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I swear I could freakin' cry!!!  I just spent 21/2 hours doing a review of this CD that I was totally proud of.  And (thanks to the Vodka) I accidentally deleted it just before hitting the post button!  Does that make me akin to Ernest Hemingway?  I will try to recreate it from memory.  I usually don't swear in my posts but...

MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!

Game

Okay, I've put my $5 bill in the "swear" jar.  You could also say that I am "beating a dead horse" with this review.  But I don't want to incur the wrath from PETA.  Anyway, they are probably too busy in Maryland for the Preakness Stakes.

I received this CD (the regular edition) about a week ago.  It came in a package along with Perfume's "Electroworld" CD, which I love.  I remember getting hooked on that song after watching YouTube legend LucyMisser utilizing it for her latest sexy video.  And the same package contained the "totally out of place here" debut CD from Milky Way.  What the folks who put together my order were probably thinking...

"Jeez, this guy must've been tripping on Ecstacy to order these CD's AND Anataboshi!!!"

Now "techno" and "rave" music are not my usual cup of tea.  I am more of a hard rock guy.  In fact, it is a miracle I am into Hello! Project in the first place.  So developing an appreciation for this genre of music is quite a stretch for me.  It took me about a week to listen to the CD all the way through, as I kept switching back to the Electroworld single for another five plays before progressing to the next track.

The biggest inspiration for me to do this review was the post by Key's to Everything I read this morning.  I was having a hard time verbalizing my feelings about this CD until I read that review.  KTE mentioned that "This album really isn’t a casual listen. It’s underwhelming if you don’t give the songs your full attention, but when you apply yourself to the tracks it’s easy to see why Perfume are so popular." 

I completely agree with that statement.  When I listen to this CD in my house while I am doing other things, it doesn't grab me.  But when I listen to it "full blast" in my car, like I do with most of my J-music CD's, I have a totally different experience.  What the people in the #3 lane must be thinking...

Anataboshi ~ "That guy is a total geek!"

AKB48 ~ It depends, "Dear My Teacher" is passable, but "Aitakatta"..."Who is the pedo in the sport utility?"

Ketchup Mania ~ "That is one angry dude in the fast lane!"

Anything by C-ute or Berryz ~ "Did the Chipmunks come out with a new CD?"

I am also prone to blasting "Rainbow Pinku" from Momusu's 7th CD while caught in rush hour traffic.  The sentiment from my fellow commuters couldn't be anything other than "What the f**k?"

Perfume is the first CD I have no reservations against cranking up on my car CD player as I am heading down the Bayshore (AKA Nimitz) freeway in Northern Cali.  It sounds a lot like many other groups in their genre.  And you can hardly tell that they are singing in Japanese (according to my friend Chanta, who is Cambodian).  But I find myself listening to the same few tracks over and over.  These are the tracks...

1) Polyrhythm ~ This is an amazing song!  One of the keys to me liking a techno tune is it usually has to have an "ethereal" quality to it.  Most of the songs I like on this CD have that same quality.  My favorite part is that "skip-py" part on the middle of the song.  Whoa, very cool...

2) Plastic Smile ~ After I got over the fact the Perfume has an extremely 80's feel to it.  I really started to like this song.  Overall it is a fun listen with a "head-rockin'" beat.  Very pretty and catchy song.

5) Chocolate Disco ~ Another fun song with a cute hook.  (Yes, I know I skipped Baby Cruising Love, it's just not one of my favs)  I can imagine myself in a club tripping on the strobe light after a little too much alchohol...

7) Ceramic Girl ~ This might be my favorite song on the CD.  It's a tough call between this and Polyrhythm.  It completely registers into my "ethereal" requirement.  And it has a fast beat/verse that I really like!  A song I really enjoy and highly recommend...

11) Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow ~  Man I never realized how much of a "trip" this group was!  It takes a while to get used to the heavily synthesized voices.  And all of these references to "snow" have me experiencing some major cocaine flashbacks...

This is a really good CD, even if it isn't the genre of music I usually listen to.  When listening to it for the re-review, I even started to like track 6) Macaroni and Track 12) Puppy Love.  When I was visiting Japan in January Perfume played at Shibuya AX the week after I left, bummer!  I'll have to check out their tour schedule for my return trip.  After seeing some of their "live" videos on YouTube, I would love to see them in person!  As far as recommening it, I am not sure it is for everybody.  But I can now understand why it is selling so well.

Well, I still think my first post was superior, but I guess no one will ever know.  It's lost to the internet gods!

CK in California  

This is going to be pretty much "off-topic" of the normal subject matter of this blog.  But my fellow blogger Broomhead (who I am a big fan of) is in a bit of a "crisis" and has posted a survey that I feel compelled to respond to.  It's nice to look inward once in a while to see what inspires me to participate in life the way I do.  BTW, the above title is a "not so" inside joke...

Why Do You Blog?

Goals:

Why do you blog? ~ To have an outlet for my passion for J-music, since there are very few people in my circle of friends who share this unique "interest"

What long-term goals do you hope to accomplish, if any at all? ~ I know this will sound warm/fuzzy/wierd, but to be more closely connected to the J-music world.  To make friends with people who share the same interests. 

Where does your blog fail to meet your goals? ~ Two ways.  1) I am envious of the people who are able to upload their own Audio/Visual Media.  I always feel kinda funny about "borrowing" from others around the net. And 2) I would love to get more comments/feedback from the readers.  When something I write doesn't get comments it leads me to believe that post isn't entertaining or informative.  But I know I would get more feedback if Vox didn't require people to join if they want to comment.

If you do have goals, what will accomplishing them do for yourself? ~ It would inspire me to keep going, and possibly encourage me to look into other opportunites that might be possible with the writing.

What do you want to gain out of blogging? A creative outlet? Praise from others? Personal satisfaction? Money? ~ Creative Outlet, Yes.  Praise, Yes.  Personal satisfaction, Yes.  I can make money doing this?  It's mostly a creative outlet, and the praise from others makes a big difference!

Do you feel that your blog should meet a requirement for amount of entries? Do you feel any particular entry should be a certain length? ~ My goal is two to three per week, but I am not militant about it.  Although if I go too long without a post I begin wracking my brain to come up with something new to talk about.  The length depends on the subject matter.  I prefer to do longer composition, but I am not against doing a quick blurb post once in a while. 

For any particular entry, what motivates you to start and finish blog posts? ~ I am almost always motivated by "current events", whether that is a current happening around H!P or a new DVD/CD I just bought.  Or sometimes it's just a thought that pops into my head.  I have never started a blog post and not finished it.  And if I am not happy with it when I am complete I usually edit it over and over until I am happy with the finished product. 

Do you actively consider long term goals for each individual post? ~ Not really, it's more of a short term goal.  Do I like what I wrote and do I think others will like it as well? 

Subject Material:

What do you blog about? ~ Mostly Hello! Project, but occasionally straying into other J-music realms.  Like AKB48, Ketchup Mania, My Japan experience, etc.  I have also written about Japanese Doramas, but those never get covered by IW.

Would you be keep a blog even if it wasn’t about the subjects you tend to cover? ~ I've never been inspired to. 

Do you write about the material to promote it to others? ~ Definitely, I promote my blog anywhere I can.  It is on my MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube pages.  And I am always inviting my friends and family to read it.  I also write them for the IW readers, although that is sort of "preaching to the choir".  I want others to understand why I love this musical genre so much! 

Readership:

How much do you care about readership? ~ A great deal!  If no one read my blog, or if Ray said "No Thank You" to my email when I first started, I doubt I would still be doing it. 

Does it satisfy you to know people are reading, even if they don’t comment? ~ Yes, although the comments make a huge difference to me!

What effect does receiving a comment have on you? ~ I feel totally validated, even if some of that comment was "constructive criticism".  I don't think that person would comment if they didn't at least like something about what I am saying.  I also like to comment on other peoples' blogs because I believe it encourages them to write more as well.

Do you write with a particular audience in mind or an unspecified general audience? Why? ~ It is obviously the J-music audience.  They would be the only one's who would be really interested in the subject matter.  And I love when I see that people are reading my posts from all over the world!

If you write for a particular audience, is it International Wota? If yes, why? ~ International Wota is a big part of it because if it didn't exist, we would all have far less readership.  IW is a vital part of bringing J-music fans the world over all together.  It's not simply for IW, but the audience of IW.

Community: (The International Wota section)

If International Wota didn’t exist, would you blog? ~ I probably would never had started blogging if it wasn't for IW.  But if it disappeared tomorrow, I would begin looking for another similar site.  Although there is nothing quite like IW, and message boards just don't do it for me! 

When IW covers an entry of yours, are you encouraged to blog more or less? ~ I'm like a kid at Christmas, and it does encourage me to write more. 

When IW does not cover an entry, are you encouraged to blog more or less? ~ After I get over my intitial sour grapes, I remember that IW is doing ME a favor by posting what I write, and is under no obligation to do so.  I then analyze why that particular post might have been skipped over, and try to adjust for future posts.  It encourages me to write more.

How often do you read other blogs? ~ Every day!

How often do you comment on other blogs? ~ As often as I feel inspired.  But I make it a point to try and comment as much as possible because I want to encourage the other bloggers to keep going.  Without them, I would be missing out on a lot of information I may otherwise not find on my own.  And I know how good I feel when someone comments on my blog.  So I like to do the same for others.  I always do my best to keep my comments positive, even if I am going to make a point of disagreement on the subject matter.  I'd rather not comment than tell someone I didn't like their post.  I'm not a critic, and this is mostly about having fun!

If another blog covers a topic that you wanted or wished to cover, do you still blog about that specific topic? Why or why not? ~ LOL!  This question...it depends on the subject matter.  If I want to comment on the new C-ute PV, obviously tons of people are going to do the same thing.  If IW has already posted some reviews, I look at what has been said so I am not just parroting everyone else and try to come up with something original to say.  But if someone is going to do a post on "bad costumes" or "AKB48 bios", then I will look for something else to write about unless I feel that I have something so compellingly original about it.  Not that I will never talk about costumes or AKB48.  I'll just wait until I am inspired to do something I think is original.  But truth be told, most of us are repeating something that has been said somewhere else.  I did a post recently on H!P smiles, but I'm sure I wasn't the first person to ever post about that!  Now I know it's my blog and I should post whatever I want, but I think most of us hope our posts get covered by IW, and just imitating someone elses work doesn't seem to me like the way to have that happen. It would be like reading the Boston Globe with all of the writers writing a different version of the same article.

Commitment:

How serious is your attitude towards blogging? Do you consider it just as something to do for fun? ~ I'm doing it for fun, but I am very serious about it in the respect that I always want my posts to be good, and I always want them to be well-received.

How often do you blog? How often would you like to blog? ~ On average once every 2-3 days.  I think that's enough for now.

What priorities do you or have you put aside in order to blog? Why? ~ Excercise, because I'd rather write about H!P than go jogging!

Do you see yourself blogging in 6 months? Why or why not ~ If everything stays status quo, then yes!  I don't anticipate my interest in the subject matter to lessen.  And I am planning to go back to Japan very soon.  So I'll have more to write about! 

Personal:

Would you say you blog for yourself? ~ Very much so!

What is your feeling after posting an entry? Is it relative to the time and effort you put in an entry? ~ I feel a sense of accomplishment, and the longer the blog the bigger the sigh after I hit the "post" button!

What needs does blogging fulfill? ~ The need to feel connected.

Do you consider yourself a writer? ~ I write, therefore I am.  But a professional writer, no.  Although when I was in the radio biz I used to write news copy.

Do you consider yourself good at writing? Good at blogging? ~ I was happily surprised with my initial results.  I used to do morning radio, so I know I have the ability to be funny.  I wasn't that great at composition when I went to school, but when I read my blog I think it's pretty good.  And if I don't like something I change it until I do like it. 

How much of your personal life do you share on your blog? If none, why do you leave this out? ~ I share a lot of my personal life.  In fact the whole thing is written from the vantage point of Chris' experience of the subject matter.  And I have mentioned many personal things about myself in the posts.  I think that is one of the good things about my blog!

Thank for any time you spend doing this! ~ You're welcome!  Broomhead, now get back to posting the Haromoni@ reviews, and I would love to find out the winner of March Madness before the next basketball season starts!  Here is something to cheer you up...

CK in California

AND...Why Tanaka Reina Is A Friggin' Genius!!!

Reina 9

Before I went to Japan, I was a casual watcher of the various Hello! Project television programs.  I've always found the old episodes of Hello Morning to be at best "hit or miss".  Granted, there have been some golden moments in the history of the program.  But I have seen as many weak segments as good ones.  And to be honest, I never found it worth my time to sift through all of the material to find the good stuff.  I have relied on other people like Maize to isolate the classic moments for me to watch.

Since the debut of Haromoni@, the reviews around the blogosphere have been mediocre at best.  I immediately wrote the show off as lame and never bothered to give it a good look.  However, when I was in Japan I happened to accidentally run across the show in my hotel room shortly before the Sunday matinee of H!P Haru Pro Award 2008.  I remember enjoying watching it, but it just may have been the fascination of seeing it on Japanese TV.  In fact, the only segment I remember from that episode was GakiKame "building" the clay bust of....Julius Caesar???  But I enjoyed it enough to resolve to watch the show more regularly when I returned to the U.S.

That resolve, and the hilariously snarky reviews of the program from True Life Seek made me an immediate fan of the show!  And it isn't because the show is all that funny.  In fact, much of the time quite a bit of it is really dumb!  I jumped on the bandwagon just in time for the four month Mou Tube marathon.  But for some strange reason, every Sunday morning I look forward to waking up and downloading the latest episode from Veoh.com.  Like Hello Morning, it is a mix of lame moments and the occasional "golden" moment.  But it's those great bits which come around once in a while that keep me coming back.  And I will also give the producers some credit for their continuous retooling of the show.  It seems as if they at least occasionally listen to feedback.  Here are five virtues of Haromoni@...

Haromoni@

5)  The Outfits ~  I still wonder if the producers of Haromoni@ pay attention to what we are saying in the West, as Broomhead has constantly suggested the girls vary their outfits from week to week.  This makes perfect sense to me as a huge part of their appeal is the cute/sexy factor.  If they aren't being sexy or cute, then why am I watching the show?  Morning Musume is not Second City.  Lo and behold, now they have new outfits every week!  And they feature these outfits at the end of each episode too!  The business suits and cheerleader costumes have been my favorites so far.  And I absolutely love that no matter what they wear, they still have the ears and tails.  Totally Hot!!!

4)  Princess YY ~ Sayumi was my least favorite member when I ranked Momusu on Paul's Hello!Blog.  But Princess YY, coupled with Sayu's sensational MC segment during the Bon Kyu Bomb concert have completely changed my opinion of her.  It's not that her parlor tricks are all that fascinating.  It's that stupid "Y Balance"!!!  It gets me every time.

3) The Jun Jun/Lin Lin Game ~  This segment has always been pretty decent.  That was until their reenactment of Super Mario made it great!  Jun Jun stole the show with that silly expression on her face throughout the bit.  And Gaki, Sayu, and Eri's reactions during the segment were totally hysterical.  To me, an all time classic!!!  Nani? Ting???

 2) GakiKame ~  This is the most consistently funny bit on Haromoni@, hands down!  First of all, Risa and Eri are adorable every time.  Second, the music in the background is GREAT!!!  I would love to know what it is.  Every week I hope for a GakiKame segment.  The best ever had to be the one from the march 30th episode, Eri should play for the New York Knicks...

And the number one virtue of Haromoni@...

1) Tanaka=Genius ~  Who is the one who always gets the answer right when the "King" quizzes the girls in the beginning?  Tanaka.  Who is the the one who figured out the Pandas Super Mario bit?  Tanaka.  Who figured out Mittsi's "snail maki"?  Tanaka.  Reina is constantly giving us snippets of her brain power on this show!  I have always felt that she is amazingly smart and is extremely shrewd when it comes to marketing herself.  My observations of this go all the way back to her debut with Morning Musume.

As far as I am aware, Reina is the only person to get into H!P after a second audition.  And it is widely known that one of her big motivations was a desire to meet Izaki Hisato of FLAME.  Like Ogori Shun, her reasons for getting into show business in the first place were pretty cool, like she wasn't primarily interested in even being an idol.  Although when you watch the old 6th generation auditions with the "mean" trainer.  It is obvious that she was the most naturally talented of the three Rokkies.

Then there was their first appearance on Utaban.  What struck me was the vanity of Eri and Sayu and the "apparent" lack of vanity from Reina.  "Did you become cute?"  Now I'm sure Reina has always known that she is cute.  But she acted so sweet and unassuming during that entire episode and completely separated herself from the other two.

Next is the Mechaike Okajo Sports Special.  Okamura Takashi of "Ninety-Nine" is the funniest comedian to cross the path of Morning Musume.  His humor could be described as "dry", not dissimilar to a Japanese Dennis Miller.  If you watch the special, Reina is one of the few who consistently laughed at Takashi's jokes.  And she seemed to be the only one who understood his "bit" about Devi Sukarno, Kobuhei, and Beat Kiyoshi.  I love Reina's "laugh-clap".

Sometime around 2005, Reina seemed to alter her image to ultra lolita-sexy.  It was around the time of "Chokkan 2".  Her clothes became mega-stylish, and she began "seducing" the camera every chance she got.  This is the image that she has consistently portrayed to this day.  It is also evident in every sensational photobook she has released.  One of my favorite things Reina has done is her AloHello! DVD.  There is something about the way she speaks and carries herself that is very cool.  Just watch the scene where she is picking out prizes for the buyers of the DVD.  

Now while it seems that some have seen this as a betrayal to her original "Yankii" image, fanboys (like myself) have just lapped up every moment.  I personally don't get the "backlash" to her current image, and believe her detractors are absolutely crazy!  Make no mistake, Reina is no less "Yankii" than the first day she debuted with the group.  She is merely marketing herself perfectly to her biggest fans.

So if you have a problem with all of the winking/pouting/posing for the camera, don't worry...

She isn't winking at YOU!

CK in California

Ketchup Mania

A couple of days ago I posted this review of Ketchup Mania's first full-length CD AND their newest single/PV.  Yesterday I e-mailed the link to the article to KM's site, this is the response I received...

After looking at Celestia's post of Morning Musume and the Disney special, I went and found the Matsuura Aya portion of the program  A medley of Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, Bippity Boppity Boo, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, now there's a triple mouthful!  Ayaya is simply amazing, what a wonderful talent...

Oh boy, I wish my head would've appeared behind her during this!!!

CK in California

When Radicalpatriot invited me to Japan Nite in San Francisco last March, the only band that really interested me was SCANDAL.  And why not?  AKB48 rocking out with guitars?  How hot is that?  SCANDAL was pretty cool, but what I didn't know was that I would leave the concert as a huge fan of another group all together.  And that band is Ketchup Mania!

Ketchup

Like Henkka, I can also be described as somewhat of a "metalhead"  The list of groups I have seen live includes Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Ozzy, Motorhead, Van Halen, Dokken, Twisted Sister, Guns n' Roses, Dio, and W.A.S.P..  Outside of J-pop and Hello! Project, My all time favorite artists are The Ramones, The Surf Punks, X, The Pixies, and 311.  I'm also a huge fan of The Smiths (I know, pretty random for this list)  I've now received my first of hopefully many Ketchup Mania purchases, their first full-length CD...

Greetings

 Greetings From Tokyo - 2006

This is an unbelievably great album!  Every track is fast, furious, and features the amazing voice of the ultra-sexy HIRO.  There are many groups in the J-rock universe that have a punk/thrash sound with an Anime-styled lead singer.  Berry Roll is one I've heard, The Soap is another.  But no singer has the command of HIRO, and her sound is so unique.  The musicianship is ultra tight.  DAI's guitar work and WANI's drumming are lightning quick, but very crisp.  And they sound great live too!

The CD is a set of twelve under-2 minute songs in rapid succession.  In a way, their style could be described as repetitive.  But I love their style, so it doesn't bother me at all.  The CD in many ways reminds me of The Ramones first album.  Pretty much every song is great!  My favorite tracks...

Track 2 ~ BES-POSI  They go into a reggae style on the bridge, which is a great variation!  Like an amped up version of The Specials.  HIRO goes very high in her vocal range on the chorus. 

Track 3 ~ NAMIDA VACUUM SOUND  The guitar solo is a great variation of Wipeout by the Ventures.  Their second PV...

Track 7 ~ SUN FLOWER  This is my favorite song on the CD.  On almost every track, HIRO harmonizes with herself.  I'm pretty sure it's an overlapped track.  Twice the HIRO, twice the fun!  Many songs on this CD are just fast, but this one is one of the most melodic.  I wish I could find a video of this!

Track 8 ~ YOUR WORLD  For some reason, the guitar work on the chorus reminds me of the 80's alternative sound.  BTW, The sound on the PV is kinda low...

Track 9 ~ CANDLE ON THE BIRTHDAY CAKE  This song is so reminiscent of Bow Wow Wow, especially the intro guitar.  It's very melodic, with a caribbean rhythm to it.  My Japanese is weak at best, but I've never heard so many phrases end with the sound "lu"  What does that mean???

Track 10 ~  JINGLE BERRY  is my other favorite song, and just might be the best Christmas song ever made!!!  Sorry Bing!  Although it's slightly more "Christmas-y" than Spinal Tap's "Christmas with the Devil" and Dread Zeppelin's "Christmas in Las Vegas"  I'll be alternating between this and Sayumi and Koharu's "Merry Pinku Kurisumasu" this holiday season.  To me this is their best PV, simply because it is almost exclusively closeups of HIRO...

I love just about every song on this CD.  I highly recommend it.  I found it for a very reasonable price (new) on EBay, and YesAsia has a CD/DVD version.

You can hear Ketchup Mania every Monday night (10 eastern/7pacific) on the Japan Files channel on live 365.com.  There's a link posted on their MySpace page.  By the way, here is their brand new PV, Please! Marry Me!!!  Oh HIRO, if only...

I was surprised by the comparative "softness" in the beginning, but the song "rocks out" more as it progresses.  It sounds A LOT more polished and produced than "Greetings From Tokyo".  I believe they might be grooming them for a more mass market appeal!  The purists might not like it as much, but it is a step forward in their career.  When they become huge stars, I'll always have the memory of hanging out with them and having a smoke on Divisadero Ave. in San Francisco!  DAI's "Wedding March" guitar solo in the middle is awesome!  I just love when guitarists do "classical favorites" as solos.  The video is a continuation of the theme from their previous PV, BAD BAD BAD.  And I love the R. Crumb-styled animation!  Ya know, after listening to this song a few times, it's really starting to grow on me, very cool!

HIRO So Sexy

And by the way, did I mention HIRO is too friggin' HOT?  Even if she does deserve a Hall of Fame spot on my "Great Orthodontist Adventure"!!! 

CK in California

I'd say I made the right choice when deciding to see the Hello! Project 2008 Winter concert.  First, I'm barely discernable on the inside jacket cover of the DVD, then Radicalpatriot sends a picture of Momoko with me in the background.  And now Rad has found the best picture yet!

Chris1aseminormal

Yes, that's my head just to the left of the lovely Ayaya during "Yeah Meccha Holiday"!  I can just imagine what I must have been thinking at the moment.  I feel like the guy I saw at the show with a t-shirt print of himself in a tuxedo and Momoko in a wedding dress!  It had to be the funniest outfit I saw my entire trip!

It's things like this that get me excited about returning to Japan to re-live the experience.  I am solidly committed to returning next January, but I do have a week of vacation at my disposal this year.  I could use it for the summer show, but more likely if I go, it will be for the fall tours.  We shall see.  It was worth every penny to invest in this trip, and to spend a little extra for the great seats!

Now that I know where I am (around 2:29), I can see myself bouncing around behind her on the DVD.  Thank you Rad for all of your hard work!

CK in California

Ever since I truly discovered THE Possible, I have been looking forward to April 2008.  According to the Wiki web site, NGP was to be beginning "full time activites" for THE Possible and Canaria Club.  Well, April has come and gone...

Possible

THE Possible started the month with two shows at Yokohama Blitz.  Actually it was the end of March, but I won't be too picky.  I really like the setlist of this concert.  They did 20 songs, including most of their hits.  And the "Blitz" is a respectable place to perform.  C-ute performed there as recently as last year.  As of this posting there is no news on whether or not a DVD will be released.  But I'd really like to see this show.

They ended the month with what is being called their first major release, Kazuko e no Tegami...

This PV misses the mark for so many reasons.  First of all, I have no interest in watching my favorite idols covered in dirt and grease!  It's not cute or sexy at all, which is a major reason why I watch and listen in the first place.  And speaking of "Grease", this song sounds like a reject from the "Grease" soundtrack.  It's another 50's-esque song like GOHAN no Uta, just not nearly as cute or catchy.  And at 4:50 it is far too long and repetitive. The "instrument" shots seem like such an afterthought...there are no cool shots of Ohse Kaede jamming on the drum set.  After the sensational releases of Happy 15 and Love Message, to me this is a disappointment.  Worst of all, half of the hairstyles look like a tribute to Allen Iverson!

Canaria Club

Canaria Club: I am personally in a "discovery phase" for this group.  I know they are split into "Can's" and "A-rias", but have no idea what the heck that means.  Unless Yui is joining Canaria Club on the "Can's" team, I am still confused.  Unlike THE Possible, they have never appeared with Hello! Project, so we haven't had any access to them that way.  But they also had a concert in Yokohama, at Sunphonix Hall in Yokohama Arena.  What I can't believe is that tiny place under Yokohama Arena is actually able to hold a concert!  I swear I thought it was a gift shop of some sort when I was there in January.  I've searched around the internet to see if I could find more information on it, but could only find pictures of their recording studios.  I wonder how many it seats?  It couldn't be more than 100...it makes The AKB48 Theater look like the Tokyo Dome.  Their 17-song setlist featured all of their singles, including the latest...

This PV far exceeds my expectations!  This song sounds like a classic "golden age" Morning Musume tune.  It's a simple PV, but those cute green plaid shorts and belly shirts kept my interest throughout the PV.  It has also put two new idols on my radar...My favorite "Can" Takada Ayumi looks totally hot in those glasses, and "A~rias" Ooura Ikuko looks like a cross between Maasa Sudou and Kikkawa Yuu.

Ayubee

Ikucchi

Also appearing in both concerts were TNX's Peach, Cherry, and GTT Club.  Have any of these artists produced a single yet???

So there is your first month of "full activity"  I was disappointed in THE Possible's new single, but it seems that NGP is making an effort to build an image for Canaria Club, based on the fact that the members are all primarily known on Wiki by their nicknames...what is the significance of that???  It wasn't an earth-shattering beginning by any means but...

Rome wasn't built in a day.

CK in California

This has been an interesting six months...

October 2007:  Goto Maki suddenly graduates from Hello! Project.  Reasons:  Exhaustion and creative differences with UFA.  Dubious sub-reason:  The arrest of Goto Yuuki "Corleone"  This, along with Iida Kaori's pregnancy also contributes to the unceremonious disappearance of Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai after a fairly promising start.

V-u-den

January 2008:  v-u-den announces their coming disbandment this summer.  Reason:  None given.  Dubious sub-reason:  Latest album doesn't break 8,000 copies sold?

February 2008:  The cancellation of Uta Doki! Pop Classics  Reason:  To make room for Berikyuu.  Dubious sub-reason:  Was anyone watching?

March 2008:  Mano Erina graduates from H!P Eggs and more importantly Ongaku Gatas.  Reason: To pursue a solo career and be the best part of Berikyuu!  Dubious sub-reason:  Unsubstantiated rumours of friction within the Gatas.  By the way, I don't buy into that rumour for one second.  There is NO possible way Yossie and Rika would let some kid get away with being a Diva in that group!

Mika

 April 2008:  The graduation of Mutou Mika from Ongaku Gatas and Hello! Project.  Reason:  To focus on her education.  Dubious sub-reason:  She just wasn't cute or popular.  If this is true, I feel really badly for her.  It doesn't seem as if she got much of a shot beyond the Eggs.  She was merely a glorified backup dancer for Gatas who never (as far as I've seen) got a chance to prove her talent.  Whatever the "real" reason, I am sorry to see Mika go.

Ayaka

 April 2008:  The sudden graduation of Kimura Ayaka.  Reason:  To focus on her acting.  Dubious sub-reason:  What has she done lately other than one song per year every winter?  This one hits me the hardest because 1) Ayaka is such a huge part of the history of Hello! Project.  Not because of Coconuts Musume, but of her Surprise English Lessons.  And 2) Unlike Maki, who we now know and always suspected would resurface, this may be the last we hear from Ayaka for a long time.  What bothers me the most is how unceremonious her departure is.  Ayaka deserves SO MUCH better than this! (Friday edit: well this theory already seems to have been proven incorrect, as Ayaka "Nagate" has already signed with a new agency.  Awesome for her!!!  I never said I was related to Nostradamus.)

Question:  What do all of these events have in common???

Answer:  They all happened to and affected members of the Elder Club.

Obviously sales are not what they used to be.  And I've always wondered how UFA can afford to pay all of these artists to be associated with H!P when they seem to be generating limited revenue for the organization.  What I have long suspected is that UFA is beginning to "prune away" the excess baggage, and it is starting with most of the Elders.  But can you really blame them?  Based on current trends, it is obviously the right time for UFA to take a good, hard look at where they are, and where they want to be.  As hard as it is to say goodbye to people they surely care about as human beings.  It simply makes sense for them to evaluate what is going to keep them profitable and contemporary.  After all, nobody wants them to become a "nostalgia" act!

So now we have seen the first of some major changes.  Could the rest of the Elders be far behind???

Melon Kinenbi

Melon Kinen-bi:  As much as I hate to say it, their days must be numbered with H!P.  Their last single and album barely sold a copy.  There has been no tour in 2008, and they are usually good for 2-3 club tours per year.  I don't think they are going to survive the year.

Maeda Yuki:  She is a tremendous talent, but is being promoted to the wrong demographic.  Yuki in H!P is like a "fish on a bicycle".  I think she is going to move on.

Inaba

Inaba Atsuko:  Now that Ayaka is gone, could Atsuko be too far behind?  They both currenly play the same role within Hello! Project, with the exception of her backing vocal work.  I still say I'd rather watch the H!P shows with she and Mari hosting, and instead be talking about the graduation of MC Makoto!!!

Yui and Erika:  I have no clue what they could possibly have in store for these two.  And I'll bet UFA doesn't have a clue either. 

This leaves us with...

Ayaya

Matsuura Aya:  She is still one of the best talents currently in Hello! Project, but I could see her eventually pulling a "Gomaki" and bolting for greener pastures.  Whatever she does, I will still adore her!

Ongaku Gatas:  Despite losing two members, I don't think Gatas is falling apart at all.  Mika was underutilized and expendable.  Manoeri, as popular as she is, wasn't the cornerstone of the group.  Si*Na is an unknown commodity, so we have no idea what Nocchi's future is yet.  I'm interested to see what the Gatas' next move is.

And then you have...

All of the Momusu graduates:  This is the hardest for me to predict.  How do you tell the likes of Yuko, Nacchi, Kaorin, Nono, Kei-chan, Yaguchi, and Mikitty "see ya later"?  I don't think you do.  And even if I believe that last January was the last we'll hear of the "Elder" concept, it doesn't mean I think UFA will show every last one of them "the door".  Next to Ayaya, Morning Musume "OG" is the best part of the Elders' show, AND was the best part of the ENTIRE Summer 2007 concert!  Could some of them eventually say goodbye?  Yes, but it would be on their own terms.  I have to believe that H!P would always leave an open door for any of them.

Now what is working???

Berryz

Berryz Koubou:  Dschinghis Khan is their best selling single...ever!

C-ute:  Namida no Iro...ditto!!!

Morning Musume:  Resonant Blue, Tsunku and Momusu do a retooling of style and BAM!  We have one of their best selling singles in over two years!

Buono!:  Is a resounding success!

Milky Way

Koharu Kusumi:  Every single and album sells well!  Great buzz around Milky Way.  Which begs the question...  What do Koharu and Pornography have in common???

Nobody claims to be a fan of either one, but they both generate monstrous revenue! 

CK in California

I love the way everyone gets so excited whenever a Hello! Project artist puts out a new PV.  And if Buono! gets any better, they are going to be due their own headline tour...You know what?  They are already there!!!

This is yet another stellar song from Pony Canyon and the tremendous trio of Airi, Miyabi and Momoko!  How much do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

1) They are sticking to the musical genre that endeared me to them in the first place.  Yes it's pop, but make no mistake.  Buono! has a heavy rock flavor.

2) These are the hottest outfits they have worn for a PV.  Pedolicious schoolgirl attire...and that hat Airi is wearing...Prrrrrr!

3) Taking a cue from THE Possible and fooling around with musical instruments.  What is up with Momo's drumsticks?  Is she channeling the spirit of Cozy Powell?  But I'm still trying to figure out if Airi's guitar is from the Rick Nielsen collection or the Fisher Price collection.

4) Momoko, no matter how hard you blow your drumsticks, they aren't a harmonica!

5) The scene where they are sleeping together near the end is Uber-Kawaii!  And we got kisses!!!  Well, at least two kisses.

Bottom line, this is another amazing song from this unit.  The chorus of the song is what catches my attention, upbeat in their higher ranges.  Once again it has Pony Canyon written all over it and Tsunku nowhere to be found.  Not that I don't like Tsunku, he's listed as one of my heroes on my MySpace page (along with Howard Stern, but that's another story)  It is just nice to have some fresh blood producing material for the girls around H!P.  It keeps things from getting too formulaic.  I'd say the chances of me puchasing this Cd are very good.

CK in California