I didn't even realize when we titled this episode that the album cover is an umbrella. That crazy Ayaka and her subliminal messages...

145 - Rainy Day Music
AYAKA - The beginning
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

Oh! Did you know this week marks GK's 3rd Year Anniversary?! HURRAY FOR US!!!

Aforementioned Ayaka returns from hiatus with a much-anticipated album, but is it everyone's cup of tea? Also, Korean Rock Band CNBlue, who started in Japan and then came back after officially debuting in Korea, give us their first #1 Oricon single to review. Finally a rock band from Korea who's not FTisland. I fear they're just as sucky though...

Next week, because of my (LoKi) family coming to visit, we will not be doing a uStream. In fact, we won't even be doing News and Charts because we'll be recoding hella early. Hopefully you'll download and listen, because we may have a little surprise to announce  ^_^

Until then, notes were taken!

Ayaka has finally returned. Although she’s taken a break from public acitivty for these past two years, that hasn’t extinguished the “fire of creativity.” Her self-produced album “The beginning” is a testament to that. With a title that predicts the opening of the second act of her career, it makes one wonder what emotions surround the music. We went to meet her immediately.

The the words “The beginning” are meant to convey that I’m coming back to my starting point

--As expected, you catapulted to top artist status with your debut song “I believe.” You continued to advance steadily after that, and it was big news when you announced that you would cease activity. It’s been two years since then. It seems like perhaps you’ve taken that time to gather your strength for a take-off.

"I'm a good singer! I have great producers! I write my own lyrics! LOOK AT MY BOOBS AND HOW PROMISCUOUS I AM!!!"

144 - Japon-Askew
Koda Kumi - Japonesque
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

That's what I think an interview with Koda Kumi would be like. That saddens me. But her music does tend to speak for itself. How much so? Well, you'll need to take a listen to us speak about it to find out how much it speaks for itself. Speaking of speaking about stuff, I said "speaking" a lot didn't I? Guess what? We also speak about Tamaki Nami. You won't see it in this podcast, but she has GORGEOUS eyes!

uStream was as fun as ever. People seem to enjoy it. You should try it sometime! 

NOOOOOTES!

Not since my parents' divorce have I been so happy to see a union fall apart.

143 - Jaylee Bon-Bon
Tokyo Jihen - Color Bar
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

Divorced parents made me who I am today (for the better. stop your snickering), and no more Tokyo Jihen saves me from sh!tty music. Jaylee and Zer0 love their crap, so have a listen as to what they thought about their swan-song album, since my feelings are so transparent.

OH WAIT YOU CAN'T because Zer0 pussed out on the episode to further her education with homework or some sh!t. See how much you guys mean to her? She'd rather highlight and fall asleep drooling on recycled paperbound textbooks than give you the time of day. Send her hate mail. Tell her I sent you ^_^v

I, on the other hand, love you all and am willing to accept any and all of your gifts at my feet as an alter. I don't ask for much. I do, however, ask that you guys please enjoy Jaylee's and My "Bro-full" episode as we wax intellectual on said Jihens from Tokyo as well as that kooky, questionably-sexy phenomenon named Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. 

And now, time for the notes. :)

BA-DUM TISH

142 - Rimshot!
EXILE - EXILE Japan
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

Hurray! It's time to review an EXILE album! /sarcasm. After this episode, I now think of EXILE as AKB48 with penises. Charming, aren't I? Which one is KojiHaru, I wonder...?

This is our final catch-up episode after the whole editor debacle, so we should be back on track after this week. Thank goodness we continue to have a strong faithfull following during the uStream recording. We could always use more, you know :)

Hey guess what? SiD still blows and are a shadow of their former selves. Also, NOTES!

Apparently that's a problem for women, I wouldn't know. All boobs look alike to me...that is to say, "awesome"!

137 - Right Boob Bigger than the Left
The Hiatus - World of Pandemonium
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

I'm writing this intro in January because we've been using this episode as the test for our new editor. Well, after these many months, it turns out that Jaylee is now our editor, and this is his first crack at it! Thanks Jaylee!

Not much to say about this episode since it's self-explanitory as written below, but I would like to point out that this is my (LoKi) first time writing an intro paragraph, and I'm pretty awesome.

That is all. Carry on. NOTES!

It's been a really good year, and a really bad year. Forget music. Our hearts are with everyone in Japan who suffered even the slightest bit in the tragedy that was the earthquake. What we outside of Japan can be thankful for is that in true Japanese spirit, they have overcome and have continued to give their incredible contribution to the world. We only celebrate a small part of it; namely, their music. Thank You Japan!

141 - Top of 2011
Top Singles & Albums of 2011
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

So now that we've gotten in the spirit, let's take a look and listen to what the GK staff thinks are the best releases from the world of JPOP and JROCK from the entire year of 2011. Hopefully you agree. If you don't, we hope you at least give our suggestions a shot and let us know what you think!

And now, notes. :)

AA Picks / Top Singles of 2001 / Top Albums of 2001 / Charts&News

Released: 2012-01-03, RunTime: 37min66sec

Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]

GK OG's yo, kickin' it old school. Yeah. *some kind of generic hand sign that makes us seem "gangsta"* ...We may be nerdy white kids but we will probably never stop trying too hard. This week we are Jaylee-less. LoKi and Zer0 stick around to be awesome together, just like old times. Awww.

139 - GK OG
NICO Touches the Walls - Humania
Download: [iTunes/M4A] | [MP3]
 

Listen as we review "Milestone" by BoA! Marvel as we dissect the artistic merits and flaws of "Humania" by NICO Touches the Walls! Thrill to our GK-AA results! Shock! Amazement! Bewilderment! Alcohol!

The uStream was quite the party this week - if you weren't there, you missed a troll who failed to get a rise out of us. We called him "cute." It was quite entertaining. To make sure you never miss such events again, join us each Thursday at 7:30 PM Pacific, 10:30 PM Eastern!

Also - and this is VERY IMPORTANT - our next episode will be uStream Exclusive!! If you miss it, you miss the whole week! Just our little Christmas gift to the fans who come chat with us. Swing by, if only for a little while, as we talk J-pop by a virtual fire.

And now, notes. :)

I come to you today to recruit an editor for our show. I have been doing it since the beginning and I unfortunately no longer have the spare time to edit. This is a paying job that will net you $25/episode; which works out to ~$100/month. We record the podcast on Thursday nights and I'd require it to be finished editing by noon PST on Saturday.

The only requirements I have are for someone with GarageBand or comparable application experience, someone who is very on-time, and someone who has a passion to be a bit creative with their work. Liking Japanese music is obviously a plus, and one of the perks of working for us is almost-guaranteed press access to anime conventions.

I do have an episode that has not been edited yet that I will be using as a test of your skills. If I approve you, you will be paid for that episode as well. Payments will made by PayPal immediately after your final edit has been uploaded and reviewed by me. If you are at all interested, please email me at LoKi@JpopJrock.com (or the Contact link at the top of the site)

Thanks!