江戸の手毬唄Ⅱ, and other H!P Products I WILL Be Buying!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article about my disappointment with the latest Hello! Project releases from Koharu, Berryz Koubou and especially Manoeri.  In some ways I felt bad about not liking these songs because I want to support my favorite J-pop artists in any way possible...and I often do.  (I grimace every time I look at my Visa bill!)  But there are limits to my devotion.  I postponed my August trip to Japan because I couldn't justify the exorbitant price of an overseas plane ticket in August.  And that especially hurt after Kago's announcement of her fan event in Osaka.  The same goes for CD and DVD releases.  I don't automatically hit the preorder button just because it's a Hello! Project release.  If I think it's crappy, I'm not going to buy it.

I'm happy to say that this isn't always the case, and the next set of releases coming our way have me much more excited.  And thank you to DJ MaiMai for turning me onto a couple of these!  MaiMai, I know this post is a lot like the one you did the other day.  Think of it as an homage!

Berryz Kamen vs. Cutie Ranger DVD ~ Okay, I cheated!  I promised myself I would wait until I received my DVD in the mail (My Berryz version was shipped today).  But curiosity got the best of me and I decided to upload and watch the show over the weekend.  And I didn't feel guilty because I had already bought the DVD.  This is a superior concert!  It's the biggest concert C-ute has ever done and for Berryz it is on par with the Saitama Super Arena show.  I will do a proper review after I receive my copy, but I want to start by saying that the opening song Darling I LOVE YOU is one of the greatest numbers I have ever heard either group do.  The song itself is so beautiful and has such a synergetic quality to it that I feel it will become a Hello! Project standard for years to come!  And to my surprise, another great performance was Erika's Do Don Ga Don Ondou.  In fact, the middle of the show was electrifying.  There are many performances here that I am excited to talk about.  I can't wait to get the DVD!

C-ute - Edo no Temari Uta II ~ I go back and forth on how much I like C-ute.  And I still haven't "pulled the trigger" on "3rd Love Escalation".  But they really have come out with some interesting releases over the last year or so.  If you forget LaLaLa for a second, every release over the past year has had quite an edge to it.  And that is quite a contrast to their original image, which was simply...cute!  I know it's just a first reaction, and I haven't heard the entire song yet.  But I think this is my favorite song they have ever come out with.  The traditional sound of the song and the singing are both so sophisticated.

Edo_no_Temari_Uta_II_Reg

I'm sure I'll purchase the limited edition, but I like that you can see their legs on the regular version.  And here is the "Cutie Party" preview...

Morning Musume ~Single Daizenshuu~ DVD ~  I could be building myself up for big disappointment, but I feel that this is going to be the quintessential Morning Musume concert.  The only thing missing from it is Ai No Tane.  How I wish they would've done that song too!  But other than that I can't wait to hear some of the new versions of the songs we haven't heard done live in a while like Koi no Dance Site, Manatsu no Kousen and Summer Night Town.  This DVD should be a blast!  Now what I would really like to see is a show strictly of some of their best "B-sides"  Quite often I watch the old concerts and hear a song that has been done live maybe once or twice, and hasn't been heard for the last five years or so.  That said, this release is a "must have".  And I have finally fallen in love with Resonant Blue after buying the "Single Event V" on Morning Berryz recommendation...

Now that is three absolute BUYS, and I am sure that I will love and purchase Gachinko de Ikou, the new Buono! single as well since they seem to be the strongest act UFA has going right now, and I have loved everything they have put out.  Although ironically I still haven't purchased "Kiss Kiss Kiss", but I will eventuially get it.  No hurry!

I am still sort of sad I won't be making it to Japan next month since I will be missing out on seeing Hello! Project, Cinderella, AND Perfume! (who are also playing in Tokyo that week)  But I am happy to say that I am now finalizing plans to be in Japan in late October/early November for the Morning Musume concert in Tokyo.  This time I also plan on doing some traveling to Osaka and Kyoto.  And Ohta just informed me that Berryz will also be playing that week in Shizuoka!  So that is something else to get excited about.  Berryz on Saturday, Morning Musume on Sunday and/or Monday.

Man I love the Shinkansen!

CK in California