Upcoming releases - Jady's pick

It’s January 23th—date of release of The Shins’ third album—I am elated! But I reckon it’s probably not an internationally simultaneous thing so I’m trying to sample it online first…get the real deal later. (in other good news, isohunt is up and running again). When is Singapore going to come to its good business sense and import, I scratch my head very much. It’s been years since I set foot in any of the labyrinthine music chain stores and see the billboards and charts. I’ve no idea of the trends and changes in taste—if any—and I am guessing there isn’t much. No time soon would they glue a poster of an indie band or anything remotely cult for that matter to the prominent glass panels and order thousands of copies in advance. Sighs.

Back to music. So in the high spirit of anticipating the first and very illegal sounds of Wincing the Night Away I am doing a search on upcoming releases of the year. More elation!! Here’s some—

23 Jan Tuesday
The Shins	Wincing The Night Away
30 Jan Tuesday
Norah Jones	Not Too Late

Norah! Norah! I didn’t know she’s working on a new album, I didn’t know it’s coming out so soon, but hey, I am not complaining in the least! It’s about time too, elation!! (A lousy fan begging to be stoned…)

6 Feb Tuesday
Yoko Ono	Yes, I'm A Witch

Ah, I didn’t know Lennon’s widow is still making music…does Yoko sound like Lennon, in any way, by any means? Clue me in…or I’ll read wiki or something, quietly, if any outraged Beatles fanatic wants to smash my face right now (I know one such person...alright, wiki it is.)

6 Mar Tuesday
Air	Pocket Symphony
Guns N' Roses	Chinese Democracy source

Air - I meant to find out more—a lot more—about them. I like their sound, I like a lot of their songs and lyrics, but I just never got around to them. It’s time now.

Guns ‘N Rose – this announcement is both so good and sad. And old. Chinese Democracy has been rumored to be released since way before the time I even listen to music regularly—the name meant to provoke controversy as it was due for release before the return of Hong Kong to China (now you know what period i am talking about). BUT, it has been in production for almost ten years now, at a cost of over $13 million, making it the most expensive unreleased album ever recorded. The grunge/glam/hair band had since been through multiple line-up changes, disputes, hiatus…all negative publicity and little productivity. The once smoldering, drugged and very angry frontman Axl Rose is the only one left…and I wonder what the various big-hair exbandmates are up to now. And I wonder if he had rewritten songs to just fit the title theme, which has grown…a little less relevant since ten years ago.

8 May Tuesday
Dolores O'Riordan [of The Cranberries]	Are You Listening?

The Cranberries disbanded?? Or just a break and experimentation with solo? I hope this is just a break, though I am sure Dolores would do just as well on her own, with a voice like that.

Anticipated Future Releases
Aerosmith	[Title TBA]	Spring 2007
Bjork	[Title TBA]	Spring 2007
Coldplay	[Title TBA]	Late 2007
The Cure	[Title TBA]	May 2007
Dido	[Title TBA]	2007
The Eagles	[Title TBA]	2007 source
Feist	[Title TBA]	Spring 2007
Gnarls Barkley	[Title TBA]	2007
Iron & Wine	[Title TBA]	August 2007
Michael Jackson	[Title TBA]	Late 2007
Jimmy Eat World	[Title TBA]	Summer 2007
Annie Lennox	[Title TBA]	2007
Linkin Park	[Title TBA]	2007
Massive Attack	Weather Underground	2007
Moby	[Title TBA]	Fall 2007
Nine Inch Nails	Year Zero	April 2007
Oasis	[Title TBA]	2007-2008
The Pixies	[Title TBA]	2007 source
Portishead	[Title TBA]	2007
The Postal Service	[Title TBA]	2007
Radiohead	[Title TBA]	2007
R.E.M.	[Title TBA]	2007
Rufus Wainwright	Release the Stars	May 2007
Smashing Pumpkins	[Title TBA]	May 2007
Tegan & Sara	[Title TBA]	2007
U2	[Title TBA]	2007
Suzanne Vega	[Title TBA]	Spring 2007
Gillian Welch	[Title TBA]	2007

Loads ahead to look forward to!! =D

Salyu - Tobira

Since Jady came up with THE 'Salyu' tag, I feel overwhelmed and obliged to see its growth. Tobira is the new single to be released on 17th Jan and also the eponymous song on Salyu's new album. Compared to 'Landmark' which also seemed to define the overall message and tone for her album, Tobira is in my opinion more energetic and outwardly radiant. Getting in the bright forecast of 2007 eh? The PV features an Eskimo-like Salyu wobbling in penguin gaits and even teasing our beloved Takashi Kobayashi who (by a tremendous amount of effort) pretended to be oblivious to her malign ticklings. The video was shot in faded monotone against a dazzling expanse of sky. No further comments on the song itself except to say it's brilliant. Love the shoutings. The chorus is refreshing and uplifting.

SPITZ (in addition to the last confusing japanese entry)

Aurora-ni-narenakatta-Hito-no-tame-ni-Spitz album cover

Spitz (スピッツ) is a Japanese rock band formed in 1987. After meeting in Shizuoka in 1986, they fashioned their sound along the lines of melodic pop rock groups like the Beatles. Issuing their debut album, SPITZ, in 1991, the band went unnoticed for several years, but became very popular in 1995 with the release of their 11th single Robinson and 6th album Hachimitsu. One of their most famous songs, Sora mo Toberu Hazu, was featured as the theme song of Hakusen Nagashi, a popular drama, and is used frequently in school graduation ceremonies. Several of their songs were featured in the anime Honey and Clover. As of January 2006, Spitz has released 30 singles and 15 albums.

Spitz has grown to be a band that is loved by a lot of men and women, from children to adults. The origin of the band name “Spitz” has a meaning ‘sharp’ and ‘pointed’. This describes the rock band at the beginning. It is said that Kusano searched for a name which has a nice ring containing ‘S’ and ‘P’ which USANi likes. And the dog, “spits”, which was popular in the Shōwa period, matched the band images.

Band members

Masamune Kusano (草野マサムネ　Kusano Masamune, real name 草野正宗 (same pronunciation)). Vocals, guitar, and songwriting. Born on December 21, 1967 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Jōnan High School, as well as from Musashino Art University with a degree in Design.

Tetsuya Miwa (三輪テツヤ　Miwa Tetsuya, real name 三輪徹也 (same pronunciation)). Guitar. Born on May 17, 1967 in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Fujieda Meisei High School and Bunka Fashion College.

Akihiro Tamura (田村明浩　Tamura Akihiro). Bass guitar, band leader. Born on May 31, 1967 in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Shizuoka Prefectural Fujieda East High School. Attended Tokyo Zokei University, but left before graduating.

Tatsuo Sakiyama (崎山龍男 Sakiyama Tatsuo). Drums. Born on October 25, 1967 in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Tochigi Prefectural Sano High School and Bunka Fashion College.


Spitz Official Website (in Japanese) http://spitz.r-s.co.jp/ (nice site)

Spitz @ Universal Music Japan(in Japanese)
http://www.universal-music.co.jp/spitz/index.html

Spitz (スピッツ)

[ I have spent so much time on the previous post (and my debut post in this blog too!) and blogspot let me down again. never mind let's start again.]

Spitz - The band was founded in 1987. Looking at their birth years you will see that they have all become old cok-cok already by now. but still as great as any other young boy bands. (argh.. can't remember what I've written before)

official website: http://spitz.r-s.co.jp/


Can't find their info on the English Wikipedia. Let's look at the Japan wiki search results:

スピッツ （SPITZ） は、日本のロックバンドである。1987年に結成。
『ロビンソン』や『チェリー』『空も飛べるはず』などの多くのヒット曲を持つ。また、2006年度オリコン好きなアーティストランキングには2位に選ばれ、男女を問わず、子供から大人までの広い年代層に愛されるアーティストに成長した。

メンバー
草野マサムネ（くさの まさむね、本名：草野正宗 1967年12月21日 -）ボーカル、ギター、ソングライター
福岡市出身 福岡県立城南高等学校・武蔵野美術大学基礎デザイン学科卒業
三輪テツヤ（みわ てつや、本名：三輪徹也 1967年5月17日 -）ギター
静岡県藤枝市出身 藤枝明誠高等学校・文化服装学院卒業
田村明浩（たむら あきひろ、本名：同じ 1967年5月31日 -）ベース（リーダー）
静岡県藤枝市出身 静岡県立藤枝東高等学校卒業・東京造形大学中退
崎山龍男（さきやま たつお、本名：同じ 1967年10月25日 -）ドラムス
栃木県佐野市出身 栃木県立佐野高等学校・文化服装学院卒業

概要
バンド名の由来は、ドイツ語で「尖っている」「辛らつな」という意味を持つ「spitz」（最初期はチーターズだった）。これは結成当初、パンク・ロックバンドであったことを物語る。草野の好きだった「s」に「p」が続く語呂をつかった単語（「special」や「crispy」など）を、草野が辞書片手に探したとも言われる。昭和時代に人気があった「キャンキャンと無駄によく吼える」愛玩犬種日本スピッツもバンドイメージに合ったらしい。
スピッツのファンクラブ名「spitzbergen（スピッツベルゲン）」は、北極海に実在するノルウェーの島の名前「spitsbergen」からとられた。
メンバー全員が美術系学校に在籍経験を持つ。草野と田村は東京造形大で同級生（草野は後に東京造形大を退学、武蔵野美大に編入学する）、また、田村と三輪は中学校の同級生である。
草野のボーカルは温かく優しい印象を与え、一般的に癒し系ポップスとされるが、ファンの一部では「奇跡の魔法」とされる、表裏あるバンドでもある。実際、シングルリリースされていないアルバム収録曲やカップリング曲には、一般的にスピッツらしいと認識されているポップス色の濃い作品でなく、個性の強い作品が点在する。草野の言葉を借りれば、スピッツは「ロックフリーク」であり、彼らのアイデンティティはあくまでもロックバンドらしい。表は真面目な優等生、裏は妄想炸裂の天邪鬼少年と言ったところである。こうした彼らの原点はデビューアルバム『スピッツ』に色濃く表れている。
ヒット曲を量産する正当なメジャーバンドとされる事には常に抗う。メンバーはあくまでも時代の流れに対抗した「『邪道』でいたい」と語っており、草野はインタビューで「自分たちの音楽を『王道ポップス』なんて言われると『それは絶対に違う』」と語る。
ライブは基本的に、コンサートホール以上の会場では、単独公演を行なわないことをポリシーとしている。これは、シングル「ロビンソン」でブレイクした後のコンサートツアーで、草野自身が「武道館では、ライブをやる気が無い。」とステージで公表した為。尚、本人はこの発言について、「やりたくないとは言ったけど、今はやりたくないだけであって、今後一切やらない、とは言ってない。」との発言もしているので、機会があればアリーナ以上の会場でも公演を行なうかもしれない。

ディスコグラフィー

[編集] シングル
『ヒバリのこころ／ビー玉』（1991.3.25 PODH-1033）
『夏の魔物／ニノウデの世界』（1991.6.25 PODH-1044）
『魔女旅に出る／鳥になって』（1991.10.25 PODH-1058）
『惑星のかけら／マーメイド』（1992.8.26 PODH-1088）
『日なたの窓に憧れて／コスモス』（1992.11.26 PODH-1099）
『裸のままで／心の底から』（1993.7.25 PODH-1155）
『君が思い出になる前に／夏が終わる』（1993.10.25 PODH-1170）
『空も飛べるはず／ベビーフェイス』（1994.4.25 PODH-1196）
『青い車／猫になりたい』（1994.7.20 PODH-1210）
『スパイダー／恋は夕暮れ』（1994.10.26 PODH-1227）
『ロビンソン／俺のすべて』（1995.4.5 PODH-1243）
『涙がキラリ☆／ルナルナ』（1995.7.7 PODH-1265）
『チェリー／バニーガール』（1996.4.10 PODH-1305）
『渚／旅人』（1996.9.9 PODH-1320）
『スカーレット／うめぼし（Live Version）』（1997.1.29 PODH-1335）
『夢じゃない／君だけを』（1997.4.23 PODH-1355）
『運命の人／仲良し』（1997.11.27 PODH-1387）
『冷たい頬／謝々!』（1998.3.18 PODH-1410）
『楓／スピカ』（1998.7.7 PODH-1424）
『流れ星／エトランゼ（TANAYAMIX）／愛のしるし（Live）』（1999.4.28 PODH-1477）
『ホタル／ムーンライト／春夏ロケット』（2000.4.26 POCH-1934）
『メモリーズ／放浪カモメはどこまでも』（2000.6.21 POCH-1962）
『遥か／船乗り』（2001.5.16 UPCH-5055）
『夢追い虫／大宮サンセット』（2001.10.11 UPCH-5070）
『さわって・変わって／ガーベラ／放浪カモメはどこまでも（Live）／稲穂』（2001.12.12 UPCH-5075）
『ハネモノ／SUGINAMI MELODY』（2002.8.7 UPCH-5110）
『水色の街／孫悟空』（2002.8.7 UPCH-5111）
『スターゲイザー／三日月ロック その3』（2004.1.21 UPCH-5230）
『正夢／リコリス』（2004.11.10 UPCH-5277）
『春の歌／テクテク』（2005.4.20 UPCH-5305）
『魔法のコトバ／シャララ』（2006.7.12 UPCH-5405）


Spitz is the band that laced so perfectly the many theme songs of the Anime "Honey & Clover" , including 『魚』, 『ハチミツ』, 『多摩川』, 『夜を駆ける』 and 『スピカ』etc, among which 『魚』is my favourite, and 『夜を駆ける』has a very unique and nice background chorus too. Get the tracts from me if you want =)
The vocalist and guitarist, Kusano Masamune, (草野マサムネ), has such a great voice that allures you whenever you tune in to your favourite Honey & Clover OST.

This is their newly released single in July 2006 (well, maybe not that new), which is said to be a theme song of Honey & Clover as well.

Salyu new album 'Terminal'

2007.1.17 3,059yen(tax in)TFCC-86213 01. トビラ(Tobira) 02. 風に乗る船 03. 鏡 04. プラットホーム(Platform) 05. 故に 06. Tower 07. Apple Pie 08. I BELIEVE 09. 夜の海 遠い出会いに 10. name 11. be there 12. heartquake 13. to U（Salyu ver.）

Salyu's new album 'Terminal' is scheduled for release on 17th Jan! The album includes previously released singles 'トビラ' (current single), '風に乗る船', 'プラットホーム' (Platform), Tower, 夜の海 遠い出会いに (a single c/w), name, and to U. So in effect the album only contains half new tracks -.-!!

The Shins - something about everything

After the last Norah post and an unplanned discourse on masculinity issues on this blog (which is at a historical low at the moment), zhu and I agreed we need to turn our attention to the non-female side of musicdom, males and Martians qualify. And so this post seems well called for and very appropriate to me (all smug), since our other problem, besides having polarized ear-brain connection that respond all too strongly to female sounds and little else, is that we tend to blog about artists we already take every opportunity to rave to each other about anyway (we here refers to two nutcases that’s zhu and me, but anyone is welcome to join the collective, non-extant *grin* emoticon). Blogging is hence just making babbling a little more coherent (and less scandalous) and take it to the next level. I say we do something about the growing list of each of our new favourites, now.

aww these guys ain't glamorous rock-star looking, I know, but they rock!

The Shins is a relatively new and extremely delightful new find of mine (though the band started way back in 1997 as Flake Music.) My shame at my slowness is slightly mitigated by the fact that the indie band’s profile was greatly boosted when two of their tracks were featured on the critically acclaimed 2004 indie film Garden State (Zach Braff, Natalie Portman), which I love, and which was how their sounds first reached my nerve endings a year ago. Since then they have become an absolute favourite.

As to their sounds and discography…here is where my musical vocabulary becomes a limiting reagent, so I’ll quote wikipedia instead.

The Shins' first album was 2001's Oh, Inverted World, released to critical acclaim for its lyrically deft, jangly pop sound. Dave Hernandez, former member of Scared of Chaka, joined the group following the departure of bassist Neal Langford. Chutes Too Narrow followed in 2003 to much fanfare in indie music circles, featuring even more multi-layered lyrical inventions and a musical approach that explored new genres, song structures, and levels of production fidelity.

and this bit is fun..

The Shins played a critically acclaimed show at the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, with Scotland's Belle and Sebastian on July 6, 2006. Both bands described playing at the venue as a career highlight. During live shows, the band members (particularly Crandall and Hernandez) are known to frequently swap instruments, making it somewhat difficult to define their exact roles in the band.

Oh, Inverted World

Chutes Too Narrow

The exciting news is that their next record, Wincing the Night Away is set for release on January 23, 2007 (soon!!). It was said to have been leaked to the internet but I'm totally waiting for the official release--I'll buy that as the first record in a hiatus of three years not of buying any music. I'll put up a few tracks for you guys to sample when the connection gets better (yelling for help from zhu!). Before that, please contend with this teeny tiny radio. (toothy emoticon =d)



Update: A sample of Young Pilgrim (zhu's pick) and Turn a square (mine) from Chutes Too Narrow is ready here, thanks to zhu! Expires around 7 Jan, old disclaimer apply. =d

New York City - Norah Jones

It’s really not so good an idea to fill your ancient, tiny-capacity MP3 player with Norah and Norah only, and set out on the road, thinking it’d make even the grimmest parts of the journey tender and not without subtle meanings. Especially when it’s an album featuring Norah singing about a labyrinthinely fascinating city that you'd always wanted to see for yourself. Especially when your own travel happens in winter, to harsh, unrelenting places like Chinese tourist destinations. (Of course you can renounce the idea of even bringing a player to drown out all other interesting, real sounds in travel. I got to do that when I am out of battery, which happens pretty often anyway.)

The thing about Norah is that she comforts you like opium. You keep coming back for more. You laugh, you fall into a reverie to the lyrics set to her low, smoky voice, and as you wake up lingeringly you cry, and cycle repeats. It’s subversive in that it could quietly wipe out everything else (N.B.: in emotionally turbulent times), and it's bad travel company exactly because of that. In the small town of Yangshuo, as I sat with newly made friends on the road side watching people and (unmoving) karst rocks and good humouredly chatting, we asked what music we each were listening to on that stretch of the journey. The guys chuckled (in slight embarrassment?) “oh, I know Norah Jones…but I never listen to romantic stuff like that ye know..” (guy’s pick was rock, more or less predictably.) Never occurred to me before that Norah’s music would be described as ‘romantic’, and then I thought, maybe, only girls and women listen to Norah? I personally would feel a little amused imagining a guy transfixed to her music for weeks on end like I sometimes do. Only on reflection did I realize that the subject matters and the perspective of her lyrics, poetic, poignant and at times melancholy, are mostly a very feminine kind. But I’d very much like to see someone disagree. :-P

About this album of New York City (which is actually by the Peter Malick Group featuring Jones)—if you had listened to the other more famous Norah albums (Come Away With Me and Feels Like Home) this one would not disappoint you in the least. The collaboration sees Norah attack the ‘70’s singer/songwriter style country/bluesy’ songs (quoting an unremembered source) with vigor and heart, and the result is that the album has a distinctly different and refreshingly lively feel as compared with the solo efforts. It’s really difficult to pick a favourite to put here, as all six tracks featured are equally great. I’ll just put the title track on YSI first. (coming later due to Taiwan earthquake and my being partially cut off to servers across the ocean..) UPDATE: download here before it expires around 6 Jan. Thanks to zhu for circumventing the problem from north America instead. All material from the web and meant for non-commercial purposes only. =D

New York City

I can't remember what I planned tomorrow
I can't remember when it's time to go
When I look in the mirror
Tracing lines with a pencil
I remember what came before

I wanted to think there was endless love
Until I saw the light dim in your eyes
In the dead of the night I found out
Sometimes there's love that won't survive

New York City
Such a beautiful disease
New York City
Such a beautiful,
Such a beautiful disease

Laura kept all her disappointments
Locked up in a box behind her closet door
She pulled the blinds and listened to the thunder
With no way out from the family store

We all told her things could get better
When you just say goodbye
I'll lay awake one more night
Caught in a vision I want to deny

And did I mention the note that I found
Taped to my locked front door
It talked about no regrets
As it slipped from my hand to the scuffed tile floor

I rode the train for hours on end
And watched the people pass me by
It could be that it has no end
Just an action junkie's lullaby

New York City
Such a beautiful disease
New York City
Such a beautiful,
Such a beautiful disease

We were full of the stuff that every dream rested
As if floating on a lumpy pillow sky
Caught up in the whole illusion
That dreams never pass us by
Came to a tattooed conclusion
That the big one was knocking at the door
What started as a mass delusion
Would take me far from the place I adore

New York City
Such a beautiful disease
New York City
You are my beautiful,
Such a beautiful disease