Monthly Archives: February 2006

If Core of Soul falls in the forest …

… and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Core of Soul will break up after its March 24 performance in Osaka, reports Bounce.com. The band recently released its fourth album, One Love, One Day, One Life. On Feb. 22, a DVD and best album will be released.

I included Core of Soul in the original artist directory, but I didn’t really disguise how bad I thought they were. I gave the band’s debut album a good review but not after trashing their songwriting.

I’m a snob that way.

I went on vacation in New York City in April 2005, and I visited Kinokuniya for some CD shopping. Core of Soul’s third album, 3, was on the cutout table selling for less than $10. Even Kinokuniya couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.

Release news: Hatakeyama Miyuki in April

I received an e-mail from CD Japan informing me Hatakeyama Miyuki is releasing a new album, Reflection, on April 5.

I spent a week grabbing a 6GB torrent just to hear her single, "Ai ni Melody". Her last album, Wild and Gentle, didn’t do it for me, but I kind of missed hearing her voice. "Ai ni Melody" is actually a really good single, and it’s gotten me genuinely curious about Hatakeyama’s work again.

I’m glad she’s back.

UPDATE: Bounce.com has a few more details about the new album. Some of the songwriters contributing to the album include Nagadzumi Takahashi (Super Butter Dog/Hanaregumi), Harada Ikuko (Clammbon), Horigomi Yasuyuki (Kirinji) and Nakano Yoshie (EGO WRAPPIN’). A number of the songs were premiered at Hatakeyama’s annual concert at Shinagawa Church.

Reflection will be Hatakeyama’s first album for new label, Rhythm Zone. Her management company, ChorDiary, was previously distributed by Toshiba-EMI.