小沢なつき - ＮＡＴＳＵＫＩ ＤＲＥＡＭＩＮＧ

小沢なつき is a somewhat unappreciated idol pop singer. as far as i'm concerned, this is simply her best album. it's a perfect example of what a good idol pop album should sound like, and i have recently started suggesting it as a good starting point. it's that good. sure, there's not much experimentation or doom and gloom here, but it's just really, really, really consistently good. also, her voice has plenty of range (she can do an alto and a mezzo-saprano, but i guess my only complaint is that she didn't do more alto vocals).

anyways, there are some songs here that stand out here as some of the best idol pop songs (like "Herself", "風のデッサン" or "Blessing rain").


1.不思議Liberty
2.そ.の時、彼は・・・
3.きれい？
4.Herself
5.猫の休日
6.彼女になるまで
7.卒業
8.裸の天使
9.風のデッサン
10.Blessing rain


ENJOY

原みゆき - 凛

more introspective idol-pop! really, it's like this pseudo-genre was made for me. anyways, here's an album by the lovely 原みゆき. this album has a very delicate, relaxed feel to it. unlike previous "introspective idol-pop" that i've posted, there's no deep misery here; just serene, calm, meditative swaying in a gentle breeze. the percussion and singing here is what really gets to me, but the gently echoing guitars are also very lovely. track 5 (ゆらり ゆらり) is probably the only one that seems more melancholic, but that might be because she sings in an almost enka-like manor.

really, just overall, this is one of my favorite pop albums from the 80s. it's flawless from start to finish. completely hypnotizing, completely absorbing in its beauty.

anyways, this is just a criminally under appreciated album that you really need to go download right now.


1. 愛にゆきたい
2. 太郎と呼ぶ
3. 日曜日のテーブル
4. 凛
5. ゆらりゆらり
6. ゆでたまごと僕
7. 恋人未満デ
8. サイはフラなきゃ!?
9. 五月日和
10. もう夏が来るなんて


ENJOY

ＲＥＢＥＣＣＡ - WILD&HONEY

WILD&HONEY is one of the best albums that the legendary pop group ＲＥＢＥＣＣＡ ever put out. there's so much fucking energy on this album, so much aggressive passion. this has to be my favorite album by ＲＥＢＥＣＣＡ, because every track is solid. it's really a masterpiece, and i can't put into words how much i love this album. this video should sum up it's greatness:



1. WILD EYES
2. LOVE PASSION
3. FREEWAY SYMPHONY
4. LOVE IS CASH
5. 蜃気楼
6. NEVER TOO LATE


ENJOY

ORDINARY VENUS - ORDINARY VENUS

ORDINARY VENUS was a pop duo, fronted by 西脇彩華 (who previously sang with the idol group 9nine). the other member of the band was the brilliant 石井秀仁. so, while this is clearly a pop album of the highest order, it still has new wave and post-disco influences, courtesy of the cali≠gari vocalist. the songs here are very kawaii, and very genki. it almost feels like an idol denpa record.

i think the highlight for me on this album would have to be the opening track "I Don't Know !" or the epic ninth track, "Dream Rush". they're both so perfectly crafted, i feel like i could listen to them a million times without getting bored.


1. I Don't Know!
2. 赤道小町ドキッ
3. 白いパラソル
4. 慟哭
5. 愛が止まらない
6. はいからさんが通る
7. CHA-CHA-CHA
8. スローモーション
9. DREAM RUSH
10. 夏色のナンシー


ENJOY