SPYAIR's latest new digital release comes in about 6 months+ since they released Buddy digitally at the beginning of the year .
Promo wise , Chase the Shine was chosen to promote Boat Race 2025 .
Unlike Buddy which is not catchy on 1st listen , I did not experience that with Chase the Shine as I find the song having a big memorable impact on 1st impression .
SPYAIR was able to capture the essence of Boat Race 2025 quite well in Chase the Shine & I feel the song sounds better the more I listen to it .
That said I hope the next new music release SPYAIR put out will be a full length studio album as this's something they have not done so ever since YOSUKE joined the band .
Since then SPYAIR has released a considerable number of new material & it will be great if this were to happen before year end .
CD (Ichi no Mori Ondo version)
1) Ichi no Mori Ondo
2) Ohitsujiza no Otoko
3) Ichi no Mori Ondo (Karaoke)
CD (Ohitsujiza no Otoko version)
1) Ohitsujiza no Otoko
2) Ichi no Mori Ondo
3) Ohitsujiza no Otoko (Karaoke)
Ichi no Mori Daigo's latest single offering is a follow up release to last April's Ichi no Mori Daigo Desu / Modotte Okure .
Despite being a double A-side single release , only Ichi no Mori Ondo had a video made .
The 1st A-side Ichi no Mori Ondo is described as a song that will get everyone dancing to it during Bon Odori this Summer . In the chorus , Ichi no Mori Daigo repeatedly chants his own name .
While the 2nd A-side Ohitsujiza no Otoko is a song that references Ichi no Mori Daigo who was born in April under the horoscope sign of Aries . Both the song title & the melody both pay homages to the famous Showa era .
Ichi no Mori Daigo's latest single release is almost a drastic musical difference as compared to his debut solo single . Unlike Ichi no Mori Daigo Desu / Modotte Okure which I did not know what to expect prior to hearing , I did not get the same feeling with Ichi no Mori Ondo / Ohitsujiza no Otoko .
Nonetheless it's quite obvious between Ichi no Mori Ondo & Ohitsujiza no Otoko , Ichi no Mori Ondo is a lot more catchy while amusing at the same time while Ohitsujiza no Otoko showcases the more mature serious side .
It reminds to be seen whether will Ichi no Mori Daigo continue to release more new music as he did hinted that Ichi no Mori Ondo / Ohitsujiza no Otoko was possibly his last release .
If so it was fun while it lasted & it's something that I admire DAIGO for going out of his musical comfort zone to try something different .
CD
CD
1) Bad Karma
2) DON'T FORGET MY NAME
3) Syrup
4) Hikouki Gumo
5) KAGEROU
6) tomato
7) Sick of u
8) Naimononedari
9) PUZZLE
10) Epilogue (Instrumental)
Shota's last album release was 2023's Insomnia .
Pulsatilla cernua is Shota's 1st album release to get a CD + Blu-ray version alongside with his 1st ever fanclub version of a release pertaining to his latest album release .
Shota's new album has 10 songs , inclusive of :
- DON'T FORGET MY NAME
This's the lead album track which was 1st released digitally on last month 28th May & it has a video made
- Syrup ; released digitally in April
- tomato ; released digitally on 11th June
- PUZZLE ; released digitally last Oct
I enjoy Shota Shimizu's last 2 album releases HOPE & Insomnia so naturally I was curious to see if I would like his latest album offering Pulsatilla cernua which luckily I do to a certain extent .
Autotune is still present in Pulsatilla cernua but thankfully this has been kept to a bare minimum and instead the majority of Shota's new album allowed him to let his vocals shine & not having auto tune to conceal his singing to the extreme .
The strength in Pulsatilla cernua is no doubt the mid tempo driven numbers & also ballads . Both music genres showcase what Shota vocally excelled in the best , such as the album's new material ie. Hikouki Gumo , KAGEROU & tomato .
If there's 1 thing to nit pick on Pulsatilla cernua is that I wished Shota would have included a bit more new material as the album overall felt a bit too short .
In addition I don't think DON'T FORGET MY NAME should have a video made . Instead this should have been given to KAGEROU as that to me is the standout new song in Pulsatilla cernua .
Aside from that , Pulsatilla cernua is overall quite a worthy follow up to Insomnia and most of the new songs in the album I enjoy especially the 3 songs I singled out (Hikouki Gumo , KAGEROU & tomato) .
I look forward to see what Shota Shimizu will release next & if he were to release another song like PUZZLE I'm up for it as this's the type of song he should be releasing a lot more often & in return people will and have responded to it positively .
CD
CD + DVD & CD + Blu-ray A
CD + DVD & CD + Blu-ray B
Promo wise , encore was used as the theme song for the drama Parallel Fufu: Shinda Boku to Tsuma no Shinjitsu starring member Inoo Kei .
4 B-sides are included in encore :
- SUPER CRUISIN' 1st released digitally on 26th March & it has a video made
Described as a funky upbeat track driven by lyrics from Saya & a groovy beat produced by Sakiura Shin .
Lyrically SUPER CRUISIN' is all about motion , momentum & swagger . This isn't a cruise for the calm , it’s a wild ride of highs , spins & unexpected turns .
- Love Letter (CD Only Track)
- MATSURI☆FEVER (CD Only Track)
- Step by step (CD + DVD & CD + Blu-ray A Track)
- Miraisen (CD + DVD & CD + Blu-ray B Track)
Hey ! Say ! JUMP's 35th single encore is the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Parallel Fufu starring member Inoo Kei . The refreshing love song makes you want to sing & dance along with its rhythmic pop melody .
The single's B-side track SUPER CRUISIN' that was penned by Laland's Saya is an upbeat hip-hop number that expresses the strengths & charms of Hey ! Say ! JUMP, who have cruised from Heisei to Reiwa at their own pace as a group .
In all honestly I'm not really a fan of Hey ! Sɑy ! JUMP's previous single UMP as I felt it was a bit un-necessary for them to redo their debut single where they could have chosen not to perform Ultra Music Power any longer .
Luckily I do not have the same opinions towards encore as I do like the song the moment I 1st heard it .
As for the B-sides in encore all 4 of them are equally enjoyable & different from each other in a good way even though I personally feel Love Letter should be the 1 that gets a video made & not SUPER CRUISIN' .
Hey ! Say ! JUMP LIVE TOUR 2024-2025 H⁺ DVD + Blu-ray will be released next month on 30th July .
Described as a love song , Syrup samples Yellow Jacket that was produced by Shaun Martin , who was one of Shota's musical influences & who tragically passed away last August .
A video was made for Syrup . The song reflects everyday conflicts & moments experienced by couples .
Shota's 11th album Pulsatilla cernua will be released on 18th June & Syrup will be included in the new album as track 3 .
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 .
