Source: Bounce.com
Acidman will release its third album, Equal, on Sept. 15. The album continues a theme — “all the colors of life are tied equally” — which will be introduced by a preceding single, “Equal e.p.”, on Aug. 25. Acidman is also participating on the Disney tribute album, Mosh Pit on Disney, to be released July 28. The band has booked appearances this summer at the Rushball and Rising Sun Rock Festivals.
Source: Bounce.com
m-flo will release a remix album based on its recent studio album, Astromantic, on Sept. 15. Remixers from within and outside of Japan will contribute to the album, including freetempo, Half By, Como Esta Haegashi, Tomita Lab, Ugly Duckling and Space Cowboy. Released in early summer, Astromantic featured collaborations with BoA, Dragon Ash and Crystal Kay.
Source: Bounce.com
Zazen Boys follows up its Janauary 2004 debut with a second album on September 1. Titled Zazen Boys II, the album is expected to contain 13 songs. Bandleader Mukai Shuutoku has been documenting the recording process of the new album on his official site diary.
Source: Bounce.com
Island Records has set Oct. 5 as the US release date for Utada Hikaru’s English-language debut, Exodus. The album arrives in Japan a month earlier on Sept. 8. “Devil Inside” is the first remix single from the album, while “Easy Breezy” will be released to US radio.
As previously reported, the album includes production work by Timbaland on three songs — “Exodus ’04,” “Wonder ‘Bout” and “Let Me Give You My Love” — while the Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore makes a guest appearance on “Kremlin Dusk”.
Source: Bounce.com
Shiina Ringo’s new band, Tokyo Jihen, releases its debut single titled “Kunjoo Hiyori” on Sept. 8. The coupling tracks on the three-track release include “Sono Shukujo Fushidara ni Tsuki” and “Kao”. “Sono Shukujo Fushidara ni Tsuki” is a cover of the jazz standard “The Lady Is a Tramp”.
Tokyo Jihen consists of Shiina Ringo (vocals), Hata Toshiki (drums), Hiizami Masayuki (keyboards), Mikki (guitar) and Kameda Seiji (bass). The band will perform at the Fuji Rock Festival in August. Shiina introduced Tokyo Jihen as her backing band during 2003’s Suguroku Ecstacy tour.
Source: Bounce.com
Former Judy and Mary singer Yuki will release a new single titled “Home Sweet Home” on Aug. 18. The title track of the single will also serve as the theme song for the anime motion picture, Naruto. The song also features a 22-piece string orchestra.
Source: Bounce.com
Art-School will release a 6-song mini album titled Scarlet on Aug. 4. Two days later, the band hits the stage at the Rock in Japan festival. In April, Art-School introduced its two newest members at a free live show in Shibuya. Kodaka Kenshi and Uno Takeshi replace Hinata Hideki and Ooyama Jun, both of whom left the band at the end of 2003.
Source: Bounce.com
July and August sees new single releases from Acidman, Dragon Ash and Tommy February6.
Tommy February6, the 80s pop persona of brilliant green singer Kawase Tomoko, releases “L.O.V.E.L.Y. ~Yume ni Lovely Boy~” on July 14. The song serves as the theme song for the latest Pokemon movie, Gekijoohan Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation Kakuu no Hoomonsha Deoxies. Tommy February6’s alter ego, Tommy heavenly6, is scheduled to appear in the Summer Sonic festival. Tommy heavenly6’s latest single is “Hey my friend”.
Dragon Ash releases “Shade” on Aug. 7. The single is the band’s newest work since the release of its fifth album Harvest in 2003. Dragon Ash are scheduled to appear at the Rock in Japan fest in August.
Acidman, who will appear at Rush Ball in Kobe, are recording its third album and will instead release “Equal e.p.” on Aug. 25.
Source: Musicwhore.org staff
Utada Hikaru releases her English language debut, titled Exodus, on Island Records this fall, according to the singer’s official English language web site (utada.com). The Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore makes a guest appearance on the track “Kremlin Dusk”, while Missy Elliott producer Timbaland helms the tracks “Exodus ’04”, “Wonder ‘Bout” and “Let Me Give You My Love”. Utada and Timbaland also contributed “By Your Side” to the Olympics-themed album, Unity, which hits US stores in August. Island sponsored a listening party for the album on June 8 at 5Ninth in New York City.
Source: Bounce.com
The Back Horn will release a new single titled “Yume no Hana” on July 21. Produced by Tsuchiya Masami, the song is the first new work from the band since its third album, Ikiru Sainou. The single also includes “Requiem”, the band’s contribution to the Kiriya Kazuaki film Casshern. Kazuaki is scheduled to shoot a promo clip for the song with the band. The Back Horn will appear this summer in a number of rock festivals, including Rock in Japan, Fuji Rock Festival, and Ezo Rock Festival.