2 CDs + DVD
2 CDs + Blu-ray
Disc 1
1) LIVE IN METAVERSE -2093.12.06-
2) UNIVERSE
3) IS THIS TRAP?
4) Lippy
5) LIT
6) Crazy 4 U
7) LOADED Feat Sean Paul
8) Poppin' love cocktail Feat TEEDA
9) SWEETEST TABOO
10) POP DIVA
11) HUSH
12) MONEY IN MY BAG
13) XXX
14) Vroom
Disc 2
1) UNICORN
2) Bow Wow
3) Crank Tha Bass Feat OVDS
4) HAIRCUT
5) show girl
6) Shhh!
7) PARTY
8) Dance In The Rain
9) Step Into My World
10) BLACK WINGS
11) ECSTASY
12) ESCALATE
13) TABOO
14) Ultraviolet
The release of LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ is to celebrate Koda's 25th anniversary this year .
Concept wise , LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ is based on a future concert to be held on 6th Dec 2093 . Unlike Koda's past best albums , LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ captures the realism of a live performance put up by Koda & allows fans to feel cheers + excitement from it .
All the songs in LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ were selected by Koda's fanclub members . In disc 2 of the release , UNICORN is the only new song included & it's the full version of UNICORN [Introduction] ie. track 1 of Koda's 19th album UNICORN .
BLACK WINGS also made the cut in the 2nd disc of LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ & this song was 1st released digitally on July 2023 .
These 3 songs are not included in LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ :
- Dangerously
- Jump to the Breeze
- This weekend
Celebrating 25 years in the industry , Koda Kumi released a special best album , LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ . Unlike a conventional compilation , this collection is designed as a “future best-of concert” set in the year 2093 . Listeners can immerse themselves in the live atmosphere , complete with the energy of a cheering audience .
LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ is Koda's overall 5th best album that she released & already right off the bat it's very different from her last best album BEST ~2000-2020~ .
While I don't agree with some of the songs that made the cut in LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ I thought the songs flow well from start until the end .
The 1 song in LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ that I surprisingly like a bit more than the original recording is LOADED as rapper Sean Paul's rappping appearance is expanded slightly in the new updated version .
For once I actually don't mind how different of Koda's latest best album release is . I'm sure if she did not release any best albums prior Koda could have included all of her past single song releases in it instead which's something I might not be keen on .
That said with this year being Koda's 25th anniversary in the business I hope LIVE IN METAVERSE ~THE BEST~ will not be the only new release she will put out to mark this landmark milestone of hers .
Promo wise , mimosa was chosen to promote the 3rd season of Fuji TV's Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi drama .
The last time an ayumi song was used to promote a Fuji TV drama was 2000 / 16th single SEASONS .
A video was made for mimosa .
Song wise mimosa is very much like SEASONS 2.0 which in a way is not surprising . Video wise I like the concept but I thought ayumi should have saved it for her impending 30th anniversary , perhaps she would utilise the same concept but with some twerks for future ideas .
I feel very nostalgic the moment I heard mimosa & also when I saw the video because it's literally a walk down memory lane for both myself & ayumi .
And hopefully other longtime fans of ayumi like myself also had almost the same opinions towards mimosa .
Aqua Timez created OLDROSE to celebrate the 20th anniversary of both the band & the BLEACH anime series .
Some of the best songs Aqua Timez created up to now were used to promote BLEACH such as Sen no Yoru wo Koete & Velonica so it's not surprising OLDROSE has now joined in the list .
OLDROSE has a lot of great musical elements from past Aqua Timez songs that promoted BLEACH but OLDROSE managed to stand out & have its own unique identity which made this mid tempo emotional ballad another wonderful song Aqua Timez created after they reformed temporarily last July .
With Aqua Timez going to disband once again year end I do hope that they would release a new best album to celebrate their landmark 20th anniversary milestone but prior to that I wouldn't mind even more new songs from them before their eventual 2nd disbandment .
CD + Blu-ray
1) Keep it up!!
2) Arashi no Yoruni
3) Love's Ebb and Flow
4) Just stand by me
5) Hallelujah Lady
6) Hourglass
7) SUMMER LION
8) Yuuhi ni Some Rarete Kimi wa
9) Hoshizora Cycling
10) Meikyuu Shinapusu
11) puzzled
12) Sugarsong
13) Kimi ni Koi Shita Ano Hi Kara
flumpool's last album release was 2020's Real .
Shape the water includes 13 songs , including :
- Keep it up!! ; released digitally on 19th Feb
- SUMMER LION ; released digitally last July ; opening theme no. for the TV Tokyo Drama NEXT drama Hidamari ga Kikoeru
- Meikyuu Shinapusu ; promote the Yumia no Atelier ~Tsuioku no Renkinjutsushi to Gensou no Chi~ RPG
- puzzled ; 10th anniversary theme song for the Houkai Gakuen video game
- Kimi ni Koi Shita Ano Hi Kara ; released digitally last March ; ending theme no. for NTV's DayDay.
Shape the water does not include Ikidzuku that featured Matsushita Nao but a self cover version of the song is included in the fanclub version of the album .
A video was made for Arashi no Yoruni but it's not included in the physical release of Shape the water .
It's hard to believe it has been so long since flumpool last released Real but Shape the water is frankly worth the wait .
Shape the water is flumpool's 1st album not to include any prior physical CD single songs . Despite this the album on whole is pretty good & I think it flows well from start til the end , no pun intended .
After listening to the new album material it's quite easy to see why Arashi no Yoruni had a video made as it's 1 of the more memorable yet stronger songs in the release .
Not all the new songs stood out on 1st listen but the more I listen to Shape the water the more the weaker new songs start to stand their ground against the others .
I've been a fan of flumpool for a very long time & with the release of Shape the water it's heartening to see how far they've come musically .
Shape the water is a worthy successor to Real & I look forward to even more new music from flumpool in the near future .
DOUBLE DECADES OF GR is to celebrate the duo's 20th anniversary in the business .
2 new songs Magatsu Yoru wa Ao Nari & HOPE for YOU are included in DOUBLE DECADES OF GR .
Disc 1 Track 13 - Magatsu Yoru wa Ao Nari ; promoted the mobile game Gakuen Bungo Stray Dogs
Disc 2 Track 16 - HOPE for YOU
This year marks GRANRODEO's 20th anniversary when they 1st released their debut single Go For It! in Nov 2005 & they have kicked off early celebrations of their landmark milestone with the release of DOUBLE DECADES OF GR .
I like both Magatsu Yoru wa Ao Nari & HOPE for YOU but between both songs HOPE for YOU stands out as it reminds me of Dokoka de Shitta Guzen to , the 2nd B-side of their 35th single Tetsu no Ori .
And I'm sure HOPE for YOU will sound amazing if this song's performed live given how optimstic upbeat it's .
DOUBLE DECADES OF GR will not be the only new release GRANRODEO has put out in celebration of their 20th anniversary this year . They also will release a new album & coincidentally it will be their 10th studio album which's another landmark milestone that they soon will add to their discography .
On that note an early happy 20th anniversary to GRANRODEO !
Promo wise Shinkokyu no Riyu was used to promote NHK's Minna no Uta .
Shinkokyu no Riyu is the 2nd new song that Aqua Timez released after they regrouped temporarily last July & also released their comeback song Hitoshizuku digitally last Aug .
Unlike Hitoshizuku , Shinkokyu no Riyu is a mid tempo no. song with more emphasis on the piano/keyboards . My favourite part of Shinkokyu no Riyu is the piano bridge which can be heard almost towards the end of the song .
Due to this , the piano bridge in Shinkokyu no Riyu almost felt like an instrumental music interlude incorporated into it , something that I rarely hear/see in songs but nonetheless Shinkokyu no Riyu is another wonderful song that Aqua Timez released .
This year's Aqua Timez's 20th anniversary & it reminds to be seen what they will release next before they disband again . To me I do hope they will consider to make their reunion permanent for good as they still have some really great songs in their discography .
If not the best to do is to make do with whatever Aqua Timez plans to do next before their eventual disbandment .
Promo wise Versailles was used to promote the Versailles no Bara animated movie that opened in Japan's cinemas on 31st Jan .
Versailles no Bara is based on the manga of the same name .
ayaka & pianist Ryota Kikuchi 1st performed Versailles at ayaka Premium Dinner Live 2024 Winter held last year on Christmas Eve at Palace Hotel Tokyo .
ayaka created Versailles specifically for Versailles no Bara , drawing inspiration from its world to create a song that enhances the movie’s atmosphere with her signature emotive vocals & melody .
Speaking about Versailles , ayaka shared , "I created Versailles while immersing myself in the world of the series crafting a piece filled with deep emotion .
I love Versailles on 1st listen . Some of ayaka's best songs are her ballads & Versailles is very epic grand sounding which fits the personnel of the Versailles no Bara animated movie extremely well .
