Music Review: Kagrra, / うたかた (Utakata)

1. うたかた (Utakata) [listen] [watch]
2. 「叫び」 (Sakebi) [watch]
3. あの坂を登れば (Ano Saka wo Noboreba)

CDJapan (Limited A / Limited B / Normal) / YesAsia (Limited A / Limited B / Normal)

1. うたかた / Oh, wow. I will say this right now, this is Kagrra,'s best song ever. If I ever have to introduce a potential new fan to Kagrra, and am only allowed one song, Utakata will be the one I pick. I'm convinced that if this track alone can't move you, nothing else Kagrra, produces ever will, for Utakata is the penultimate representation of the band's neo japanesque repertoire. This stunning piece of work entrances and delights the ears and enraptures the heart. It touches that deepest part of my soul and makes me weep at the song's sheer beauty. Really, it's rare for a song to move me to tears like this. Maybe this is what paradise is like. Izumi had written in his diary entry a while ago that this song embodies the beauty, tradition, mystery, and exoticism of Japan from foreigners' eyes. Is Japan paradise? ♥♥♥

2. 「叫び」 / 3. あの坂を登れば / I feel bad lumping the rest of the tracks together. But after Utakata, I don't think I can enjoy any other song to the same degree for a while (I must be bewitched!). Everything else pales and seems unimportant in comparison. If I hadn't been exposed to Utakata, I would still have ranked these two tracks near, if not at the top of my all time favorites list. These are marvelous, solid works in their own right. They're classic Kagrra, songs characterized by pleasing melody, soothing vocals, and that touch of sparkle. Ano Saka wo Noboreba (track 3) is a lighthearted and delightful piece that brightens any day, while Sakebi (track 2) is heavier, rockier, but still upbeat and cheerful. Great, great songs, both of them. ♥

For the first time ever, I'm seriously considering buying all 3 versions of a single. Even if I end up paying almost $50 for only 3 songs and 2 PVs, this really seems worth it. Oh, beloved Kagrra,, look what you make me do.

Rating: Fantastic+

Need Utakata, NOW!

Aw, man! Kagrra,'s latest single, Utakata, is out at this point. I feel all antsy sitting here because I don't have it yet.

Why do I look forward to this particular single so much?

One. Kagrra,'s last release, the Chiaki no Tsuki single, was allllllll the way back in February of this year. The band hasn't produced any new songs for almost 11 freaking months!

Two. I'm convinced that this shall be my favorite Kagrra, single ever after listening to the previews at the official site. Somehow, that mere 30 seconds of Utakata had managed to crush me with emotions. The other 2 tracks are really good, too. I think I will seriously weep once I hear the full versions.

"Why are you crying?"

*sniffle* "I can't help it, this song is too beautiful it moved me to tears."

I'm glad that a full-length album will follow soon after this single release. The world needs more Kagrra,. Or at least, my world needs their music, lots and lots of it.

News: Kagrra, / Untitled New Album [2007.02.14]

Kagrra, will release their 3rd major album on Valentine's Day next year.

Artist: Kagrra,
Release: untitled new album
Label: PS Company / Columbia Music Entertainment
Date: 2007.02.14

Limited Edition
CD + DVD
Catalog Number: COZA-249～250
Price: 3,800 yen (tax in)

Normal Edition
CD
Catalog Number: COCP-34117
Price: 3,150 yen (tax in)

Supposedly, the album will only have 9 tracks. Kagrra,'s previous album releases contained 10 to 12 tracks. 9 tracks is almost a mini-album, not a full-length album. I really hope they add more tracks since the details haven't been finalized yet.

News credit to the Kagrra, LJ community.

News: Get Kagrra, to Perform in the US!

The Japanese Student Network (JSN) here in the United States will organize an event called Tokyo Night 2007 on March 31/April 1 in Los Angeles, California.

Q: What is Tokyo Night?

Our objectives of Tokyo Night are to promote a spirit of unity among those of different backgrounds, and to introduce them to both traditional and popular Japanese culture. We are also committed to helping young aspiring artists to expand their creative possibilities in the U.S. We will produce a synthetic entertainment event for our anticipated more than 2, 800 attendees by combining latest club music, visual arts and a fusion of Japanese goods and services. We strongly believe that it is important to create goodwill between people of different backgrounds: our goal remains to promote understanding and respect for differences along with a will to work together to achieve similar goals as members of the same society in order to advance harmony. These are the major themes for upcoming Tokyo Night 2007.

According to the related threads on Batsu J-Rock Forum, JSN is now in serious talks with Kagrra,'s management about the possibility of performing at Tokyo Night, but they must bring in an audience of 2000 or more. If you're pretty damn sure you can make it, please let the organizers of the event know. Bring our beloved Kagrra, to the US! (Please note that Tokyo Night is a 18+ event.)

Related Batsu threads...
Tokyo Night 2007: http://batsu.org/viewtopic.php?t=17562
Bring Kagrra, to Tokyo Night 2007: http://www.batsu.org/viewtopic.php?t=18851

PV Preview: Kagrra, / うたかた (Utakata)

The new Utakata single PV preview is now available at the Kagrra, official website.

The 30-seconds of PV preview is stunning beautiful. There is something deeply moving about the song that it actually makes tears well up in my eyes. The torrent of swirling emotions conveyed by "Utakata" hits me so hard that I want to weep in both happiness and sadness.

God, I'm going to feel off-balance for the rest of the day because a 30-second song preview caused a train wreck of emotions in me.

What is this sorcery that so affected me?

Copy Cat Coincidence?

Today, my jaw dropped when I saw the following entry at the Kagrra, LJ community:

Album Art Change
So, for anyone who has been reading Izumi's diary [ or not ]. According to his post on September 30th, Kagrra,'s CD jacket designer will be changed. By this, I assume he meant the artist who drew the DVD, CD, photobook and the like [cover arts].
Why this came to be, I have no idea. All I know is that Fukaya Yuichiro's art became a major trademark for Kagrra,.

Now, compare the quotation above to my previous blog entry. It looks like a paraphrase of what I wrote....
Freaky coincidence or did someone totally rip my post off? Suspicious, very suspicious.

News: Kagrra, CD Jacket Design Change

Oh, no! According to honyakuno-hime's translation of Izumi's September 30 diary entry, Kagrra,'s CD jacket designer will be changed. By this, I assume he meant the artist who drew those gorgeous cover arts. If this is so, I really don't think it's a good idea to replace the talented Fukaya Yuichiro, for his beautiful artworks have essentially become trademarks of Kagrra, the band.

Why fix something that ain't broken?

Kagrra, - Touhonseisou Jyungyo T-shirt

Whoever says that Japanese girls are super skinny lies!

The Kagrra, T-shirt I won on Yahoo! Auctions Japan came today. After washing it, I put it on and took the picture below. This is a ladies size M shirt, which initially worried me because I thought it might be a bit small. Because you know, Japanese sizes are supposedly smaller than the US sizes in everything and whatnot.

But, the T-shirt isn't too small, at all. In fact, it's a size too big on me. I wear size S for normal adult shirts in the US, this size M is pretty much exactly the same as US size M shirts in terms of width, but a bit shorter in length.
The thing is, I'm not even considered "small" in the US. When I shop for clothes, I can wear some things in petite and almost anything in the smallest miss size. So, I'm only slightly below average for a woman in the US. While in East Asia, I'm considered slightly above average. I really don't understand how this T-shirt from Japan can be so large. (Oh wow, I just gave my size away, to strangers, on the internet. Damn. >_>)

Now I know that in the future, if I want form-fitting band clothes from Japan, I have to make sure to get ladies size S. And this is a lesson for all of you out there in the US who may potentially buy clothes from Japan, the Japanese sizes aren't as small as you think, at least not for band clothes. :D
By the way, for the curious, this T-shirt is from Kagrra,'s 東奔西走巡業 (Touhonseisou Jyungyo) Tour in 2004. I really love this particular design. It's bold, yet stylish. I plan to wear this on days that I feel like being an attention-whore.

News: Kagrra, / うたかた (Utakata) [2006.11.22]

The new Kagrra, single release news just came in my e-mail inbox. Here's my translation:

Artist: Kagrra,
Release: Utakata
Date: 2006.11.22

Type-A (limited edition)
2 tracks + PV
Catalog Number: COZA-231,232
Price: 1,890 yen (tax in)

Type-B (limited edition)
2 tracks + PV
Catalog Number: COZA-233,234
Price: 1,890 yen (tax in)

Type-C (normal edition)
3 tracks
Catalog Number: COCA-1591
Price: 1,260 yen (tax in)

Thank god I don't collect singles. Otherwise, I'd have another heart attack over PS Company's devious scheme of 3 release editions.

Wanted: Limited Edition Albums

Why the heck doesn't eBay have more SID music available? I know it's a long shot to get the Renai limited edition album, but why can't SOMEBODY carry it?! Okay, so this was a 2004 release, and yes, only 10,000 were issued. But... I still wish someone somewhere sells it online. Bloody hell.

I know that Gail of Himitsu is also collecting SID music. I wonder if she has had any luck getting Renai limited edition. A 2-year-old release with only 10,000 copies floating around. The odds are stacked against us.

Speaking of out of print items, I'm also trying to get my hands on Kagrra,'s san limited editon album. There's only one place I know of that still sells it. However, the total price for it eventually comes down to $44. And needless to say, I'm totally not happy about this. I'm currently waging an internal battle with myself over whether I should spend so much on just an album. On one hand, there are only a few copies left on the market. On the other hand, $44 is a lot, way too much in my opinion, even if it's "divine music" (Kagrra, = 神楽 = divine music).

Paying only 1/2 price for a regular edition/reissue versus overpaying for a limited edition/first press, it's too hard to decide (oh, why do I have to be such a hardcore fangirl?). Had I not cared about the limited edition issue, I'd just get the albums for $5-$20 on eBay. Of course, there's also the risk of unknowingly getting pirated copies. Let's think about it, how in the world is it possible to sell a legitimate Japanese import disc for only $5? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. This may also explain why there aren't brand new limited albums on eBay. The bonus materials make it harder to duplicate the discs and raise the cost. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Oh, such torment.

The Kagrra, Visual Evolution

I have a love-and-hate relationship with Kagrra,'s... hm, visual presentation. During the early period (2000-2003), the band was always seen in incredibly elaborate costumes, with massive amount of makeup, and tons of hair gel. What saddened me was, Isshi, the vocalist who was essentially the frontman of the band, always (pretty much without exception) looked GOD BLOODY AWFUL! He has a large frame, which means his body build is completely unsuitable for pulling off that delicate-Japanese-beauty-in-kimono effect. In fact, I think it's an abomination that so many had to put up with Isshi's "I'm a really manly looking woman. Oh wait, I'm actually a man who completely fails at looking like a woman." for so long. Everytime I look back at those early band photos, I can't help but wince at Isshi's ungainliness.

It was with great relief on my part when Kagrra, finally moved on from their visual kei days. Their image post-2003 is much more toned down and natural. I blessed my stars that Isshi's photos no longer assault my poor eyes. I think that Kagrra, has found their best looks. They belong in khakis, jeans, and T-shirts, not those awful kimono costumes.