pretty melodies, this set is worth it to me. Sound quality is very good - not audiophile-recording quality like Telarc - just very good. Nevertheless, I wouldn't give it my full recommendations due to the high price. I was only willing to pay it because I've got my hands on a copy of two of the CDs from the box set about a year ago and have hence been looking for the complete set. Glad I finally found it although 14000 Yen was definitely the upper limit.

edit: Highlights so far: Ayumi Hamasaki, DoA and above all: Every Little Thing. I don't even like the latter band but the orchestral renditions are strikingly beatiful. Hitomi and Globe + TRF are misses. I'm undecided about the Utada disc yet.

-----

And I'm still trying to work my way through the recommendations from this thread.

 

[Meifa]

That box set sounds exceedingly cool. I'd love to hear the Utada tracks.

Um, try Nobuchika Eri? She's definitely pop, but she has a nice voice and the production is pretty solid. Some of her music has a very groovy early-90s' RnB feel to it. Specific songs: Kodou, Sketch for Summer.

Also, Shiina Ringo. Both her solo work and her stuff with Tokyo Jihen (their new album Adult just came out). Her vox does have a nasal bent, but I think it works very favorably for her. Specific songs: Shuukyou (solo), Souretsu (solo), Tsumi to Batsu (solo), Genjitsu wo warau (w/ Tokyo Jihen), Himitsu (w/ TJ).

 

[Dachink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saint.panda edit: Highlights so far: Ayumi Hamasaki, DoA and above all: Every Little Thing. I don't even like the latter band but the orchestral renditions are strikingly beatiful. Hitomi and Globe + TRF are misses. I'm undecided about the Utada disc yet. ----- And I'm still trying to work my way through the recommendations from this thread.

you should check out Globe's older stuff

 

[xand1x]

Sorry to threadjack, but, what would everyone recommend to a person who's never heard any jpop before but wanted to hear what it was all about?

 

[saint.panda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xand1x Sorry to threadjack, but, what would everyone recommend to a person who's never heard any jpop before but wanted to hear what it was all about?

I think one common appeal of a big branch of jpop is a combination of youthfulness, aspiring spirit, pop-idol-ism, ephemeral beauty, escapism, and an air of serendipity. If you have a twist for cynicism, you might call it an all-too-accurate effigy of our Zeitgeist but I think that good jpop is more like defiance and deliberate neglect of profoundness. Man, this sounds really pretentious... Anyway, to me, Yui embodies a lot of these values and it sounds good, too. Check out her 4-track single featuring the song Life. Simple and pretty - very nice.

If you like animes and the light-hearted opening songs commonly associated with anime, you should try some songs by Maaya Sakamoto, Mikuni Shimokawa, Megumi Hayashibara. These fall in a similar category as Yui, albeit a bit more mature. Try Wikipedia for song and album recommendations.

For something rockish but still predominantly pop, I would suggest "Do as Infinity". Some nice songs: New World and Tangerine Dream. I like this group a great lot.

Utada Hikaru seems to unite many popular jpop elements in a well-executed, mature and complete package. Good voice and devoid of any lolita touch. Earlier in this thread I was recommended her album "Deep River" and I would further that recommendation. Straight-up pop without redundant flourishes but full of them anyway.


And if you're daring enough, you can head straight to Pizzicato Five.

My flatmates are already convinced as well. Kinda like Hello Kitty meets DJ Shadow/Groove Armada meets Andy Warhol.

 

[Meifa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saint.panda Utada Hikaru seems to unite many popular jpop elements in a well-executed, mature and complete package. Good voice and devoid of any lolita touch. Earlier in this thread I was recommended her album "Deep River" and I would further that recommendation. Straight-up pop without redundant flourishes but full of them anyway.

I second this recommendation. Utada's older stuff is quite RnB/pop, while her newer work (her releases since her marriage) trends toward a more experimental, mature, modern sound with a rockier edge. Basically, I think her portfolio is diversified enough for almost anyone to find something that grabs them.

Try "Passion," "Be My Last" (ballad), "Colors" (I love this song), "Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro," anything off of her albums Deep River or Distance...

Also, her older work (the more RnB stuff): "Time Limit," "Can You Keep a Secret," "Automatic," etc, etc...

If you really like her, you can also check out her English-language release Exodus.

 

[Seijang]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meifa If you really like her, you can also check out her English-language release Exodus.

Which I coincidentally thought was a complete and utter travesty of her image and what she could do.

That album was absolutely terrible. I cannot believe that was released to appeal to english speaking audiences.

 

[Elephas]

I think Exodus isn't bad; initially I didn't like it, but it kind of grew on me.

I thought First Love was excellent, as well as Distance followed by Deep River. Exodus is unlike the Japanese-language albums. I'm not impressed by the lyrics. Maybe not being able to understand the Japanese albums made them sound better.

Coco Lee's English-language album, Exposed, is not bad but also not as good as her Chinese-language albums.