Your Favorites/The BEST OF of 2004!

[TeamAyu]

Kind of early for such a topic, but since 2004 typically 'ends' in November in terms of CD releases I was wondering what were your favorite singles and albums of this year.

I personally found this year A LOT better than 2003! Maybe not in terms of Ayu's singles but overall in JPop music, so everyone what are YOUR favorites of 2004? Here are mine for Singles and Albums:


Singles: (I am personally AMAZED that Ayu is not #1 on my list this time, but was still high up as she can see haha she's still my favorite artist)

Top 20!
01. tackey & tsubasa - One Day, One Dream
02. hamasaki.ayumi - CAROLS
03. hamasaki.ayumi - Moments
04. hamasaki.ayumi - INSPIRE
05. tackey & tsubasa - Ai Omou Kyoku -SERENADE-
06. namie.amuro - ALL FOR YOU [ Need to Buy ]
07. w-inds. - Shiki
08. namie.amuro - GIRL TALK/the SPEED STAR
09. onitsuka.chihiro - Sodatsu Zasso
10. w-inds. - Kirei Da
11. shimatani.hitomi - ANGELUS/Zip!Zap!Zipangu!
12. nakashima.mika - LEGEND
13. otsuka.ai - Kingyou Hanabi
14. hirahara.ayaka - Niji no Yokan [ Need to Buy the Voice ]
15. bennie.k - Sunrise [ Need to Buy ]
16. shibasaki.kou - Katachi Arumono [ Need to Buy ]
17. rie.fu - Life is Like a Boat [ Need to Buy Rie.fu ]
18. utada.hikaru - Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro [ Need to Buy ]
19. fukuyama.masaharu - Niji ~Mou Hitotsu no Natsu
20. koda.kumi - girls~Selfish~

Album:
Top 10!
01. hamasaki.ayumi - MY STORY (I know technically doesn't count but whatever!)
02. tackey & tsubasa - 2wenty-2wo
03. otsuka.ai - LOVE PUNCH [ NEED TO BUY ]
04. nakashima.mika - Oborozukiyo ~Inori
05. shimatani.hitomi - Delicious! ~The Best of Hitomi Shimatani [ NEED TO BUY ]
06. shimatani.hitomi - Tsuioku+LOVE LETTER
07. w-inds. - Bestracks [ NEED TO BUY ]
08. otsuka.ai - LOVE JAM
09. melody. - Sincerely [ NEED TO BUY ]
10. hirahara.ayaka - the voice [ NEED TO BUY ]

and lastly artists I've REALLY gotten into this year:

TACKEY & TSUBASA, ONITSUKA CHIHIRO, Nakashima Mika, Ai Otsuka, w-inds., Ayaka Hirahara, Shimatani Hitomi, Namie Amuro, Johnny's Ent. in general, melody., BENNIE.K, Chieco Kawabe, KinKi Kids, m-flo Loves, Sowelu etc!

This was truly the year where I really expanded my musical taste in JPop and got into other artists besides Ayu and Hikki.

My favorite new artists have definitely been Otsuka Ai and Ayaka Hirahara. Just AMAZING new comers!!! WHEW I'm done!

NOW TIME TO LOOK FORWARD TO GOOD MUSIC IN 2005!!

Looking forward to in 2005:

w-inds. - Yume no Bahou e OUT 01.01.2005
shimatani.hitomi - Gypsy Moon OUT 01.26.2005
melody. - Next To You OUT 01.12.2005
rie.fu - Rie Fu OUT 01.19.2005

[Qt Mashi]

hmmm...i havent expanded my music so the only album and single i like this year is all of Ayumi's...

[~K+]

I was going to start something similar but could never be bothered. I found this year...disappointing in general, but I've definately expanded my tastes further, and it's matured even more.

I've gotten more in Mika Nakashima and Shiina Ringo. And further pursued Chihiro Onitsuka, Ayaka Hirahara, Bonnie Pink, MISIA, and the Brilliant Green.

Top 10 singles of this year for me in no particular order: Not just casual songs I like, but ones I loved and had gotten very good airplay, which are released this year:

- hiro - Hikari no naka de
- Ayaka Hirahara - JUPITER (Released after 03's cut off mark at Dec, so it's here)
- RAG FAIR - Hirune
- Every Little Thing - SORA AI
- Mika Nakashima - FAKE
- MISIA - Namae no nai sora wo miagete
- ORANGE RANGE - Hana
- Ayumi Hamasaki - Moments
- Asian Kung-Fu Generation - REWRITE
- Fayray - we don't cry out loud (Cover)

That's it, don't want to add in unnecessary songs just to fill space. I'll add more if I can think of more.

I'm not listing any albums, nothing in particular that blew me away completely and had me listening to it repeatedly. Most of the Japanese CDs I've brought this year were either Best-of's or old ones anyway. o_o'

[leafyamazaki]

Mine would be...

top 10
[singles]
01. Crystal Kay - Bye My Darling!
02. day after tomorrow - lost angel
03. ayumi hamasaki - INSPIRE c/w GAME
04. Koda Kumi - LOVE & HONEY
05. Ayaka Hirahara - Kimito irujikan nonaka de
06. Ai Otsuka - Kingyo Hanabi
07. Tamaki Nami - Reason
08. Namie Amuro - GIRL TALK/the SPEED STAR
09. COOL JOKE - UNDO
10. COOL JOKE - Ai no Chikara (limited edition)

[albums]
01. ayumi hamasaki - MY STORY
02. day after tomorrow - primary colors
03. Koda Kumi - feel my mind
04. Ai Otsuka - LOVE JAM
05. Hitomi Shimatani - tsuioku+LOVE LETTER
06. m-flo - ASTROMANTIC
07. Crystal Kay - CK5
08. Tamaki Nami - Greeting
09. Ayaka Hirahara - ODYSSEY
10. Every Little Thing - commonplace

[sxesven]

I wouldn't want to limit this to 'just' Asian music and such, so forgive me.

Best albums of 2004

1. Mono - Walking cloud and deep red sky, flag fluttered and the sun shined
2. Tokyo Jihen - Kyoiku

Best singles of 2004

1. Tokyo Jihen - Gunjo biyori
2. Tokyo Jihen - Sonan

Best movies of 2004

1. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
2. Kill Bill vol. 2

Disappointments of 2004

1. Shiina Ringo ending her solo career
2. The second year of my study

Things to look forward to in 2005

1. Guinea Pig box set
2. My new study

[Findlay]

Songs that really impressed me...

Ayaka Hirahara - Jupiter
Kyogo Kawaguchi - sakura
Ken Hirai - hitomi wo tojite
Every Little Thing - koibumi
You Hitoto - HANAMIZUKI
Mai Kuraki - asu he kakeru hashi
TiA - Every time

[luminaire]

This year... more stagnated compared to last year. Although we do have more impressive artistes popping up, there is also much more throwaway pop out there, plus the fact that quite a few good artistes aren't going anywhere. Overall, I do think there's more decline than last year, although 3 people have impressed me quite a bit this year, 1 more so than the other 2.

Sasagawa Miwa, Hirahara Ayaka and Hayashi Asuka.

I'd go so far as to call Miwa's debut album "jijitsu" the best album from this year, even though it was technically released before the start of the Oricon Chart year for 2004. Her style is so unlike pop music as we know it - showing influences from folk, gospel and even Scottish waulking, Bulgarian women choirs, whatever you want to call it - and yet it doesn't stray too far from pop music in terms of execution to be labelled alternative. Whereas Ringo's "karuki zaamen kuri no hana" was more visionary, Miwa's album is more revolutionary in my opinion, because it managed to incorporate elements unheard of in J-pop successfully, yet still sounding very much like J-pop. Plus, her raw vocals invoke sentiments within you. Definitely worth a listen.

Hirahara Ayaka totally surprised me with "Jupiter" and "BLESSING shukufuku" this year. She has proven herself to be worth her mettle, rapidly stepping up to take on lyrics and composition on her first album, "Odyssey". Definitely one of the surprises in J-pop this year.

Hayashi Asuka continues to wow me with her voice. For a 15-year-old, she has pipes with the capacity to rival MISIA's. Her 2 singles released before "hatsukoi", "rin no kuni" and "SANCTUARY ~yume no shima e~" were amazing, especially the former. Although the album fell short of my expectations, I have faith in Asuka and I hope her next album will be much better.

Other artistes that were good this year: Every Little Thing, Hitoto You, Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen, especially ELT, considering their music really grew on me this year. Hikki's only single was pretty good as well.

And because I haven't answered the question, I'll post my list here:

Songs:
01. Every Little Thing, "koibumi"
02. Sasagawa Miwa, "tomenaide"
03. Tokyo Jihen, "sounan"
04. Utada Hikaru, "dareka no negai ga kanau koro"
05. Hitoto You, "HANAMIZUKI"
06. Hayashi Asuka, "rin no kuni"
07. Nakashima Mika, "Missing"
08. GARNET CROW, "wasurezaki"
09. Yaida Hitomi, "MONOCHROME LETTER"
10. Hirai Ken, "hitomi wo tojite"

Albums:
01. Sasagawa Miwa, "jijitsu"
02. Every Little Thing, "commonplace"
03. Tokyo Jihen, "kyouiku"
04. Hirahara Ayaka, "The Voice"
05. m-flo, "ASTROMANTIC"
06. LOVE PSYCHEDELICO, "LOVE PSYCHEDELICO III"
07. Shibata Jun, "hitori"
08. GARNET CROW, "I am waiting 4 you"
09. Nakashima Mika, "oborozukiyo ~inori"
10. BONNIE PINK, "Even So"

[js_surrealism]

Oh I love these year-ender threads, so I shall post mine! Note: Incredible biasedness ahead.

Favourite Albums of the year (Jpop):
1. Tokyo Jihen - Kyouiku
Even before this was released, there was no questioning that I was gonna list them as the best of the lot this year, and while my expectations weren't exceeded, they were met delightfully. Easily the most focused effort this year.

2. Every Little Thing - commonplace
I wasn't expecting to like this alot, given that I thought SORA AI wasn't very good, but this turned out to be a huge sleeper hit for me. The whole acoustic-esque sound for ELT works, and complements Kaori's coarser (right now) vocals perfectly. Samidare is ballad of the year as far as I'm concerned.

3. m-flo (and 21409812 other artists) - ASTROMANTIC
The biggest party album this year, with a whole s**tload of awesome artists collaborating with them. Great polished pop sound, and the various attempts to diversify into jazz and stuff on a couple of tracks didn't sound inane either. Lovely mixed platter, I didn't miss Lisa one bit.

4. Mr. Children - SHIFUKU NO OTO
The most....intimate (?) rock band out there. Sakurai is an excellent lyricist, and a great composer too. Every song just hits the right spot in your heart, but I mostly loved this album because Kurumi's on it, and it's easily my favourite Misuchiru songs.

5. Bonnie Pink - Even So
She's one of the most Benign songwriters I've come across. I can't find anything about her that I could possibly classify as bad-ass. Lovely set of songs, there is nothing much to fault, actually.

6. GO!GO!7188 - Ryuuzetsuran
I thought that this was possibly one of their weaker albums, but when you're talking about GO!GO!, weak is still pretty darn good. They lost abit of the melody here, but many of the songs here now have a 'muddier' edge to them, which works well on the album, though I wouldn't say the same if I were to judge them as standalone songs. Still a great rock record though.

7. Aikawa Nanse - 7 Seven
This album had lots of great pop hooks, and a great (albeit less hard core compared to her previous works) rock sound to it. It just washes over you like a huge gulp of a fizzy drink or something. Awesome singles on this one, R-shitei, Shock of Love, Ai no uta, I love them all.

8. GARNET CROW - I'm waiting 4 you
This album didn't quite grab me at first, and as much as I love the band, I was kinda apprehensive about awarding this. But I think this one was similar to ELT's commonplace for me as this one also took quite a few listens before I started to warm up to it. Their previous album had great singles with great hooks but suffered from album tracks that tried just a little too hard. This time round, the arrangements were more down to earth, and the end result is an album perfect for the winter season. Ame agari no blue would probably be a huge contender for pop song of the year for me.

9. LOVE PSYCHEDELICO - LOVE PSYCHEDELICO III
Just because no other band has a lead vocalist who sings English like she does Japanese and Japanese like she does English.

10. Supercar - ANSWER
I can't believe I almost overlooked this album till a week ago when I realised that I had put it on to my iPod. I can't really describe it, it's sorta like rock with flashes of electronica in it. Or is it the other way round? Whichever the case, I ended up liking this Alot more than I was expecting to.

Honourable mentions: Tommy february6's "Tommy airline", Ayu's "MY STORY", Mikami Chisako's "Watashi wa anata no uchuu", ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's "SOL-FA", both Otsuka Ai albums

Favourite songs of the year (jpop):
1. Tokyo Jihen - Sounan
Absolutely the classiest song released this year. Lovely guitars, nice piano quirks by HZM, and the lyrics are actually pretty sexy. I thought there was almost nothing to dislike about this song.

2. Tokyo Jihen - Gunjou biyori
Awesome waker track. Just the thing I need for my kick in the morning. The guitars were messy and all over the place but I loved the chaotic-ness of it all, simply -kewl-.

3. Every Little Thing - Samidare
Koibumi's their best single, but Samidare's the best song they've released this year. Great melody, I am dying to watch them perform this live.

4. Tommy february6 - MaGic in youR Eyes
This one's really catchy in a ditzy way. Lovely 80's pop sound.

5. THE BACK HORN - REQUIEM
I loved this the moment I heard its guitar intro on the CASSHERN trailer. Simply put, this song Kicks Ass.

6. ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - LOOP&LOOP
They released a whole string of awesome singles this year and a fairly good album. This one has the catchiest chorus, and is thus most memorable. REWRITE was awesome too, but this one's more fun.

7. Mr. Children - Sign
Just liked it ALOT.

8. GARNET CROW - Float World
This is the best song they've released all year, beating Ame agari no blue by just a slight bit and it's a B-side. Gorgeous arrangement, it was like hearing Enya with rhythm and oomph and attitude. A total shame that this wasn't included on their album. In fact, the band released loads of great B-sides this year, both B-sides on the Kimi wo kazaru hana wo sakasou were great.

9. Tommy heavenly6 - Hey my friend
Quite a frivolous choice, but I must admit I listened to this song a hell lotta times, so I obviously liked it quite abit.

10. SPITZ - STAR GAZER
Ditto the Mr. Children comment. Awesome awesome melody, and the same can be said from their Masayume single. More than 10 years and counting, and these guys are still totally in this game.

I'm not doing the whole honourable mention thing cause I'm tired.

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by js_surrealism

5. Bonnie Pink - Ever Since
She's one of the most Benign songwriters I've come across. I can't find anything about her that I could possibly classify as bad-ass. Lovely set of songs, there is nothing much to fault, actually.

10. Supercar - ANSWER
I can't believe I almost overlooked this album till a week ago when I realised that I had put it on to my iPod. I can't really describe it, it's sorta like rock with flashes of electronica in it. Or is it the other way round? Whichever the case, I ended up liking this Alot more than I was expecting to.

3. Every Little Thing - Samidare
Koibumi's their best single, but Samidare's the best song they've released this year. Great melody, I am dying to watch them perform this live.

OMG someone in this forum listened to ANSWER! I LOVE that album! It has an awesome mix of experimental sounds. It's such a rich album. BGM, Recreation, Last Scene and Wonder Word are excellent songs (Their PVs are extremely creative and interesting to watch as well).

I think you mean BONNIE PINK "Even So" album right? It has one of the best songs of the year in my opinion: The Answer~hitotsu ni naru toki~ The whole album was exceptional!


Wow samidare is one of the best ballads of the year I agree a lot!

[bernardation]

best single:
otsuka ai - "kingyo hanabi"

best album:
ayumi hamasaki - "my story"

[js_surrealism]

Oh darn, Even So, yes, guess I wasn't thinking very straight.

[Halla]

I don't remember anything which has come out earlier than like 6 months ago besides Ayu's releases , lol i have a bad memory

but these are albums which I've enjoyed a lot this year

Hitomi Shimatani - Tsuioku + LOVE LETTER
I love her songs "Viola" and "Jewel of Kiss" , they're just so awesome and she's one of the most talented j-pop singers out there in terms of vocals. not to mention really attractive too

Ken Hirai - Sentimental lovers
sorta a guilty pleasure for me lol , but there are just so many really good and enjoyable songs on it like Jealously , Hitomi wo Tojite and Signal

M-Flo - Astromantic
just so many catchy and great songs

Ayumi Hamasaki - My Story
I'll really have to add this here too , i honestly think it's really good.

there might be more albums I should add , but I don't remember them right now ( Speed's "My Bridge" is one , but I'm afraid it's from 2003 ? )

[MsMiyabi]

Top 10(Singles)
01. Koda Kumi - Girls~Selfish~
02. Namie Amuro - Girl Talk/The Speed Star
03. Namie Amuro - Alarm
04. Koda Kumi - LOVE & HONEY
05. Ayumi Hamasaki - Game
06. Mika Nakashima - Ledgend
07. Orange Range - Hana
08. Hitomi Shimatani - Angelus
09. Utada Hikaru - Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro
10. Hitomi Shimatani - Viola

tOP 10(Albums)
01. Koda Kumi - Feel My Mind
02. Hitomi Shimatani - tsuioku+LOVE LETTER
03. Mika Nakashima - Oborozukiyo ~Inori
04. Hi-D - Great Second
05. M-Flo - Astromantic
06. ?
07. Crystal Kay - CK5
08. Every Little Thing - Common Place
09. Ayumi Hamasaki - My Story
10. Ai Otsuka - LOVE JAM

[PSYCHEDELICOdust]

Sakura Mankai - MoMusu SakuraGumi
ROMAN ~My Dear Boy~ - MoMusu
Moments - Ayumi Hamasaki
Kingyo Hanabi - Ai Otsuka
CUTIE HONEY - Kumi Koda
Cosmic Night Run - m-flo loves Nomiya Maki and CRAZY BOY-KEN BAND
About Me - UtADA

And my album of the year has to be ASTROMANTIC - m-flo

[Coelacanth]

Singles:
1. Ayumi Hamasaki - CAROLS
2. B'z - ARIGATO
3. Namie Amuro - GIRL TALK/the SPEED STAR

Albums:
1. Ayumi Hamasaki - MY STORY
2. m-flo - ASTROMANTIC
3. UTADA - EXODUS

Overall I think it was a rather disappointing year...

[leafyamazaki]

Originally Posted by light_hikari

Cosmic Night Run - m-flo loves Nami Makiya and CRAZY BOY-KEN BAND

Don't you mean, Nomiya Maki / Maki Nomiya. ^^;

[PSYCHEDELICOdust]

Originally Posted by leafyamazaki

Don't you mean, Nomiya Maki / Maki Nomiya. ^^;

Huh? What mistake >_> <_<

Thanks leaf lol

[leafyamazaki]

Originally Posted by light_hikari

Huh? What mistake >_> <_<

Thanks leaf lol

lol don't mention it~

[paper_doll]

Singles:
01. Dir en grey - THE FINAL
02. Ayumi Hamasaki - Moments
03. Kagrra, - Urei
04. Gazette - Zetsu
05. Miwa Sasagawa - Kinmokusei/Warai

Albums
01. Ayumi Hamasaki - MY STORY
02. Gazette - DISORDER
03. Kalimero - Hakoniwa
04. Kagrra, - Miyako
05. MUCC - Kuchiki no Tou

[ashlee]

Top 10(Singles)
01. Namie- girl talk/speed star
02. Ayu- CAROLS
03. M-flo love Yoshika- LET GO
04. Koda Kumi - LOVE & HONEY
05. LISA- SO BEAUTIFUL
06. BUMP OF CHICKEN- LONELY GLORY
07. Chemistry- Blue mirage
08. Ai Otsuka- Kingyo Hanabi
09. Utada Hikaru - Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro
10. Ai Otsuka - DAI SUKI DAYO

tOP 10(Albums)
01. M-flo Astromantic
02. Utada-Exodus
03. Mika Nakashima - Oborozukiyo ~Inori
04. Ai 2004 Ai
05. M-Flo - charm school
06. Ai Otsuka - LOVE JAM
07. Crystal Kay - CK5
08. Utada Hikaru Single Collection
09. Bump of chicken- yggdrasil
10. Ai Otsuka - LOVE JAM