Release Info:
Date: 11/11/2015
Name: Lollipop Syndrome [Lollipop シンドローム]
Format: CD / MP3
Singer: Bonjour Suzuki [ボンジュール鈴木]
Background: Rapper and singer Bonjour Suzuki's second EP.

Tracklist:
(1) Lollipop シンドローム
(2) パーティーがはじまるよ
(3) close to me
(4) 金魚
(5) Lovin’ You
(6) サヨナラ

Other:
music video

Album Commentary:
The dreamy voiced rapper Bonjour Suzuki is back with her second EP release. Often compared to fellow female alternative rapper DAOKO, Suzuki is still very unique with her style and form. In Lollipop Syndrome Suzuki goes for an even more whimsical vibe than usual; featuring her first music video and a dreamy fantasy-forest sort of theme. It's beautiful and fantastical and I love it.

Labels: alternative, ep, soloist

Release Info:
Date: 4/11/2016
Name: nowhere
Format: CD / MP3
Singer: Kano [鹿乃]
Background: female utaite Kano's first majorly produced album. Contains individually released anisong singles and new material too.

Tracklist:
(1) プリマステラ
(2) Stella-rium
(3) ディアブレイブ
(4) こそあど言ノ葉
(5) 今をかける少女
(6) ヒメコイ
(7) Walk This Way!
(8) JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!
(9) Toy-toi
(10) evergreen

Other:
music video

[Extra] Writer's Thoughts:
Kano is my favorite utaite out of them all and I've been following her closely for several years. When she debuted as a professional singer and started doing anisongs I was beyond thrilled. Now the time has come....her first major album! I'm a little irked that it consists mostly of past releases (which I of course already own) but the new songs are wonderful enough to make it completely worth it. I never tire of Kano's adorable singing and I've been looking forward to this album for a very long time.

Labels: album, anime, anisong, soloist, utaite

Release Info:
Date: 5/13/2015
Name: Ima wo Ikinuku Otometachi [今を生きぬく乙女たち]
Format: CD / MP3
Singer: Rick Rack
Background: female rock band Rick Rack's first major mini album.

Tracklist:
(1) アトリエ
(2) ソルジャーガールズ
(3) 迷い星
(4) 夢追いバク
(5) 寂しがり病
(6) カラフル

Other:
music video

Album Commentary:
This is a very good mini album; especially considering the average age of this band is 17 years old. It's on a pretty high level considering these girls don't have much experience in the business and that they compose their own songs. My favorite track is number 3, probably because I can sense some faint anisong material vibes from it.

Labels: band, mini album

Release Info:
Date: 1/6/2016
Name: Ano Hi ga Suki Datta nara Kono Sekai wo Aishiteyo [あの日が好きだったならこの世界を愛してよ]
Format: CD / MP3
Singer: Rako [らこ]
Background: Rako's first album

Tracklist:
(1) 痛い流行マニア
(2) 愚かなアーメン
(3) ABBAAB→→←
(4) 植物人間
(5) 生存ロオド
(6) よまいごと
(7) 少女奇劇
(8) あたしはねこ
(9) ありがとうとさようならのうた
(10) メロウクリスマス
(11) 香港ダーリン (instrumental)
(12) 会えない人
(13) プリズム

Other:
music video
*available on USA iTunes store*

Album Commentary:
If I was forced to categorize and or describe this album is just two words I would without a doubt go for the phrase 'noise-rock'. Rako's style is wild, unpredictable, and very I-don't-give-a-f*ck. Her voice is a bit thin and nasally but not enough to bother the ears (unless you're sensitive to that kind of stuff).

Labels: album, alternative, indie, singer songwriter, soloist

Release Info:
Date: 5/18/2016
Name: Nekokaburu [猫かぶる]
Format: CD / MP2
Singer: MOSHIMO
Background: MOSHIMO's debut single.

Tracklist:
(1) 猫かぶる
(2) ノンフィクション
(3) ポテトサラダ
(4) スキップ（Bouns Track）

Other:
music video

[Extra] Writer's Thoughts:
New band for me and the indie scene. The vocalist has a very childish voice (high-pitched, uncontrolled) which I know can bother some people but for some reason doesn't irk me. Maybe it's because I'm biased cause of the album cover art.

Labels: band, debut, single

Release Info:
Date: 4/6/2016
Name: Mudai Gassho [無題合唱]
Format: CD / MP3
Singer: Zenbu Kimi no Sei da [ぜんぶ君のせいだ]
Background: 'yami-kawaii' themed indie idol group Zenbukimi's second single release.

Tracklist:
(1) 無題合唱
(2) うぇゆうぇゆうぉっ~ヒネクレノタリ~
(3) ぼっちコネクト終

Other:
music video

Song Commentary:
So honestly I have nothing but praise for the production of this single. The music video is beautifully animated and tells a seriously heartfelt story that's realistic and relatable on multiple levels. That paired with the almost pleading-like style singing of the girls makes for a near emotional experience while listening. The girls of Zenbu have very typical idol vocals; meaning their somewhat on the weak side and nothing spectacular is to be expected. But Mudai Gassho manages to take advantage of that (something most idol songs don't do remotely or even try to) and uses the girls' voices to add a layer of fragility and emotion into the overall melody.

[Extra] Writer's Thoughts:
My favorite single so far by Zenbu by a landslide. The album was fantastic but this single takes all that away. Mudai Gassho blew me away with it's complexity and depth and honestly it's probably one of my favorite idol songs of all time now. Zenbu is to be feared.

Labels: alternative, group, idol. indie, single

Release Info:
Date: 6/3/2016
Name: Nice to meet you.
Format: CD / MP3
Singer: Koeda [こゑだ]
Background: Solo debut album of famous band supercell's vocalist Koeda.

Tracklist:
(1) おやすみ
(2) DanSin’
(3) w.t.s.
(4) Lovism
(5) NoName
(6) 学校
(7) Happy☆Day
(8) Endless end.

Other:
music video

[Extra] Writer's Thoughts:
So Supercell has been MIA from the music scene for quite some time and then just as fans were really getting worried/ irritated with this unannounced absence, Koeda comes and drops a solo debut right on our heads. Koeda is, the vocalist of supercell and the voice behind the popular anime Guilty Crown's icon soundtrack songs such as the famous opening theme My Dearest and the in-show lullaby Euterpe. I was hyped to the moon when I found out about this. My Dearest is one of my favorite anisong of all time and to hear that same singer was coming out with her own original material as the start of a solo project....I totally lost it. Solid album from a solid artist. Nothing not to love.

Labels: band, debut, mini album, soloist