In reference to my need to completely 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 might have been coated on the weblog already, however my hope is that it will turn into a one-stop store for anybody concerned with what’s new in J-pop.

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

*And similar to I do with my opinions, I’ll wait till full variations of songs can be found earlier than posting them on this round-up. This can largely apply to Johnny’s teams, who nonetheless restrict the vast majority 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

AI – Respect

Old skool hip-hop for the win!

Ballistik Boyz – Ding Ding Dong

I’m bored with this model, however Ding Ding Dong is a extremely robust iteration of it. Its refrain hits laborious and begs for replays. It’s most likely my second favourite single of the week.

Bullet Prepare (Chotokkyu) – Name My Identify (single of the week!)

That is so upbeat and summery. I actually like its power and the refrain is a complete earworm. Name My Identify is my favourite Bullet Prepare single in awhile and it’s additionally my single of the week.

Da-iCE – Scene (Album)

Da-iCE’s new album is out this week. Total, it’s slightly subdued for my style. However, there are a number of standouts. Past Funky Leaping, which I featured a number of weeks in the past, I benefit from the pounding electronics of the title observe.

Girls² – Letters

There’s a lightweight contact to this sentimental dance observe that makes it fairly satisfying. The refrain is soooo tacky, although!

INI – INItialize (b-side of the week!)

Not solely is Fanfare INI’s strongest single but, however its accompanying b-sides are additionally among the many group’s strongest work. All three are nice, however I’m leaning towards INItialize – largely on account of its propulsive refrain.

Lead – See Your Coronary heart

Lead have been round for therefore lengthy! It’s superb that they’re nonetheless releasing music. See Your Coronary heart isn’t amongst their greatest, however its brisk dance sound is enjoyable.

Maharajan – Semi Dancefoor

That is actually funky and the video is decidedly bonkers.

Okamoto’s – The place Do We Go?

A strong rock track that takes me again to the 90’s.

One N’ Solely – Reflection

I really feel like this group has launched so many mvs for his or her latest album. My opinion has diversified track to track, however this is without doubt one of the higher efforts. It form of loses me in the course of the pre-chorus, although.

ORβIT – Enjoyable

I respect what the track is attempting to do (I miss tropical home!), but it surely finally ends up coming throughout too generic for its personal good. Even so, it’ll be good for summer season.

Reol – Glitter

Reol is again to the model I like most from her. Glitter’s brisk, nimble beat matches her idiosyncratic vocals like a glove.

Superfly – Warmth Wave (Album)

Superfly already launched her greatest new songs as singles final 12 months, but it surely’s good to have an album to tie all of them collectively. Of the b-sides, the album’s stomping opener is my favourite.

ukka – Marvel Little Love

I’m unsure in regards to the vocals, however this has potential. I just like the sweetness of the melodies.

FlowBack – Heartbreaker (2017)

Nonetheless one of many BEST retro-80’s throwbacks of the final decade — and it pre-dates the pattern by a number of years! I can by no means get sufficient of Heartbreaker.