Music

Nakashima Mika

No apologies are necessary for my pick this year. Mikachan rules. A voice like none other pushed beyond its comfmort zone on one of the most interesting and repeatedly listenable releases of the year. It's the only record I have Takako will sing along to consistently in the car. It bridges gender, age and taste barriers. It's bringing our individual worlds together folks! The only song I absolutely can't get into is "Hemlock" but it's like a speck of dust on a ming vase. Despite comparatively weak sales, I think this was Mikachan's year and her best album to date.

Runner-Up: The Back Horn - Headphone Children The Back Horn hadn't wowed me with an album since their debut; the electric, manic masterwork Ningen Program. This year was no different but at least Headphone Children is a big step in the right direction, that is, away from the aped rock of "Requiem". It certainly has a high wowness quotient fusing a low-fi sound with something more sing-songey and commercial. The highlight has to be the title track an effective, breezy, reggae number, oh and "Kiseki" is just a perfect little grade grubber isn't it? Like most of this record it does all the right things right.

"Glamorous Sky/Endless Story"

Nana starring Nakashima Mika/Reila starring Ito Yuna

The guy who used to play guitar in my band told me how great Nana was. I didn't believe him and I sure as hell didn't want to go into the store and buy it. It's put out by FLOWER COMICS for crissakes! I ran as long as I could, but they did good putting Mikachan in the Ozaki Nana role because it piqued my curiosity. Well, NANA fever caught up to me (no doubt the fault of the Demon Lord) and I found myself really clinging to these two songs. It helps that they're performed brilliantly by Mika and Yuna respectively. At first the breathy Nakashima seemed a weak choice for "Glamorous Sky" but the more I listened the more her voice seemed not only right for the song, but absolutely integral to it. Like the mismatched outfits she sports, somehow the overall aura is all the stronger for it.

Runner-up: Dreams Come True - "Nando Demo"

Where's the love for Dorikamu? They had one of the best mostest funnest songs of the year, and they ain't showing up on anybody's top ten. So here they sit on mine. I hate the PV with its multi-colored hair waving, but I love the song. The girl never lost it. And she still knows how to wield those pop hooks like the maniac of campfire stories of long ago. Seriously, give this fanged soul diva a spin, it's a great addictive and relatively safe high.

High and Mighty Color

Inevitably HAIKARA will get comparisons to other nu-metal confectures like Evanescence and Linkin Park. Possibly deserved but even one year into their career, they've switched things up so much I've lost the ability and desire to pigeon hole them. I love the deep sullen voice of the female singer, and when the other dude's not crooning like broken a Teru, he adds a hardcore texture to the pop. They go dark, they go hard, and yet it's quintissential jpop. They must breed 'em weird in Okinawa. (This ain't the first time i've said this).

Runner-up: AAA

Good Lord... just LOOK at them. They're crazy. Boys & Girls in the same group. Why this hasn't been attempted since Folder! And they spawned into Folder 5! How can you not see this and think it's out of this world? so they sound like a Korean group? Big whoop. If some Korean dude can sing "Yuki no Hana" Japan can borrow some of their hooks too.

Sakurairo Mau Koro

Nakashima Mika

I guess, it's the end for me. Mikachan, you've ended boo's relevance. Good job. She scores the trifecta, with the only video to make me cry. I always choose that unless something comes along which is just out of this world cool. It's a sad mournful song and the video with those little animated people, god love em, is just so weepy. I can't write this... next.

"Dead Tree" from Withering to Death

Dir en grey

"Dead Tree" has one of the best recorded screams of Dir en grey's career. It reminds me of TOOL's Maynard James Keenan off like, Aenima. It's so raw, and like the rest of the song, it really feels real in a way not many bands can manage without sounding like shit. The song is this weird mash-up of what sounds like three different songs but it all works and its set to send U.S. mosh pits into a tizzy. Lovin' that "skeleton waltz" to quote Go.

Runner up: Hitoto Yo - "Hochi Kiss"

I know, I'm a creature of habit. I'd say it was a matter of taste, but maybe I just have like, perfect taste cause the artists I scream about always end up making me feel wowed. I chose this because it's cute. It's adorably cute but in a mature sort of way. It's got wonky instruments (what Hitoto Yo album track doesn't?) but it's just a confident fun, light R&B track. Who else says "Hinemosu Kiss Kiss" in this day and age and makes it sound so instantly relatable.

"Hedatari"

Mr. Children

Fascinating. Only Sakurai could make a song about not wanting to use a condom so goddamned romantic. Need I go on?

"B-Dash"

Tongari Kids

Super Mario + Jpop. I'm over this song. I am. I just, loved it for a while. Takako is a good barometer of funny, and this made us both laugh till milk shot out our slit wrists. I'm still kicking myself and then jumping on myself to try and get infinite lives (over this song).

1) Music - Nakashima Mika
2) Headphone Children - The Back Horn
3) I LOVE YOU - Mr Children
4) Withering to Death - Dir en grey
5) Globe 2 pop/rock - Globe
6) Hameln - Kirito
7) Houyoku - Mucc
8) Awake - L'Arc~en~Ciel
9) San - Kagrra,
10) Renai - Sid

1) Glamorous Sky/Endless Story - Nakashima Mika/Yuna Ito
2) Nando Demo - Dreams Come True
3) Jojoshi - L'Arc~en~Ciel
4) Clever Sleazoid - Dir en grey
5) Shokarinrin - Singer Songer
6) Black Hole Birthday - The Back Horn
7) Run Run Run - High and Mighty Color
8) Smily - Otsuka Ai
9) Metamorphoze - Gackt
10) Rirura Riruha - Kimura Kaela