戸川京子 - B.G.

戸川京子 is perhaps best known now as being the younger sister of 戸川純 (a.k.a. god). unlike her sister, the music she performed was much more idol and much less avant-garde. all the same, there is quite a bit of experimentation on this album. a particularly favorite track for me would have to be the second track, "Hawaiiに行きたい". it begins as a very melancholic sounding ballad, but after about a minute into the song there is a very sudden transformation into this very tropical (hawaiian, to be precise) sounding piece of music. the hawaiian bit is absolutely giddy in it's sheer joy and innocence, but soon it's cut off and the ballad returns . . . only to transform back into the lei adorned ode to the popular japanese vacation spot yet again. the effect is very jarring, as your mood as a listener of this song is constantly being assaulted by these abrupt change in atmosphere and feeling. it's fantastic, of course. it's actually become one of my all time favorite songs from the genre.

ANYWAYS ON TO THE REST OF THE ALBUM. it's consistently awesome. it frustrates me ever so much that her sister, jun, shall always overshadow her. of course, jun is superior (but then, jun is superior to most musicians, no matter the genre), but that's beside the point; kyoko had plenty of talent. her willingness to be playful and weird: on the fourth track, "責任とってよ", she and a male vocalist "rap". it kinda reminds me of 塊魂's soundtrack . . . if 塊魂's soundtrack had been recorded in the 80s. oh yeah, while i'm still on this track, i think her sister can be heard shouting the chorus at about the half-way mark . . . speaking of jun, the one time on this album where kyoko really reminds me of her sister is on the track "悲しみはリアルすぎて…". she sings in a crooning, seductive sort of way (think of the way jun sings in YAPOOS' classic "Barbara Sexaroid").

over all, the album is absolutely stunningly fun to listen to. it's joyous and giddy and silly. there are few albums that cheer me up when i'm feeling the blues (which is surprisingly rare for someone who primarily blogs about post-punk and "introspective idol-pop"). this is all very bitter sweet, of course, because on a hot summer day in july of 2002 she committed suicide. this shouldn't come as a surprise to longtime fans of togawa jun; jun herself has attempted to end her life at least once (supposedly she has visible scars from said attempts).


1. 恋のエアシューター
2. Hawaiiに行きたい
3. 25ans~ヴァンサンカン~
4. 責任とってよ
5. ランチタイムラバー
6. ワンルームの鍵
7. 悲しみはリアルすぎて…
8. 未成年


ENJOY

浜田朱里 - よろしく、朱里。

so, i'm finally updating this stupid fucking blog because i'm a stupid fucking idiot who has too many stupid fucking papers to write, etc. anyways, you get the point: stupid fucking finally updating. and this is a stupid fucking brilliant gem of an album that i'm handing over to you now, i might mention. 浜田朱里 has become my own personal goddess. she's . . . cute, she's mysterious, she's gravure . . . i can't stop praising her. she's that great.

my favorite song on this album is likely the second track "あなたに熱中". it's gorgeous. but also, all of the tracks are gorgeous, so what am i even talking about. her voice is so genki. the music that accompanies her is, too. it's catchy, upbeat, and absolutely fun to listen to.

a second favorite (it's more likely on par with the first "favorite" that i mentioned) would be the title track (of sorts) which is first glimpsed at on the weird opening track.

it's . . . i dunno, i really just can't explain how much i love her. she's pure magic.



1. INTRODUCTION -YOROSHIKU-
2. あなたに熱中
3. わたしだけのコイビト
4. ほほえみ乾杯
5. 恋のレッスン2
6. さよならしたくない
7. さよなら好き
8. 処女航海
9. 冬色のガラス
10. 秋のシルエット
11. よろしく


ENJOY

山口百恵 - としごろ

by request, here's としごろ by 山口百恵. she was one of the most successful idol pop singers from the 1970s (if not the most successful). her first album (this one) came out when she was only thirteen years-old (1973). which is absolutely fucking crazy, considering this is not the voice of a thirteen year-old girl. it's simply far too deep. and yet, it's her alright; her voice only got stronger and deeper as she got older (until her last album, which came out in 1980). on this album, though, her voice is already huskier than most adult women.


1. としごろ
2. ひとりぼっちのあなた
3. 叱らないでね
4. 文通
5. 明日はいいことが…
6. あのひと
7. バケイション
8. 悲しき16才
9. 可愛いベイビー
10. レモンのキッス
1. としごろ
2. 叱らないでね


ENJOY

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

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