4 posts tagged “scandal”

I know I have been slowing down a little bit on this site.  To be honest I just haven't been overly excited about the latest H!P goings-on lately.  I really liked the Guardians 4 single, and I am sure I will have plenty to talk about after heading down to Anime Expo in Los Angeles with the IW gang.  But for now I have been doing a lot more work on my two AKB48 sites, My Sweet Meetan and Chuo Dori.  So please click on over to those sites to check out what's up with the lovely girls from Akihabara.  Oh, and my Meetan site is getting tons of hits every day!  So if you are already visiting it, arigatou gozaimasu!

Now with that out of the way...

Buy Site price check time, Yayyyyyy!  It was time for me to make another J-music purchase.  And like last time I set up the same three CDs on the three buy sites I usually use to see who was giving me the best deal.  I have always been partial to HMV since they usually have the best overall price, and I like that my merchandise is coming directly from Tokyo.  And you can't really say this is a "GETS" post, since I don't have any of the CDs yet...

I usually never buy the AKB48 singles.  The truth is that I usually wait until I get to Japan, and then ask all of my AKB48 fan buddies if they have any extra copies of the "theater version" since everyone usually has 5-10 copies from all of the handshake events.  Hell, I'll probably do that this time around too.  But this is the version that comes with the Senbatsu election ballot.  And I am going to do my damndest to get my vote for Meetan in before the deadline.  As far as the CD itself?  I love the song, and Ono Erena's solo b-side "First Love" is really pretty!

I really love SCANDAL, although I didn't buy their last single because I just didn't care for it.  But this song is a lot more fun, and the PV is cute.  I have no idea what the different versions have other than the covers being different.  I chose this version for the full-body poses as opposed to the upper-body pose on the other LE version.

I actually bought this before I ever heard the song.  Believe it or not, I still adore Kago.  I realize she has done much to alienate her fans.  But personally I would rather feel badly for her than condemn her.  She has been in the idol world for so long, and I think sometimes we forget that she is still very young.  I have the feeling she didn't have the easiest upbringing, and is still a bit "lost" in life.  And I can never forget that Kago was the one who brought me to Hello! Project.  If it wasn't for that fateful day that I stumbled upon that video of her, I may never have become the fan that I am today.  I would never have gone to Japan...Etcetera etcetera.  I owe a lot to Kago, and I still support her 100%.  And I did catch her PV today and really enjoyed the song.  So I am doubly glad I bought it.

Oh yeah, this is supposed to be about price comparing, right?  Let's see...

HMV: 4,842 Yen, including EMS express shipping.  Not bad considering the shipping cost.  I also had a 200 Yen coupon to drop the price to 4,642 Yen.

YesAsia:  4,549 Yen, including their free shipping.  The slower shipping takes about a week longer, sometimes more.  YesAsia also offers express shipping for an idditional 1,600 Yen.

CD Japan:  6,045 Yen, including EMS express shipping.  CD Japan does offer a slower shipping option which would have dropped around 1,000 Yen off of the price.  Throw in a 500 Yen coupon and it is about the same as Yes Asia.

So once again I think HMV is the best deal when you consider that you are getting the merchandise much faster.  CD Japan does seem a lot more expensive at first.  But it is just that they charge so much for shipping.  If it weren't for that, they would be a lot more competitive.  And just to be fair, I did the test again with Morning Musume's upcoming concert DVD for their Spring "Platinum 9 Disco" Tour.  That is obviously on my "must buy" list since I was in the audience.  Keep in mind that I used the same shipping methods.  Express for HMV and CD Japan, and "Free Regular" for Yes Asia...

HMV:  4,202 Yen
Yes Asia:  4,275 Yen
CD Japan:  5,300 Yen.

Once again HMV comes out the best.  This J-pop collecting can be an expensive hobby, so it is always good to see where you can get the best bang for your buck.  And for my next purchase you can be sure I will do the same exercise again.  A good shopper is a smart shopper... 

At least that's what my Mom used to tell me!

CK in California

I'm glad I check my email once in a while!

 

SCANDAL's first single from Sony is due out this Wednesday.  It is called Doll, and is available for purchase at CDJapan.  Here is the link.  My shopping list is getting to be huge for my trip next week!  But for $14 you get a CD and DVD, so that's pretty cool.  I haven't heard the song yet, hope it's good...actually...

 

I take that back.  Here is the single on YouTube.  Totally kick-ass, eh?  The girls look hot, it's a well produced PV.  Total WIN!!!  Now I'm definitely buying it!

CK in California

I was originally planning to do this as a continuation of my last post about AKB48.  Since I have now declared them my favorite J-pop group, it is time to begin my AKB collection.  I had finally reached the point where I had most all of the old H!P CD and DVD's I wanted, and now I could focus on just buying new releases.  It's not that I don't already have a few AKB48 items, I do!  This is going to be total hell on my wallet all over again.  But I am really excited about this "new beginning"!

Fly To High posted this What J-Pop Do You Buy post earlier this week.  To answer the questions on the post...

I buy "most" of my collection on EBay.

Most of my collection has come from Japan, although I do have a few overseas versions mixed in.  A few of my DVD's are Hong Kong bootlegs.  But after I bought an all-region DVD player I have only purchased Japan DVD's.

I have purchased quite a few items from Yes Asia.com, but now I am buying most of my stuff from HMV Online.  And for special items I almost always buy from the amazing Ohta!

As I begin to turn my attention to the girls of Akahibara, let's see what kind of damage has been done to my bank account so far.  Shall we?

 

Morning Musume

"First Time" CD

"Second Morning" CD

"3rd Love Paradise" CD

"4th Ikimasshoi" CD

"No. 5" CD

"Ai no Dai 6 Kan" CD

"Rainbow 7" CD

"7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini!" CD (LE)

"Sexy 8 Beat" CD

"Souda! We're Alive!" CD Single

"Aruiteru" CD Single

"Mikan" CD Single (LE)

"Resonant Blue" CD Single (LE A&B)

"Resonant Blue" Event V

"Morning Cop" OST CD

"Best Morning Musume 1" CD

"Best Morning Musume 2" CD

 

Melon Kinenbi

"1st Anniversary" CD

"Fruity Killer Tune" CD

"Kokuhaku Kinenbi" CD Single

"Akai Freesia" CD Single

 

Berryz Kobo

"1st Cho Berryz" CD

Dai 2 Seichouki" CD

"Special! Best Mini~2.5 Maime no Kare" CD

"3 Natsu Natsu Mini Berryz" CD

"Anata Nashi Dewa Ikita Yukenai" CD Single

"Fighting Pose wa Date Ja Nai" CD Single

"Happiness~Kofuku Kangei!" CD Single

"Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi" CD Single

 

C-ute

"2 Mini ~Ikiru to lu Chikara~" CD (LE)

"Sakura Chirari" CD Single (LE)

"Meguru Koi no Kisetsu" CD Single (LE)

"LALALA Shiawase no Uta" CD Single

"Edo no Temari Uta II" CD Single (LE)

 

Country Musume

"Daizenshuu 2" CD

 

W

"Duo U&U" CD

"2nd W" CD

"Koi no Fuga" CD Single

"Ai no Imi wo Oshiete" CD Single

"Miss Love Tantei" CD Single

 

Matsuura Aya

"First Kiss" CD

"T.W.O." CD

"X3" CD

"Double Rainbow" CD

"Matsuura Aya Best 1" CD

"Tropical Koishiteru" CD Single

"The Bigaku" CD Single

"Ne~e" CD single

"The Last Night" CD Single

"Kiseki no Kaori Dance" CD Single

 

MiniMoni

"MiniMoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan" CD

"MiniMoni Songs 2" CD

"MiniMoni Telephone! Rin Rin Rin" CD Single

"MiniMoni Hinamatsuri" CD Single

"Lucky Cha Cha Cha" CD Single

"Kazoe Uta" DVD Single

 

Buono 

"Cafe Buono" CD (LE) 

"Gachinko de Ikou" CD Single (LE)

 

Athena & Robikerottsu

"Shouri no Big Wave" CD Single

"Seishun Love Lunch" CD Single

 

ZYX

"Shiroi Tokyo" CD Single

 

v-u-den

"Single Best 9 Vol. 1 Omaketsuki" CD

"Hitorijime" CD Single

 

Goto Maki

"Yaruki! It's Easy" CD Single

 

Abe Natsumi

"Hitoribocchi" CD

"Date Ikitekanakucha" CD Single

"Koi no Telephone Goal" CD Single

"Yuma Naraba" CD Single

 

Kusumi Koharu

"Mitsuboshi" CD

"Kirarin Land" CD

"Balalaika" CD Single

 

Fujimoto Miki

"Boogie Train '03" CD Single

 

Tanpopo

"All of Tanpopo" CD

 

Nochiura Natsumi

"Renai Sentai Shitsu Ranger" CD Single

 

High-King

Cinderella/Complex CD Single (LE)

 

Milky Way

"Anataboshi" CD Single

 

THE Possible

"Happy 15" CD Single

"Love Message" CD Single

 

Hello! Project

"Otome Gumi Ai no Sono" CD Single

"Otome Gumi Yuujou" CD Single

"2003 Shuffle Units" CD Single/PB

"H!P All-Stars 2004" CD Single/PB

"Pucchi Best 1" CD

"Pucchi best 2" CD

"Pucchi Best 3" CD

 

Photobooks

Matsuura Aya Alo-Hello (2003)

Matsuura Aya- Ma! Chura (2004)

Abe Natsumi- Nacchi (1999)

Abe Natsumi- Natsumi (2001)

Abe Natsumi- AloHello (2005) *DVD*

Takahashi Ai- Photobook (2002)

Yaguchi Mari- Yaguchi (2002)

Yaguchi Mari- Love Hello! (2003)

Iida Kaori- Kaori Kaori Kaori (2002)

Kago Ai- Go on the Journey (2003)

Kago Ai/Tsuji Nozomi- TsujiKago (2002)

Ishikawa Rika- Photobook (2001)

Ishikawa Rika- Photobook (2002)

Kamei Eri- 17 Sai (2006)

Tanaka Reina- Reina (2005)

Tanaka Reina- AloHello! (2007)

Konno Asami- Photobook (2004)

Konno Asami- AloHello! (2006) *DVD*

Tanpopo- Photobook (2001)

Morning Musume- AloHello! (2003)

Morning Musume- AloHello! (2004) *DVD*

 

Concert DVD's

Morning Musume First Live at Shibuya Kohkaido 1998

Morning Musume Memory Seishun no Hikari 1999  (Fukuda Asuka Graduation)

Morning Musume First Live at Budokan 2000  (Ichii Sayaka Graduation)

Morning Musume Live Revolution 21 Haru 2001  (Nakazawa Yuko Graduation)

Morning Musume Green Live 2001

Morning Musume Love is Alive! 2002 Haru

Morning Musume Love is Alive! 2002 Natsu  (Goto Maki Graduation)

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2003 Haru "Non-Stop!"  (Yasuda Kei Graduation)

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2003 15nin de "Non-Stop!"

Morning Musume Otome Gumi Concert Tour 2003-2004

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2004 Spring "The Best of Japan"  (Mika Todd Graduation)

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2004 "The Best of Japan Natsu~Aki"

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2005 Haru "Dai 6 kan Hit Mankai"  (Ishikawa Rika Graduation)

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2006 Aki Odore! Morning Curry

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Spring Sexy 8 Beat  (Yoshizawa Hitomi Graduation)

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Aki Bonkyu Bonkyu Bomb!

Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Single Daizenshuu

Hello! Project 2002 Kotoshi no Sugiozo

Hello! Project 2002 One Happy Summer Day

Hello! Project 2003 Winter Tanoshinjattemasu!

Hello! Project 2003 Natsu Yosha! Bikkuri Summer!!

Hello! Project 2004 Winter C'mon! Dance World  (Abe Natsumi Graduation)

Hello! Project 2004 Summer Natsu no Doon!  (Kago Ai/Tsuji Nozomi Graduation)

Hello! Project 2005 Winter All-Stars Dairanbu, A Happy New Power!  (Iida Kaori Graduation)

Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayou Show '05 Selection Collection!

Hello! Project 2007 Winter Live DVD Box  (Country Musume Graduation)

Hello! Project 2007 Summer 10th Anniversary Dai Kanshasai

Hello! Project 2008 Winter Live DVD Box

Matsuura Aya First Concert Tour 2002 Haru "First Date"

Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2005 Haru 101 Kaime no Kiss

Matsuura Aya "Captain Koen" Hello Pro Party 2005

Matsuura Aya Live in Shanghai 2006

Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2007 Autumn

W "Standby!" Double U and Berryz Kobo 2004 Natsu

Berryz Kobo Live Tour 2005 Aki ~Switch On~  (Ishimura Maiha Graduation)

Berryz Kobo Concert Tour 2006 Haru, Nyoki Nyoki Champion

Berryz Kobo Concert Tour 2007 Sakura Mankai

Berryz Kamen/Cutie Ranger Nakayoshi Battle Concert 2008 Spring  (Berryz Version)

Melon Kinenbi 1st Anniversary Live Tour 2003

MiniMoni Special Live Dapyon! Haru 2003  (Yaguchi Mari Graduation)

 

Other DVD's

Morning Cop

Pinch Runner

Tokkaekko

Nama Tamago

Koinu Dan no Monogatari

The MiniMoni Movie

17 sai Tabidachi no Futari

Sukeban Deka, Codename: Asamiya Saki

Morning Musume Musical "Love Century"

Berryz Kobo Event V 2005

MiniMoni Single Clips 1

W no Eizo no Sekei Vol. 1 (Single Clips)

Hello! Project 2000 Shuffle Units DVD

Sakura/Otome Gumi Single DVD "Sakura/Yuujou"

 

Now for my Non-Tsunku related items...

 

AKB48

"Aitakatta" CD Single

"Bingo!" CD Single (LE)

"Set List" 2006-2007 CD (LE)

"Team K 2nd Stage" CD

"Team K 3rd Stage" CD

"Team A 4th Stage" DVD

"Set List, Live at Shibuya-AX 2008" DVD Box

 

Perfume

"Game" CD

"Electroworld" CD Single

 

Pipo Angels

"Luvly, Merry-Go-Round" CD Single

"100% Pure" CD Single

 

Ketchup Mania

"Everytime Music Freak" CD

"Greetings From Tokyo" CD

"U.R.G.E." CD

"L.O.V.E." CD

 

SCANDAL

"Hello Scandal" CD/EP

"Space Ranger" Single CD/DVD

 

Various Items

Andromedia DVD

Battle Royale DVD

Densha Otoko DVD Box

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon DVD Box

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon OST Vol. 1

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon "Dear My Friend" OST

 

T-Shirts

SCANDAL Concert T

Hello! Project 2008 Winter T-shirt plus sweatband

 

 

Oy!  That list was a total pain in the a$$ to put together!  If you add the cost of two trips to Japan plus concert tickets, that's a pretty big dent in the savings.  I'm not really into collecting rare items, instead I focus on CD's I want to listen to and DVD's I want to watch.  When I first started collecting I was enamored with the thought of watching Hello! Project on my big TV screen and cranking up Morning Musume in my car during the daily commute!

Now it's all about AKB48.  Let's see how much of their crap I can amass over the next year!

CK in California

 

 

Where to begin...With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps I should've gotten more sleep the night before.  I had no idea what I was in for when Rad invited me to see Japan Nite 2008 at the Independent in San Francisco last night.

Up until now my experience with J-music has been...shall we say...limited.  I've experienced most everything H!P has churned out.  I love AKB48.  I have dabbled in Perfume and Pipo Angels (anyone notice a pattern yet?)  Hey, I make no apologies.  I like what I like for the reasons I like it.  So going to a concert starring six bands I have never really heard before sounded like a good time.  No more, no less.

The Independent is a "cracker box" of a venue in SF.  It's about half the size of Shibuya AX.  Rad got to the venue many hours before the show.  I won't spoil his review, but he has a great story to tell about his early arrival.  I highly recommend checking it out at http://radicalpatriot.vox.com.  When the doors opened there were about 15 people standing outside.  Rad and I were the first two to get in, so we got spots front and center.  We could literally feel the artists breathing on us.

This was an amazingly fun show!  Here is a band by band recap of the marathon concert...

Scandal ~ This was the group I was most interested in "seeing" bacause they most resembled a J-pop group.  Four teens in schoolgirl uniforms?  AKB48 anyone???  Except these girls play hard and fast rock and roll.  The song playing as they come to the stage is by the Ramones, and I'll give you one guess as to which song it was.  They led off with a great tune called Space Ranger, which also happened to be the CD/DVD single they were selling at the show (for $5!!!)  This group has the same intesity as another famous group coincidentally called Scandal.  (I hope Patty Smyth doesn't sue!)  It is shocking at first (in a totally awesome way) to see them play this kind of music.  If you strapped guitars around Atsuko Maeda, Tomomi Itano, Risa Narita and Rina Nakanishi, this it what it would look like!  And the lead guitarist is great!  Not only can she really rip, she looks like Jun Jun!  For girls this age, they sounded amazing.  Perhaps not as polished as some of the bands coming later.  But this group has a gimmick, and they are really going somewhere.  Their MySpace site is http://www.myspace.com/scandal4  Check out Space Ranger...

Judging by the line for autographs and tour goods after their set, there was definitely a "Wota Representation" in the audience.  Did CK line up for a CD and T-shirt???  Uhhhhhh, lets talk about the next act...

The Emeralds ~ They get my nomination for the most "intentionally" humorous band of the night.  The trio's sound is very straight forward and fast rock.  I heard many "Ramones" references from the crowd.  Now at this point I want to qualify something.  Rad and I were up against the stage AND...right next to the guitar amps.  So for most of the show we were getting a heavy dose of guitar, but were straining to hear the lyrics.  Although the lead singer/guitarist was playing a Gibson "Les Paul", it was very "tinny", and had my ears ringing very quickly.  The bassist and drummer interacted with the crowd very well.  The highlight being them "begging" the crowd to buy their shirts and CD's or they wouldn't be able to afford flying home.  These guys definitely have some Sex Pistols influence as the singer kinda has the Johnny Rotten style going.  http://www.myspace.com/theemeralds   Here is a cool little Emeralds' collage...

Ketchup Mania ~ I loved this group!!!  They were my favorites of the night.  Ketchup Mania plays fast, furious, and with a surf-thrash sound.  If this group was from the US, they'd be straight outta Malibu!  Dai, the lead guitarist has the "Slash" look.  Wani is never-ending energy on drums.  And the lead singer, Hiro...oh my god, she is great!  Love her voice, sort of an "anime-style".  And she has awesome stage presence!

Ketchup Mania has been around for quite a few years.  Rad remarked that Hiro reminded him of Kago Ai.  I'm not sure if I agree(I'm thinking more Toda Rinne), although I have the same attraction to all three of them.  So maybe there's something to it.  You can check out some of their music at  http://www.myspace.com/ketchupmaniajf  My two favorites were Bad Bad Bad (cool animated PV), which Hiro did a pretty good audience participation bit with, and Real Yaayo...

 

Detroit 7 ~ By far, this was the band that most people came to see.  And why not?  Tomomi, the lead singer/left-handed guitarist was probably the best musician of the night, and she was gorgeous.  The "Hendrix" references were not lost on her either as her repertoire includes a "Star Spangled Banner" guitar solo!  Another band that plays hard and fast rock.  Tomomi has a very intense stage presence and singing style not unlike Annie Lennox of Eurythmics or Debora Iyall from Romeo Void .  As beautiful as she is, I had trouble watching her sometimes as her facial expressions had me wondering if she was trippin' on acid.  And Miyoko is a tireless drummer.  Very tight musicianship here, but they could be more fan-friendly.  Although they were the first group from this show to respond to my MySpace "friend" request...Arigatou Tomodachi!!!  http://www.myspace.com/detroit7 

Also, a mosh pit broke out during this act, which picked up intensity as Detroit 7's set progressed.  This also lead to the last time I saw Rad that night.  I think Rad is great!  Like his Blog, he is very enthusiastic at these shows.  And like his Blog, he can be very controversial.  Again, I don't want to spoil Rad's story,  let's just say there was an altercation.  I'll say no more...

Petty Booka ~ Oh my god!!!  What can I say about this group?  I can think of about 20 "snarky" things right off the bat.  But I'll start with they are friggin' adorable!!!  Let me set the scene...three middle aged white guys.  One on guitar, one with a stand-up Bass, and one with a Banjo.  Then you have the young guy with a Mandolin.  "Petty" and "Booka", who couldn't be more than 20 years old come out in powder blue western-gear, novelty store cowboy hats and Ukeleles.  They can be best described as a cross between Allison Krauss and Tiny Tim, if you can picture that.  The girl with the lower voice sounded like Momoko from Berryz Koubou...that was the LOWER VOICE.  The girl with the higher voice made Momoko sound like a baritone!  Even funnier was their set list.  I think two of their songs were originals.  My favorite being "Don't Laugh" which was very pretty.  But mostly they played covers...

Don't Rock The Jukebox - Alan Jackson  This makes sense.

Come Dancing - The Kinks  Huh???  Still they were much better than Ray Davies and his stupid sounding fake Italian accent on the original

Que Sera Sera - Doris Day  This is out of left field!  How Hitchcockian of them!!!

Friend of the Devil - Grateful Dead  How appropriate for San Francisco!  Actually this is one of my favorite songs by the Dead, and I thought Petty Booka's best song here as well.  This is a clip from the show in Seattle the night before...

"Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night,
The first ones named sweet Anne Marie, and shes my heart's delight.
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail,
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail."

I'm sorry, I just found it kinda funny that they would be singing these lyrics.

Watching them on stage reminded my of Andy Kaufman's debut appearance on Saturday Night Live!  I did some searching around the internet and found that this group seems to have an ever-changing lineup.  Even the songs on their site sound like different singers.  But they were definitely cute.  http://www.myspace.com/pettybookatokyo

The Beaches ~ Checking my watch, it is getting close to 1am, and we still have one band left.  Rad is nowhere to be found, and I have to work the next day.  So I grab my gear at the coat check, and head to the back of the venue.  I figure I'll watch a song or two, then bail.  I'm glad I didn't.  Along with Ketchup Mania, this was my other favorite group of the night.  Definitely Rock, definitely New Wave, but what stood out for me was the unmistakable Reggae sound.  Yes, The Beaches is certainly an appropriate name.  The lead singer was great. He sounded like Burning Spear with a touch of Bad Brains, stage dove TWICE, and launched his guitar into the drum kit.  Speaking of the drummer, he wasn't the "fastest", but this guy did some things on the drums I'm not sure I've ever heard before.  Amazing!!!  Check out their site   http://www.myspace.com/comeonthebeaches  Yes, I also think Beavis and Butthead would like that Web address.  "Hana Hou" was a great song last night...

As I said before, I am on a "road of discovery" in the J-music world.  I am so happy, and so thankful to Rad that he invited me to this show.  This was a chance to hear some amazing music in an extremely intimate setting.  We got a chance to shake hands and chat with almost every group.  And I got to hang out in the alley and have a smoke with Ketchup Mania!  That was pretty cool too. 

Home at 3am...finally some sleep.  Until next year...

CK in California