Hi everyone! I planned on blogging about the recent releases of the week, but due to a family emergency, I haven’t had a chance to listen to any of them! So instead, I’m going to recommend a past release that I’ve really enjoyed!

YUI - CAN’T BUY MY LOVE [2nd Album]

YUI is a singer-songwriter with an appealing look and pop-rock/folk style. Her songs are a mix of pop and acoustic light rock with an occasional ballad or heavier rock song thrown in, and her voice has this wonderful tone to it that is appealing and yet slightly rough at the same time.

01. How crazy 02. Rolling star // Watch Rolling star PV@Youtube 03. It’s all right 04. I remember you // Watch I remember you PV@Youtube 05. RUIDO 06. CHE.R.RY // Watch CHE.R.RY PV@Youtube 07. Thank you My teens 08. Umbrella 09. Highway chance 10. Happy Birthday to you you 11. Winding road 12. Good-bye days // Watch Good-bye Days PV@Youtube 13. Why?

Rolling star is my main favorite song on this album, with CHE.R.RY a close second. The PV for Rolling star was awesome, full of floating electric guitars and head-banging band members in slow motion. CHE.R.RY’s appeal lies in its complex background and catchy chorus. Other good songs include Good-bye Days, the tie-in to Taiyou no Uta, and How crazy which mimics the style of Rolling star. YUI’s second album is a definite hit, and I adore the cover of the DVD version as well!

Links
Official Site
wiki.theppn Page
YUI Fanlisting
YUI Livejournal Community

Buy! YesAsia US // YesAsia Global // CD Japan

And just to keep things somewhat similar to the normal format I prefer to post with, the list of this week’s releases from Wednesday, November 14th! I’ve seen the PVs of some of these, so I can say a little about this list at least!

Ayano Tsuji - album - “Tsuji Best”
Tanimura Nana - single - “Say Good-bye”
misono - single - “juunin toiro”
tomboy - single - “superstar”
GARNET CROW - single - “sekai wa mawaru to i keredo”
Kiyoharu - album - “Forever Love”
Kinki Kids - album - “Phi”
The Pillows - best album - “Lostman Go To Yesterday”
L’arc~en~Ciel - single - “Hurry Xmas”
Tenjo Chiki - album - “Graceful 4″
Kitade Nana - album - “Berry Berry Singles”
Hoshimura Mai - single - “Kakegae no Nai Hito e”
UVERworld - single - “Ukiyo Crossing”
Ayuze Kozue - single - “When I Wish Upon A Star”
Ikegami Kei - single - “Everlasting Snow”
Yorico - single - “Kokoro no Kagi”
Chara - single - “BOKU no koto shitte”
Miyavi - single - “Subarashiki kana, Kono Sekai”
10-FEET - single - “goes on”
GReeeeN - single - “Hito”
THE BACK HORN - single - “Wana”
Mizuki Nana - album - “GREAT ACTIVITY”
Tohoshinki - single - “Forever Love”

Just a few noteworthy items on the list, Laruku’s “Hurry Xmas” has already been blogged about here at Nihon Watch, so scroll through the posts to check that out! I have to admit that I didn’t really enjoy the PV, but I’m reserving judgement until I can hear the full song from the single! Kitade Nana’s “Berry Berry Singles” was supposed to be released last month, but got pushed back. Hopefully the wait is worth it! I did really enjoy her last single, “Antoinette Blue”. Yorico’s last physical release was waaaayyy back in 2005 or early 2006, and she has released a few digital singles since then, so I am definitely looking forward to that! UVERworld’s singles are almost always awesome, and how can you go wrong with the pillows or GARNET CROW? Finally, Ikegami Kei has a beautiful voice, but hasn’t received the recognition I feel she deserves, so I can’t wait to hear what she has come up with next!

I shall return you to your regular styled posts next week. For these releases, which did you like and which did you not? Are there any that you expected to be good that disappointed you, or that you didn’t expect to be good and suprised you? Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

~Rhi