In reference to my need to totally sustain with the J-pop trade, I’m planning on doing a weekly round-up of any new releases which have caught my ear. A few of these could have been lined on the weblog already, however my hope is that this may grow to be a one-stop store for anybody all in favour of what’s new in J-pop.

With that in thoughts, right here’s the place you are available: I’m one particular person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed every other new J-pop tracks you’ve loved within the feedback so we will get a fuller spectrum every week.

*And identical to I do with my critiques, I’ll wait till full variations of songs can be found earlier than posting them on this round-up. This may principally apply to Johnny’s teams, who nonetheless restrict nearly all of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited variations.

2023 Index: Feb 1 – Feb 18 // Feb 19 – 25 // Feb 26 – Mar 3 // Mar 4 – Mar 10 // Mar 11 – Mar 18 // Mar 19 – Mar 25 // Mar 26 – Apr 1 // Apr 2 – Apr 8 // Apr 9 – Apr 15 // Apr 16 – Apr 22 // Apr 23 – Apr 29 // Apr 30 – Might 6 // Might 7 – Might 13 // Might 14 – Might 20 // Might 21 – Might 27 // Might 29 – Jun 3

Aina The Finish – Purple:birthmark (single of the week!)

I wrote about this right here. I beloved it, and it’s my single of the week!

BLUE ENCOUNT – Yuzai fukoku

A brilliant-solid rock observe.

Fantastics – Inform Me

This might be promoted with a music video in time, so I’ll give deeper ideas when that premieres. For now, I simply wished to make notice of latest Fantastics music as a result of… properly… I am keen on Fantastics music.

Genin Wa Jibun Ni Aru. – Cunning Grape

I actually need to love this group however I simply don’t suppose their music is for me. New single Cunning Grape doesn’t make any new inroads, sadly.

Hiromi Go – Orewa Saiko

I’ll all the time be up for a punchy rock “you are able to do it!” anthem.

Johnny’s West – Shiawase no Hana

This tune looks like a heat hug. It’s quintessential Johnny’s West, from efficiency fashion to melodic heft. They pull it off so properly. The b-sides are stable, too. Pile is without doubt one of the strongest songs they’ve recorded shortly.

KREVA – Rassera

This sounds a bit like the only he produced for King & Prince final yr. It’s good!

My First Story – Tokyo Midnight

I don’t know a lot about My First Story, but when this tune is any indication I’ll must do a deep dive into their catalog someday. It’s acquired nice, driving vitality.

Attractive Zone – Purple Rain / Chapter II (Album) (single of the week!) (b-side of the week!)

I wrote about Purple Rain right here. I beloved it, and it’s my second single of the week!

The album can be extremely robust – undoubtedly among the best of 2023 to date. There are a couple of songs I’d simply rank within the excessive 8’s or low 9’s, together with the hard-hitting dance of Bump, the 80’s enviornment rock of Message, the brand new jack swing of Make You Mine, the tropical home jam Take A New Step and the hip-hop brass of Saikai no Aizu. I don’t know which one is my b-side of the week as a result of they’re all so nice!

Siegfeld Institute of Music Junior Excessive – Riot

I principally simply love this group’s identify, however the tune is fairly good too.

SKE48 – Suki Ni Nacchatta

That is just about what you’d anticipate from a light-weight, bouncy 48 observe. I get pleasure from it, though I really feel like I’ve heard it dozens of occasions earlier than.

Tomohisa Yamashita – I See You

That is an OST ballad that sounds very very similar to an OST ballad. I occur to like Yamashita’s voice, so it’s a gentle thumbs up from me.

Travis Japan – Nonetheless On A Journey

Travis Japan’s first EP is filled with tacky pop goodness. I like all of the b-sides, however I’ve a tender spot for this early-10’s throwback. The melodies are spot on.

Kitayama Hiromitsu (Kis-My-Ft2) – Hai ni Naru Mae ni (2021)

I’m posting this in honor of Kitayama, days after he introduced his departure from Kis-My-Ft2 on the finish of August. Although this has been rumored for a couple of months, it nonetheless stings. The group gained’t be the identical with out him, and I hope they’ve acquired some new music on the way in which earlier than he leaves. I by no means thought Kisumai could be something lower than seven! 😦