First look: Tsuchiya Anna feat. MONKEY MAJIK - GINGER

Pengie is always showering us with new material, and her latest post is no different. She introduces us to Tsuchiya Anna’s latest PV, partnered with MONKEY MAJIK which is an advertisement for “Asahi’s Ginger Draft”. She mentions in her post her theory about Anna’s tendencies in her releases, her desire to get more into MONKEY MAJIK (not just the music perhaps), and her reaction to the PV. The song itself is very short as Pengie has pointed out and she elaborates on it further. An enjoyable read.

Coinciding with the short PV, Anna’s dress is surprisingly short. Wait, I can’t hit on her, she’s too old. Maybe I should woo up her kid….

Album review: Nichika - Nichika

We will remember

I’ve been slacking off lately…and this should have been written up ages ago.

Pengie reviews Nichika, a brand-new upcoming band which deserves mention. She takes a look at their debut self-titled album, in which she states,

“this has become my favourite album of 2008 so far”

She speaks very highly of this debut album, by describing the album has “brilliant genre hopping” and I couldn’t agree more. Her writing throughout this review continually praises Nichika for their uniqueness and variety of different genre’s packed in one album…a debut album.

She also has a PV and a few tracks on offer for readers to have a taste of their own. She finishes by tearing herself away from Haikara’s “ROCK PIT” as best album of this year by reigning Nichika’s debut self-titled album as the best. A worthy read, for existing fans of Nichika and readers who want to try out something new.

On a sadder note…

Pengie remembers Maakii, the lead vocalist of HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR, who is bound to leave the band at the end of this year because of marriage commitments. It is a huge disappointment for long-time fans like me and Pengie as we remember when she debuted at 18 years of age.

Pengie opens up to “Remember”, their latest (and last for Maakii) PV. A split in the band is never a happy thing, hence the sombre and sad tone throughout Pengie’s writing. Her short yet ample review of the PV itself is humbling, noting only on the profound points of the PV which symbolises Maakii’s departure from the band. While it is short, the embedded PV and screenshots fill up the gap nicely.

She opens up to her feelings about Maakii and the band and all I can really say, is that it’s basically a humble retrospect of Maakii’s time with Haikara.

Pengie and I have been there since the beginning, and I know exactly how she feels in her writing. Other readers who are in the same situation as her can sympathise and understand her feelings fully.

Pengie’s last segment is extremely special. It is, hmmm…its hard to explain, a solemn celebration of her time with Maakii perhaps. Maakii’s voice, personality…her presence, has done a lot for Pengie, and I’m sure her presence in such a band has changed a lot of people.

And never forget.

Album review: muramasa - WORLD

Recommend. Not else much to say. This band keeps putting out great stuff, pengie keeps reviewing it. Few clips. If you’ve been following along, something like you might expect, if not you are missing out.

Stereo among the stars

Pengie gives out a little praise for Winnie’s Stereo among the stars single, and the first thing you’ll notice about the uploaded PV is Winnie’s keen ear for a solid hook. The whole song is pretty catchy - even if it does tread down tried and test waters - and is it just me, or does the visual presence of a female bassist remind anyone of Base Ball Bear - one of the newer wave of great indie acts. Anyway, like Pengie, I’m wondering if Winnie have made anything beyond an EP yet.

SAWA’s rainbow (unchained)
Sweet & SAWA (johpan’s SAWA worship blog)

SAWA is a new technopop/electropop artist who just released her first mini-album in June. Our own pengie has a very positive review of it on her blog, greatly appreciating the fact that her vocals aren’t drowned in vocoder. She also links to SAWA’s first (and only?) PV which looked quite amazing to be honest. You should check it out, especially if you’re into balls. There’s lots of balls involved. Lots of hot balling. Okay, I’ll stop.

pengie also links to johpan’s worship blog dedicated to SAWA and personally I hadn’t learned of its existence until now. So far, this blog with an awesome name has an introductory post, the same PV plus pictures of her mini-album johpan has already managed to get.

Well, these two along with the great PV with its balls has already gotten me quite interested in SAWA. I’ll have to bother either pengie or johpan about sending me the mini-album…

First look: Otsuka Ai - Kurage, Nagareboshi

Album review: miaou - All Around Us

Recommended Reading. Pengie is touched by the overall beauty of Ai-chin’s latest PV, “Kurage, Nagareboshi”. She can relate to the lyrics of this beautiful song to her own life stating situations like these are “bittersweet”. She also has an interesting perspective on the ambiguous title. For those who haven’t seen this beautiful PV, pengie has an embedded version on her post.

In her second post, she reviews miaou’s latest album, “All Around Us”. She introduces miaou, for those who haven’t heard them before, as being “mellow rock without vocals”. She takes an in-depth spin of the album, showcasing her favourite tracks from the album while picturing in her mind the places where this “mood music” takes her. For those who want to try out something new, or in need for some relaxing music, try out miaou, you won’t be disappointed.

CHERRYBLOSSOM announces first album
unchained radio: Kodoku na Cowgirl

Pengie’s latest entry announces that the rock band CHERRYBLOSSOM will be releasing their debut album in September. There’s a PV uploaded for your viewing pleasure, and Pengie does a little description on who these guys are pitched for.

An earlier entry sees the happy return of the unchained radio, where you all get to listen to another installment of Pengie’s cute voice, and a nice selection songs.

The two sides of Tanimura Nana

pengie takes a look at If I’m not the one, the forthcoming single from Tanimura Nana. In looking over this single, pengie speaks on what I guess is the dichotomy of Tanimura Nana, her singing and her anatomy. That is to say, Tanimura Nana seems to be trying to appeal to different groups in two completely different ways - by showing off her vocals or by showing off her breasts. When it comes to flaunting Nana’s body, I guess it depends on what you think of “how much is too much?” I can see what pengie is trying to argue here, but I just wonder why Nana can’t do both?

unchained enters the terrible twos

Recommended Reading. Pengie’s blog “unchained” has turned 2! Happy birthday unchained!

To celebrate this occasion, Pengie has provided a very in-depth and personal timeline of how “unchained” was born and raised, with references to how her style of blogging has evolved from a very parallel and closed approach to something “that you can sink your teeth in”. She also makes comments on her thoughts and dreams relating to her future career and how it has changed since a year ago.

I really do hope Pengie stays blogging for years to come and I wish “unchained” the best for all the years to come!

Maakii to leave HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR

Pengie at Unchained has also been struck by the sudden news of Maki leaving Haikara. While tears have been shed, Pengie recollects herself and explains from a fan’s perspective that we fans, cannot do anything to stop these abrupt actions from happening. We can only watch them from the sidelines and cheer them on until the end.

Maki Goto joins Avex (Shiny Days)
Hands Up, Who Saw This Coming? (Stuck in a Pagoda)
Attention: Life After H!P Does Exist (Wings of my Heart)
It’s Gocchin TIME! (J-Riff)
Gotou Maki signs with avex (unchained)

Charmy☆Renai looks forward to the material that Maki will be releasing under Avex.

CJ goes over the Koda Kumi connection and anticipates material similar to Kuu-chan.

Julia goes over the end of Goto Maki’s H!P career before looking towards the next phase. Personally, I love the releases at the end of her H!P days as well. Julia has an interesting emotion over Gocchin’s decision: pride. It makes sense to me. As a fan of someone, you quite often will support whatever they do - but that doesn’t mean you can’t hope for certain career decisions. If they take those career decisions, why not have joy over what that person decides?

Riff goes over the possible paths that Maki can take. Again, the comparison to Koda Kumi is almost unavoidable. However, as Riff argues, even if she does become the next Koda, there is something about Gomaki that keeps her from being entirely alike.

Pengie is excited about the move to Avex and pledges to follow Gomaki’s next move.

The heart of the matter

Pengie needs our help! Does anyone recognize this singer?

Taisetsu na mono

pengie has a great post where she talks about her attachment to music in general, reminisces about old favorite songs and artists, and most importantly, invites especially you to tell her about your most dearest favorites and why they are so special to you. Well, what are you waiting for? Go now!