nandake..?

Long-standing band and one of the most recognizable rock acts in Japan, L’Arc~en~Ciel has released a new studio album in nearly four years. I used to be a strong follower of L’Arc, but their stuff the past few years has not impressed me as much as they used to. When I heard they were releasing a new album I thought it would be a good start to get back onto the L’Arc train again. Let’s see if Butterfly has what it takes.
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In a music industry dominated by armies of bubbly girls and boys with overstyled hair, moumoon dares to make a stand and put out their own brand of pop music. While Idols may rule in Japan, there’s still plenty of room for plain old good music. So hot off the presses in Japan, the duo has just released their third full length album No Light Land.

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Even though I’ve already went on and on about the music I’ve enjoyed this year, I had to reserve a special article about the Idol scene in 2011. As far as I’m concerned, 2011 was really the year of the Idol. The wave may have started back in 2010, but it didn’t reach its full potential until this year.

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Took a little break while life got mad busy, but it’s Sunday once again! It’s time for some Short Thoughts, I know you’ve been craving them.

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Takahashi Ai is graduating from Morning Musume. If you didn’t already know that, this article probably isn’t for you to begin with. Even though my love for Morning Musume has long since waned (what with no Yossi, no Eri, no Pandas), I feel like this is really the end of the era. Without Takahashi, I can’t really see Morning Musume lasting much longer. But, I digress. With Ai-chan’s graduation comes, of course, the graduation single, Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun Da yo! (more…)

Bursting onto the e-pop scene is 18 year old fashionista Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. She’s enlisted the talents of super producer Nakata Yasutaka and thrown her hat into the ring with her debut mini-album, so let’s listen to it after the jump.

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