#sugizo

Concerto Moon - Rain Fire (09.12.2020) [★★★★★]

Already appeared with: Tears of Messiah (2017)

Concerto Moon is one of the most renowned metal bands in Japan, despite their several member changes and their link with a older era of the genre. In their fifteenth album, the fourth work since Watashi Haga joined the band, the band shows that they didn’t lose their fiery energy, bringing a powerful and compelling sound, driven by animated vocals and notable guitar riffs. Concerto Moon is definitely something Japan should be proud of.

TRACKLIST

1. Long Way to Go
2. Rain Fire
3. Run for the Light
4. Waiting for you
5. The Night Tells Thousand Lies
6. Burnt Society
7. False Confidence
8. Rise and Fall
9. The Next Moment of Grief
10. Mirror Design

Junna - 20x20 (09.12.2020) [★★★★★]

At just 20 years old, the pop singer Junna has already shown of possess an incredible talent and much charisma, a rare thing for Japanese female voices. Debuted in the idol band Walküre, she went beyond her limits, delivering a series of releases, one better than the other. Her second album fortifies her style, in a mix of pop-rock, dance, electronic and ballad, where Junna’s living and fierce vocals always stand up in each theme featured. Junna has all the skills for becoming even more relevant in the scene and deserves to be more recognized.

TRACKLIST

1. Ware wa shousetsu yori mo kinari (I’m stranger than a novel)
   
2. FREEDOM -Never End-
3. Sleepless
4. La vie en rose
5. Iru imi (Reason for being)
   
6. Namiuchigiwa (Beach)
7. Now or Never
8. Kono yubi tomare -20x20 ver.-
9. Abayo Yesterday (Goodbye yesterday)
   
10. Sky
11. Ima (Now)

Sugizo - Ai to Chouwa [Love and harmony] (23.12.2020) [★★★★★]

Already appeared with: Oto (2016),Oneness M (2017)

Well, Sugizo doesn’t need to be introduced, but his work is always well appreciated and enjoyed, since it embraces each possible musical horizon. In his latest album he brings his own inspiration and creativity within ten different tracks, going from sumptuous and ethereal instrumental compositions to several duets with other Japanese musicians, giving a vast choice of talents to look into. Sugizo manages once again to communicate unique emotions with his music, reflecting also the hard times we’re living into.

REVIEWS:Truth? (19.11.1997)

TRACKLIST

1. Nova Terra
2. Childhood’s End
3. A Red Ray (ft. miwa)
4. Tsuioku (Reminiscence)
5. Endless -Yami wo koete- (Endless -Beyond the darkness-) (ft. Ohguro Maki)
6. The Gates of Dawn
7. Mindfulness
8. Charon -Shichi no Bongo-
   
9. Hikari no hate (Light of life) (ft. Aina The End from BiSH)
10. So Sweet So Lonely

Masaharu Fukuyama - Akira (08.12.2020) [★★★★]

Maybe some of you have heard the name Masaharu Fukuyama related to Japanese pop music, but few people knows that he is actually the best-selling male solo artist in Japan, an aspect which could raise his interest for his music. His latest album, released for celebrating his 30th anniversary, features a cheerful and nice pop sound, mixing catchy rhythms to more passionate ones and accompained by Masaharu’s skilled vocals, making his popularity in Japan quite justified.

TRACKLIST

1. Akira
2. Kurayami no naka de tobe (Fly into the darkness)
3. Kakumei (Revolution)
4. Popstar
5. Hyouryuu seyo (Whether dritfing)
6. Tomoe Gakuen
7. Shippai-gaku (Failure study)
8. Koshien
9. Bou-tsu (Dawn)
10. Shinon (Heart sound)
11. Shiawase no salad (Happy salad)
12. 1461-nichi (1461 days)
13. Seiiki (Sanctuary)
14. Itterasshai (Welcome)
15. Rei -Zero-
16. Hajimari ga mata hajimatte yuku (The beginning begins again)
17. Kanata de (Beyond)

Majiko - Sekaiichi shiawase ni hitori bocchi [The happiest loner in the world] (02.12.2020) [★★★★]

Starting her career as a cover singer on Nico Nico Douga, Majiko saw her career flying quite high, thanks to a bunch of albums made of a peculiar sound, quite unusual to find. Her latest album brings on a mix of dancing themes, alternative rock melodies and simpler pop tracks, driven by Majiko’s clear and shaded vocals, confering also an indie-ish vibe in each track. If you are looking for

TRACKLIST

1. Sekaiichi shiawase ni hitori bocchi
2. 23:59
3. Kamisama demo arumaishi (I am not a god)
4. Once upon a time in Tokyo
5. Escargot
6. Katte ni shi yagare (Do whatever you want)
7. Majo no rule (Witch’s rule)
8. Hoshi ni tatoeba (A star for example)
9. Ichiou watashi mo naita (I cried too)
10. Grim
11. Angel number

-HONORABLE MENTIONS-

Mai Yajima - Heaven Knows (02.12.2020)

The first mention is for the Japanese metal artist Mai Yajima, who has already unleashed her own energy nine months earlier. Compared to the previous release, in this mini-album there’s a major focus on Mai’s vocal skills, driving compelling and refined metal themes, made of passion and virtuosism. Mai Yajima is an unstoppable force and we hope to hear more of her.

TRACKLIST

1. Vermilion Crime
2. Kagerou (Ephemeral)
3. Mother
4. Magnolia
5. Circus
6. Phoenix

Damian Hamada’s Creatures - Kyuyaku makai seisho dai II sho [The Old Testament of Hell -Chapter 2-] (23.12.2020)

The second mention is for Damian Hamada’s solo project, which already shown its potential in the previous month. While in the first part their sound works quite well to introduce the band and the members’ skills, in the second one there are several tracks lasting more than four minutes, a good ground for showing what each member is able to do, between powerful riffs, complex rhythms and sustained vocals, in an exquisite style variety.

TRACKLIST

1. Angel of Darkness
2. Deepest Red
3. Shingetsu no minuet (New moon minuet)
4. Megami to shinigami (The goddess and the death god)
5. Ma koujou kourin -Birth of death, Death of birth- (The Advent of the Demon Princess -Birth of death, Death of birth-)
6. Which Do You Like?

Wakana - Wakana Covers -Anime Classics- (09.12.2020)

The former Kalafina member Wakana makes into the third mention of this last month, after having already featured about ten months earlier. This time she shines herself into a series of covers of famous anime songs, all fulfilled with Wakana’s unique grace and a noteworthy melodic component. This album is ideal for breaking with all the pumping and energetic music we listen to every day.

TRACKLIST

1. Toki ni wa mukashi no hanashi wo (Sometimes old stories) [Tokiko Katou]
   
2. Yasashisa ni tsutsumareta nara (If wrapped in kindness) [Yumi Matsutoya]
3. Rain [Yui]
4. Inochi no namae (Name of life) [Yumi Kimura]
5. Yatsura no ashioto no Ballad (Ballad of their footsteps) [Kaori]
6. Get Wild [TM Network]
7. Kaze no toori michi (Road of the wind) [Joe Hisaishi]
8. Kimi wo nosete (Carrying you) [Azumi Inoue]
9. Ai ni dekiru koto wa mada aru kai (Is there still anything you can love?) [Radwimps]
10. Yume no yukue (Direction of dreams) [Emiko Shiratori]

That’s all for the last year’s album selection! Continue to follow me here on Tumblr and on my Youtube channel, for more exciting reviews!

Thanks for all the follows/likes/reblogs!

Sugizo x Goldie (What’s In?, Dec. 1997)