Ayumi Hamasaki: New Album March 25th

I was relatively surprised, even though now as I look back on my surprise, I think in terms more in the direction of “took long enough, eh?” Ayumi Hamasaki is releasing her tenth album, NEXT LEVEL, on March 25th, 2009. The album will be released in CD and CD+DVD editions, as usual… but with a little twist: she’s adding a third format, namely USB. The USB format will feature the contents of the CD and CD+DVD editions (depending on the version you buy), and will be packaged in a CD case like the rest. The USB drive will be of 2 GB, and 800 MB (for the CD edition) will be consumed by the music. The other 1.2 GB are for the disposal of the customer.

Frankly, I would go and but the CD or CD+DVD edition rather than buy the USB. It’s almost the same thing as with the switch from Vinyl to CD; I have become attached to the CD format because I’ve lived with it for all my life, and I don’t think we need any smaller.

As usual, the Japanese are the first to take the initiative.

EDIT: Here is a little picture of the USB… not too bad, actually, even though it’s super-glittery.

Source: jpopmusic

Filed under: Artist News, New Releases, Ayumi Hamasaki

YUI: “Furikaeri Kikaku”

Like going back in time—YUI’s website has now offered not only a very nice new picture of YUI, but has also set up the old website layouts for the releases of feel my soul, Tomorrow’s way, LIFE and TOKYO as well as that of her debut album, From me to you, which may be nice if you weren’t listening to J-Pop/J-Rock (like me) at that time. Go have a look…

P.S.: Sorry for having some of you think that she has a new single coming out… but she’ll be back before the end of the year… right?

Filed under: Artist News, YUI

Utada Hikaru News

It’s quite sure that this has been the week for news on Utada’s English releases as well as her two upcoming books. Her first single since You Make Me Want to Be a Man, Come Back to Me, is to be released on February 9th. Her second English album, announced to be named This Is the One (I, personally, am disgusted by this title), will be released in Japan on March 4th, and in North American on March 24th.

She also has two upcoming books (as had been announced a while ago), Ten, “point”, her autobiography, and Sen, “line”, a collection of all her blog articles and a bunch of new images by the photographer who shot the photobook for First Love. Both go on sale March 12th, 2009, and are on sale at CDJapan (click on the titles to pre-order). Here are the covers:

Feel free to express your opinion on the covers, the titles, etc., it’s the purpose of this blog.

Filed under: Artist News, Utada Hikaru