I won’t bother talking about the game other than it’s awesome and click the link to check it out on the Steam store. My friend, Sei from Sekushii Island, told me to watch the Plants Vs. Zombies Music Video from the Steam Product Page. At first, there was a bit of a facepalm. ~Oh wow. The marketing on this game is crazy.~ Then the lyrics kick in, and from there, it’s just… infectious? Maybe? Not quite on the Gee level though. After getting a heads up on Destructoid about there being a Japanese version to this song, and there being links to the Composer/Performer, Laura Shigihara’s blog, I had to investigate. There’s a really cute back story to how “Zombies On Your Lawn” came to be so give ‘er a read!

So anyway, what can I really say about this track other than it’s got everything that it needs to be as cute and viral as it already is. The instrumental is simple, yet fun and playful, and doesn’t take away from or drown out the main focus – the lyrics. These lyrics are just so adorable. They totally fit the theme and flavor of the game and get the point of zombie-hatred and kick-assy-ness of the plants across while retaining it’s light, playful nature. Ok, so I said a bit. Just give this song a listen. Then go and support and play the game. It’s only $10.

V.A. - Music from Braid (2009)
Click the Image for the magnatune.com Product Page

Released April 9th, 2009

1. Maenam
2. Downstream
3. Lullaby Set
4. Romanesca
5. Long Past Gone
6. The Darkening Ground
7. Undercurrent
8. Tell It By Heart
9. Maenam (Jon Schatz remix)
10. Undercurrent (Jon Schatz remix)

I don’t really feel I can review something like this since it’s totally out of my usual scope (Classical, lol!?) but let me tell you, after playing the game, this music really feels like something else; I really can’t get enough of these songs – especially Undercurrent. It makes me want to cry. If you’ve played the game, you might know why.

Anywho, if you’re in the market for something relaxing and creative, this is definitely the album for you. Lots of string instruments and relaxing tunes which gets dark in the middle but ends on a good, but sad note. It also includes two remixes. Full previews are available on the product page. You can price the album yourself in the range of about $8 ~ $20USD, whatever fits your budget or whatever you think the album deserves. I think I paid about $12 which translated to about $15CAD. When you purchase, you get the choice of every popular musical format (wav, vbr mp3, cbr 128kbps mp3, flac, ogg, aac) where each file is DRM-free and the link remains active for 60 days to download at your leisure. Personally, I went with the wave files and converted to Apple Lossless for iPod play (so I could have all that ID3 goodness attached to it). They even supply cover art!! ^____^

Support this amazing album!

My sister recently purchased BoA’s North American release, THE FIRST ALBUM, and felt let down since the most of the album was just standard clubby tunes. I’m just glad I didn’t go out and pick it up. Still, I’m glad she did since I never would have been able to get my thoughts cleared out about this piece.

I loved BoA’s earlier Japanese stuff: Amazing Kiss, ID Peace B, Listen To My Heart, etc. I don’t exactly know what happened but somewhere around merikuri, I fell off the bandwagon. Maybe her fully English album would rekindle that fire within me. Sadly, it didn’t do much for me.

I think I’ve made it pretty clear through my many online profiles that Japanese TechnoPop, Drum and Bass, and Electro are my favourite genres of music. Give me anything by Perfume, Pendulum, or Justice and I’ll eat it up. Sticking to your favourite genres is safe but sometimes, even your genre fails you.

Back to my anecdote, I’ve liked some pop dance hip-hoppy stuff in the past though nothing really comes to mind at the moment. Liking genres doesn’t work all the time but c’mon, I told myself, it’s BoA. You’ll love this album regardless of what sister says. She says she doesn’t like dance music. I like electronic. I know they’re not the same but I should be fine.

Wrong.

Out of the whole album, I felt only “Did Ya” stood out, but wasn’t by any means groundbreaking. It was a bit more fun sounding than most of the tracks but that really isn’t saying much. Her whole album just feels numb compared to her older stuff. I’m just wondering if I’d like “Eat You Up” as much as I do if it didn’t have a PV…

Compared to other new music I’ve come across, THE FIRST ALBUM, barely makes a blip in the groove radar. The most recent stand-out blips I can think of are from the two groups I’ve spotlighted in NewLikes: Girls’ Generation’s Gee and You Love Her Coz She’s Dead’s Superheroes and Wizards. I specify those tracks because I don’t really go out of my way to find Korean Pop or Chiptunes acts. I wouldn’t consider myself a legitimate fan of either genre since I only listen to one or two acts from each. This proves stand-out music transcends genre. Another prime example of this phenomenon is Lenka. Normally, her genre of un-folk doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest but something about her voice and presentation had me sold.

Same with Nicole Atkins.
Same with The Pipettes.

At the lightest end of this effect, I could detest a song but if someone were to make a FUN stepchart to it on In The Groove, I’d play it. This is proven with me playing Crank That and Umbrella stepcharts. I don’t exactly hate those songs but I’d never voluntarily buy either album or listen to it outside of playing In The Groove.

This effect at a medium scale would be any song that’s made me a fan of the genre. capsule and TechnoPop, Dieselboy and Drum & Bass / Darkstep, Justice and Electro, m-flo and Japanese Hip-Hop, Hamasaki Ayumi and Japanese Pop, Scott Brown and Hardcore. Listening to songs of new genres that makes me want to explore further must have meant something to make me want to dive head-first into a new world.

The largest scale of this effect would have to be what happened with me and Nicole Atkins and Lenka. Each artist has a song that has really touched me lyrically and musically. Nicole’s Maybe Tonight is a refreshing wake up call that tells me this genre hasn’t completely died on me while Lenka’s Like A Song just has a haunting effect which I just adore and listen to in awe. Another example of this would be if a certain song is playing during memorable parts of my life: A song played at a climactic part of a movie or video game (Melodies of Life from Final Fantasy IX or the entire Braid soundtrack). A random song playing on the radio with friends (K-OS’ Sunday Morning). They might have nothing to do with the actual scenario but the song just reminds you of good times. An odd thing that sometimes happens is a certain melody or combination of notes can cause me to shed tears. I don’t know why.

So when a friend introduces new music to me, the song runs through these three levels of judgment: Is it of a genre I enjoy? Does it stand out? Does it mean anything to me or make me emote? Chances are that if a yes didn’t pop up from those questions, I won’t like it. That may change depending on a few factors. Firstly, am I in the mood for that genre at the moment? Does it do anything unique or something totally unheard of? Situationally, are we doing something fun where this song might enhance the mood? If a yes pops out of those questions, I might just happen to enjoy what you’re giving me – just like trying to soften up a parent to say yes to a question you know they’ll say no to, appease them, then you’ll get the answer you want. It’s only manipulative if the responding party notices…

…This is also why I tend to keep my musical tastes to myself when I meet new people, unless of course they ask what kind of music I like. I’m usually not the one to bring up the music talk unless I know they listen to something I know.

My casual interest in chiptunes piqued during episode 7 of series 3 of Skins. My friend said it was castles. I didn’t think it was because the girl looked different and the guy was singing and castles already went on Skins (that’s where I learned about them) so I decided to investigate. Luckily, the guys at Skins love showing off their music. I was greeted with quite the interesting group name. I usually have beef with long nonsensical names like this but for some reason, it doesn’t bother me.

From what I could gather from their myspace, they only have their “Inner City Angst EP” which only has 4 songs but have the “Me Versus You” vinyl forthcoming April 27th. They’ve also been involved with a few Kitsune Compilations. I’ve been listening to Inner City Angst since that episode of Skins aired and it doesn’t venture far off the path that Crystal Castles paved for me which doesn’t really surprise me since they share the same label.

Off the Inner City Angst EP, all 4 of the tracks have their own kind of charm: Superheroes is the fast, screaming, percussion-heavy track that got me hooked. It’s got everything I want in a standard chiptunes track. Dead End is a bit mellower and Blood Lust is fun too, but Wizards, however, is my favourite song of theirs because it sounds the most not like something I’ve heard in the chiptunes genre before.

This track works out like a story: the opening arpeggios foreshadow a sort of epic quality, reminiscent of the Final Fantasy theme. There’s usually something that ties you in about it that makes you read it – it could just be the cover artwork or the blurb on the back. For this song, it’s those arpeggios – something epic is going to be happening in the next 4 minutes. So then we go into the song, starts off mellow, something new adds with each measure: a flutter of beeps, a change in percussion, a hit of melody, a pad. Layer after layer, the mix just keeps building until the climax at 2:27 – it just takes the track to the next level, bringing in a main melody, slowly dying back down to what it was, then gone.

Like nothing happened.

I don’t remember the last time a song sent me on a trip like that. Maybe Hell Hath No Fury by Klute. Either way, cheers to YLHCSD. To more tracks, and more music.

Today, we celebrate International Wota’s 2nd Birthday! This time last year, I wasn’t even a contributor. Now I’m an admin for the forum and an editor. Look at that time fly. I really don’t even know what to say about that other than thank you to everyone who’s made working at IW as fun and rewarding as it is. I won’t name any names because I know I’m going to forget someone but thanks to all the IW Staff, the Readers, the Wotachatters, and anyone I’ve befriended in the past year. You know who you are.

But anyway, similarly to how we did last year, maiZe of fields of maiZe and berryZ did our joint cake day celebration since, well, you know, we’re siblings, so she’s decided to host the celebration post on her blog this year… check out our cake here!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IW <3

For this month’s Wota Wonderings, I’ve decided to focus our attention to tie-ins to animes and doramas with musical acts. I’m going to be focusing on a fairly recent tie-in. It involves cross-dressing, lesbians, and a whip. No no no, my friends, I’m not talking about Koda Kumi, I’m talking about AKB48, more specifically no3b (No Sleeves) and their dorama tie-in with Mendol.

I know a few of the wotachatters went crazy each time a new episode came out. #wotachat was where I first learned of the craziness that was Mendol. Before then, I hadn’t really given AKB48 a chance in fear that I might actually go crazy about them and have to download everything they’ve done, BUT, I decided to give the trio of no3b a chance since it’s only 3 of them.

I really don’t remember how I acquired the RELAX! single (/me eyes mintii?) but man oh man, there was something about that track that just swallowed me whole. Even still, it took about a month for me to start watching the dorama since I started listening to the song. Some where between then, I watched the PV on youtube and kinda fell in love with Minegishi Minami. I didn’t watch the PV a lot before I got into the show so my first impressions of the girls were from the show. Minegishi is always going to be the adorably cute one, Takahashi is always going to be the tomboy, and Kojima is always going to be the leader. Minegishi still remains my favourite of the trio but I’ve got a soft spot for Takahashi even though she doesn’t really smile naturally, but when she does, her cuteness really shines. Nothing really strikes me with Kojima. I don’t know why. Vocally, all three girls are fun and energetic. Watching the lives they did on the music shows were fun. There’s just something about the talking parts that are cute but when they brought that into the second single, it got old kinda quickly.

I was quite surprised about the style of dorama Mendol was because I never expected to see an idol group do something that suggestive. Again, I don’t follow AKB48, so I thought it’d be something along the lines of something H!P would do. I have to admit that its suggestiveness was my weakness and got me hooked. Something about two cute girls kissing… nevermind. Anyhow, I ended up watching the entire series and was pleasantly surprised that the girls came out with another single even after the series was done. I’m currently not as into it as I was with RELAX! but that could change. It doesn’t quite have the immediate infectious power that RELAX! had.

Sadly, this is where my adventure with AKB48 ends. While Mendol was fun and new for my experiences with idol groups, it didn’t lure me into finding out more about them. I don’t know why. Maybe because My hands are already full with my fanboying over Perfume. Maybe I just need to find a song by AKB48 that has that instant infectious quality I found in RELAX!. Maybe I just think 48 girls in a single group is too much. Yeah, I think it’s that last one.

However, if someone out thinks they can get me into AKB, hit me with a song title and I’ll see what happens. I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on them completely but I don’t know if I’ll actively be looking to spark the interest.

Ray of IW fame has been spearheading the operation of Pleasure Principled. In his own words, P2 features articles that “Revealingly Articulate Idol Worship”. It’s a neat place that gathers articles written about Japanese music from contributors hand picked by God Ray himself. I have contributed to it twice as of yesterday.

My first contribution was in volume 2 with an article entitled “TechnoPop and Me and You” where I discuss my love for TechnoPop and the variations I’ve encountered while exposed. My latest contribution went live yesterday and is called “The Voice Encoder: Is It Really the Easy Way Out?” and I discuss the effect of the vocoder on the technopop world.

Check it out now!
- the funk soul brother.

ps. that was bad. i know.

This month, being February and all, I thought it would be appropriate (after a little hint from a friend) to dive deeper into the love that we have as music lovers for the people who make the music we enjoy so much. Idol love. Why do we devote so much of our time, effort, and money into such a one-sided relationship?

Maybe for moments like this?

From what I’ve heard about Akihabara, it happens a lot with the akiba-idols but Haruko Momoi is serious business compared to random street performers. I know this is really old but this is my favourite showing of wotagei, and since I find wotagei to be a pure form of idol love, this is more than just a bunch of otaku going nuts with glowsticks.

Normally, the wotas involved are separated from the idols they cheer so enthusiastically about. In this performance, Halko goes as far as to invite her wotas on stage with her. To some, I’m thinking the experience could be similar to jamming with their favourite instrumentalist, or singing a duet with their favourite vocalist, or in my case, being in the studio with Nakata-san while he’s working on an instrumental. It would be absolutely awesome to experience a professional such as Halko do what she does right there in her face while she experience the love she gets from her fans in the same way.

Pushing aside the extreme wota (and totally ignoring the fanboys and fangirls), I find wota to be more respectful than your average fan. Give some people the opportunity to climb on stage with their favourite musical act, chances are they’d glomp them and probably steal an article of clothing. Wotas cheer on, support, and respect their idols for what they do, through thick and thin.

They also dance.

Dancing is love.

Love is awesome.

Wota Wonderings 2… I luff youuuu~ (H!P Fangirling like Nobody’s Business)
Wota Wonderings 2 – All you need is love! (Solo Space)
Wota Wonderings 002 (Selective Hearing)
Wota Wonderings 002: All you need is love! (Merry Go Round)
Wota Wonderings 02 – The Idol Love Challenge (fields of maize and berryz)
Wota Wonderings: Idol Love. (boylikesmusic)
Wota Wonderings 002: All You Need Is Love (The Groove Music Life)

Also, thanks again to all the readers and listeners and everyone who made 5800 unique hits possible.

Here’s to another 5800! (btw, that’ll equal out to 11600).

This month’s question was if you were the Japanese music industry, what would your New Year’s resolution be?

Image sells.

Outward appearances, no matter how fake, have always made a difference. You can see it in pop culture since the majority of people in front of the camera tend to be easy on the eyes, mostly thanks to armies of stylists and make-up artists.

For certain acts, I feel as if it’s less about the music and more about marketing and sales. The main argument I’d like to bring forth is the overabundance of members in a number of Hello! Project Units. I don’t want to bash only on H!P since other groups in all other industries do this, but in our blogosphere, it’s the most blatantly obvious example. It’s been happening since the start with Nacchi, then Gocchin, then Ai-chan and Reina in Morning Musume, Berryz has Risako, Momoko, and Miyabi, and (if we’re lucky) Yurina. And finally C-ute has Maimi and Airi. In Tsunku’s eyes, these girls have the strongest voices or the best image or “sellability” in their units, but at the same time, there are the other girls that don’t get any spotlight. That’s just how it is in the idol business but I’m not a fan of it. I’m not proposing we take them out, but I’m saying, use them to their full potential if you’re going to include them in the group. Yeah, they get a few lines with some other members in a few of the singles, a few solo lines in album tracks and they sing live in concerts or whatever, but there’s a lot of wasted talent that goes by unnoticed. On the flip side of the same coin, there are some girls that are clearly there just for their character or image since they’re THAT adorable that they push singls, albums, and PB / DVD sales. Or maybe if this coin were magically 3 sided, (maybe it’s just some crazy thinking on my part) but maybe some girls just want to be in the background and enjoy it. I won’t be too specific since everyone has their own favourites in each group but well, the first part of my resolution would be to involve everyone in all groups more regularly or (like how Koha rolls) get songs tailor-made for those people with questionable vocals and bring the music back to sounding good instead of just … making noise.

On the other side of this argument, going into a professional career and not having a marketing plan or something that sets your group apart from the rest is like running head first into a brick wall, unless you’re just really lucky, or get a big break through some sort of tie in with a product or tv show or a celebrity endorsement. Not many people get famous from word of mouth, but with the way the internet is these days, it’s not hard to get your fifteen minutes as a youtube or myspace celebrity or have a dot com blog and start a ruckus. Then again, it’s all in the people you know online. Or the people who find you.

The second part of my resolution is me wanting the industry to be more about the music like it still is in some places in the world and less about sales and marketing. I know there are administrative and facility fees and people need to make money in this business but consider how overpaid these people are. I could go on about overpaid celebrities but I won’t. But something that bothers me is when labels release multiple editions but just because of the things packaged with it (aside from DVDs with the PV / dance shot / and making-of). I understand selling a CD only version and a CD+DVD but anything outside of that should be readily available for all fans regardless of whether they bought the CD or not; I’m talking about mini-photobooks, trading cards, little accessories, the whole nine yards. You shouldn’t have to buy a product more than once to get something that isn’t even worth the price of the CD.

Another example of this would be to allow easy access to vocal tracks and other prominent instrument tracks, just like how instrumental/karaoke tracks are currently available. It can’t be TOO hard to do this since some labels do include all of these in their releases. From my experience, it’s mostly in the North American Hip Hop scene that this happens since it’s one of the most popular genres spun in clubs, making the market huge. Maybe for these special “mixing” CDs, I would understand buying a limited edition.

I’m not bitter towards the industry at all. Just from a real music lover’s stand point, they’re not doing much to keep me that interested in some acts as well as others. I’d like to see more smaller groups to allow more even spotlighting or at least more sharing in the spotlight in the bigger groups. I don’t like how some special inserts or items make the collectors buy something they already have but I guess it’s all subjective to how much of a “fan” a person is. At the same time, I give into the media hype and do get pretty fanboy-ish about a certain technopop group, but then again, they only release CD only and CD+DVD releases – none of that other filler. No Japanese singles I’ve run into carry vocal tracks but I don’t think I should hold my breath. I suppose it’s a lot to ask for to start some change but at least I got that off my chest.

Check out these Wota Wondering 01 posts too:
Wota Wonderings 1: New Year’s Reolutions (Solo Space)
Wota Wonderings 001: New Year’s Resolutions (Merry Go Round)
…on The Japanese Music Industry (Stardust)
WOTA WONDERINGS: New Year’s Resolutions (The Groove Music Life)
[Wota Wonderings] New Years Resolution… (Renai Revolution 21)
Wota Wonderings: Resolutions, anyone? (boylikesmusic)
Wota Wonderings 001: New Year’s Resolutions (Tsuyoki De Yukoze)