Promo wise , Diamond was used to promote the drama Stove League which Kamenashi starred in as the lead role .
I really liked Kamenashi's previous song The truth which he released digitally last year so naturally I was waiting for him to release more new solo music & in comes his latest song offering Diamond .
On 1st look I find it a bit ironic as title wise KAT-TUN also had a song titled DIAMOND but aside from that both songs do not sound the same , it's just a coincidence .
That said Diamond is very different sound wise . I wasn't sure what to think when I 1st heard it as it's quite unique and it cannot be compared to past Kamenashi solo songs of his .
Kamenashi will release his long awaited debut solo album WAVE on 8th July & Diamond will be included in WAVE .
CD
CD + Blu-ray
1) RE-BIRTH
2) Chase the Shine
3) Orange
4) Ao
5) Kill the Noise
6) Darling
7) FEEL SO GOOD
8) Bring the Beat Back
9) Buddy
10) STILL ON FIRE
SPYAIR's last album release was 2021's UNITE .
RE-BIRTH is the 1st studio album to feature new vocalist YOSUKE who joined SPYAIR as the band's new vocalist on April 2023 .
In addition RE-BIRTH is also SPYAIR's 1st studio album to get a Blu-ray version .
The new album includes 10 songs inclusive of :
- RE-BIRTH ; released digitally in July 2023 & promoted SPYAIR's JUST LIKE THIS 2023 outdoor concert
- Chase the Shine ; released digitally last July ; chosen to promote Boat Race 2025
- Orange ; promoted the movie Haikyu!! Gomi Suteba no Kessen
- Ao ; 24th single ; opening theme song for the anime Ao no Miburo
- Kill the Noise ; 25th single ; promoted the anime Yuusha-kei ni Shosu: Choubatsu Yuusha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku
- FEEL SO GOOD ; promoted SPYAIR's JUST LIKE THIS 2024 outdoor concert
- Bring the Beat Back ; promoted SPYAIR's JUST LIKE THIS 2025 outdoor concert
- Buddy ; released digitally last Jan ; promoted Fuji TV's drama Mondai Bukken
Track 10 STILL ON FIRE was released digitally on 4th March before RE-BIRTH physical album release .
RE-BIRTH was the 1st new orignal song to feature SPYAIR's new vocalist YOSUKE & to me it's no surprises that SPYAIR chose to name their long awaited studio album as so which I find it very fitting .
Despite having only 2 new songs in RE-BIRTH (the album) ie. Darling & STILL ON FIRE , this's something I don't mind that much as I waited really long for SPYAIR to release a proper album .
With the release of RE-BIRTH (the album) , it signifies the next chapter of SPYAIR & I cannot wait to see what they will do next with YOSUKE taking things to the next level alongside the other members .
On that note , their last year's 2 days outdoor concert JUST LIKE THIS 2025 -History of JUST LIKE THIS- & -History of ANIME- DVD/Blu-ray both will be released together on the same day next month on 20th May .
22nd March is the date of Kobukuro's major label debut & Starry Smile Story was 1st performed at last year's KOBUKURO LIVE TOUR 2025 “THIS IS MY HOMETOWN” .
Promo wise Starry Smile Story was used in the ads of JR West group's Ugoke, Kokishin. .
Starry Smile Story is classic Kobukuro at their very best . 1 listen of their latest song is proof on why they've been in the business for such a long time & end of the day Starry Smile Story is a really memorable mid tempo song that has feel good positive vibes to it .
Many artistes have came & gone over the years let alone change their musical styles at times but Kobukuro is 1 artiste that proves that if it ain't broken why should they fix it ?
This is a new recorded version of OLIVIA's 10th single Wish / Starless Night which was released 2 decades ago .
It has been a long time since OLIVIA last released new music & it was definitely a nice surprise to see her return back with a new updated version of Wish .
The songs that OLIVIA created back then to promote the Nana anime were & still some of her best material to date , not that her pre Nana anime songs were not good .
Hearing Wish -Reimagined- brought back a lot of wonderful nostalgic memories & I sure hope OLIVIA will consider to re-record other songs she provided for the Nana anime if not better yet new songs .
Either way it's so good to have OLIVIA back .
Promo wise , Heaven Knows was chosen to promote the Detective Conan as the anime's latest new opening theme no. .
In addition Heaven Knows was released digitally on 8th April , on the same day as FYOP+'s physical release .
I suspect Heaven Knows was a song that didn't made the cut in FYOP as it sounds almost like a carbon copy of FYOP's The IIIRD Eye . Nonetheless I like just how catchy & super fun Heaven Knows sounds on 1st listen .
When you put both Heaven Knows & The IIIRD Eye side by side each other they do sound very similiar . Let alone both songs were used to promote 2 different animes which I'm sure it's no coincidence .
Even though Heaven Knows was not included in FYOP , I'm glad that B'z didn't completely abandoned this song & decided to include it in FYOP+ as Heaven Knows is yet another great song added to their ever growing music discography .
CD
CD + Blu-ray
1) ChaosBlue
2) Magatsu Yoru wa Ao Nari
3) Night Walker
4) STAR'S ROCK
5) secret MAZE
6) Arifureta Ballad
7) Future Updates (Instrumental)
8) Daioujou Everyday
9) GO GO PARADISE!!
10) Tetsu no Ori
11) ASH
The duo's last album release was 2022's Question .
ChaosBlue includes 11 songs inclusive of :
- ChaosBlue ; album lead song ; released digitally last year on 19th Dec
- Magatsu Yoru wa Ao Nari ; from best album DOUBLE DECADES OF GR ; promoted the mobile game Gakuen Bungo Stray Dogs
HOPE for YOU which was the other new song from DOUBLE DECADES OF GR is not included in ChaosBlue
- Daioujou Everyday ; 1st song in 35th single GR STORY
- GO GO PARADISE!! ; Goumon Baito-kun no Nichijou anime opening theme song , vocalist KISHOW has a voice role in it ; released digitally on 5th Jan
- Tetsu no Ori ; 34th single ; opening theme song for the 5th season of the Bungo Stray Dogs anime
Both ChaosBlue & GO GO PARADISE!! have music videos made but both of them are not included in the physical release of ChaosBlue .
GRANRODEO raises ChaosBlue with their 10th original album ! Aside from pre-released songs , the inclusion of new songs were created specifically for ChaosBlue .
More than 2 decades after debuting in the business , GRANRODEO reached a new milestone with the release of their 10th studio album & they most certainly have come a long way .
New material wise , I for once feel that both ChaosBlue & GO GO PARADISE!! both don't really deserve to have music videos made . Instead I thought STAR'S ROCK & ASH should have the ones to receive them as they're more worthy and a lot more memorable .
Also I'm a bit sore that GRANRODEO chose not to include HOPE for YOU in ChaosBlue as it's still such a great ballad & ballads are something that they excel in doing , just as much as their upbeat Rock songs .
Do I feel ChaosBlue is a worthy successor to Question ? I'm on the fence on this as some days I feel it's a yes while other days it's a no . Considering that GRANRODEO has been doing this for a long time there're bound to be songs in their discography that I'm not a fan of & that's ok if not practical .
2 CDs
2 CDs + Blu-ray
Disc 1 - Matinee
1) SYMPHONIA
2) We are all stars
3) Wish
4) Beyond
5) Mirage with Shiro SAGISU
6) UNFAIR
7) MISSION
8) Shiritai Koto, Shiritakunai Koto
Disc 2 - Soiree
1) Deep Down
2) Winner
3) Rule
4) Murder
5) Pray
6) Amanojaku
7) Look In My Eyes
8) The Moment
Mika's last album release was 2022's self produced album I which also doubles up as her 10th studio album .
Boukyou which was released digitally last Jan is not included in STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- .
STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- is a 2 CDs concept album centered around the worldview of musicals , depicting the contrasting worlds of "stage & backstage" and "yin & yin" .
Disc 1 (Matinee version) includes songs that symbolise daytime performances = yang which centered around previously released tie-up songs . Meanwhile , Disc 2 (Soiree version) is filled with new songs that explore the worldview of nighttime performances = yin .
Included in Disc 1 (Matinee version) are as follows :
- 45th single SYMPHONIA / Shiritai Koto, Shiritakunai Koto
SYMPHONIA ; used as the theme song for the mobile app game takt op. Unmei wa Shin Akaki Senritsu no Machi wo + the ending theme no. for the takt op.Destiny anime
Shiritai Koto, Shiritakunai Koto ; used as the insert song for TV Asahi's drama Hyochakusha
- We are all stars ; released digitally on Aug 2023
- 46th single Wish ; used as the ending theme no. to promote the Berserk Kogane Jidai hen MEMORIAL EDITION anime
- 47th single Beyond ; used as the opening theme no. to promote the anime Mado Soushi Final Edition
- Mirage with Shiro SAGISU ; Wish B-side
- 49th single UNFAIR ; used as the opening theme no. for the anime Delico's Nursery
- 48th single MISSION ; used as the ending theme to promote the 2nd season of the anime Megumi no Daigo: Kyuukoku no Orange
Included in Disc 2 (Soiree version) are as follows :
- Deep Down ; MISSION B-side
- Winner ; has a video made
- Amanojyaku ; UNFAIR B-side
- The Moment ; has a video made but it's not included in the physical release of the album . Mika herself does not appear in the video
This year marks Mika Nakashima's 25th anniversary in the business & she kicked things off in early celebration of her landmark milestone with her latest album release STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- .
STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- is Mika's 1st album release that has 2 discs instead of 1 which immediately stands out from her past albums as this's something she has not done before until now .
1 thing about Mika's albums is that they usually tend to include very little new album material with the exception of I . This also in a way applied to STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- , more so in the 2nd disc of the album .
Despite this I feel that both discs of STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- compliment & contrast each other well , which's what Mika was aiming for in this new release as it showcases the many different music genres she seamlessly could sing in at ease .
With this year being Mika's 25th anniversary , I will not be surprised if later on in the year she could release a best album to commemorate this landmark milestone of hers . But for now , STAGE -THE MUSICAL IN MY HEAD- is another solid release added to Mika's discography .
