Regular
Limited
1) Ao
2) Japanication (Live at EX THEATER ROPPONGI 2024.05.05)
3) ROCKIN' OUT (Live at EX THEATER ROPPONGI 2024.05.05)
4) Ao (Anime Size) (Limited Version Track)
5) Ao (Instrumental)
SPYAIR's latest release comes in about 8 months+ since they released their 2nd mini album Orange .
Promo wise , Ao was used as the opening theme song for the anime Ao no Miburo .
The A-side was 1st released digitally on 19th Oct on the same day when Ao no Miburo began airing .
A video was made for Ao but it's not included in the physical release of the single .
2 live tracks B-side are included in Ao & both are recorded from the final date of SPYAIR TOUR 2024 -ORANGE- that took place at Tokyo's EX THEATER ROPPONGI in May :
- Japanication ; 3rd single
- ROCKIN' OUT ; track 1 from debut album of the same name
SPYAIR's latest single Ao is the opening theme used to promote the Ao no Miburo anime . Ao conveys the changes & choices of youth that everyone goes through on the journey to becoming an adult .
This's the 1st time SPYAIR has provided a song of theirs to promote the Ao no Miburo anime series . While Ao is not catchy on 1st listen , the song's a grower as time goes on .
This year has been a really fruitful year for SPYAIR & it's wonderful to see them attain great success after they released Orange EP which Orange became a big hit for them .
Here's looking forward to what SPYAIR plans to do next year !
This is L'Arc~en~Ciel's 1st new song release since 2021's 44th single FOREVER .
Promo wise , YOU GOTTA RUN was chosen to use as the opening theme to promote the BEYBLADE X anime .
Written by vocalist hyde & composed by bassist tetsuya , YOU GOTTA RUN was created to fit perfectly with the dynamic world of BEYBLADE X . The band shared their excitement stating , “We think we've created a wonderful song that truly matches the world of BEYBLADE X . We hope fans enjoy it alongside the opening animation .”
"As people who are constantly thinking about what can be conveyed through words & voice , we were immediately captivated . We really wanted to be part of BEYBLADE X . We particularly enjoyed how the protagonist's recitation scenes are expressed . We got to experience the original BEYBLADE , which made us reflect on the raw emotions & logic-based talent that resonates with us personally. "
YOU GOTTA RUN is worth the wait from L'Arc~en~Ciel & it's classic L'Arc~en~Ciel at their very best . Even though in recent years they have not been musically active as a group , they're nonetheless still highly respected .
That said , I enjoy YOU GOTTA RUN a great deal & I really hope it will not take L'Arc~en~Ciel another 3 more years for them to release something new .
Promo wise , Illumination promoted the NHK drama Omusubi .
Illumination is not a bad song as it's not catchy on 1st listen but the mid tempo song does grow on me the more I listen .
While Illumination is not the best B'z song that they've put out , it's nonetheless heartening to see that B'z release something new this year especially since this year they have been more focused in their solo releases .
A Gospel song that was created with 40 students from Osaka's Caless Vocal & Dance School which Shota used to attend , PUZZLE was created as a lesson assignment song for Shota's alma mater .
In addition , the 40 students had chorus & vocals input in PUZZLE .
PUZZLE is the type of music genre that Shota excels in the best . The best thing is that Shota did not utilised any autotune in PUZZLE which allowed his vocals to shine & also the students' vocals complimented him very well in the song .
This's the type of music style that Shota does the best & should do more often . This was the very reason why I started supporting him years back & I really hope Shota will continue to make such songs in the near future & in return get new fans to apperciate his musical talents .
CD Regular
CD Limited
CD + DVD A / CD + Blu-ray A
CD + DVD B / CD + Blu-ray B
24th Sept is the date when in 2007 , the formation of Hey ! Say ! JUMP was announced during the Johnny's Jr's Hey Say '07 in Yokohama Arena .
UMP is a new representative song for Hey ! Say ! JUMP as they look ahead to their 20th anniversary .
Created by sumika's Kenta Kataoka , UMP is a song that has a dynamic melody .
UMP features a fast-paced , dynamic melody that evokes a sense of acceleration toward the future . Lyrically , UMP is unique & deeply emotional , capturing the essence of the group's journey & aspirations .
Hey ! Say ! JUMP wanted to create a new signature song that represents their future . All the members were involved in producing UMP , pouring their hearts into it after a long preparation period .
The following songs serve as B-sides in UMP :
- NERD ; ending theme song for the drama Osore starring member Takaki Yuya
- Nayuta no Umi (CD Regular Edition Track)
- Routine (CD Regular Edition Track)
- BAD NEWS Mitanukai! (CD + DVD A & CD + Blu-ray A Version Track)
- Shitsujiteki na Boyfriend (CD + DVD A & CD + Blu-ray A Version Track)
- Highlight (CD + DVD B & CD + Blu-ray B Version Track)
Hey ! Say ! JUMP's 34th single UMP was produced with the desire to deliver a new representative song for the group as they look ahead to their 20th anniversary . The members were involved in the selection & production of this spirited song that looks to the future with a dynamic melody & lyrics created by sumika's Kataoka Kenta .
UMP includes NERD which was used as the ending song for the drama Osore which member Takaki Yuya appears in . This refreshing banger with light beats & a digital sound reveals a charming new side to Hey ! Say ! JUMP .
11th album H⁺ will be released on 27th Nov . Both UMP & NERD will be included in the new album .
1) Daioujyo Everyday
2) Floating Story
3) Pepper Cave
4) Daioujyo Everyday (OFF VOCAL)
5) Floating Story (OFF VOCAL)
6) Pepper Cave (OFF VOCAL)
GRANRODEO's last single release was last Aug's Tetsu no Ori .
GR STORY is part of Road to G20th trilogy release in early celebration of GRANRODEO's impending 20th anniversary next year .
Before GR STORY was released physically , the 1st song in the tracklist Daioujyo Everyday was 1st released digitally on 17th Sept . Only a video was made for Daioujyo Everyday & it's not included in the physical release of GR STORY .
GRANRODEO will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2025 . As they approach their 20th year , their Road to G20th trilogy reaches its final chapter with GR STORY . The release includes a song that references DD BLUES from guitarist e-ZUKA's solo album , a hot song featuring their backup bassist Takita Isamu & a song that tells the story of GRANRODEO .
The 3 songs included in GRANRODEO's latest single offering GR STORY are all musically diverse from each other but it's quite evident why Daioujyo Everyday is the only song that had a video made as it rightfully deserves so .
Unlike the other 2 songs in GR STORY which took me a while to warm up to , that did not happen with Daioujyo Everyday as I really like it on 1st listen & this music style is something I could see the duo do when they did GRANRODEO Live Session "Rodeo Note" vol.1 & vol.2 which they performed at a jazz club a few years back .
With next year GRANRODEO's 20th anniversary it will be interesting to see what the duo plans to do in marking this landmark milestone of theirs but regardless of what they plan to do , I look forward to it .
2 CDs
2 CDs + DVD A & 2 CDs + Blu-ray A
2 CDs + DVD B & 2 CDs + Blu-ray B
Disc 1 (JAPANEWS)
1) Konnichiwa -Interlude-
2) JAPANEWS
3) FIREWORKS
4) Tabi no Tebiki Dai 1 Sho『Nihon no Miryoku』
5) O Mochidesu ka ！
6) origami
7) Cherry Blossom Girl
8) Tabi no Tebiki Dai 2 Sho『Nihon no Ongaku』
9) JANGARA
10) Gifted
11) Urameshi ya
12) Tabi no Tebiki Dai 3 Sho『Nihon no Hitobito』
13) Hiji Dzuru Sho
2 CDs version
14) Clang Clang (Koyama Keiichiro)
15) almond ; written , composed & arranged by Shige himself
16) kawaii (Masuda Takahisa)
Disc 2 (NEWS C/W BEST Edition)
1) Full Swing
2) Butterfly
3) Snow Dance
4) Yoru yo Odore
5) Sweet Martini
6) BEACH ANGEL
7) SHOCK ME
8) DREAMS
9) Distance
10) madoromi
11) 36℃
12) Bambina
13) (0,0,0)
14) ROOOTS
15) Strawberry
NEWS' last studio album release was last Aug's NEWS EXPO . JAPANEWS originally was supposed to be released on 24th July .
Only 1 single is included in JAPANEWS ie. 30th single Gifted which was used to promote the Tokai TV x WOWOW co-produced drama Gifted starring member Masuda Takahisa .
Same with NEWS EXPO , JAPANEWS includes 2 CDs with different audio contents .
Album track wise , only a video was made for JAPANEWS (the song) .
Track 7 Cherry Blossom Girl is a self-homage song to NEWS' 12th single Sakura Girl while track 9 JANGARA was used as Tokyo Joypolis tie up song .
The 2nd CD in JAPANEWS is titled NEWS C/W BEST Edition . In it , the included tracks were chosen by fans in an online coupling song voting poll that was conducted this year .
NEWS presents a 2 disc musical work that's like a Japanese guidebook in the form of their 14th album JAPANEWS . Disc 1 JAPANEWS has new songs & a new story while disc 2 NEWS C/W BEST Edition is a coupling best album of re-recorded B-sides that were selected from the NEWS Coupling Song Vote 2024 .
Album format wise , JAPANEWS does feel like NEWS EXPO 2.0 but in terms of the music style and songs included in both discs , that's where the simliarity ends .
For the 1st CD JAPANEWS it does feel & sound like an audio Japan 101 guidebook which's very interesting . The opening of JAPANEWS (the song) has English narration done by each NEWS member which's commendable .
Even before listening to JAPANEWS , the 1 song that I was looking forward to hear the most was Cherry Blossom Girl because not only Sakura Girl is still to me 1 of NEWS' best single songs , they don't often do something like this which's doing self homage to their old material .
Another album track that I also like is FIREWORKS which I felt a video should have been made for it as I'm sure it could have been visually entertaining .
For the 2nd CD NEWS C/W BEST Edition , just like the 2nd CD in NEWS EXPO ie. NEWS BEST , the old songs that made the cut in NEWS C/W BEST Edition prior to the release of Beautiful / Chincha Umakka / Kanariya they were all re-recorded .
Being a NEWS fan for a long time the songs in NEWS C/W BEST Edition that I was ecastic that got re-recorded were Bambina , BEACH ANGEL , DREAMS & SHOCK ME . The fact that some of the no.s are so old but were re-recorded , that says a lot .
Overall on whole I enjoyed NEWS' latest album release . I personally hope that for their next album release , they would remove the introduction & interludes as they've done this aspect since their 2017 / 8th album's NEVERLAND .
In addition I also hope for their next album release , they would revert back to a single solo CD release as well .
