A bit of beginners blogging advice I’ve bumped into many times (but never really put into use) is to make a mission statement or some sort of plan to know where you’re going with your content. I’ve never had something like that since I’ve started blogging and decided to post content whenever I had the time or just felt like it. It made me lazy, but well, I’d like to think that without that time constraint, my posts were of decent quality. Earlier today, I developed a plan that will turn blm around for as long as I can keep it up.

Firstly, I’m going to starting a new category of posts entitled “From My Library” or “FML” for short (see what I did there?). These posts will feature albums and singles in my music collection that I haven’t gotten around to reviewing or have an interesting back story or just do something special to me – special enough to post about, regardless of how old it is. Kind of like “revisits” posts but with a particular album or single. That and I only have one “revisits” post…

Secondly, I’ve devised a weekly schedule of posts to come out:

• Every Wednesday, a new FML will be posted on the front page.
• Every Friday, a new review will be posted on the front page.
• Every Sunday, a recap of what was posted & what’s to come for the next week.

And for the month:

• On the first Saturday, the Wota Wonderings email will be sent to those on the mailing list.
  • (To join the mailing list, hit up my contact me page.)
• On the third Sunday at 01:00 EST, the Wota Wonderings posts should be up.

Thirdly, any non-FML and non-Review post will get the same treatment as how I used to blog since those come every so often. Whenever one of those pop up, they’ll be on the right-hand side of the main site.

I think that’s all that I’m planning. It’s good that I’m finally using my “News” category again, though I think that this one’s kinda out of place. I didn’t want to put it under aside since the aside category would catch it. This deserves to be on the main page. *sigh* I digress.

So, readers, stay tuned to a new and improved boylikesmusic. <3

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

I’d definitely like to check it out except that I’ve been spoiled with cozy, intimate venues with the live shows I’ve been seeing, minus Pendulum of course. I’d much rather be one in about a hundred or so instead of being one in a thousand. Or ten thousand. Or hundred thousand. I’ve never really been into the huge concerts. Even at the Pendulum show, I ended up at the front row since it was General Admission and an open floor… you just have to push your way there. That and those tickets were only $30ish (plus convenience charges, etc). Most of the shows I check out are in the $10-$20 range and I feel bad that I only paid that little for the quality of show they provide. Keep in mind, there’s no pyrotechnics or flashy lights in the majority of them. What they lack in stage decor, they make up in raw talent. Actually, Lenka’s stage was pretty funky fresh.

A $500 round-trip plane ticket, hotel, and however much it costs to get into the expo seems a bit steep for a group I’ve been losing interest in. I mean, Naichau Kamo is a fun sounding single. I still think they’re all cute and think they’d be fun to watch live, but at the same time, I’d very much like a show that’s similar to what I’ve been seeing in the bands I watch live. For that price anyway…

If they came up to Toronto, I’d definitely check them out in a heartbeat.

Singles:
#47 love the world
#80 Dream Fighter

Albums:
#23 GAME

I’m not really surprised that GAME made it that high since it sold like crazy upon release. With the singles though, I’m kinda surprised they broke top 50. It’s definitely been a year of TechnoPop. I couldn’t be happier for the ladies.

Now that the Perfume news is out of the way, here are some shouts and special mentions for other people I listen to and made it onto the annual chart.

Singles:
#44 爪爪爪／「Ｆ」 (マキシマム　ザ　ホルモン)
Yay Maximum The Hormone! I still want to make a stepchart for this song since there are so many tempo changes and it’s just a fun song in general. Can’t recall F though. I just listened to TsumeTsumeTsume too much when it was still fresh.

Albums:
#40 – ＥＬＬＥＧＡＲＤＥＮ　ＢＥＳＴ　１９９９−２００８ (ＥＬＬＥＧＡＲＤＥＮ)
Don’t have much to say about it other than they were fun while they were around. I kinda lost track of them. Maybe I should give their best a listen…

#48 – ライフアルバム (いきものがかり)
I’m still in the process of getting into these guys thanks to reading about them in SEKUSHII ISLAND (ilu sei<3) though I've heard their name thrown about in #wotachat just never really paid attention. Their latest single, 気まぐれロマンティック, and the only song of theirs I've heard, is REALLY cute with the dance and all. Also, Kiyoe's voice is quite fun in it. Cute, without the helium, and just fun and energetic all around. The instrumental track is also up my alley for acoustic JPop, which I don't usually get into. I see myself getting more into them during the Christmas break... we'll see.

#52 - ＢＥＳＴ　ＯＦ　ＴＨＥ　ＢＥＳＴＥＳＴ (ＢＥＮＮＩＥ　Ｋ)
I've totally fallen off the BENNIE K bandwagon but I should definitely check out this BEST album since I was a fan of their older stuff.

#62 - Ａｗａｒｄ　ＳｕｐｅｒＮｏｖａ　−Ｌｏｖｅｓ　Ｂｅｓｔ− (ｍ−ｆｌｏ)
*Sigh* I wonder what's going on with these guys. love comes and goes was quite the exit track for the loves series and I miss them. Maybe I should do some research during the Christmas break...

#74 - ＴＨＥ　ＢＥＳＴ　ＣＯＬＬＡＢＯＲＡＴＩＯＮＳ (ＤＯＵＢＬＥ)
I only know of her thanks to the guys above. Her voice is awesome with all that jazz and soul. I should get into her more.

Check out the Single and Album charts at Oricon!

Through boylikesmusic, I was introduced and welcomed to International Wota and got to know a fantastic group of people who I enjoy chatting with on a daily basis. It was through this connection with IW that I started podcasting (thanks to pengie and wu) and released 2 episodes. Though I haven’t really been releasing, I have plans for another one. I won’t bother posting a release date since I have to think about content.

Though podcasting is the only “new” thing I’ve done this year, boylikesmusic has also served as a place for me to showcase the by-products of my hobbies: remixing, and stepcharting. I’ve been doing both long before I started this blog but just sent things out to friends who wanted to hear it via me sending the file to them personally. Now, I can just post it up on here and any one who’s subscribed can get it without me telling them, though I’m still guilty of doing some shameless self promotion through word of mouth and youtube… hur.

But anyway, on to the gushy stuff. I just wanted to thank all you high ups at IW for keeping things interesting and doing what you do. It’s a tough job and there’s no better people for it. I’m talking to you as well, sis. Special shouts to Ray, Pengie, Broom, Wu, Henkka, and Craig for covering me whenever they do. <3. I've been in the shower with 2 of you already as payment. I'd also like to thank the passengers of a white, unmarked van, a few stalkers, as well as anyone who's left a comment or didn't leave a comment but listened to or played a chart or anything from here. Without the interest, I just be writing and creating for myself.
Which is cool.
But.
I like comments <3.
Even if it's just to say I suck. :3

WIth that, I BAKED MUFFINS. *eyes pengie*
THEY'RE CORNBREAD.

Baking it was quite fun! We didn’t use too many dishes and oh was the cake batter yummy!

Gotta have the top shot! And finally,

Click here to view the complete album

And is it me, or does Momoko’s ass look huge in that photo? I’m sure it’s just the angle and I love her anyways, but you’d think somebody would’ve noticed.

I noticed. I like. That is all. Funny thing is I’m not usually a big Momoko fanboy.

If I’m not mistaken, the new single’s gonna be called “Renai ♥ Rider”. Oh ho ho ho… I won’t go there. Single releases February 6th, 2008, just 14 days before their 1st album. My how the Kids just grow…

Release sauce: Buono! on theppn wiki
Link: Original Post