Even So

Bonnie Pink

Folk embraces pop on this expertly crafted album, which turns out to be Bonnie's strongest effort to date and the surprise best of the year. Not to be missed.

Saku

Dir en grey

One of the most hotly contested releases of the year in our community, Dir en Grey's broken sound reaches new heights that force you to love or hate it. Great art has done this throughout history.

Otsuka Ai

She's cute as a button, does Aiko better than the real thing, and has already managed to release two albums. She's set herself up for a difficult year to follow.

Shumi no Haba

Yuzu

The most beautiful video of the year is a trip back in time to your elementary school years. Rotoscoping at it's absolute artistic best. Quite simply not to be missed.

Best Album: Kyouiku - Tokyo Jihen

Japan's queen of distortion smashes into four extremely talented musicians to create an amazing rock album with elements of cabaret, jazz, and lounge - expanding on her own sound in a way that nearly renders her solo work obsolete. Enthusiastically recommended.

Best Single: Marching March - Halcali

O.T.F brings us another rousing beat, this time accompanied by dirty synth and horn samples. Halca and Yukari dispense their trademark kicked-back verses and sing a simple, yet undeniably catchy chorus.

Best PV: Yume no Hana - The Back Horn

This video is stunning in both its simplicity and ambition, nearly an oxymoron. The song is one of the 10 best singles of last year, and is available with a DVD of the video. I recommend you take a few dollars out of your wallet to pick it up.