UVERworld is back once again with another summer PV -latino style- for the new single, Shaka Beach ~Laka Laka La~, to be released on 08/08/07

[screenshots preview coming soon *when I stop being lazy lol*]

Not your typical addictive catchy, rapping song. Is a must listen X)

PV:
UVERworld – Shaka Beach ~Laka Laka La~ (MPEG2)

Music:
UVERworld – Shaka Beach ~Laka Laka La~ (Mp3 Rip)

Credits:
doobie@Jpopsuki

Artist: Koike Teppei / 小池徹平
Album: pieces (Limited Edition) *debut album*
Released date: 27th June, 2007
Oricon Weekly Chart Position: n/a

Track List:
01. Sonna Anata ni / そんなあなたに
02. my brand new way
03. Omoide no Kakera / 思い出の欠片
04. Ehagaki / 絵葉書
05. Kimi ni Okuru Uta / 君に贈る歌
06. sweet summer
07. Dokoka no Sora / 何処かの空
08. pieces
09. “is”
10. Aka Renga / 赤レンガ
11. dawn
12. Ame mo Kaze mo / 雨も風も

DVD:
Teppei TV

NOTE: Since I cannot upload more than 100MB on MediaFire, I split the album into 2 parts

>> DOWNLOAD PART#1 (320 Kbps)
>> DOWNLOAD PART#2 (320 Kbps)
>> DOWNLOAD (DVD)

(This is a copy of the same thing I wrote on my other blog)

Izumi Sakai (a.k.a. Kamachi Sachiko), ZARD’s vocalist, aged 40, was hospitalized since June 2006 after discovering she had cervical cancer. In April 2007, the cancer had moved to her lungs. Even so, she was fighting against it. It was on May 26, 2007, that she accidentally fell from the stairs that hit her head hard. The next day she died from the accident.

Izumi was talented. She composed her own music. I’m out of words to describe it, the only thing I know is, her music stuck on my mind. Her voice was so beautiful that it touches people deep inside. She is a legend. I wanted to show my regards to Izumi Sakai and wanted her to live forever in people’s heart.

Honestly, I’m not a big fan of her. At first, I knew her under the name, ZARD. The first song I heard from Izumi was Unmei no Ruuretto Mawashite, a theme song for the popular anime/manga series titled Meitantei Conan (Detective Conan). Despite the fact that I love this song so much, I did not check her other works. I wish I did.

Her death is a great lost to the music world.
RIP, Izumi Sakai.

Artist: WaT
Single: Bokura no LOVE STORY
Released date: 6th December, 2006
Oricon Weekly Chart Position: #4

Track List:
01 Bokura no LOVE STORY
02 jitensha
03 Bokura no LOVE STORY (instrumental)
04 jitensha (instrumental)

Now it’s time to introduce WaT!! XD

WaT, stands for Wentz and Teppei, is a japanese duo group composed of Wentz Eiji (on the left) and Koike Teppei (on the right). They composed their own music and write their own lyrics. In 2002, Wentz and Teppei began their music career by doing street live and it was 2 years later that an indie single titled Sotsugyou TIME was released.

It was not until 2005 that WaT debut under Universal Music label with their first major single, Boku no Kimochi. WaT’s best selling single up to date that also ranked #56 in Oricon yearly chart. At the end of the year they were invited to performed in 56th Kouhaku Utagassen with only one single (excluding the indie single) under their discography! The sales of Boku no Kimochi continued well in 2006 and the single was ranked #90 in the single of the year chart again.

In 2006, WaT released their first album under the same name as the indie single called Sotsugyou TIME ~bokura no hajimari~ . The album includes tracks from the indies single + 2 A-sides from major single + extra songs. (I’ve grown to love the whole album the more I listen to it! XD). In addition, with the success of the released of their second single, 5 centi, they were again, invited to preform in 57th Kouhaku Utagassen.

At the beginning of 2007, WaT decided to temporary split to work on a solo project with Teppei’s first released, Kimi ni Okuru Uta, on Valentine’s Day. Wentz’s release followed on April 25th titled Awaking Emotion 8/5, which is the theme song of the movie Gegege no Kitarou, the movie he is starring as the main character. (By temporary really means temporary here LOL, they said they will be back!)

WaT’s music style is ballad-ish and poppy-ish. And I must admit, Wentz and Teppei singing is not the best. But their voices synchronize really well when they sing together. Don’t let this both you and you’ll surely enjoy their music alot more. To appreciate more of WaT’s music, be sure to look for translations of the lyrics because most of the songs have good meanings. Also pay close attention to the flow in their music. If this is your style, you would like them.

And please don’t mind me here, I just have the need to squeeze this in at the end, …..Teppei is the cutest guy ever!! <3 <3 <3 XD;;;;

Music:
WaT – Boku no Kimochi

Source:
Wikipedia – Wentz and Teppei

Official Website:
WaT FC
Wentz FC
Teppei FC

ELLEGARDEN is a popular j-rock/j-punk band formed in 1998 in Chiba, Japan, under Dynamord label. One of the band’s uniqueness was, most of their songs are sang in English.

The band members consisted of Takeshi Hosomi (Vocal & Guitar), Shinichi Ubukata (Guitar & Chorus), Yuichi Takada (Bass & Chrous) and Hirotaka Takahashi (Drums & Chorus). Takeshi Hosomi, the vocalist, English fluency is above most average Japanese. It is said that he gained this ability while he studied Computer Engineering in US.

Their music style has been compared to many famous artists such as Sum 41, Blink 182 and Good Charlotte. But to compare them with a j-rock band then I would say, LAST ALLIANCE, but in a more rockish (and here I am inventing a new vocabulary LOL) way.

Another point that is worthing noting is, ELLEGARDEN releases an album and a single each year!

Their latest album, ELEVEN FIRE CRACKERS, ranked #1 on Oricon albums chart. The band’s first ever #1 released and not to mention that it is also the #39 album of the year.

The latest single, Salamander, although not ELLEGARDEN’s best selling single so far, did no less. Salamander broke the record for the indies single with the most copies sold in a week. At the same time, it was the #65 single of the year.

In my opinion, ELLEGARDEN is probably one of the best j-rock band in Japan XD

Besides, I’m so wanna be like you Hosomi-san! I have plans to study for my master degree in Computer Engineering in US too. Once I’m graduate I’m gonna form my own band LOL! But first I have to learn how to sing, play guitar and also find a way to get there D:

Music:
ELLEGARDEN – Salamander

Source:
Wikipedia – Ellegarden
Wikitheppn – ELLEGARDEN

Official Website:
ELLEGARDEN Official Site

Have anyone heard of SOPHIA? I was introduced to this artist a few days ago by M.Takarai07 from Aznmedia forum. But before we get on to more details, I wanted to confess that judging from the name at first, I thought SOPHIA was a female. The truth was, they were a Jrock band!

So I figured out I should do a bit more research on the band. Thanks to Wikipedia for being very helpful in providing the necessary information.

As you may have already figure out, SOPHIA is a Japanese Rock band. The members consisted of Matsuoka Mitsuru (Vocal), Toyoda Kazutaka (Guitar), Kuroyanagi Yoshio (Bass), Akamatsu Yoshitomo (Drums) and Miyako Keiichi (Keyboard). The band was formed in 1995 and has signed it’s first record label with TOY’S FACTORY until in 2004, when they change the label to Toshiba EMI.

SOPHIA was a pretty good band in my opinion. Their style is what I would considered to be pop mixed with rock music, it’s very catchy in a way. So far I have listened to STRAWBERRY & LION, Newspaper and rock star. I would recommend all of these songs to whoever wants to check this artist out!

Their style of music is probably similar to AAA. But do correct me if I’m wrong since I have heard only one song by AAA called Q.

If you are a fan of jpop mixed with jrock genre, give SOPHIA a chance! Hopefully you will like them : )

Music:
SOPHIA – STRAWBERRY & LION

Source:
Wikipedia – Sophia (rock band)

Official Website:
SOPHIA Eternal WEBSITE

People say that pictures can describe better than words. So here I presented you with some screenshots.

Look at those sort-of-like floating eggs!? Aren’t they awesome? LOL
Oh! and have I mention that we get to hear Takuya’s whistle in this song too? XD

Now let me add something more to the music aspect. The full version is a lot better than the TV Rip version! Trust me! The more you listen to this song, the more you will fall in love with it.

Music:
UVERworld – endscape

Credits:
Jpop Music ii

To tell you the truth, I still have no solid idea on the format of this blog. So we probably have to see how it goes on! Base on that, I will make decisions on what I think is the best : )

Plans I have in mind are post related to my impression on the music and some music samples.

If you have any suggestion, please share your comments!

Have lots of fun looking around!