Happily, I found two offerings that I think will please the palate. One is another J-POP singer, minus the pink pig outfit. The other is a Indie Rock band, though the band does have some pop-like overtones.
Hinata
Hinata is a J-POP and easy-listening vocalist. Though she calls herself J-POP, again, I would typically disagree from what I heard. She would be more akin to a ballad singing pop artist and vocalist in the US and Europe, ala Celine. Perhaps the category of J-POP has nuances that I don't understand, or perhaps, it just seems more convenient for most Japanese singers to list J-POP to help get them some recognition. After all, at its base, J-POP means POP, aka popular style music. Music that doesn't neatly fit into other genres and has a more ballad and/or trendy feel to it.
Regardless, Hinata's voice is lovely. It is a blend of breathy, fragile melodies and raw, exposed feelings, almost husky at times when she is hitting the lower registers. She is wonderful in the arrangements with a full instrumental backing, but I found I liked her best during her LIVE performance. The exposed fragility and vulnerability was particularly apparent in the live mix and lent a gentle hand to the delicate songs she so beautifully captured.
Hinata is easy on the ears and as you can see from her picture, just as easy on the eyes. (This is always helpful to a vocalist but especially in the competitive J-POP arena, where standing out from the crowd is a daily struggle.)
However, it is her voice that captured me. If you'll forgive my maudlin next lines...
Hinata is like Cherry Blossoms floating on a gentle breeze -- flowing, delicate and heartfelt.
Check her out at (sorry for the earlier typo on the myspace address!)
www.myspace.com/hinatacom
Over Limit
Then again, perhaps Cherry blossoms on a gentle breeze aren't your thing?
How about some Rock then?
This indie band's translated bio said that they 'touch the heart' and
'transcend boundaries.' Would I feel that way when I listened to them? Hmm...From their (unfortunately limited short version) musical offerings, I would agree that this is a definite rock band with promise.
My biggest criticism is that their quick snippets of music aren't really enough to fully enjoy this band or figure out whether they are worth buying. Hopefully, they will recognize that fact and post some full length songs on Myspace. Especially since they wish to reach a worldwide audience.
What I did hear was professional and dynamic. Good vocals, good musicality, catchy melodies and driving rock beats that get your blood pumping and send your adrenal glands into overdrive. They were exceptional, in fact; in both instrumentals and vocals as well as the song choices (even though I can't understand Japanese lyrics). It was a perfect rock/pop/indie blend.
I include indie and a bit of alternative in here because the vocals do show that remarkable 'alternative-esque' searing, heart-rending quality that is so often found in bands that tend to break out of conventional genre molds.
Lots of emotion and catchy tunes--but without losing that "driving, intense" quality of rock.
Worth a listen...but also worth a scolding since they don't include complete songs. In fact, if you like them, let them know it, but chide them as well for holding out on us. Put up some full length songs, Over Limit, so we can decide whether or not we want to buy your CD or download you on iTunes.
But no matter what, keep up the good work!
Over Limit is at
www.myspace.com/ovlmcjr
Enjoy!
CG Anderson
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