Japanese Music News

[ware4me]

L'Arc~en~Ciel - DRINK IT DOWN

L'Arc~en~Ciel have already announced their new single for a new era of their music! After the success of their latest album, Kiss, L'Arc~en~Ciel prepare for the release of DRINK IT DOWN, their new single which will be the opening song of DEVIL MAY CRY 4 for PS3 and XBOX 360.

More at: http://www.larc-en-ciel.com/jp/larc-main.html

[ware4me]

Every Little Thing - Sakurabito

After a heart-warming winter ballad, Every Little Thing will be returning with a heartwrenching song for the upcoming spring season on 2008.02.13. The single is titled サクラビト (Sakurabito), and will be released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats--a first for the band.

Tracklist
01 サクラビト (Sakurabito)
02 オフェリア_act1 (Ophelia_act1)
03 サクラビト（Instrumental）
04 オフェリア_act1（Instrumental）
DVD
サクラビト Video Clip

ORANGE RANGE new single - Kimi station

After two hot summer tunes this year, ORANGE RANGE will be returning in March with their 19th single, 君station (Kimi station), on 2008.3.5. The single will be used as Fuji TV's new drama, "Loss:Time:Life," starring various actors including Eita, Koyama Keiichiro, Ueno Juri, and Tokiwa Takako.

More at: http://www.orangerange.net/

[ware4me]

Namie Amuro Triple A-side: 60s 70s 80s

Namie's first new single since her album "PLAY" and her first of 2008 will be released on March 12th! It will be available in two versions: CD and CD+DVD. It will be a triple A-side with 3 different decades represented which Namie will make add her style to! More at: Oricon

Tracklist
01 NEW LOOK
02 ROCK STEADY
03 What a feelin'
DVD
01 NEW LOOK（MUSIC VIDEO）
02 ROCK STEADY（MUSIC VIDEO）
03 What a feelin'（MUSIC VIDEO）

NEW LOOK (60's) will use a sampling of the Supremes' "Baby Love"
ROCK STEADY (70's) will use a sampling of Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady"
What a Feelin' (80's) will use a sampling of Irene Cara's "What a Feeling"

Sowelu new single - Wish

Welcoming her fifth anniversary this April, Sowelu will be returning with her 17th single, Wish, on 2008.3.12. The title track is described as a warm, medium-tempo ballad with lyrics written by Sowelu herself and used as the ending theme for the anime "D.Gray-man." The coupling song is described as a sexy number, making the single a balance from both sides of Sowelu. First press of the single comes with a D.Gray-man trading card. More at: http://www.sowelu.info/

Tracklist
01 Wish
02 Baby I Want You
03 Wish（Instrumental）

[ware4me]

Sowelu 4th album - Naked

Nearly two years since her last original album, Sowelu returns on April. with her 4th studio album, Naked, to be released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats. The album is expected to include her singles since 2007: "Shiawase no Chikara," "Dare Yori Suki nanoni," "Hikari," "Wish," and the collaboration with EXILE and DOBERMAN INC., "24karats." http://www.sowelu.info/

Tracklis
01 光 (Hikari)
02 Wish
03 I'll be with you
04 SEPTEMBER
05 幸せのちから (Shiawase no Chikara)
06 誰より好きなのに (Dare Yori Suki Nano ni)
07 All My Life
08 Lie
09 初雪 (Hatsuyuki)
10 Still lovin' you
11 I Wonder
12 サヨナラ (Sayonara)
13 大切な人 (Taisetsu na Hito)
14 24karats -type S- / Sowelu,EXILE,Doberman Inc.

DVD
01 幸せのちから Music Video
02 I Wonder Music Video
03 誰より好きなのに Music Video
04 光 Music Video
05 Wish Music Video
06 24karats -type S- Music Video
07 Naked jacket making
08 5th.Anniversary Special Part I
09 5th.Anniversary Special Part II
10 5th.Anniversary Special Part III
11 5th.Anniversary Special Part IV

ORANGE RANGE - O2 ~O・Two~ -

ORANGE RANGE returns with their second single of 2008! O2 ～オー・ツー～, opening theme to the "Code Geass" anime, will be released on 2008.5.28. in CD+DVD and CD-only formats! The song will, for the first time, feature YAMATO as the lead, and is guaranteed to pack a punch. The single will include two couplings. Shiawase Neiro, the song used as the ending theme of the anime, will not be included on the single at the time being. http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/detail.a...=SRCL000006789

Utada Hikaru - Prisoner of Love

Only three weeks after the release of her fifth Japanese studio album, HEART STATION, Utada Hikaru returns with a recut single, Prisoner Of Love. The ballad lifted from the number one album will be the theme song of upcoming Japanese drama, Last Friends. Prisoner Of Love will only be availible in CD+DVD format which features the PV of the title track. An eight page booklet is also included with the physical single. Out on May 21, 2008.

[ware4me]

Amuro Namie best album - BEST FICTION - 2008.07.30

After releasing her chart-topping new single 60s 70s 80s, Amuro Namie will be returning in the summer with a best album, BEST FICTION, on 2008.7.30. The album will include her singles since Wish Upon The Same Star, as well as two new tracks. The song Do Me More will be the theme song for the second "MUSIC×FASHION×Vidal Sassoon" campaign, and Sexy Girl has been announced as the theme song for the upcoming NHK drama "Otome no Punch." The album will be released in CD+DVD and CD-only formats, with the DVD including PVs for all seventeen tracks. avexnet

Tracklist
01 Do Me More
02 Wishing On The Same Star
03 shine more
04 Put Em Up
05 So Crazy
06 ALARM
07 ALL FOR YOU
08 GIRL TALK
09 WANT ME WANT ME
10 White Light
11 CAN'T SLEEP, CAN'T EAT, I'M SCIK
12 Baby Don't Cry
13 FUNKY TOWN
14 NEW LOOK
15 ROCK STEADY
16 WHAT A FEELING
17 Sexy Girl
DVD
PVs of all included tracks.

Crystal Kay - Color Change! 2008.08.06

After two singles released this summer, Crystal will be releasing her 8th studio album. The album will be available in CD and CD+DVD Limited Edition. Tracklist is not yet out but it is expected to include her last two singles "Namida no Saki ni" and "ONE". Play-Asia.com

Tracklist
01 涙のさきに (Namida no Saki ni)
02 ONE
03 Good Times
04 Help Me Out
05 ITOSHIIHITO
06 帰り道 (Kaeri Michi)
07 トキノカケラ (Toki no Kakera)
08 TIME GOES BY
09 I Can't Wait
10 Shining
11 It's a crime
12 History
disc 2:
01 「Dream World」ミュージックビデオ
02 「Shining」ミュージックビデオ
03 「涙のさきに」ミュージックビデオ

L'Arc〜en〜Ciel - NEXUS 4 / SHINE 2008.08.27

One of Japan's biggest rock bands, L'Arc〜en〜Ciel, have recently announced a three year live hiatus in order to reunite again in 2011, coinciding with the 20th anniversary when they will hold a massive tour to celebrate the milestone. But before the band take a well-deserved break, L'Arc〜en〜Ciel will release a new double A-side single, NEXUS 4 / SHINE! Releasing instores at the end of August, NEXUS 4 is currently used as the theme song Subaru Legacy CM, while SHINE is tied in as the opening theme to NHK's anime series, Seirei no Moribito. larc-en-ciel.com

Tracklist:
01 NEXUS 4
02 SHINE
03 NEXUS 4 (hydeless Version)
04 SHINE (hydeless Version)