I Like Everything...

...don't you just *hate* that? Warning: diatribe follows.



One of the things I accidentally left out of my Things that Tick Me Off post is something that I suppose doesn't tick me off, but instead, puzzles me to no end. People who say that they 'hate' (no, I mean really, *hate*) a certain idol or idols, yet are just as much in love with their favorite idol as I am with Ms. Kayo Aiko.

People who worship one idol and outwardly despise another... these are people that I don't want to know, really. For example, there are plenty of Kusumi-haters out there (you know who you are, you heartless bastards!), and also, plenty of people who love to hate Ms. Mitsui Aika (pictured above). When I look at that picture I don't feel anything even approaching animosity. I used to be indifferent to Aika, because to me she was relatively unknown and there were plenty of other Musume to focus on.

Look at my track record so far... I reviewed the Girls Box Movie (and liked it), brought up some of my favorites: SPEED, Perfume and Capsule, every Morning Musume album, Slayer... and I had good things to say about all of them. So why post a picture of Aika and say anything negative about her? Well, I'm not going to. I like Mitsui, and I like her alot. Damn right I do.

Yeah, I could nitpick and deconstruct her, mention how she's not as good of a dancer or singer as (insert random Musume here). I could talk about how the nickname 'Moonface' is seemingly apt -- Paul, we need another Chris post -- or how she actually did look kinda scary to me when she joined up... maybe it's all those teeth, she looks like she *does* bite:



..and if she does, well, no cutting into the queue! I'm in my rightful place, waiting to get bitten. But I digress.

Bringing up such a polarizing personality as Ms. Mitsui might get a reaction from some people, good or bad. I've been on both sides of the fence with her, from in the past possibly wishing she'd go away, to now, where I'm contemplating starting a site dedicated to her... hmm, moonface.blogspot.com? Naw, I just don't have the time; besides, if anyone, it's Saito Michi, then Nacchan, then a toss up between Sasaki Nozomi or Ogura Yuko.

I remember buying some °C-ute songs from iTunes, looking at the cover, and wondering, 'who *are* these people?' Some of them, I swore, I would not be a big fan of, especially Chisato, with this haircut:



I tried to think positively, that she was just as much a part of the group as all the rest, bad haircut and photograph and all. I just couldn't get past how boyish and strange she looked. Luckily, my reaction wasn't enough to go online and trumpet how much I despised her, nor ask ad nauseam, 'what's up with *this chick*?' By that point I'd had enough experience to know that if she was any good, I'd find out sooner or later. Nowadays, her signature adorns my wall, along with those of the rest of the °C-ute ensemble. And I treasure it. Chisato, sweetheart -- you ever need a place to crash, lemme know...

So after that ordeal, and seeing Mitsui Aika in a swimsuit (yowza!), it's not like I'm going to disown her as a Musume or as a person. All readers -- love her or hate her -- I'll say 'hi' for ya when I see her in Los Angeles.

Sorry, but this blog will remain a place of praise. Might be a little tiresome after a while if you keep reading my reviews and find out that I like everything I see or hear. Well, I don't, actually, and if you knew me better you'd be tired of my complaints by now. But when it comes to Japanese pop music and idol culture, I'm kind of biased.

My previous post mentioned how music is good for you, in a very real way. And I thought that finding Berryz Kobo, °C-ute, and Kusumi Koharu was a quasi-fountain-of-youth, bordering on the legend of Elizabeth Báthory in terms of extending my life without scientific proof.

With all the real things I have to complain about, Japanese pop songs (and the personalties behind them) are nice to have. Furthermore, none of these girls would hurt a fly (or you), unless they asked me to do the honors, whilst playing up the whole cute-and-scared angle.

So why all the hate?

It goes without saying that most of the internet is populated by well-meaning but loudmouthed teenagers who simply *must* project their thoughts into the world, whether those thoughts are rational or not. But even adults want to spread hate about their least-favorite idol, and these are the people I'm speaking out against.

If you can't stand Japanese pop, fine; but please, don't be a hypocrite. I'm already puzzled enough.

For the last time, then, here goes. If you're a Jpop lover, but still claim to hate certain idols, I've got to call you out, here and now. Of all the things you might have reason to complain about, why are you so down on some teenage girl from Japan who sings and acts cute?

Are you more attractive than she is? Are you worth more as a person than she is?

Then why the heck aren't people watching your videos and buying your records?

Again, love to Ms. Mitsui Aika, even if it makes me seem uninteresting. Seriously, why do you harbor hatred for specific little Japanese girls?

As a postscript, does anyone know Mitsui's 'concert color'? Or, For-The-Win, can anyone point me to a list of *all* the Musume's colors? I want to show my support (and recognize others' allegiances) at AX, 48 days from today.

Platinum9DISC recap

I bought 'Platinum9DISC' from JapanFiles last night and gave it a few whirls in the past day. I know I'm a bit late to the party on this, but seeing as how this was the first Real MM album I was 'present' for, I thought I'd go over the material and make some points for discussion. I've listened to every Morning Musume album, maybe not in that order, specifically, but you'd think I'd know a thing or two about them.

If you're comparison-shopping, consider my favorites, in this order: 5, 2, 3, 7, 4, 1, 7.5, 8, 6.

Where to start? I think that overall this record was exactly what I was expecting. That's not a bad thing, at all. Coming off what I would consider an artistic peak of the 'Cover You' album, it seemed like the group was ready to turn another corner and re-start the original ass-kicking on a whole other level. Well, between listening to this record and getting a chance to see them live in LA this summer, I'm totally back on the Morning Musume boat.

1. SONGS
It takes a bit of time for this song to get off the ground, but once it kicks in, the polyrythm and voice-processing makes a great start to the album. It's almost a shell of a song, in fact, and it seems to be a way of saying 'strap yourself in for the ride'. Lots of synth sounds, very busy, but the tune is simple. I can just use my imagination to see the girls dancing about. I think the polyrhythm at the beginning of each verse is the best part, like, 'you think *you're* cool... well, here we come...'

2. Resonant Blue
I'm an unapologetic supporter of Resonant Blue, it's just an ass-kicker from front to back. The 'uu-ee' part is convincing enough, and the chorus part that begins with 'kanashimi no...' is the hook-from-hell, it just pushes the song into the highest gear possible. The one catch is whether they're saying 'happy' or 'help me' at the high point (it's 'help me', btw), so don't get too confused, it's not a happy song. Still, it's groovin'.

3. Ame no Furanai Hoshi de wa Aisenai darou?
I won't even try to give a translation, but something to do with love, the stars, and the rain not falling. The obligatory slow song from the first half of the album, it sounds hopeful. Though it may never top Aya's 'THE LAST NIGHT' or Berryz' 'BE' (good luck with *that*), it's enjoyable, and has a nice buildup. One of those songs that starts nice and quiet and before you know it you're going deaf, but all that does is make you turn it up all the more. I really like the addition of some Chinese words, so thanks, Chinese chicks, for taking it to the next level. Something 'THE LAST NIGHT' and 'BE' can't boast.

4. Take off is now!
Oh people, please listen to others online when it comes to good songs. I put this on repeat about five times this morning, trust me, everyone who says this song is good, they're right, completely. Tastefully executed; busy, yet consistent. Combining rock and heavy dance sounds, this song just WINS. I really hope this becomes a staple of the live show, as I would love to see them sing it in person, and they'd better bring dozens of colored strobes to accompany them. My only gripe on this song is that the 'outro' is much too short, it could really go on for about twenty more minutes before I got tired of it. Please please please, bring this song to the LA show, and make it so that the outro lasts about ten minutes while y'all get your freak on. I will still demand more, but it's a start.

5. Naichau Kamo
I will forever call this song 'Nacho Spider' but I really think it's cool. The video is okay, if you like watching girls cry; I'm sure that some misogynist is watching it non-stop right now. When they're not fake-crying, they look incredible, moreso than usual. But let's not let the video taint our impressions of this song. More hyper-dance from the group that does it so well, and even a part at the end of each chorus for idiots like me to recite 'naichau kamo kamo kamo kamo' with veracity, after the actual song has passed me by at a frightening pace. Not a big first-impression song, but this one will probably grow on listeners.

6. Watashi no Miryoku ni Kidzukanai Donkan'na Hito
I'm totally cool with Aika Mitsui getting her own song. How fitting for a 'turn the corner' album to feature Mitsui as the first solo song? Sounds a lot like most of the other songs on the record, hyper-synth-pop and all; at worst, a forgettable song, but it's not like she's not trying. I liked Mitsui before and in my future bleak days, will turn this on as a testament to individual accomplishment. More power to you, Mitsui. I'm the biggest reluctant fan you'll ever have.

7. Guruguru JUMP
Kusumi+Chinese Chicks=I'm digging it already. Is it upbeat? Another plus. Short sentences? Lots of 'em. Somebody should tell Kusumi that peppy songs are her forte. Yeah, there was hyper-beat on the previous songs, but let's step it up a bit. I don't have any words of wisdom here... either you like 'shopping spree' music or you don't. And if you don't, back the heck off of Kusumi, for crying out loud. She's seen several doctors to try and get that star-shaped tambourine out of her hand, there's just no cure, except for time itself.

8. Mikan
This is the song I'm hooked on, right now. When it came out I could have swore I've heard it before, but blame it on my love of Kusumi. This song is a total Koha-fix, top to bottom. No, let's make it catchier! Like Resonant Blue, the buildup to the chorus is worth it, and when it gets to the chorus, there's that extra push. I know no heavy metal song that kicks more ass, seriously. Be prepared to yell 'Oh yeah, one time!' when you get a chance. Oh, yeah.

9. Jounetsu no Kissu wo Hitotsu
The obligatory slow song for the back half of the album, featuring the same trio of singers from 'Take off is now!'. Of course, the second side always makes the slow song a bit more forceful. 'Dokusenyoku' from the 6th album might be an okay comparison, but 'Dokusenyoku' will always be better. Another stereo-buster, indeed, but just not as good; admittedly, it's a high bar to jump. The ending is abrupt and strange. I would hope for a better farewell from Niigaki, Takahashi, and Reina, so look for it in the future, if they ever decide to leave. Let's hope they don't, they're making some good music.

10. It's You
Who decided that a solo Sayu song was the way to go? I just wanna say thanks to that person. This song really does stand out on the album, and by comparison, (Berryz') Risako's 'REAL LOVE' seems flat and unexpressive, so that says something. Sayu's fans (and they're innumerable) are overwhelmed by this song. 'Hey you...' She's talking to ME! The sound of glass breaking at the climax of the song is one of the best touches UFA has put on one of the best songs I've heard in a while.

11. Onna ni Sachi Are
WARNING; if you should watch this video, each and every one of the girls will call you an idiot before it's over. Just take it in stride. I don't think I've mentioned hyper-dance in this post until now, but if you like that sort of thing, this is the group for you. This song does its job as the introduction to the current lineup of Musume. If you've listened this far and still need convincing, just turn it off and go back to your normal life. Otherwise, its placement here is just preaching to the choir. If we could just... get... to our... utility belt...

12. Kataomoi no Owari ni
Second to last song, better drink it in. Kamei Eri's chance to shine, and shine she does. Along the lines of the Mitsui song, it may not be your favorite, even if you're an Eri fan. Oh, who am I kidding, take it Eri! What more can I say? This song is representative of her personality and style on every level. Take it or leave it.

13. Kanashimi Twilight
A great song, no doubt, but I might be the only one who finds Fujimoto's voice a little out of place at this point. She's been gone for a while now, no shock to my readers, and suddenly she's on (and only on) the last track? Tsunku, you lazy so-and-so, please come up with a better ending than this. Keep this song where it is, fine... just give me some closure on this album. Again, not a bad song to close with, but if your thrust at this point is the future of this group (and it should be), less Yossie, and less Fujimoto on the last song. I suppose we'll wait another two years for #10, and it better be more cohesive than this.

So, overall, I will be listening to the album on a regular basis, because I want to get a feel for how terrible it is....

Going to California, Sans Heartache

No one should ever go so far as to call me a spontaneous person. I mainly just mind my own business and stick it out day after day, year after year, feeling as-stuck-in-the-midwest as anyone can feel. But my mood took a dramatic upswing in the last few days for very obvious reasons. Suddenly I have an urge to listen to every song ever written about California or Los Angeles, knowing that soon, real soon, I'll be seeing it with my own eyes.

Years ago, as a young rock-star-wannabe, I would stare at maps of Los Angeles for hours, trying to get a feel for how the town spreads out.  I would imagine where my future home would be, possibly tucked somewhere in the Hollywood Hills with plenty of parking available to models, other rock stars, millionaires, and party-crashers.  Also, I often dreamed of up-and-driving-there without notice to start a new life, because as pathetic as it may have turned out, I would have at least *tried* to bring change upon myself.  Those plans were at best unrealistic, and at worst really stupid.

I've been told many stories about Los Angeles;  most of them are unflattering, I hate to say.  I'm not sure if one of the best stories I've been told is true, but it's probably very likely, and a good story nonetheless.  

When a group of guys were trying to 'make it' as a big rock band in the 80's, their car (the only car any of the musicians had) was stolen.  Some days later, they found the car in a driveway not more than a couple of blocks away.  Whoever had stolen the car had not changed the locks or the ignition key;  so, having the key, the rightful owner got in and drove it home, only to find that a *wonderful* stereo system had been installed in the days it'd been gone.  There was really no recourse for the thief in a situation like that, so the hero of our story was blessed with a great new stereo and the car wasn't any worse for the wear.  If it didn't really happen to them, I'm quite sure this has been done in LA several times at some point.

People have asked me why I would want to live in Los Angeles, and in truth, I haven't wanted to in quite a while.   But there's just so much happening there, I'm sure that when I get back I'll be a little more comfortable on the city bus, laughing at the one horse we own, and feeling a bit more well-travelled than if I just stayed home and persisted in the mundane.  Los Angeles is, after all, the second-largest city in the US;  California is the most-populated and easily-most-eccentric place we've got, and I've never been there.  I may never go back, who knows, but I will unlikely be unable to forget what it's like.

Still, I'd like to think of myself as well-travelled, regionally, anyway.  I've been to Chicago several times and had the *privilege* of driving through it to a destination near Wrigley Field twice.  I'd taken the 'L' a few times with a friend who lives there, but on my last visit, took it alone for the first time, downtown, where it becomes a subway.  On the outside I tried to pretend that I'd done it so many times before, tried to give off the impression that if I could somehow get away from the daily grind of Chicago and get off this god-forsaken train that I had apparently known since birth, I would.  On the inside, though, I felt like a real farm-boy, though I haven't spent very much time in the rural areas, but nonetheless really nervous about taking the train by myself for the first time.  I lived to tell the tale.

So what happened to me?  Suddenly, without a lot of warning, I have agreed to spend a week in downtown Los Angeles, and it'll be worth it.

I still want to go to Japan, and still plan to do so, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.  Now, the reason I got into Japan and the culture wasn't the culture itself, but the people.  And to be more specific, it was certain people;  idols, to be exact.

If I were to go to Japan, attending a concert would probably be very unlikely, almost an afterthought.  So much time would be spent planning hotels and destinations, vacation time, money, and being able to read the signs, etc.  It would be very obvious that I was not from around there, and if I managed to find a good record store, I'd be doing good.  What are the odds that if I *did* go to Japan I'd manage to see any of the people who are responsible for my current obsession?

That all changed with the possibility of seeing Morning Musume perform at Anime Expo in Los Angeles this summer.  See details here, and go mad with jealousy at my comparative good luck.  Let me wallow in this for a while, because I don't get out often.  And on the other hand, I'm still not believing that this is actually going to happen.

I harbor a little bit of dissapointment that I won't be seeing °C-ute or Berryz Kobo, though if I'd seen them a little over a year ago, wouldn't have been star-struck anyway.  Morning Musume may have already reached its peak some time ago, and some of the most popular girls won't be there, but still, let's stop and think about who I'll be in the same room with.

For starters, no, it's not Aiko;  but at least two of them have definitely spoken to her, and shared some time backstage (or possibly the same bunk bed) with her during the Musume audition.

Let's see who I'll be seeing with my own two eyes.  A member of MiniMoni, albeit a latecomer, Ms. Takahashi Ai, and fellow 5th gen-er Niigaki Risa.  Both of these girls are hilariously gorgeous, have talked to Aiko at some point, were around back when 'Mr. Moonlight' came out, and by my calculations, hold the title for being in Morning Musume longer than anyone else in history.

Next, the 6th gen of Kamei Eri, Michishige Sayumi, and Tanaka Reina, all swimsuit models in a former life, apparently:

'Nuff said.

And, if that weren't enough, the almighty Ms. Kusumi Koharu will be there;  so Rainbow Pink, (my favorite super-group) will be reunited, so to speak, with a surrounding ensemble.  Plus, have I ever mentioned that I really like Koha-chan?

Mitsui Aika, the sole Japanese rep of the 8th gen, will be there.  As much as I tried to ignore her, seriously, tenacity is one of her better qualities, and if she encountered me alone on the street, proclaiming that she was a Musume, I'd stop her in the middle of her spiel.  "You're friggin' Mitsui!" I would exclaim, and then we would go back to my castle and live happily ever after.

Here's the hard part.  The other two 8th gen-ers Junjun and Linlin will also be there, but for the life of me, I can't tell them apart.  Blame it on me being racist and having a bit of trouble accepting Chinese girls into my favorite Japanese group.  Or, blame it on me looking the other way when they joined, and just generally not keeping up with Morning Musume in recent days.  Either way, a *lot* of good things have been said about these two, and I usually listen to my online peers when it comes to talent.  I just haven't seen much of them, and unlike, say, Yuko and Rika, there's not a big age/personality difference for me to latch on to.  I can't tell any other two Asian girls apart, so don't get too offended, I'm just an idiot about these things.

So, my goal in life is to see me some idols, and this is quite the collection.  No need to get a passport and the flight itself is about 1/6th the amount I'd be paying to get to Japan, no idol-seeing included.  Add to that the fact that I'll be amongst friends unknown, Japanophiles all.  I'm not a huge anime fan, but there'll be plenty of cool (and cutting edge) things to see there.

Consider this to be another notch scratched on my belt.  Been to California, been to LA, and if things hold out, I'd have stayed but a block away from Library Tower.  It's still partially up in the air, but in all actuality, I have a plane ticket to Los Angeles and admission to the Expo gate.  So it's as if I've already been there, short of telling Kusumi (to her face) that I love her.  Did I mention that I really like Kusumi Koharu?