In reference to my want to completely sustain with the J-pop trade, I’m planning on doing a weekly round-up of any new releases which have caught my ear. A few of these could have been lined on the weblog already, however my hope is that it will change into a one-stop store for anybody concerned about what’s new in J-pop.

With that in thoughts, right here’s the place you are available in: I’m one individual with one set of musical preferences, so please embed every other new J-pop tracks you’ve loved within the feedback so we are able to get a fuller spectrum every week.

*And identical to I do with my opinions, I’ll wait till full variations of songs can be found earlier than posting them on this round-up. This may largely apply to Johnny’s teams, who nonetheless restrict nearly all of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited variations.

2023 Index

2024 Index: Dec 24 – Jan 6 // Jan 7 – Jan 13 // Jan 14 – Jan 20 // Jan 21 – Jan 27 // Jan 28 – Feb 3 // Feb 4 – Feb 10 // Feb 11 – Feb 17 // Feb 18 – Feb 24 // Feb 25 – Mar 2 // Mar 3 – Mar 9 // Mar 10 – Mar 16 // Mar 17 – Mar 23 // Mar 24 – Mar 30 // Mar 31 – Apr 6 // Apr 7 – Apr 13 // Apr 14 – Apr 20 // Apr 21 – Apr 27 // Apr 28 – Could 4 // Could 5 – Could 11 // Could 12 – Could 18 // Could 19 – Could 25 // Could 26 – Jun 1 // Jun 2 – Jun 8 // Jun 9 – Jun 15 // Jun 16 – Jun 22 // Jun 23 – Jun 29 // Jun 30 – Jul 6 // Jul 7 – Jul 13 // Jul 14 – Jul 20 // Jul 21 – Jul 27 // Jul 28 – Aug 3 // Aug 4 – Aug 10 // Aug 11 – Aug 17

A.B.C-Z – I Need To Wake Up Subsequent To You

This sounds rather more in step with the traditional Starto Leisure sound than what most of its artists are churning out recently. It’s okay.

Atarashii Gakko! – Change

Followers will prefer it.

Exile B Joyful – Guru Guru Dream

I didn’t understand this unit can be releasing extra music. That is candy and energetic.

Genic – Sorry Not Sorry

I like this higher than LiFE!!, however it sort of appears like they took the template from Taste and stripped away all of the issues that made that track superior. AVEX actually must allow them to write their very own materials. Most of their finest stuff is self-produced.

Hey! Say! JUMP – UMP

It’s been awhile since I’ve linked to one in every of their singles, however this one’s fairly good. The association may be very energetic and theatrical and suits them effectively. It’s paying homage to their older work but additionally feels extra mature.

Hinatazaka46 – Zettaiteki Dairokkan

That is an above common model of their common sound. Not shocking, however very good.

iScream – Jelly Fish

Boring verses, sturdy refrain. Followers of Okay-pop lady teams will in all probability prefer it.

Kenshi Yonezu – Garakuta Junk

So a lot of his songs sound just like me. Oh effectively, he’s extremely well-liked.

Lienel – Gira-Summer season

That is enjoyable however a bit chaotic.

Mrs. Inexperienced Apple – Familie

We’ve bought a music video for this single now. It nonetheless doesn’t do a lot for me.

NEXZ – Hold On Transferring

I wrote about this right here. I preferred it.

Noisemaker – Exist

I actually like this band. This can be a good “pump you up” sort rock track.

Novelbright × Eric Nam – In all places I Go

I can’t say I had this collaboration on my 2024 bingo card. The track is okay, however sounds extra like a solo Eric Nam observe than a melding of two totally different artists.

Number_i – INZM (track of the week!)

I haven’t been an admirer of Number_i’s musical route in any respect, however the distortion and general chaos of this observe may win me over. I want the track was as compelling because the manufacturing, however I’m nonetheless discovering myself oddly fascinated with it.

(If somebody watched this instantly after 2018’s Cinderella Lady, they’d be so shocked…)

Pop Artwork City – Asayake to Emerald

I don’t know something about this group, however the sound of this new observe caught my ear.

Rebecca – Daisy Chain

The 80’s legends are again with their first new track in seven years! It virtually sounds as if it may have been recorded at their peak.

Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku – Irohani Odoryanse

Stable idol observe.

SKE48 – Kokuhaku Shinpakusu

That is my favourite sound from this type of group: driving beat, optimistic vitality and highly effective melodies.

Snow Man – Empire (track of the week!)

Although it’s closely carried by its classical pattern (which solely jogs my memory of ToppDogg’s Topdog), I really like this lots and it’s rising extra addictive as time goes on. The dramatic heft of the refrain is tremendous satisfying. That is simply their finest observe of 2024.

STAYC – Meow

I wrote about this right here. I didn’t look after it.

Superfly – Charade

This begins out sluggish however grows into one thing fairly large. I really like her voice.

Takanori Nishikawa (T.M.Revolution) – Koibitotachi no Pavement

This can be a track cowl taken from a tribute album to legendary band The Alfee, however you already know I’m going to take the chance to function any new music from Takanori Nishikawa. He has of my favourite voices ever and that is beautiful.

Yuma Uchida – Chemi-story

This has a pleasant anthemic sound.

On/Off – Hajimarunoha Sayonara (2011)

To not be confused with the similarly-named Okay-pop group, On/Off is a pair of dual brothers who’ve executed a good quantity of anison work. This observe’s a serious spotlight for me as a result of it’s composed by private favourite producer Daisuke Asakura. The remainder of their music’s fairly hit and miss, although they do have one other Asakura-produced observe.