japan
-
Seiko Matsuda – “North Wind” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ It is that time of year again, folks – December, final round! There’s a lot of things to reminisce upon, many a blessing and equally many a lovely memory, but there are also quite a few regrets I exit the year bearing; I suppose everyone feels that way to some extent, way… Read more
-
Yumi Matsutoya – “流線形 ’80” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ Trust me when I tell you that I really wanted to kick this review off by cracking a joke about how this album is just outtakes from “紅雀” that failed to make the cut due to being too interesting for that project – but man, this is just not that. What this is,… Read more
-
Yumi Matsutoya – “紅雀” review
Final verdict: 7/10 ★★★⋆˙⟡☆ You know, the pessimist in me craves something to complain about. And initially, this album would have been it – oh no, would you look at that, Yuming, THE Yuming, fell off! This album is BOOOO-RING! The demise of who was arguably the greatest figure in the 1970s Japanese music scene is upon us!… Read more
-
Yumi Arai – “The 14th Moon” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ Yes, I have decided that I’m going to be reviewing all the Yuming in existence. Cry about it. Or actually, please don’t – I’d hate to see pretty little you cry. Cheer up, beautiful! Because what we got here, is another Yuming album to live, love, and laugh to (but not… Read more
1970s, 70s music, album review, blog, hell yeah, indie, japan, japanese music, jpop, music, Music review, review, reviews, rock, rock music, writing -
Yumi Arai – “Cobalt Hour” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ The stars have aligned once again; I am feeling capricious, hence I skipped my prose class today (being an English major is not for the weak), and what better way to spend my self-declared day off than to listen to Yuming, my most beloved of all? No, seriously. As time goes… Read more
1970s, 70s music, album review, blog, city pop, hell yeah, indie, japan, japanese music, jpop, music, Music review, pop, pop music, review, reviews, rock, rock music, writing -
Yumi Arai – “Misslim” review
Final verdict: 9/10 ★★★★⋆˙⟡ The sentiments expressed on my review of Yumi Arai’s (or Matsutoya’s, or, as I will again refer to her, Yuming’s) debut LP “ひこうき雲” ring true with her follow-up record, too. And the record in question is none other than 1974’s “Misslim” – an album that has rightfully acquired its place in… Read more
-
Jun Togawa – “好き好き大好き” review
Final verdict: 10/10 ★★★★★ A few months ago I had a manic episode. Rough times, man, I don’t even want to think about it. But to review this album, I kind of have to. So, “好き好き大好き”. This album was all I would ever listen to during my manic spell. Anything that wasn’t a song off… Read more
-
Yellow Magic Orchestra – “Technodelic” review
Final verdict: 10/10 ★★★★★ “This must be the ugliest piece of bread I’ve ever eaten” is the line that acts as an overture to this album, and honestly, it’s only fitting. Even if not the ugliest piece of bread you’ve ever eaten, “Technodelic” is still a pretty damn ugly one. I mean, picture this –… Read more
-
Seiko Matsuda – “Squall” review
Final verdict: 10/10 ★★★★★ Here’s the thing with Seiko Matsuda – I love her beyond imagination and I am actually obsessed with her. I mean, I listen to her almost constantly (this is no phase, either, and if it is, it’s seriously overstaying its welcome – it’s been a fucking YEAR), and she is a fashion icon… Read more
-
Yumi Arai – “ひこうき雲” review
Final verdict: 10/10 ★★★★★ Over the last couple of months, I’ve been in the process of going through Yumi Matsutoya’s (or Yumi Arai’s, or Yuming’s, as I’m going to call her from this point forward) admittedly intimidating discography. In the last month, I’ve also been slowly but determinedly getting through Taylor Swift’s catalogue. And I… Read more
1970s, 70s music, album review, blog, hell yeah, indie, japan, japanese music, jpop, music, Music review, review, reviews, rock, rock music, writing
