March '10 VK Reviews (+ 1 Jpop)

Today's 1pm show of Endless SHOCK will mark their 700th performance. Congratulations to Shock Company for continuously making new miracles on stage! *standing applause*

Feeling stupid for not copying Buzzer Beat into my PC (^^ ;;) I decided to go ahead and work on those postponed reviews.

Notes on stuff I listened to but wont't work on:

1. Damijaw [Muryoku na Jibun ga Yurusenai] - Solo effort from Janne Da Arc's guitarist that I don't have the heart to write about.


2. DuelJewel [Will] - Officially not gonna bother about them anymore. Such a waste.


3. L'Arc~en~Ciel [Quadrinity ~Member's Best Selections~] - Not very motivated to talk about a 28 tracks album when all I liked about it is the inclusion of songs from "Heart" (1996), "ark" and "ray" (both 1998). Ken's Best is the better one because I loved most of his choices. Tracklist is here.

	Title: TATTOO Band: 12012 Verdict: 2 stars. Mmm, a failed throwback to their older image although the instrumental track sounds cooler. And what is with the half assed ballady coupling song? This song makes even 'MAR MAROON' appeal better to me. I... should really stop hoping, yes? Doesn't seem like they'll be getting back on their feet anytime in the next 5 years. Go for: 'TATTOO' if you're not a fan.

	Title: 風がめくる頁 (aka Kaze ga Mekuru Peji) *HOT* Band: D Verdict: 4 stars. I don't remember them being this good! D has completely overhauled themselves into this amazing band all of a sudden. From their latest PV "7th Rose", I can't wait for their new album out this 24th. Go for: 'Wagateki wa Ware ni Ari', 'Kaze ga Mekuru Peji'.

	Title: 春めく僕ら (aka Harumeku Bokura) Band: DaizyStripper Verdict: 3.5 stars. Wow. Slightly dorama ending-ish but yeah, wow. Sorta brings an image of soft rolling waves but I've yet to study the real meaning of this song. 'Kill the King' is... ok, I guess? Go for: 'Harumeku Bokura'.

	Title: World End Band: Frantic Emiry (aka DaizyStripper) Verdict: 3 stars. Right. I don't understand the concept of having an emo alter ego when they sound all too similar. Either that or they ain't heavy metal enough. 'World End' sounds good but not something I'd call ass kicking. But the other track is at least hitting the right spots. Go for: 'Senjou, Shoudou, Genocide'.

Title: WONDERFUL WONDERHOLIC Band: LM.C Verdict: 3.5 stars. Finally gave them a Full Album Trial. A few pretty strong standalone tracks that share the same 'joie de vivre' vibe. Overall, there were some hit and misses in this experiment. I dare say GHOST HEART rings truer to their 1st album and somehow... I prefer that side of LM.C. Go for: 'GHOST HEART', 'It's a Wonderful Wonder World', 'PUNKY HEART', 'Boku no Mirai'.

	Title: R Band: Matenrou Opera Verdict: 3 stars. Clear cut and promising. Looove the guitar solo. Now if only the vocalist would change his glass-shattering nasally voice or sing with more heart. Oh yeah, Matenrou is still a bit off eventhough this slowly gets my attention. Go for: -

Title: MOON SPIRAL *HOT* Band: Satsuki Verdict: 4.5 stars. (Please excuse caps in spazzy review) THANK YOU, SATSUKI. Thank you for releasing this brilliant maxi single so I can erase the two lousy ghei ones from before. THIS! THIS is how you should sing. With all your heart and soul in it. Like how you used to do it. Beauty and rough edges collides together which is guaranteed to leave an imprint in your mind. This is what a former Rentrer member should produce. Go for: 'MOON SPIRAL', 'PRAY FOR THE SUN'.

	Title: sleep Band: SID Verdict: 3 stars. Not strong enough to be marketed as a single. Could've work better as an album filler. The second track is more outstanding for me. Highlight of this single would actually be 'Aikagi' which now has got me wanting to watch their concerts. Go for: 'Aikagi (live)', 'Utahime'.

	Title: Prana *AWEFUCKINGSOME* Band: SUGIZO Verdict: 5 stars. Taking on a different style this time, this song is a coming of age rave that I didn't think he could succeed at. Prana is his absolute best work that it may even surpass 'Spirituarise' (the remix by Juno Reactor). So so so good I had it on repeat every morning on the way to work to activate my brain. Go for: -

Title: advance / また朝が来る (aka Mata Asa ga Kuru) Band: TOKIO Verdict: 3 stars. While 'advance' is too cheerful but fresh, 'Mata Asa ga Kuru' is typical TOKIO yet nothing new. The most memorable song from this single is the surprise sleeper hit 'Period' in which Yamaguchi steals the limelight from Nagase. Now this is one performance I'd love to see. For one thing, who'll be playing bass? Go for: 'Period'.

Toma Daaaisuki

Toma Toma Toma Toma Toma Toma Toma Toma.

But completely unrelated to Toma, there are ants lying dead on the floor of my bedroom after getting tipsy and drunk with perfume. My precious L'occitane is the only substitute on hand sebab takde bug spray. Sadistic dan pemurah sungguh aku ni.

Updates!

• Mama Nurul and baby Ariq Asyraaf are safe and healthy.


• My third nephew is down with the pox and is crestfallen for falling ill during school holiday.


• I have yet to review items I should be reviewing like since last month omg.


• Suju is here in Malaysia and I don't care.


• Sugizo and Takumi have not updated their blogs in weeks and I'm dying for oldschool Jrock instead of scouting for new bands.


• Stress and pressure doesn't sit well with me. I need more KinKi Kids stuff to cheer me up.


• Erm, maybe NEWS can ganti KinKi for awhile.


• Megaupload is so shitty these days. The combination of MU and Celcom is beyond shite. SAIYAKU! -_-


• And omg Toma is so cuuuute when he's with Yoko and Hina. How can I let him go now?


• I hope that little something comes right on time!

[Edit: Oh! Amazing~ Takumi posted something new today! Same psychic levels ftw xD]

I shall end this update post with a short rant because I don't like how cruel some people can be towards their bestfriends.

Hearing bad stories about an old friend whom I thought was beyond human degradation is very shocking. Makes me wonder how she lives without true friends. If I'm cold and heartless, she's just... plain... (please insert your choice of cuss word here) pathetic.

p/s: too many things to tag. guh. lazy.

Oh Woe Is Me

My parents have just left for JB to tend to my sister-in-law after she got warded earlier today for contractions. Her due date's actually a month away, so I hope she'll be fine.

No parents would mean I'll need to wake up at 7am this week to sidai baju and 'kemas' the house. And grab a cab to and from work. And tapau dinner. And... and... Bleargh. Terbang lah lagi duit aku bulan ni.

What's more, I already splurged indulgently on doramas from Saturday's day out with twinnie. Oh but at least I didn't buy Liar Game 2 and Quiz Game 2, ne? If I picked up those two, my expenses at Hiro Comic (and Jusco Wangsa Maju) would've totalled up to RM250. Guh.

It was Tsuyo's Day, indeed: Last Present, California Dream and Gakkou no Sensei. Too bad there weren't any Kochan dramas ;-;

Kimi wa Petto! In a bid to watch the original Japanese version before the sissy Korean one, I shall watch MatsuJun after I settle the three Tsuyo dvds (2 dramas and 1 special actually).

However, I got distracted from this plan because I watched 'Taiho Shichauzo' (aka You're Under Arrest) due to a sudden urge to see Hara Sachie and Itoh Misaki together ^^;;

Also, all those dvds may get kicked to the back if the Toma with Jude Law *squeeeee* on Kuwazugirai torrent finishes before tomorrow morning. Mwahahaha.

What is it with my favourites meeting my other favourites? First it was Tsuyoshi meeting Johnny Depp *squeals even louder* on 24Channel. Now it's Toma and Jude Law *squeals some more* ♥

And quite possibly very very soon on Malaysian soil: Koichi to meet his hero, Schumacher all over again?

Honey Beat

Who wouldn't want 5 Godfathers as handsome as V6? Inocchi, please bring your baby boy along to Johnny's meetings/gatherings/dinners/triad meetings.

• Sakamoto-riida can first teach him how to do a backflip.


• Nagano (the Godmother) can um bring him to ramenya? Just don't let the kid turn into Naruto, sudah.


• Go and Ken will surely teach him dance and apprentice the boy in their future pranks.


• Okada can teach him Kansaiben. Hahah.

Assuming V6 is that close and Asaka Seto would let her child enter the jimusho this early. Pueheh. So the list goes on =P

*must download that V6 game soon*

By the way, I dreamt I listened to Porno Graffitti singing Koda Kumi's "Honey Flash". Sounded cool tho weird that I came up with this concoction.

Anyway, as per requested by Lisa (KinKi fan whee) I'm sharing 'new' links for KinKi skins: [ Smiles ] and [ Yakusoku ] ;D

No Longer Ignorable

I was too absorbed while cleaning up and updating my music library that I missed 90% of tonight's SDK episode ;_;

My resolution to watch Domoto Kyoudai 'live' gets kicked to next week yet again. Sheesh. I really REALLY need to set my handphone AND iPod alarms to go off at 10.30pm next Sunday. Because *omgifeellikekillingsomeone* Becky will be on next ep!

It'll be the second appearance for the die-hard KinKi and spazzy Koichi fangirl! What has she got up her sleeve this time?

Last year she brought one of her copies of the super rare pre-debut KinKi Kids photobook which then prompted Kochan and Tsuyo to autograph it right then and there. Bah!! I was so green with envy then that I didn't bother watching it.

Screencap credit: Nafiza @ LJ

Nampaknye I have to download the above infamous ep before Sunday... *bangs head on table* Ano, I don't hate her anymore (ever since I saw her coolness on NEWS' 24Hour TV) but but but but...

Sigh. I hope she won't be extra annoying in the upcoming Nodame movies. Otherwise I'd have to hate her all over again.

Butai Updates Make Me Happy

I nearly lost my calm Work Mode composure when twinnie told me sometime after lunch about Takizawa Hideaki and Yara Tomoyuki working together in the upcoming Takizawa Kabuki. Damn near cost me time for GSC updates because I was too busy spazzing with her. Hahaha. xDD

It's Takki's directorial debut isn't it? Was it his idea to include a raburabu scene between the two main characters? Teeheehee. Too bad we won't be able to go watch it live, Farah... but CAN YOU ALREADY IMAGINE HOW MANY TAKKI-YARA FLUFF WILL SPAWN FROM THIS? *rubs palms eagerly to convince self not to feel too horrid*

Misosiru translated updates about the news [here]. In a separate post she also mentioned about Koichi's mishap during the flying stairs routine. The rope hit his face aside from not getting to execute a few of the moves. Ouch. I hope he isn't injured badly. And yes, I stress my point here on that I will forever worry about his condition in SHOCK. Apatah lah lagi si Tsuyo tu kan?

Since we're still on the topic of kabuki, interestingly enough Yara had said this line either in his jweb or on stage: [ "Great efforts will definitely be rewarded!! Definitely!!" ]

I haven't an idea how Yara will cope with E SHOCK and preparation for T Kabuki all at the same time. Less free time but him being someone who just cannot sit down at home and do nothing... he'll manage, ne? Busy, busy man. Apart from receiving more work offers, Yaracchi has really improved a lot and I'm happy that he's happy regardless if this means he won't be able to commit to more MA-centric projects this year. Especially Koichi's solo con and the MA-MIX segments on SCP.

;_; but still ♥

Ssssspeaking of busy men, Sugizo has declared via myspace that he's overworked and will quit X Japan and be retiring soon then move to a small island in South East Asia. Nyeheh. Just kidding. As if, right?

Anyhow, actually he complained that his life isn't private anymore because he is holing himself up in the studio... writing -ohyeahbaybeh- NEW MATERIALS! YAY! So there'll be more iTunes singles which will be released once every month. Today's single, 'Prana', is absolutely delicious by the way ;D

Am slotting that review sometime with that writeup on Tokio's new single... Not sure when. Um yeaaah I'm still waiting for upcoming releases (DaizyStripper! wheeeeee~) so after that lorh.

Willing Self Not To Sleep

So many things to do tomorrow... I thought I needed to stay awake to make sure Matchy-san's SDK ep is downloading since my connection was very slow earlier. Now MF suddenly laju pulak.

Ok~ should go to sleep now so can wake up 1 hour earlier to watch it! :D

If you haven't been following MusicJAPAN Plus for their interviews and news, you better go head there now.

It's a pretty comprehensive digital magazine site with all the latest VK and Jpop news. I spotted grammar mistakes but they've got everything under one roof. *thumbs up*

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="When too lazy to download, I jz pop in here."][/caption]

Although I may be biased because the first issue had SUGIZO on their cover. Mwahah.

Japanese Mary Poppins

Domoto Koichi to Fly with Japanese Umbrella on the Stage!

2010-02-17

KinKi Kids member Domoto Koichi studied a consecutive lesson for the Tokyo Empire Theater 10th anniversary musical "Endless SHOCK".
After the lesson, Koichi revealed his own thoughts on the challenge to the longest performance: "I have gained a lot of weights. My weight now is 57kg, which is 5kg more than I usually am. 52kg is not enough for me, and I hope I can keep the best condition to the end!"

Mr. Kitagawa, the director of Johnny's Jimusho, took participate in the writing and composing of the musical. It is a story about Koichi whose body and soul are separated due to an accident while he is fighting for the unity of the company. In the highlight, which is a flying scene, Koichi will be in gold, holding a Japanese style umbrella in the hand, and flying from 8m high above the stage.

As to the flying scene in which the umbrella will be the lifeline, Koichi said: "My right hand is very strong." and made everyone laughed.

When the flower from the actress Mori Mitsuko was sent in, Koichi commented: "It reminds me that today is Valentine's day. I am always receiving gifts from Ms. Mori and I should give her a gift some time." And about the first performance later, "After considering the schedule of many guests who are going to take a Shinkansen back home, we will contract the performance and end it 20 minutes earlier. It's quite hard." Said Koichi while smiling, "However, I feel very lucky to be on the stage. Thanks to your support, I will do my best to fulfill your expectation."

The musical "Endless SHOCK" will be staged from February 14th to March 30th and July 4th to 31th!
Don't miss out his wonderful performance!

Source: music japan+

We all know what he's been practicing on each day to get such a strong muscular right arm, ne? *wink wink* I can imagine Downtown-san picking on Koichi and his nightly pre-sleep activity all over again xD

Another new flying routine in his butai that will end up worrying all us Kochan fangirls to death.

Hope they're gonna release a DVD of this year's run. My money is waiting to be spent. Pueheh.

Puri Puri Puritii~

Ooh~ the Shinohara Tomoe who sang the song Voyage [CLICK HERE] that was produced by Sugizo is actually honestly this Shinohara Tomoe:

THE Tomoe-chan who hosted the Pre Pre Pretty segment on KinKi's Love Love Aishiteru back in the late '90s. The Tomoe-chan who will always, without fail, get bullied by KinKi and everyone from Johnny's. xD

Seriously. WOW. Produced by Sugizo. I love that song! ♥ Wow. She must've been 19 or 20 years-old at that time. Wow.

Took me 4 years to realise this, by the way. Pueheh.

Anyway, here's a more realistic photo of pretty Tomoe now. With better wardrobe choices.

You should absolutely watch her on Domoto Kyodai (2 guest appearances!) because Tomoe and KinKi futari go waaay back and it's fun seeing them bully her all over again.

Red or Blue?

Sorry for the double post. I couldn't resist posting this glomp happy survey (taken from misosiru).

And because I wanted to be able to actually choose something today. -_-v

A KinKi Kids Final Choice Survey

Q1. Today is the date ♪ He came to pick you up!

☆ Meeting in the red convertible
☆ Meeting in the lightweight truck of previous!? Shindoi car Tsuyo

Q2. If you were going to go to the amusement park?
☆ "Not the scary ones! Let's ride the Merry Go Round." Tsuyo who choses the ride while saying that.
☆ "Let's ride the Roller Coaster!" Kouchan who gets in the scary ride.

Q3. If you were going to the Karaoke?
☆ Tsuyo ★ who would sing any song you requested (Even KinKi songs)
☆ Kouchan ♪ who would sing a duet with you even while being shy.

Q4. The thing you would want for your birthday?
☆ "My Love! I'll engulf you with it." Kouchan
☆ Tsuyo who'd choose rings with you and get a pair for both you and him.

Q5. If you were to be carried princess-style?
☆ Tsuyo who would do his best to pick you up and carry you.
☆ Kouchan who'd easily pick you up and turn you around.

Q6. If you were to offer ●●x
☆ "Leave it to me!" Kouchan who is S.
☆ "Are you OK!? Tell me if it hurts" Tsuyo who is M but is hiding it.

Q7. Something happened and you're feeling depressed. The one you want next to you?
☆ "You don't have to endure it na..." Tsuyo who would hug you tightly
☆ "Whats the matter? Did something happen?" Kouchan who would ask worriedly

Q8. Which pet do you like?
☆ Kounyan who likes to be playful ♪
☆ Tsuyoinu who behaves like a spoiled child ♪

Q9. The teacher you'd fall in love with?
☆ Tsuyoshi-sensei of Fine Arts, who is very talented at basketball and draws everyone's portrait
☆ Kouchan of Science who can not be stopped if it's a talk about cars.

Q10. Whose proposal would make you want to marry?
☆ "Please marry me so we can be together forever." Tsuyo who can feel love everyday.
☆ "Let's love each other even when we became grandparents and make a lot of children until then." Kouchan who seems like he'd be the domineering husband.

-------------
Oops. I ended up confusing myself by highlighting in blue and red. Anyway:

7 Reds, 3 Blues = Koichi ♥

Trust me, it was quite hard not to side with Kochan... him being my utmost fave and all. But it wouldn't have been fair to pick both answers, ne? :O

Ok, sleep time! *drags Kochan to bed*