Smile

L'Arc~en~Ciel

L'arc~en~Ciel came back in a big way in 2004. Although I enjoyed their 3 singles, I enjoyed this album even more. The day I bought it I tore of the plastic and put it into my stereo. As soon as Hyde's "kuchizuke wo kawasou" line started on track one I knew the album would be something special. The more I write this the more I realize it really is my favorite album of the year. That is why you now see it in first place as opposed to the third place it is in now as I am currently writing. What amazes me most is how the album can be quite broad musically yet somehow hook the listener with every song. Feeling Fine is poppy yet never feels overdone. Coming Closer is darker yet doesn't break the flow of the album at all. The balance here is sublime. A year before this album came out most fans had every reason to believe that L'Arc was finished. The force with which they reclaimed their rightful place on the scene makes this album even sweeter.

Hitomi wo Tojite

Hirai Ken

The song of the year. No doubt about it. When Hirai Ken does ballads, he does them well. It is rare, however, for a ballad to reach out and grab the nation like this one. As the theme song of the mega-hit film Sekai no Chushin de Ai Wo Sakebu, Hitomi wo Tojite received a definite boost. But many argue that it wasn't the film that helped the song, but the song that helped the film. Whatever the case may be, the two together were an unstoppable force. Hirai's voice is incredible. Although he best known for his mellow upper register, I am just as intrigued by his edgy lower range. The hooks in this song make you wish it would never end.

Otsuka Ai

It is often true that the biggest of stars are the newest ones. Otsuka Ai proved this by rocketing up the charts and on to the scene late in 2003. Her new brand of adult-yet-childish idol pop-rock struck a chord with not only the typical male demographic but also with females. Her power was seen most clearly in karaoke boxes across the nation as young women tried to replicate her adorable debut "sakuranbo" for their dates. The word started getting out in female fashion magazines that no man could resist the song and it was the surest way to notch one in the win column. Besides being cute, Otsuka happens to write all her own music. New and talented acts like this continue to push the traditional idol scene farther towards obscurity.

Sunrise

Bennie K

Last year this prize went to Mr. Children's astounding video for Kurumi. While this year's winner didn't move me to tears, it did hook me instantly. The vivid imagery is spellbinding at it is easy to get lost in the video only to realize that it is already over. Computers are making all sorts of videos possible these days. Here is a song that obviously didn't have the highest of budgets, but the artistic use of limited funds make it a winner. In the sheer crazy category, Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Kimi no Machi Made and Rip Slyme's Galaxy

1) Smile - L'Arc~en~Ciel

2) Yggdrasil - Bump of Chicken

What a surprise. This album came at a time when I was rediscovering Bump of Chicken. The Tentaikansoku boom of 2001 was long over and Bump of Chicken was slowly falling off my radar. Toward the beginning of the year, however, they re-released an older song called Arue and I was hooked again. The song reminded me of how much I liked Bump of Chicken's soundÉ At the same time I wondered if a new album wouldn't feel a bit stale if it replicated Jupiter. Yggdrasil hit the spot. There was no reason to doubt these guys. The album almost sounded country at times but I mean that with the greatest respect. One thing didn't change about the band, their amazing ability to paint pictures in the head of the listener. Sharin no Uta is a great example of this. Also, even a few years after it's release, Snow Smile makes my winter just that little bit more bearable.

3) Explorer - Makihara Noriyuki

Here is a man who isn't very well known outside of Japan. He isn't that handsome nor does he have the best of reputations outside his singing. But even his greatest detractors will admit his voice is pure gold. Perhaps known most recently for penning last year's hit SMAP song...you know...Makihara came back with his first original album in many years. From start to finish, the lyrics and music are soothing enough to send a baby to sleep. For an average listener like you or me, it sets the perfect tone for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

4) Kyouiku - Tokyo Jihen

5) Shifuku no Oto - Mr. Children

1) Hirai Ken - Hitomi wo Tojite

2) Sunrise - Bennie K

A close second. Here is a group I had never heard of but jumped out in their 5 second spot on TBS television show CDTV's weekly countdown. Every week, as it moved up the chart I was intrigued by this 5 second clip. Eventually I gave in and rented the CD. What I found was one of the most interesting blends of pop and rap to come out of Japan. The video is equally as impressive, pushing the music video concept to new visual frontiers.

3) Sakuranbo - Otsuka Ai

Although this song was released in December of 2003, it really belongs as a 2004 song. This is another one of the songs that caught my attention as a steady riser on CDTV. Weekly magazine Oricon Style stresses how rare it is for a pop song to be a "long seller". Some how Sakuranbo remained on the charts for a total of 49 weeks, tied only with SMAP's famousÉyou know. Let's not mention the name in case it starts another surge in sales.

4) Sign - Mr. Children
5) Katachi Aru Mono - Shibasaki Kou
6) Sharin no Uta - Bump of Chicken
7) Hana - Orange Range
8) Gunjyo Biyori - Tokyo Jihen
9) Kimi no Machi Made - Asian Kung-fu Generation
10) Kokoroodoru - Nobodyknows+