Release news
HONEBONE new album “Shizuka ni Shiro” out on Nov 15!
Comedy/folk duo HONEBONE is releasing their 4th album, Shizuka ni Shiro on November 15th! Translating to “Be Quiet” or “Shut up”, the released song list with 8 titles promises to be as tongue-in-cheek as their previous albums.
You can preview the songs from the release trailer below the track list.
First-press bonuses are available at different shops: those who get the album at Tower Records or HMV, for instance, can get an extra song, while other shops will carry a sticker as the bonus.
Nakamori Akina new releases “Akina” and “CAGE” out on November 8!
Limited edition covers:
Akina (top), CAGE (bottom)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer Nakamori Akina, best known as the “dark diva” of the 80’s Jpop princesses, is releasing a new studio album on November 8th. This release comes about 2 years after her previous album, and is self-titled Akina. The album contains 9 tracks, which all appear to be new songs, and the limited edition will come with a booklet-sized calendar.
Akina is releasing a disco cover album on the same date titled CAGE, which will include “Give Me Up” by Michael Fortunati, “Venus” by Bananarama, and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics, among a total of 9 cover songs. The limited edition of this album will come with a DVD containing making-of clips.
Both releases mark Akina’s 35th anniversary as a singer, whose history has been at times sensational and dark, the way her music has often been characterized.
In recent years, both her personal life and public image appear to be more mellow than previously, but she continues to sing more brooding songs than the average Japanese pop diva.
Haigou Meiko new album “Hoshi no Moto” out on November 10!
Hoshi no Moto (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter Haigou Meiko is releasing her 7th studio album on November 10th! Titled Hoshi no Moto, the album will contain 10 original songs. This album comes 5 years after her previous studio album. She will have a one-man live on November 3rd to commemorate the new release. Meiko may be best known as the voice for the vocaloid MEIKO, the first synthesized voice program to sing in Japanese. In contrast to some of the songs by the vocaloid, the singer Meiko’s songs tend to be warm, gentle, and happy.
Tane Tomoko new album “rolling” out on November 11!
rolling (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Veteran indie singer-songwriter Tane Tomoko is releasing her new album on November 11th! rolling will contain 10 songs, 8 of which are new. “Tokoton shiawase” and “Sokontoko yoroshiku ne” were previously released, the latter on Tomoko’s 30th anniversary compilation album Daily Bread.
The release page on Tomoko’s site notes that the album’s “raw heart” and “cutting words” and melodies will provide a “recording of the soul.” Several dates are listed for the commemorative tour, set to start in November with the album’s release.
May’n new album “PEACE of SMILE” out on Oct 18th!
PEACE of SMILE
(limited edition type A cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
JPop/anime diva May’n is releasing her 5th original album in October! PEACE of SMILE will arrive on October 18th in 4 editions: 3 limited editions and a regular album only edition containing 14 tracks (13 songs + 1 bonus track). Each of the 3 limited editions will contain a bonus CD with 2 new songs and their instrumental tracks, differing by version. Two songs on the album, “Shine A Light” and “BIRTHDAY! ~PEACE of SMILE” are completely new tracks, while the others have been used in various anime and shows.
Michael Kaneko debut EP “Westbound” out on Oct 25th
Westbound (EP cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Michael Kaneko, a Southern California native of Japanese descent, will be making his Japanese debut on the music scene with the EP Westbound. This single/mini album will include 5 songs and has a release date of October 25, 2017.
Even before this release, Michael has already been heard by more than 50 million people, in various commercials and on the radio. His voice may be most famous in the song “Loving eyes” used for that tear-inducing Toyota commercial (scroll down below to see what I mean).
May J. releasing new album “Futuristic” on Oct 25th!
Futuristic (regular edition cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Pop singer May J. is releasing her 8th original album on October 25! Coming 4 years after her previous album, this collection will be titled Futuristic and contain 16 tracks, including a bonus track. Many of the songs have tie-ups to TV shows and games, including “Futari no mahou” (opening theme for Gundam G), “Faith” (ending theme for God Eater 3 Rage Burst), “Have Dreams!” (opening theme to May J’s TV show J MELO), and others.
March In Flames new mini-album “morning call” out on Oct 11th!
morning call (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Indonesian + Japanese rock band March In Flames is making their debut on the Trust Records imprint in October! The mini album will be titled morning call, and contain 7 tracks. 3 songs are previously released: “Nagareboshi” and “a Distant utopia” from their indie album MEMORY:ONE, and “little light” from the single Echo which was released earlier this year. The new music video of “Nagareboshi” sounds like a new mix compared to the version on MEMORY:ONE.
Aoi Shouta new album “0 (Zero)” out on October 11!
0 (limited edition +Blu-Ray cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Seiyuu and singing sensation Shouta AOI is releasing his second album on October 11! The album’s title, 0 (Zero), is also the title of the leading track on the album. Three singles, “Innocent”, “DDD”, and “flower” will be included along with 8 other previously unreleased songs for a total of 12 tracks. The album will be released in 3 editions: 2 special editions and a regular CD edition. The special editions include a 32 page photo booklet and either a blu-ray disc or a DVD, both of which will have the same content: 4 music videos (for “0 (zero)”, “Innocent,” “DDD,” and “flower”) and a making-of video for “0 (zero).”
Anamu new album “Sugata” out on October 6th!
Sugata (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter Anamu is releasing her fourth album on October 6! Titled Sugata, the album will contain 10 original tracks. The release includes a special CD titled “MOTHER,” without specific details on the CD’s contents.
The release page explains that Anumu’s album was motivated by her father’s words to sing “your own song” (her late father was the singer Kawashima Eigo) and a recent birthday, when she realized “it’s good to be alive!” Thus, she strives to capture the different facets of life as a daughter, a mother, a singer, a woman; and that the special CD is geared toward those who are mothers.
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