Japanese music recommendations?

[msgpoisoning]

i know next to nothing about what's good in japanese music. if anyone has any recommendations i would really appreciate it. If you have a playlist of really good japanese songs, or even if it's just one good song post it. doesn't matter if it's old or new, as long as you think it's good. thanks in advance.

[cheza]

too many~~~~~ cannot count all of them

songs i like recently

all CHOBITS cds

all GUNGRAVE cds

all Naruto cds

all Wolf's Rain cds

all Fullmetal Alchemist cds

One Piece op& ed collection

Inuyasha op& ed collection

hunter x hunter op& ed collection

Sammurai Champloo
~ You ! Sunflower ~
~ aruarian dance ~
~ 624 part1~

School Rumble ~ Ending song 1 ~

Ghost in the shell movie 2~ Innocence OST / 04 - River of Crystals~

D.N.Angle OSTs

12 Kouki ~Memories 十二国記 蓬山遠景～胡弓 OST

a ~~~~~~~ too many `````````

[Go B. Ishinomori]

Jam Project's songs are the best of my collection.

[Timeless Enigma]

Well, most people start out by expanding from the Anime Openings, Endings and Sountracks. So search around for the artists who did that certain OP or ED and go from there.

That's what I did, you don't have to restrict yourself from songs you only hear in anime or games.

If you're into a slightly trancey type of music, then artists like KOTOKO and the rest of the I've Sound members are a good start.

If you want to find out who did a certain song, a pretty good resource is Anime News Network (http://www.animenewsnetwork), and search for the anime. The OP/ED info is usually available, otherwise you'll have to utilize that sticky thread at the top of this Music forum.

BTW: Are you looking for something like J-pop? Or maybe you like orchestral tracks in the soundtracks?

[cheza]

just found School Rumble ending 1(onanokootokonoko) download~~

one of my favorite kawaii song~~ ^^
but music sharing on this forums````````````````````````

[Timeless Enigma]

You might want to take down that link, music sharing and the like aren't really allowed on these forums. Just a friendly warning.

[AndrewLB]

Good Japanese music exists, but you aren't going to find any of it by talking to people on this forum.

But, if you insist, I'd recommend stuff like the background music in hack, noir, etc. Escaflowne had some damn good stuff, a few HnI songs were okay. Arjuna had nice music too. Almost all the good music is without lyrics. The second lyrics enter the picture, the Japanese tend to lose it.

And yeah, while groups like Jam Project and the pillows aren't bad, they still can't compare to basically all the decent musicians in the US.

And CERTAINLY, Chobits music is bad. It's beyond bad. It's fucking painful. NEVER go near it.

[Timeless Enigma]

Not necessarily. I liked a lot of the Chobits soundtrack. It is all opinion. Then again, my primary tastes in music are Electronica and orchestral pieces.

[MidoriShinobi]

Um.. It really depends on your taste, but some of my favourite songs are

Shabondama - Morning Musume (I like a LOT of stuff by them, but it's an aquired taste)

Ringo no Uta and Ishiki - Shiina Ringo (favourite artist. I have everything by her.)

[seiftis]

Okay.. copied my playlist. There's more, but it's enough I think...
Playlist files:
01. Akino Arai - Adesso e Fortuna
02. Akino Arai - Goddess In The Morning
03. Akino Arai - Hiru no Tsuki
04. Akino Arai - In My Dreams
05. Akino Arai - Kakusei Toshi
06. Akino Arai - Kanaete
07. Akino Arai - Kirei na Kanjou
08. Akino Arai - Kooru Suna
09. Akino Arai - Late Summer Falling
10. Akino Arai - Ningen no Kodomo
11. Akino Arai - Omatsuri
12. Akino Arai - Rosebush
13. Akino Arai - Sakasama no Niji
14. Akino Arai - Satellite Song
15. Akino Arai - Shounen no Hane
16. Akino Arai - Sputnik
17. Akino Arai - Suki Nan Desu
18. Akino Arai - Tsuki no Ie
19. Arashi - A Ra Shi
20. Arashi - All or Nothing
21. Arashi - Hadashi no Mirai
22. Arashi - Jidai
23. Arashi - Lucky Man (5:01)
24. Arashi - Tomadoinagara (4:16)
25. Atsuko Enomoto - Be My Angel (4:04)
26. Aya Hisakawa - Himitsu (5:01)
27. Aya Ueto - Puzzle (3:42)
28. Ayumi Hamasaki - 'M' (4:26)
29. Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song Is Born (4:06)
30. Ayumi Hamasaki - Connected (3:21)
31. Ayumi Hamasaki - Depend On You (4:23)
32. Ayumi Hamasaki - Fly High (4:06)
33. Ayumi Hamasaki - Free and Easy (5:01)
34. Ayumi Hamasaki - Immature (4:44)
35. Ayumi Hamasaki - Kanariya (3:03)
36. Ayumi Hamasaki - Love ~Destiny~ (4:56)
37. Ayumi Hamasaki - No Way To Say (4:46)
38. Ayumi Hamasaki - Rainbow (5:30)
39. Ayumi Hamasaki - Real Me (5:25)
40. Ayumi Hamasaki - Seasons (4:15)
41. B'Z - Konya Tsuki no Mieru Oka ni (4:13)
42. B'Z - Love Phantom (4:36)
43. B'Z - One (4:12)
44. BoA & Koda Kumi - The Meaning of Peace (5:03)
45. BoA - Atlantis Princess (3:44)
46. BoA - Destiny (5:11)
47. BoA - Don't Give a Damn (3:03)
48. BoA - Don't Start Now (3:43)
49. BoA - Double (3:28)
50. Boa - Duvet~SE Lain (3:23)
51. BoA - Etude (3:20)
52. BoA - Every Heart (4:32)
53. BoA - Every Heart (English Ver.) (4:33)
54. BoA - Jewel Song (3:42)
55. Boa - Milky Way (3:19)
56. BoA - Moon & Sunrise (5:12)
57. BoA - No.1 (3:14)
58. BoA - Power (4:09)
59. BoA - Shine We Are (4:43)
60. BoA - Valenti (4:18)
61. Bump of Chicken - Snow Smile (4:22)
62. Cagnet - What Will I Do (3:43)
63. Chihiro Yonekura - Butterfly Kiss (4:20)
64. Chihiro Yonekura - Cradle of Amber (4:41)
65. Chihiro Yonekura - Friends (4:09)
66. Chihiro Yonekura - Sweet True Love (4:00)
67. Chihiro Yonekura - Will (4:32)
68. Crystal Kay - A Song For You (4:41)
69. Crystal Kay - Attitude (3:17)
70. Crystal Kay - Can't Be Stopped (4:29)
71. Crystal Kay - Candy (4:22)
72. Crystal Kay - Fly Away (5:02)
73. Crystal Kay - Girl You Love (4:23)
74. Crystal Kay - Hide & Seek (3:52)
75. Crystal Kay - Komichi no Hana (4:05)
76. Crystal Kay - Lost Child (6:40)
77. Crystal Kay - Love of A Lifetime (3:57)
78. Crystal Kay - Missin' You Love (4:15)
79. Crystal Kay - Motherland (4:31)
80. Crystal Kay - Move On (4:13)
81. D.N. Angel - Yasashii Gogo (3:38)
82. day after tomorrow - 01.Dear Friends (4:42)
83. Day After Tomorrow - Faraway (5:11)
84. Day After Tomorrow - Futurity (4:28)
85. Day After Tomorrow - Itazurana Kiss (4:21)
86. Day After Tomorrow - Losing Myself (4:37)
87. Day After Tomorrow - My Faith (5:13)
88. Day After Tomorrow - Starry Heavens (4:46)
89. Day After Tomorrow - Vivace (3:44)
90. Do As Infinity - Boukensha Tachi (4:04)
91. Do As Infinity - Desire (4:27)
92. Do As Infinity - Fukai Mori (4:05)
93. Do As Infinity - Glasses (3:46)
94. Do As Infinity - Heart (4:04)
95. Do As Infinity - New World (4:48)
96. Do As Infinity - Oasis (4:44)
97. Do As Infinity - Raven (4:01)
98. Do As Infinity - Remember The Hill (5:16)
99. Do As Infinity - Rumble Fish (4:08)
100. Do As Infinity - Summer Days (3:55)
101. Do As Infinity - Tangerine Dream (4:18)
102. Do As Infinity - Under The Sun (4:11)
103. Do As Infinity - Yesterday & Today (5:01)
104. Dream - Get Over (5:16)
105. Dream - My Will (4:04)
106. Dream - Why (4:50)
107. Emi Fujita - Desperado (3:32)
108. Emi Fujita - From A Distance (4:21)
109. Emi Fujita - In My Life (3:07)
110. Emi Fujita - Once in a Very Blue Moon (4:18)
111. Emi Fujita - Red Is The Rose (3:35)
112. Emi Fujita - Tir n'a Noir (4:43)
113. Emi Fujita - Today (4:22)
114. Emi Fujita - Wide Awake (3:55)
115. Emi Fujita - Wishes (4:02)
116. Emiko Shiratori - Galway Sky (5:49)
117. Emiko Shiratori - Melodies of Life (5:51)
118. Every Little Thing - Ai no Uta (4:54)
119. Every Little Thing - Dear My Friend (3:49)
120. Every Little Thing - Future World (3:48)
121. Every Little Thing - Jump (4:11)
122. Every Little Thing - Kiwoku (5:15)
123. Every Little Thing - Unspeakable (4:23)
124. Faye Wong - Eyes on Me (5:30)
125. GTO - Last Piece (4:14)
126. HAL - The Starry Sky (4:30)
127. Hiro X - Future (3:58)
128. I WiSH - ¤Õ¤¿¤ÄÐÇ (4:54)
129. Initial D - Don't Stop the Music (3:58)
130. Kawaguchi Daisuke - Not Alone (3:58)
131. Ken Hirai - Kiss of Life (4:26)
132. Kinki Kids - Kanashimi Blue (5:07)
133. KinKi Kids - Winter Kill (6:07)
134. Kiroro - Future (5:29)
135. Kiss - Because I'm A Girl (4:17)
136. Koda Kumi - 1000 no Kotoba (3:51)
137. Koda Kumi - 1000 no Kotoba (English Ver.) (5:59)
138. Koda Kumi - Come With Me (4:48)
139. Koda Kumi - Love Across The Ocean (3:38)
140. Koda Kumi - Real Emotion (2:31)
141. Koda Kumi - Real Emotion (English Ver.) (4:01)
142. Koda Kumi - Your Song (5:20)
143. Konami Yoshida - Itsuka Tenshi ni Nareru (4:01)
144. Kotoko - Bright Wings (2:40)
145. Kotoko - Love A Riddle (6:32)
146. Kotoko - Second Flight (5:42)
147. Kotoko - Shooting Star (5:24)
148. Kotoko - Sora no Mori de (4:15)
149. Kotono Mitsuishi - Salva Nos II (2:46)
150. Kuribayashi Minami - Chiisana Hoshi ga Oriru Toki (4:36)
151. Kuribayashi Minami - Shining Days (4:24)
152. Kuwashima Houko - Canta per Me (3:13)
153. Maaya Sakamoto - Aoi Hitomi (3:16)
154. Maaya Sakamoto - Cries In The Dark (3:59)
155. Maaya Sakamoto - Hemisphere (4:06)
156. Maaya Sakamoto - Hikari no Naka e (4:36)
157. Maaya Sakamoto - Kiseki no Umi (4:06)
158. Maaya Sakamoto - Ongaku (5:04)
159. Maaya Sakamoto - The Garden of Everything (6:21)
160. Maaya Sakamoto - Tomodachi (3:42)
161. Maaya Sakamoto - Tune The Rainbow (5:33)
162. Mai Kuraki - Kiss (4:36)
163. Megumi Hayashibara - Get Along (4:04)
164. Megumi Hayashibara - Give A Reason (5:22)
165. Minmi - Shiki no Uta (5:00)
166. Misia - Everything (6:59)
167. Misia - Nocturne (6:10)
168. Move - Gamble Rumble (4:28)
169. Move - Knock 'em Out! (5:41)
170. Move - Overdrive (4:24)
171. Move - Rage Your Dream (4:34)
172. Move - Strike On (4:08)
173. Move - Sweet Vibration (5:16)
174. Nakashima Mika - Aishiteru (5:20)
175. Nami Tamaki - Shining Star (4:26)
176. Namie Amuro - Lovin' It (5:03)
177. Namie Amuro - A Walk in the Park (5:35)
178. Namie Amuro - Aishite Mascut (4:03)
179. Namie Amuro - Alarm (4:18)
180. Namie Amuro - As Good As (3:28)
181. Namie Amuro - Be With You (4:19)
182. Namie Amuro - Body Feels Exit (4:22)
183. Namie Amuro - Burning Love (3:29)
184. Namie Amuro - Can You Celebrate (6:12)
185. Namie Amuro - Chase the Chance (4:32)
186. Namie Amuro - Come (4:37)
187. Namie Amuro - Did You (3:57)
188. Namie Amuro - Don't Lie To Me (3:42)
189. Namie Amuro - Don't Wanna Cry (5:39)
190. Namie Amuro - Dreaming I Was Dreaming (5:19)
191. Namie Amuro - Girlfriend (4:13)
192. Namie Amuro - Go! Go! (4:49)
193. Namie Amuro - Good Life (3:57)
194. Namie Amuro - Himawari (4:45)
195. Namie Amuro - I Have Never Seen (4:46)
196. Namie Amuro - Kiss and Ride (3:48)
197. Namie Amuro - Looking For You (4:37)
198. Namie Amuro - Love 2000 (5:12)
199. Namie Amuro - Mi Corazon (Te' Amour) (4:48)
200. Namie Amuro - Namie's Style (4:03)
201. Namie Amuro - Next To You (4:17)
202. Namie Amuro - No More Tears (5:45)
203. Namie Amuro - Please Smile Again (4:42)
204. Namie Amuro - Put 'Em Up (4:01)
205. Namie Amuro - Rainy Dance (3:42)
206. Namie Amuro - Respect The Power Of Love (4:21)
207. Namie Amuro - Say the Word (5:46)
208. Namie Amuro - Shine More (3:47)
209. Namie Amuro - So Crazy (4:32)
210. Namie Amuro - Something 'bout the Kiss (4:25)
211. Namie Amuro - Still in Love (4:17)
212. Namie Amuro - Stop the Music (3:36)
213. Namie Amuro - Storm (3:07)
214. Namie Amuro - ToDay (4:41)
215. Namie Amuro - Try Me (4:04)
216. Namie Amuro - Wishing on the Same Star (4:59)
217. Naomi Tamura - Yuzurenai Negai (3:54)
218. Onegai Twins - Asu e no Namida (6:28)
219. Pipeline Project - Ao No Requiem (4:30)
220. Rie Fu - Decay (3:08)
221. Rie Fu - Life Is Like A Boat (5:01)
222. Rie Fu - Voice (3:56)
223. Rie Tanaka - 24 Wishes (5:10)
224. Rie Tanaka - Hitomi no Tonneru (4:29)
225. Rie Tanaka - I Hear You Everywhere (5:04)
226. Rie Tanaka - Katakoto no Koi (2:35)
227. Rie Tanaka - Ningyo Hime (4:02)
228. Rie Tanaka - Raison D'etre (4:07)
229. Rie Tanaka - Shizuka na Yoru ni (4:53)
230. Rikki - Pure Heart (4:55)
231. Rikki - Suteki da ne (5:37)
232. Ritsuko Okazaki - Chiisana Inori (3:22)
233. Round Table - Let Me Be With You (4:28)
234. Ruppina - Violet Flow (4:50)
235. Saeko Chiba - Hikari (4:55)
236. See Saw - A Stray Child (2:47)
237. See Saw - Annani Isshodatta no ni (4:49)
238. See Saw - Aura (3:04)
239. See Saw - Edge (3:33)
240. See Saw - Emerald Green (5:30)
241. See Saw - Indio (6:28)
242. See Saw - Jumping Fish (4:31)
243. See Saw - Kimi Ga Ita Monogatari (5:25)
244. See Saw - Kioku (3:49)
245. See Saw - Liminality (4:16)
246. See Saw - Love (4:56)
247. See Saw - Natsu no Tengami (7:02)
248. See Saw - Obsession (4:31)
249. See Saw - Senya Ichiya (4:47)
250. See Saw - Tasogare no Umi (5:19)
251. See Saw - The World (5:03)
252. See Saw - Tsuki Hitotsu (4:58)
253. See Saw - Yasashii Yoake (5:11)
254. Shimokawa Mikuni - 2000 Express (5:33)
255. Shimokawa Mikuni - Adrenaline (3:56)
256. Shimokawa Mikuni - Ai no Kiseki (4:05)
257. Shimokawa Mikuni - Alone (4:45)
258. Shimokawa Mikuni - Believer ~Tabidachi no Uta~ (5:00)
259. Shimokawa Mikuni - I Wanna Be Free (6:10)
260. Shimokawa Mikuni - If ~Moshimo Negai ga Kanau Nara~ (5:00)
261. Shimokawa Mikuni - Kanashimini Makenaide (5:39)
262. Shimokawa Mikuni - 39 (4:08)
263. Shimokawa Mikuni - Karenai Hana (4:32)
264. Shimokawa Mikuni - Kimi na Yume (3:39)
265. Shimokawa Mikuni - Kohaku (4:17)
266. Shimokawa Mikuni - Never Stop (5:11)
267. Shimokawa Mikuni - Sayonara 20 Seiki no Bokutachi (3:55)
268. Shimokawa Mikuni - Shi . Ka . Ra . Re . Te (4:53)
269. Shimokawa Mikuni - Surrender (5:30)
270. Shimokawa Mikuni - This Is Pop (4:13)
271. Shimokawa Mikuni - Tomorrow (3:37)
272. Shimokawa Mikuni - True Love (5:09)
273. Speed - My Graduation (5:41)
274. Speed - Steady (5:18)
275. Speed - White Love (5:34)
276. T.M. Revolution - Invoke (4:13)
277. Takako Matsu - Itsuka Sakura no Ame ni (5:46)
278. Takako Matsu - Natsu no Kioku (4:45)
279. Takako Matsu - Yuuyake Warutsu (3:28)
280. Takako Uehara - Come Close To Me (5:03)
281. Takako Uehara - Glory~Kimi ga Iru Kara (4:52)
282. Takako Uehara - My First Love (4:47)
283. Takako Uehara - My Greatest Memories (5:22)
284. Takako Uehara - So Blue (3:53)
285. The Brilliant Green - Ai no Ai no Hoshi (3:51)
286. The Brilliant Green - Angel Song ~Eve no Kane~ (4:20)
287. The Brilliant Green - Can't Stop Cryin' (3:44)
288. The Brilliant Green - Forever To Me (5:02)
289. The Brilliant Green - Green Wood Diary (4:35)
290. The Brilliant Green - Hello Another Way (5:31)
291. The Brilliant Green - I Never Dreamed (3:54)
292. The Brilliant Green - I'm In Heaven (4:42)
293. The Brilliant Green - Nagai Tameiki no Youni (5:40)
294. The Brilliant Green - Sayonara Summer Is Over (4:10)
295. The Brilliant Green - Sono Speed de (5:10)
296. The Brilliant Green - There Will Be Love (4:02)
297. The Brilliant Green - Wishing You (3:02)
298. The Brilliant Green - Yeah I Want You Baby (2:34)
299. The Scanty - I Love You (3:40)
300. Tsukiko Amano - Chou (4:16)
301. Utada Hikaru - 100 Reasons Why (4:32)
302. Utada Hikaru - A.S.A.P (4:57)
303. Utada Hikaru - Addicted To You (5:21)
304. Utada Hikaru - Another Chance (5:22)
305. Utada Hikaru - Automatic (5:15)
306. Utada Hikaru - Can You Keep a Secret? (4:11)
307. Utada Hikaru - Close To You (4:39)
308. Utada Hikaru - Colours (3:55)
309. Utada Hikaru - Deep River (4:38)
310. Utada Hikaru - Devil Inside (4:00)
311. Utada Hikaru - Eternally (4:41)
312. Utada Hikaru - Final Distance (5:40)
313. Utada Hikaru - First Love (4:17)
314. Utada Hikaru - Hear Me Cry (3:47)
315. Utada Hikaru - Hikari (5:04)
316. Utada Hikaru - Kettobase (4:33)
317. Utada Hikaru - Letters (4:44)
318. Utada Hikaru - Movin' On Without You (4:39)
319. Utada Hikaru - My Little Lover Boy (4:28)
320. Utada Hikaru - Never Let Go (3:57)
321. Utada Hikaru - Sakura Drops (4:58)
322. Utada Hikaru - Sukiyaki (3:43)
323. Utada Hikaru - Travelling (5:15)
324. Utada Hikaru - Uso Mitaina 'I Love You' (4:50)
325. Utada Hikaru - Wait & See ---Risk (4:45)
326. Yoko Shimomura - Somnia Memorias (5:58)
327. Yuki Kajiura - Cynical World (4:35)
328. Yuki Kajiura - Fake Wings (2:35)
329. Yuki Kajiura - Fiction (4:08)
330. Yuki Kajiura - Key of The Twilight (3:49)
331. Yuki Kajiura - Open Your Heart (4:38)
332. Yuki Kajiura - Vanity (4:14)
333. Yuki Kajiura - Winter (2:53)
334. Yuki Kajiura - Zodiacal Sign (3:52)
335. Yuki Uchida - Only You (5:47)
336. Yuko Yamaguchi - I Believe (3:46)
337. Yuriko Kaida - Lullaby (3:16)
338. Yuuka Nanri - Akatsuki no Kuruma (5:03)
339. Yuuka Nanri - Hitomi no Kakera (4:06)
340. Yuuka Nanri - I'm Here (5:03)
341. Yuuka Nanri - Margalet (3:15)
342. Yuuka Nanri - Nowhere (3:45)

[AndrewLB]

Okay.. copied my playlist. There's more, but it's enough I think...
Playlist files:
01. Akino Arai - Adesso e Fortuna
02. Akino Arai - Goddess In The Morning
03. Akino Arai - Hiru no Tsuki
04. Akino Arai - In My Dreams
05. Akino Arai - Kakusei Toshi
06. Akino Arai - Kanaete
07. Akino Arai - Kirei na Kanjou
08. Akino Arai - Kooru Suna
09. Akino Arai - Late Summer Falling
10. Akino Arai - Ningen no Kodomo
11. Akino Arai - Omatsuri
12. Akino Arai - Rosebush
13. Akino Arai - Sakasama no Niji
14. Akino Arai - Satellite Song
15. Akino Arai - Shounen no Hane
16. Akino Arai - Sputnik
17. Akino Arai - Suki Nan Desu
18. Akino Arai - Tsuki no Ie
19. Arashi - A Ra Shi
20. Arashi - All or Nothing
21. Arashi - Hadashi no Mirai
22. Arashi - Jidai
23. Arashi - Lucky Man (5:01)
24. Arashi - Tomadoinagara (4:16)
25. Atsuko Enomoto - Be My Angel (4:04)
26. Aya Hisakawa - Himitsu (5:01)
27. Aya Ueto - Puzzle (3:42)
28. Ayumi Hamasaki - 'M' (4:26)
29. Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song Is Born (4:06)
30. Ayumi Hamasaki - Connected (3:21)
31. Ayumi Hamasaki - Depend On You (4:23)
32. Ayumi Hamasaki - Fly High (4:06)
33. Ayumi Hamasaki - Free and Easy (5:01)
34. Ayumi Hamasaki - Immature (4:44)
35. Ayumi Hamasaki - Kanariya (3:03)
36. Ayumi Hamasaki - Love ~Destiny~ (4:56)
37. Ayumi Hamasaki - No Way To Say (4:46)
38. Ayumi Hamasaki - Rainbow (5:30)
39. Ayumi Hamasaki - Real Me (5:25)
40. Ayumi Hamasaki - Seasons (4:15)
41. B'Z - Konya Tsuki no Mieru Oka ni (4:13)
42. B'Z - Love Phantom (4:36)
43. B'Z - One (4:12)
44. BoA & Koda Kumi - The Meaning of Peace (5:03)
45. BoA - Atlantis Princess (3:44)
46. BoA - Destiny (5:11)
47. BoA - Don't Give a Damn (3:03)
48. BoA - Don't Start Now (3:43)
49. BoA - Double (3:28)
50. Boa - Duvet~SE Lain (3:23)
51. BoA - Etude (3:20)
52. BoA - Every Heart (4:32)
53. BoA - Every Heart (English Ver.) (4:33)
54. BoA - Jewel Song (3:42)
55. Boa - Milky Way (3:19)
56. BoA - Moon & Sunrise (5:12)
57. BoA - No.1 (3:14)
58. BoA - Power (4:09)
59. BoA - Shine We Are (4:43)
60. BoA - Valenti (4:18)
61. Bump of Chicken - Snow Smile (4:22)
62. Cagnet - What Will I Do (3:43)
63. Chihiro Yonekura - Butterfly Kiss (4:20)
64. Chihiro Yonekura - Cradle of Amber (4:41)
65. Chihiro Yonekura - Friends (4:09)
66. Chihiro Yonekura - Sweet True Love (4:00)
67. Chihiro Yonekura - Will (4:32)
68. Crystal Kay - A Song For You (4:41)
69. Crystal Kay - Attitude (3:17)
70. Crystal Kay - Can't Be Stopped (4:29)
71. Crystal Kay - Candy (4:22)
72. Crystal Kay - Fly Away (5:02)
73. Crystal Kay - Girl You Love (4:23)
74. Crystal Kay - Hide & Seek (3:52)
75. Crystal Kay - Komichi no Hana (4:05)
76. Crystal Kay - Lost Child (6:40)
77. Crystal Kay - Love of A Lifetime (3:57)
78. Crystal Kay - Missin' You Love (4:15)
79. Crystal Kay - Motherland (4:31)
80. Crystal Kay - Move On (4:13)
81. D.N. Angel - Yasashii Gogo (3:38)
82. day after tomorrow - 01.Dear Friends (4:42)
83. Day After Tomorrow - Faraway (5:11)
84. Day After Tomorrow - Futurity (4:28)
85. Day After Tomorrow - Itazurana Kiss (4:21)
86. Day After Tomorrow - Losing Myself (4:37)
87. Day After Tomorrow - My Faith (5:13)
88. Day After Tomorrow - Starry Heavens (4:46)
89. Day After Tomorrow - Vivace (3:44)
90. Do As Infinity - Boukensha Tachi (4:04)
91. Do As Infinity - Desire (4:27)
92. Do As Infinity - Fukai Mori (4:05)
93. Do As Infinity - Glasses (3:46)
94. Do As Infinity - Heart (4:04)
95. Do As Infinity - New World (4:48)
96. Do As Infinity - Oasis (4:44)
97. Do As Infinity - Raven (4:01)
98. Do As Infinity - Remember The Hill (5:16)
99. Do As Infinity - Rumble Fish (4:08)
100. Do As Infinity - Summer Days (3:55)
101. Do As Infinity - Tangerine Dream (4:18)
102. Do As Infinity - Under The Sun (4:11)
103. Do As Infinity - Yesterday & Today (5:01)
104. Dream - Get Over (5:16)
105. Dream - My Will (4:04)
106. Dream - Why (4:50)
107. Emi Fujita - Desperado (3:32)
108. Emi Fujita - From A Distance (4:21)
109. Emi Fujita - In My Life (3:07)
110. Emi Fujita - Once in a Very Blue Moon (4:18)
111. Emi Fujita - Red Is The Rose (3:35)
112. Emi Fujita - Tir n'a Noir (4:43)
113. Emi Fujita - Today (4:22)
114. Emi Fujita - Wide Awake (3:55)
115. Emi Fujita - Wishes (4:02)
116. Emiko Shiratori - Galway Sky (5:49)
117. Emiko Shiratori - Melodies of Life (5:51)
118. Every Little Thing - Ai no Uta (4:54)
119. Every Little Thing - Dear My Friend (3:49)
120. Every Little Thing - Future World (3:48)
121. Every Little Thing - Jump (4:11)
122. Every Little Thing - Kiwoku (5:15)
123. Every Little Thing - Unspeakable (4:23)
124. Faye Wong - Eyes on Me (5:30)
125. GTO - Last Piece (4:14)
126. HAL - The Starry Sky (4:30)
127. Hiro X - Future (3:58)
128. I WiSH - ¤Õ¤¿¤ÄÐÇ (4:54)
129. Initial D - Don't Stop the Music (3:58)
130. Kawaguchi Daisuke - Not Alone (3:58)
131. Ken Hirai - Kiss of Life (4:26)
132. Kinki Kids - Kanashimi Blue (5:07)
133. KinKi Kids - Winter Kill (6:07)
134. Kiroro - Future (5:29)
135. Kiss - Because I'm A Girl (4:17)
136. Koda Kumi - 1000 no Kotoba (3:51)
137. Koda Kumi - 1000 no Kotoba (English Ver.) (5:59)
138. Koda Kumi - Come With Me (4:48)
139. Koda Kumi - Love Across The Ocean (3:38)
140. Koda Kumi - Real Emotion (2:31)
141. Koda Kumi - Real Emotion (English Ver.) (4:01)
142. Koda Kumi - Your Song (5:20)
143. Konami Yoshida - Itsuka Tenshi ni Nareru (4:01)
144. Kotoko - Bright Wings (2:40)
145. Kotoko - Love A Riddle (6:32)
146. Kotoko - Second Flight (5:42)
147. Kotoko - Shooting Star (5:24)
148. Kotoko - Sora no Mori de (4:15)
149. Kotono Mitsuishi - Salva Nos II (2:46)
150. Kuribayashi Minami - Chiisana Hoshi ga Oriru Toki (4:36)
151. Kuribayashi Minami - Shining Days (4:24)
152. Kuwashima Houko - Canta per Me (3:13)
153. Maaya Sakamoto - Aoi Hitomi (3:16)
154. Maaya Sakamoto - Cries In The Dark (3:59)
155. Maaya Sakamoto - Hemisphere (4:06)
156. Maaya Sakamoto - Hikari no Naka e (4:36)
157. Maaya Sakamoto - Kiseki no Umi (4:06)
158. Maaya Sakamoto - Ongaku (5:04)
159. Maaya Sakamoto - The Garden of Everything (6:21)
160. Maaya Sakamoto - Tomodachi (3:42)
161. Maaya Sakamoto - Tune The Rainbow (5:33)
162. Mai Kuraki - Kiss (4:36)
163. Megumi Hayashibara - Get Along (4:04)
164. Megumi Hayashibara - Give A Reason (5:22)
165. Minmi - Shiki no Uta (5:00)
166. Misia - Everything (6:59)
167. Misia - Nocturne (6:10)
168. Move - Gamble Rumble (4:28)
169. Move - Knock 'em Out! (5:41)
170. Move - Overdrive (4:24)
171. Move - Rage Your Dream (4:34)
172. Move - Strike On (4:08)
173. Move - Sweet Vibration (5:16)
174. Nakashima Mika - Aishiteru (5:20)
175. Nami Tamaki - Shining Star (4:26)
176. Namie Amuro - Lovin' It (5:03)
177. Namie Amuro - A Walk in the Park (5:35)
178. Namie Amuro - Aishite Mascut (4:03)
179. Namie Amuro - Alarm (4:18)
180. Namie Amuro - As Good As (3:28)
181. Namie Amuro - Be With You (4:19)
182. Namie Amuro - Body Feels Exit (4:22)
183. Namie Amuro - Burning Love (3:29)
184. Namie Amuro - Can You Celebrate (6:12)
185. Namie Amuro - Chase the Chance (4:32)
186. Namie Amuro - Come (4:37)
187. Namie Amuro - Did You (3:57)
188. Namie Amuro - Don't Lie To Me (3:42)
189. Namie Amuro - Don't Wanna Cry (5:39)
190. Namie Amuro - Dreaming I Was Dreaming (5:19)
191. Namie Amuro - Girlfriend (4:13)
192. Namie Amuro - Go! Go! (4:49)
193. Namie Amuro - Good Life (3:57)
194. Namie Amuro - Himawari (4:45)
195. Namie Amuro - I Have Never Seen (4:46)
196. Namie Amuro - Kiss and Ride (3:48)
197. Namie Amuro - Looking For You (4:37)
198. Namie Amuro - Love 2000 (5:12)
199. Namie Amuro - Mi Corazon (Te' Amour) (4:48)
200. Namie Amuro - Namie's Style (4:03)
201. Namie Amuro - Next To You (4:17)
202. Namie Amuro - No More Tears (5:45)
203. Namie Amuro - Please Smile Again (4:42)
204. Namie Amuro - Put 'Em Up (4:01)
205. Namie Amuro - Rainy Dance (3:42)
206. Namie Amuro - Respect The Power Of Love (4:21)
207. Namie Amuro - Say the Word (5:46)
208. Namie Amuro - Shine More (3:47)
209. Namie Amuro - So Crazy (4:32)
210. Namie Amuro - Something 'bout the Kiss (4:25)
211. Namie Amuro - Still in Love (4:17)
212. Namie Amuro - Stop the Music (3:36)
213. Namie Amuro - Storm (3:07)
214. Namie Amuro - ToDay (4:41)
215. Namie Amuro - Try Me (4:04)
216. Namie Amuro - Wishing on the Same Star (4:59)
217. Naomi Tamura - Yuzurenai Negai (3:54)
218. Onegai Twins - Asu e no Namida (6:28)
219. Pipeline Project - Ao No Requiem (4:30)
220. Rie Fu - Decay (3:08)
221. Rie Fu - Life Is Like A Boat (5:01)
222. Rie Fu - Voice (3:56)
223. Rie Tanaka - 24 Wishes (5:10)
224. Rie Tanaka - Hitomi no Tonneru (4:29)
225. Rie Tanaka - I Hear You Everywhere (5:04)
226. Rie Tanaka - Katakoto no Koi (2:35)
227. Rie Tanaka - Ningyo Hime (4:02)
228. Rie Tanaka - Raison D'etre (4:07)
229. Rie Tanaka - Shizuka na Yoru ni (4:53)
230. Rikki - Pure Heart (4:55)
231. Rikki - Suteki da ne (5:37)
232. Ritsuko Okazaki - Chiisana Inori (3:22)
233. Round Table - Let Me Be With You (4:28)
234. Ruppina - Violet Flow (4:50)
235. Saeko Chiba - Hikari (4:55)
236. See Saw - A Stray Child (2:47)
237. See Saw - Annani Isshodatta no ni (4:49)
238. See Saw - Aura (3:04)
239. See Saw - Edge (3:33)
240. See Saw - Emerald Green (5:30)
241. See Saw - Indio (6:28)
242. See Saw - Jumping Fish (4:31)
243. See Saw - Kimi Ga Ita Monogatari (5:25)
244. See Saw - Kioku (3:49)
245. See Saw - Liminality (4:16)
246. See Saw - Love (4:56)
247. See Saw - Natsu no Tengami (7:02)
248. See Saw - Obsession (4:31)
249. See Saw - Senya Ichiya (4:47)
250. See Saw - Tasogare no Umi (5:19)
251. See Saw - The World (5:03)
252. See Saw - Tsuki Hitotsu (4:58)
253. See Saw - Yasashii Yoake (5:11)
254. Shimokawa Mikuni - 2000 Express (5:33)
255. Shimokawa Mikuni - Adrenaline (3:56)
256. Shimokawa Mikuni - Ai no Kiseki (4:05)
257. Shimokawa Mikuni - Alone (4:45)
258. Shimokawa Mikuni - Believer ~Tabidachi no Uta~ (5:00)
259. Shimokawa Mikuni - I Wanna Be Free (6:10)
260. Shimokawa Mikuni - If ~Moshimo Negai ga Kanau Nara~ (5:00)
261. Shimokawa Mikuni - Kanashimini Makenaide (5:39)
262. Shimokawa Mikuni - 39 (4:08)
263. Shimokawa Mikuni - Karenai Hana (4:32)
264. Shimokawa Mikuni - Kimi na Yume (3:39)
265. Shimokawa Mikuni - Kohaku (4:17)
266. Shimokawa Mikuni - Never Stop (5:11)
267. Shimokawa Mikuni - Sayonara 20 Seiki no Bokutachi (3:55)
268. Shimokawa Mikuni - Shi . Ka . Ra . Re . Te (4:53)
269. Shimokawa Mikuni - Surrender (5:30)
270. Shimokawa Mikuni - This Is Pop (4:13)
271. Shimokawa Mikuni - Tomorrow (3:37)
272. Shimokawa Mikuni - True Love (5:09)
273. Speed - My Graduation (5:41)
274. Speed - Steady (5:18)
275. Speed - White Love (5:34)
276. T.M. Revolution - Invoke (4:13)
277. Takako Matsu - Itsuka Sakura no Ame ni (5:46)
278. Takako Matsu - Natsu no Kioku (4:45)
279. Takako Matsu - Yuuyake Warutsu (3:28)
280. Takako Uehara - Come Close To Me (5:03)
281. Takako Uehara - Glory~Kimi ga Iru Kara (4:52)
282. Takako Uehara - My First Love (4:47)
283. Takako Uehara - My Greatest Memories (5:22)
284. Takako Uehara - So Blue (3:53)
285. The Brilliant Green - Ai no Ai no Hoshi (3:51)
286. The Brilliant Green - Angel Song ~Eve no Kane~ (4:20)
287. The Brilliant Green - Can't Stop Cryin' (3:44)
288. The Brilliant Green - Forever To Me (5:02)
289. The Brilliant Green - Green Wood Diary (4:35)
290. The Brilliant Green - Hello Another Way (5:31)
291. The Brilliant Green - I Never Dreamed (3:54)
292. The Brilliant Green - I'm In Heaven (4:42)
293. The Brilliant Green - Nagai Tameiki no Youni (5:40)
294. The Brilliant Green - Sayonara Summer Is Over (4:10)
295. The Brilliant Green - Sono Speed de (5:10)
296. The Brilliant Green - There Will Be Love (4:02)
297. The Brilliant Green - Wishing You (3:02)
298. The Brilliant Green - Yeah I Want You Baby (2:34)
299. The Scanty - I Love You (3:40)
300. Tsukiko Amano - Chou (4:16)
301. Utada Hikaru - 100 Reasons Why (4:32)
302. Utada Hikaru - A.S.A.P (4:57)
303. Utada Hikaru - Addicted To You (5:21)
304. Utada Hikaru - Another Chance (5:22)
305. Utada Hikaru - Automatic (5:15)
306. Utada Hikaru - Can You Keep a Secret? (4:11)
307. Utada Hikaru - Close To You (4:39)
308. Utada Hikaru - Colours (3:55)
309. Utada Hikaru - Deep River (4:38)
310. Utada Hikaru - Devil Inside (4:00)
311. Utada Hikaru - Eternally (4:41)
312. Utada Hikaru - Final Distance (5:40)
313. Utada Hikaru - First Love (4:17)
314. Utada Hikaru - Hear Me Cry (3:47)
315. Utada Hikaru - Hikari (5:04)
316. Utada Hikaru - Kettobase (4:33)
317. Utada Hikaru - Letters (4:44)
318. Utada Hikaru - Movin' On Without You (4:39)
319. Utada Hikaru - My Little Lover Boy (4:28)
320. Utada Hikaru - Never Let Go (3:57)
321. Utada Hikaru - Sakura Drops (4:58)
322. Utada Hikaru - Sukiyaki (3:43)
323. Utada Hikaru - Travelling (5:15)
324. Utada Hikaru - Uso Mitaina 'I Love You' (4:50)
325. Utada Hikaru - Wait & See ---Risk (4:45)
326. Yoko Shimomura - Somnia Memorias (5:58)
327. Yuki Kajiura - Cynical World (4:35)
328. Yuki Kajiura - Fake Wings (2:35)
329. Yuki Kajiura - Fiction (4:08)
330. Yuki Kajiura - Key of The Twilight (3:49)
331. Yuki Kajiura - Open Your Heart (4:38)
332. Yuki Kajiura - Vanity (4:14)
333. Yuki Kajiura - Winter (2:53)
334. Yuki Kajiura - Zodiacal Sign (3:52)
335. Yuki Uchida - Only You (5:47)
336. Yuko Yamaguchi - I Believe (3:46)
337. Yuriko Kaida - Lullaby (3:16)
338. Yuuka Nanri - Akatsuki no Kuruma (5:03)
339. Yuuka Nanri - Hitomi no Kakera (4:06)
340. Yuuka Nanri - I'm Here (5:03)
341. Yuuka Nanri - Margalet (3:15)
342. Yuuka Nanri - Nowhere (3:45)

Terrifying. http://andrewlb.com/?s=winamp

And my laptop playlist is just the Delgados folder dumped into winamp.

[onizukaPwns]

i think akino arai stuff are always good. her voice is smooth, and her songs are ussually relaxing.

[seiftis]

Terrifying. http://andrewlb.com/?s=winamp

And my laptop playlist is just the Delgados folder dumped into winamp.

What's so terrifying about? -_-;;
It's all up to personal taste anyway...
And yep, Akino Arai's voice is smooth~

[DaFool]

My favorite anime soundtracks:

Koi Kaze
Elfen Lied
Gunslinger Girl
Da Capo
Kurau Phantom Memory
Tsukihime
Last Exile
Witch Hunter Robin
Uta~Kata (not out yet I think)

They share strong instrumentals, i.e. if ever they use synthesized music, you can't tell, since they use a lot of strings. Strings I like.

Oh yeah Japanese music in general, I only get exposed to non-anime J-music when I'm flying on an international flight. Where I live people would rather play 80's music than play anything from Japan.

[HenyTran]

For anime soundtracks, if you like instrumentals I'd recommend Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal soundtrack. Also I really like the music from KOR, some really nice piano songs from there. The Kenshin TV and Naruto series is filled with catchy songs that you might like too.

[naru-hamisaki]

well
do you listen GACKT?
they are so good...
the last umplugged is very good
of course l'arc is a good band, but gackt have a very good solist singer...
that is my aport
jejeje

PD: please :help: with my english
bye

[Craig]

Hey, don't know if you've checked out the Bleach series yet, but the opening song is performed by a group called Orange Range. Turns out they also performed the 2nd ending theme for Naruto. I've gotten a hold of some of their other stuff and it totally blows me away. These guys are GOOD! I suppose it depends on what type of music you like, so I'll describe to you the genre or the sound that that might fall under. Here goes: if you took the japanese language, found a few fast talkers, taught two or three of them how to rap in Japanese, then added some insanely talented guitarists, you might come close to Orange Range. It's a big band, I think there's 8 of them, but they really know how to rock out. If you like the opening theme to Bleach, you owe it to yourself to look them up on the web. Turns out they've had quite a few top 50 Japanese Billboard songs (5 maybe?). Anyway, I know its just one band, but anyone who hasnt listened to these guys is really missing out.

[Dempsey_Roll]

if you like japanese rock, then you will defintely like hajime no ippo ost. their first 3 starting songs are sing by a jrock band called shocking lemon. and i like their 3rd ending song which is a english song sing by an old skool jrock band called saber tiger [note] X Japan's hide was once a saber tiger member.

[IDentity]

Get anything from SPEED or their solo stuff...

[sarcasteak]

[KOTOKO - Re-sublimity] singles is out...Re-sublimity is okay at best, but agony killed me instantly and sent me directly to heaven!! :bow: :bow: :bow:

[wao]

For a change try some classical, relaxing and soothing background music: check out the Juuni Kokki soundtracks [OST, Image Album, Piano Memories, Kokyu Memories] by Kunihiko Ryo. Very nice stuff - even if you think some of them are bland there is some awesome stuff (like Fuushun, Juunikokugenei, Ruika and so on).

The Rurouni Kenshin Trust and Betrayal soundtrack is also kinda nice as someone mentioned...

I also really like Akino Arai songs, I like the floating-away feeling I get listening to some of them... her voice is really nice to me.

[kingzapp]

I have some songs, but don't remember those names :confused:

[AzureLight]

[KOTOKO - Re-sublimity] singles is out...Re-sublimity is okay at best, but agony killed me instantly and sent me directly to heaven!! :bow: :bow: :bow:

YEEEEEEESSSS BOW TO THE MAGNIFICENCE THAT IS I'VE SOUND!!!

[sarcasteak]

YEEEEEEESSSS BOW TO THE MAGNIFICENCE THAT IS I'VE SOUND!!!
Ya know, I've probably heard and loved more soundtracks done by I've Sound, but most of my mp3s only have artist and title information. :(

[onizukaPwns]

i think the songs to Aishiterue Baby are really good

nenen saisai (i think that was the titile) sounds very nice

[quanli0000]

i know next to nothing about what's good in japanese music. if anyone has any recommendations i would really appreciate it. If you have a playlist of really good japanese songs, or even if it's just one good song post it. doesn't matter if it's old or new, as long as you think it's good. thanks in advance.

My Faviourite Singers

T.M. Revolution
Tamaki Nami
Ai Otsuka
TOKIO
Orange Range
Aya Ueto
W-inds
Yuri Chika
Fayray
Southen All Star

[MidoriShinobi]

Malice Mizer - Baroque
Kana - Chimame

[Ashi-chan]

Well, most people start out by expanding from the Anime Openings, Endings and Sountracks. So search around for the artists who did that certain OP or ED and go from there.
I'm not a huge collector of Japanese music, but I did find my favorite singer that way. I really like Aikawa Nanase, although she doesn't seem to be a fan favorite, sadly. Her voice is very cute and unique, and I haven't heard a song by her that I ever hated. I guess she could be considered J-pop, but some of her faster songs have a rock feel to them. She sang the opening themes to Zoids Shinseiki / Zero ("NO FUTURE") and InuYasha ("Owarinai Yume"), both songs which were very good. "NO FUTURE" was actually THE song that got me hooked on Aikawa Nanase.

[Chiaki Nozomi]

I have to go against whoever said Orange Range. They are.. I don't like them, not at all. Asian Kung Fu Generation as well. In fact, I hate all those new wannabe bands that are out right now. Don't flame on this, I wasn't flaming anyone, and I didn't mean this to be a flame. It's for suggestions, and there are likes and dislikes abound.

I'm more of a jpop/rock person rather than anime theme person, so I can't help you with good anime themes.

The apple's new band (Shiina Ringo) Tokyo Jihen (incidents) made up of her formerly backup band members with her is awesome. I adored their debut cd, though it can't hold a candle to Ringo's releases. Sex Machinegun rocks my socks, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant is teh awesome.

ZWEI. I love Zwei. They're my favorite new artists of the year. Their debut was awesomely awesome. The classic 'intro' songs I would recommend are "Movie Star" "Kuchi ~ I love your mouth", "Watashigai no Uta", "Pretty Queen", "Loveland". All except Kuchi were their singles and b-sides, so they seem like good intro songs to me. :lol:

I have to include Takui and Janne da Arc because they're my favorite musicians - for 'harder' rock from JdA get stuff that's pre-Another Story and for their pop stuff get Another Story and Arcadia. Takui is Takui, can't really describe his stuff.

For pop... can't really help you there. Koda Kumi's been releasing some interesting stuff (and if you don't like the songs try and grap the pvs because they kick rear) and umm.. yeah. Halicali is cool, Melt Banana kicks rear (and you can get thier releases domestically too) Lolita 18 (you see a parody of them on Chiba's shirt (Rorita) in the anime Beck)... my guilty pleasure is Hello!Project and its huge mecca of idol pop, for more idol pop the Giza artists are good too....

Ayumi's new album has just been released, and it has converted me back to a somewhat fan. Yes, she still has that weird vibrato, but at least she's not screeching her songs anymore. People say it reminds them of 'Duty' and 'I am...' but since I've only heard select tracks from the two, I can't comment. I liked most of the tracks on there, so... yeah.

Eh, this is off the top of my head. I'll post more later if I remember any cuz I've been listening to allot of french pop lately and it's all I can think of right now. x.x

[phoenixfire92983]

I have to include Takui and Janne da Arc because they're my favorite musicians - for 'harder' rock from JdA get stuff that's pre-Another Story and for their pop stuff get Another Story and Arcadia. Takui is Takui, can't really describe his stuff.

haha, I though Arcadia was way harder than some of Janne's other stuff, but either way they still rock :) I also agree, you gotta check out Takui! Chiaki suggested him in another thread long ago, and I've been in love with his stuff ever since. imo Takui has one of the best voices out there.

[SladeCraven]

Hey, if you're looking for Japanese music with some muscle, try Sex Machineguns. Japanese metal is always good! :eyespin:

[~Shin~]

Chou By Tsukiko amano..

Once you heard this you'll start liking all of her songs.

[Ashi-chan]

Hey, if you're looking for Japanese music with some muscle, try Sex Machineguns. Japanese metal is always good! :eyespin:
Japanese metal confuses me. But Japanese rap is just funny, for some reason.

I'll stick to my Aikawa Nanase and Puffy for now. And if you think my taste is lame, I never really had any to begin with, so whoo.

[TheSuicider]

I'm not a huge Japanese-music collector, but some music blows me away...

Yoko Kanno project with various songs from Ghost in the shell: Stand alone complex OST, Wolf's Rain OST and more.
Luna Sea as an brilliant J-rock band.
Mono as an experimental but very relaxing no-vocals band.
Kazafumi Kodama with chillout-hiphop or what I shall call it...
Envy as a plain hardcore band.
Hi-Standard with their punkmusic.
The Black Mages, rocked versions of Final Fantasy songs.
Various J-pop as Ayu, Do as Infinity, Hitomi Yaida and such...

Think that recaps it :)

[Spineshanked]

Best thing I can recommend for the moment is Bloodthirsty Butchers, they're more of a post-punk outfit, but they fit the genre they occupy. Definitely more intelligent then Asian Kung-fu Generation, but not as hard as Zazen Boys/Number Girl.

[Summer Soldier]

Almost all the good [Japanese] music is without lyrics. The second lyrics enter the picture, the Japanese tend to lose it.

Complete and utter bullshit. There are plenty of creative and inspired music being made in Japan that features lyrics, and the best of them can easily hold their own against anything that the rest of the world offers.

However, this dreadful display of idiocy and ignorance is more than offset by the following statement:

Good Japanese music exists, but you aren't going to find any of it by talking to people on this forum.

So fucking true.

EDIT: Bah, it looks like I replied to someone who was banned. My apologies.

[Zephronite]

I've Sound is (`-')b

[myrriden]

I guess I'll list some of the stuff I've been listening to... I'm in Japanese 4 right now so I listen to a lot of jpop/jrock to constantly refresh myself.

Do as Infinity
Day After Tommorow
Every Little Thing
Orange Range
Aikawa Nanase
Angela
Miyu Nagase
Nana Kitade
Nami Tamaki
The Pillows
Rie Fu
T.M. Revolution
Utada Hikaru (Don't like her... just listed her because... well... yeah)
Ayumi Hamasaki (Don't like either)
BoA (Though I think she sounds a lot better in korean)
B'z

There's a lot more out there, don't limit yourself only to pieces from anime.

edit: I guess someone would shoot me if I didn't mention X-Japan :thinker:

[Chiaki Nozomi]

Japanese metal confuses me. But Japanese rap is just funny, for some reason.


Japanese rap should not be allowed to exist (in fact, if it's not in english, don't do it. :P). But I have to admit I adore m-flo and his make no sense, silly rhymes. Esp. m-flo loves singles. What kind of rapper releases duets with loves in the title? :D I still bought all the singles though... Reminds me of the days when rap was about eating out a buffet line. *misses old school rap*

[Alkora]

Oh my gosh.... You guys are forgetting real non JPop music. Like:
Chemistry
ケツメイシ　- Ketsumeishi
山風- Yamakaze

And some J-Pop thats not typical girly J-pop.
Do as Infinity
Hirai Ken
Gackt
Orange Range
porno graffiti
Onitsuka Chihiro

[Yubikiri]

My current favourites are:

Younha - Yubikiri 'XD', aiaigasa, my lover, omoide nekinai
YUI - Tokyo, Tomorrow's way, Feel my soul, Life
Ai Otsuka - Cherish, Sensu, 5:09am
Exile - Choo Choo train, song for you
Mink - One,wish
Yui Makino - Amrita
Nami Tamaki - Promised Land, real dream, naked, Shining star
SAYAKA - Garden, eversince, mermaid
Rie Fu - 2cm, decay, beautiful words

give it a try~~:)

[Miacis]

Not to knock anime music, but many OP and ED's of anime aren't really representative of Japan's music scene. Most of them are sung by pop idol girls, who are overly synthesized and not very talented to begin with. If any of you watch Japanese drama's, the OP and ED's from those are a little better (Not by much though.) and a lot more representative of Japanese music. (I know BuriGuri got their break making a jdorama song, and more recently Sambomaster made a popular song for the drama Densha Otoko.)

Some recommendations if you want to get into Japanese music are The Brilliant Green, Do As Infinity, Gackt, L'Arc~en~Ciel, Tokyo Jihen, B'z and Mr. Children. They're all pretty tame listening. However, Brilliant Green (BuriGuri), and DAI broke up so they're no longer making music. I'm particularly biased towards L'Arc~en~Ciel, since Tetsu's bass is orgasmic and Hyde makes millions of Japanese girls melt (and some guys as well I'd imagine). Gackt is nice, but don't expect a whole lot of depth from his lyrics. Tokyo Jihen is spearheaded by Shiina Ringo (Vocals, 2nd Guitar), and made of exceptionally talented people. The bassist and keyboardist left Tokyo Jihen recently though. I'd imagine Ringo would have no trouble finding replacements though. (I think the band members in Tokyo Jihen were the members that played the music for Ringo's last solo album, Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana. You should at all costs check out that album too. Even at the cost of a limb.)

If you're into more easy listening, then you may want to try Garnet Crow, Love Psychedelico, or Every Little Thing. If you want something more 'urban' try out m-flo (Usually labeled as m-flo loves insert any popular Japanese pop artist here , or Dragon Ash's later albums.

If you want something harder, you could try The Back Horn or Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. GO! GO! 7188 and Bump of Chicken not only have cool names, but great music as well.

Some more punkish stuff would be Judy and Mary and Blankey Jet City. Both are broken up though. I really don't know any current punkish sounding Japanese groups except for Ellegarden, who are just ho-hum IMO.

Schwarz Stein is kind of trance and electronic sounding, and I really like their last album, 'Artificial Hallucination'. I don't know about their other stuff though.

Other notables are X Japan, Luna Sea, and Dir en Grey. All 3 are ass-spankingly orgasmic, but it's kind of hard to pidgeonhole them as they make many different types of songs. (Fast rock songs, medium tempo, ballads, etc.) X and Luna Sea are older (X is late 80's to 90's, Luna Sea is 90's) bands that have broken up though.

I'm told (a lot) that GLAY is quite good, but IMO they sound lame mostly due to their bassist and vocalist. They also tend to keep around extra band mates to appease their female audience.

I liked Ayumi Hamasaki's one album. You know, the one that she made 2398328 other remix songs from. My theory is that the more she has her eyes surgically enlarged, the more actual talent she loses. Just a theory. :p

Bolded = My personal favorites. (They're all my favorites, but these in particular. :x)

Edit: Oops, I forgot Misia. Check her out if you want to hear a ridiculously powerful female voice. She sings a lot of ballads to my knowledge. Great example would be her single 'Everything'.

[D3athScythe]

My collection of japanese songs are very less, just started listening to them =P
Thanks to all of you who posted different singers/bands =O
Now I can actually have a jap playlist! =)

[PhoenixIce]

I have a pretty big collection of music, especially from anime hehe
My recent favourites are:

Hishoku no Sora by Kawada Mami
Aozora no Namida by Hitomi Takahashi
Houki Boushi by Younha
Thank You!! by HOME MADE KAZOKU
Happy People by Skoop on Somebody
*~Asterisk by Orange Range

These are some of the songs i like

[kandidasama]

Aozora (AIR) is very good ^^

[Squid]

I've been listening to a lot of alternative Japanese music at the moment. Things like Boredoms, Yuki Kaijura (Madlax OST), ... I don't really like J-Pop although most of the music seems to fit Anime very well.

[Mohan]

Utada Hikaru
Pierrot
Glay
L'Arc~en~Ciel
X-Japan
Asian Dub Fundation
Porno Graffitti
Luna Sea

[Hiko Seijuro]

id also recommend:

-utada hikaru
-x-japan
-ayumi hamasaki
-chrno crusade ost (x2)
-Nobuo Uematsu (all his music)
-all final fantasy music
-all shenmue music
-faye wong (chinese, great too :)

[<<~Dark~>>]

The first anime I saw was My HiME and personally I think it has the best soundtrack. I LOVE Kimi Ga Sora Datta, Shining Day and It's Only The Fairytale. I would also recommend Utada Hikaru - I could listen to Simple And Clean and never get tired off it.

[Celes__]

For people who are interested in amazing voices, I recommend:

Misia
Dreams Come True
Mika Nakashima
Ayaka Hirahara

well, there are a lot more, but these are good examples specially the first 2 ones. They are also examples of great music.

[shiro83]

If you are interested in heavy upbeat music, try I've sound

Some favorites:
Vacillate by Kawada Mami
Velocity of Sound by Momo
Kaze to Kimi wo Daite by Kawada Mami
Hishoku no Sora by Kawada Mami

[Vexx]

In the non-anime bracket... I'd recommend Ua .... bluesy stuff with a mess of avant-garde jazz thrown in. I like the experimental stuff and her beatnick coffeehouse type stuff.

In easier listening... a lot of the background music used in Honey & Clover appealed to me (Spitz, etc) -- it was popular music rather than anime generated soundtrack.

Its really hard to find solid rock work..... too many groups seem to think anytime a girl sings you cut to piano from the electric guitar. KOTOKO and Yuria do some decent stuff.... Lia has a great voice but completely wastes it on "nightclub disco" brainrot music aka Britney.

[ihitterdal]

Buy the Namiki Michi EP by Sakura Nadare. It's pure J-alt.

[=KatanaViolet=]

I don't know if these have been mentioned, because I'm lazy and I don't feel like reading everything....

Okina Reika- Tsuki no Curse
angela- Seperation
- Shangri-La
L'Arc~en~Ciel- Driver's High
- Ready Steady Go
- Dive to Blue
Porno Graffiti- Hitori no Yoru
- Agehacho
Glay- Scream
Gackt- Neuromancer
Asian Kung Fu Generation- Rewrite
TM Revolution (anything)

mmm yea.. thhat should do for now :)

[Vexx]

It really depends on what kind of music you like to listen to....

The AIR OST has about 50% decent stuff if you like piano and vocals.

KOTOKO has some decent trance (mixed in with fluffier pop) and some decent blues pop. Her -haze- album and the mini album with DuWadidid ....

UA has some really good stuff (avant garde, blues, traditional, experimental)

Its hard to find solid *rock* stuff .... along the lines of "Maze of the Dark" off of the Evangeline (Negima) character CD.

Some of the background music of Honey & Clover led me to Spitz and Shigeo (male folk rock singers)...

I tripped over Hinoi Team (cute and requires little thinking - Europop (happy simple stuff))

I tend to be really disappointed in the visual kei bands..... really visually stunning (duh) but pretty lame soft pop noises.

Really, you just have to kind of hunt and peck. What I like may suck to other people and vice versa. I'm definitely going to check out any non-anime stuff anyone mentions here if it intrigues me.

edit: I see I answered this twice... oh well, this is v 2.0. Looks like I'll be hunting up L'Arc~en~Ciel and Gackt and perhaps Misia

edit2: I see some anonymous redmarked my reputation without comment for this post --- its kind of hard to improve if ya don't comment :)

[Cythraul]

I've been a bit hesitant about replying to this thread as it seems my taste in music is somewhat different from that of the other posters... anyway, I'll start with the heavier stuff and work my way towards more mainstream bands.

One of the few truly original and innovative Japanese metal bands, and thus one of my very favourites, is Sigh. I particularly like Hail Horror Hail and Imaginary Soundscape albums, though the older stuff is pretty good too.

Church of Misery is an excellent old school doom metal band. Not very original, of course, but their songwriting is good enough that I'm willing to overlook that. Of the other "traditional" metal bands, Loudness and Sabbat both deserve a mention, if only for their sheer longevity. The bands play hard rock/heavy metal and trash metal, respectively. Not exactly groundbreaking material, but worth a listen or two if you're into that.

I'm not much into emocore as a genre, but Envy is a decent band and just the right cure for too much sugary pop tunes.

Tyrant is basically a Dimmu Borgir clone ("black metal" with lots of synths for those who don't know) and there are better bands in this genre in Europe, but I still listen to their Grimoires every now and then.

Of visual kei bands, I prefer the heavier bands (who'd have guessed...). D'espairsRay's Coll:set and Vidoll's Bijinkei often find their way into my cd player. Alice Nine and Kaggra, are both very good too (though I'd hard pressed to call Kaggra' "heavy").

Blood is an ok hard rock band. Not the visual kei band from Osaka, the one with Shinichiro Suzuki. I only have the album Noises, if anyone knows where to buy the others (short of ordering directly from the band), please let me know. :)

Moving to the softer stuff, Baroque is a good pop-rock band whose (sadly only) full length album, Sug Life hardly left my cd player last summer. And I guess I'll mention High and Mighty Color here as well...

And finally, since I believe it hasn't yet been mentioned in this thread, the best Japanese band ever and just the right thing for when you've listened to too much Envy; Under17.

[Aoi_chan]

The J-music I listen to is varied, but it's mostly rock stuff. However, i do listen to some j-pop stuff as well. For J-rock I higly recommend the following:

Luna Sea: I remember the first time I heard a Luna Sea song and I was amazed at how good the music was. Even though I wasn't too keen on Ryuichi's vocals at first I soon came to love them. I recommend these songs: Precious, Rosier, Loveless, Wish, Gravity, Be in agony, Jesus, love song, In Silence, Storm, Sweetest Coma Again.

Dir en grey: I realize that their insanely popular these days, but I still love em', and they'll always be special to me because they were one of my first jrock bands. I love alot of their older stuff, but I still dig alot of the new stuff too. I recommend these songs: Garden, Kasumi, New Age Culture, Amber, Gyakujo Tannou Keloid Milk, Itoshi ha fuhai ni tsuki, Kodou, dead tree, hydra, umbrella, Jessica, 304 goshitsu hakushi no sakura, Myaku, Zakuro, 24Ko Cylinder, [KR] Cube, Ash, Yokan, Yurameki, IIID Empire, Sajou no uta, and many many more...you have to listen to almost their whole discography to appreciate how amazing and diverse this band is.

X-Japan: Amazing musicians, I don't think theres enough that can be said about these guys. I recommend the following songs: Dahilia, Endless Rain, Forever love, Celebration, Kurenai, Blue Blood, Art of life.

Gazette: I just got into these guys recently and I love their sound! They have sort of a punk influenced sound that I never get tired of. I recommend these songs: Cassis, Sumire, no. 666, Mad Marble Hell Vision, Ruder, Anything from the Disorder album, Maggots, Nausea & Shudder, Relia, Best Friends.

Art-School: I bought their "Requim for Innocence" album and I love their style! I recommend: Hane, Chole, Charolette, Boy meets girl, Diva, Scarlet, Butterfly.

[OutPhase]

Hmmm.... this thread lacks more mentioning as of how awesome m-flo is.


If you like songs that sound like somebody is violently taking away the virginity of a synthesizer, I'd highly recommend Slake for the musically impaired. Hopefully if you buy enough of his albums, he'll have so much money that he'll stay the hell out of the Bemani series and live off his sales until he's a 73 year-old man.

Exile - Choo Choo train

Slake make a remix for that song. It's called Choo Choo Train (dnb mix).

[retrovision]

Not to knock anime music, but many OP and ED's of anime aren't really representative of Japan's music scene
co-sign.

Hmmm.... this thread lacks more mentioning as of how awesome m-flo is.
m-flo does have that unique sound but in my opinion, m-flo was great before they started the "loves" series after lisa left. i don't think lisa can be replaced at all. hearing "tripod baby" at the end of the "beat space nine" album is like a breath of fresh air from all the other stuff on that album haha. also, their "tour 2001 expo expo" concert album from zepp tokyo > anything on astromantic, charm school, beat space nine and dope space nine. i'd take "orbit-3", "prism", "come again", "chronopsychology", "dispatch", "hands", "how you like me now - edwards radio flow remix", "come back to me", "been so long" & "love or truth" over any of the "loves" songs. not saying i completely dislike all the recent m-flo stuff as they have pulled off some great collabos with ugly duckling (which is my favorite), crystal kay, boa, sowelu, melody., sowelu, hinouchi emi...

i like a lot of japanese hip-hop, r&b and some pop but here are my recommendations:

r&b
- aco
- soul lovers
- soulhead
- lisa (of m-flo)
- double (especially when sachiko was alive R.I.P.)
- juju
- bird
- asuka
- may
- momoe shimano
- mahya
- crystal kay
- namie amuro
- utada hikaru (although pop, i like her ballads)

hip-hop
- dj tonk
- dj krush
- dj hasebe
- nujabes
- mo wax
- muro
- q-ill
- rhymester
- tsutchie

[Love Yuui]

My recommendation?

Artist: Yellow Monkey
Album: Punch Drunkard (1998)

Specifically the track, "Gorgeous."

Fabulous beat, and decisive ending. :)

[Love Yuui]

My current favourites are:

Younha - Yubikiri 'XD', aiaigasa, my lover, omoide nekinai
YUI - Tokyo, Tomorrow's way, Feel my soul, Life
Ai Otsuka - Cherish, Sensu, 5:09am
Exile - Choo Choo train, song for you
Mink - One,wish
Yui Makino - Amrita
Nami Tamaki - Promised Land, real dream, naked, Shining star
SAYAKA - Garden, eversince, mermaid
Rie Fu - 2cm, decay, beautiful words

give it a try~~:)

I concur with YUI's album "From Me to You" (2006). Great album, in general.

I rather enjoy "I can't say."

[Zen]

hmmm, well I don't really like know many J-music from animes, but bands I can help with =PPP Here, I'll just name some randomly ..... so cha ...

-Asian Kung-fu Generation*
-Orange Range*
-Dir en grey*
-AnCafe*
-Malice Mizer*
-Moi dix Mois
-Miyavi*
-D'espairs Ray*
-Psycho le Cemu
-Phantasmagoria
-L'Arc en Ciel*
-Glay
-Gackt*
-Due'le Quartz
-X Japan*
-Hide
-Silver Ash
-Alice Nine
-La'cryma Christi
-Pierrot
-Plastic Tree
-Kagrra
-Hyde
-The Pillows*

One that list ... well I'm more into j-rock so yeah. look at the ones with the '*' =]]]

[MarionetteKazuko]

My favorites are

-Dir en grey
-12012
-D'espairs Ray
-Gazette
-Girugamesh (gilagamesh)
-Malice Mizer ( MY ALL TIME FAVORITE )
-Moi Dix Mois ( My second favorite )
-Vidoll

There are some others, but I haven't listened to them in a long time. And Malice Mizer is my all time favorite band. Their music is so good, they combine rock with classic style, such as in the Gackt era with Bel-air (my favorite MM song). Moi Dix Mois is good, but I rather have had Juka as the vocalist than Seth. Not saying that seth isn't good, but I would prefer Juka over Seth.

[stretch87]

the Beck OST is awsome japanese music. after all, it is an anime about music!

for an example of how poweful this series is, listen to this. i know a black guy who listened strickly to hip-hop, but after watching Beck he got so into rock that he went out and actually bought a guitar. one of Beck's vocalists is also an MC, so some songs have a hip-hop feel to them.

If you're not into rock then i recommend Samruai Champloo's OST. pure japanese hip-hop right here.

[aYaM^maTi]

if u jpop fan i recommend morning musume.

[Suikun]

What, no Bonnie Pink fans here?

Her newest album is great, as is the one before it. She's kind of one of those "not so sure I like her" people on the first couple listens, but right after that you become hooked.

Also, Janne da Arc is one of my all time favorites, and their recently released indies boxset is worth getting if you're already a fan, but if you're just listening to them for the first time, then either Gaia or their latest album (forgot the name) are great choices. My favorite song by them is by far Neo-Venus.

If you like punk-rock-rap stuff, then UVERworld's (debut?) album Timeless is great stuff.

I'm also a FLOW fan, and while their latest album Golden Coast isn't quite as good as Game was in 2004, it's still worth the purchase if you like their sound.

I've also found myself liking AAA. I imagine most people find them cheesy, but I really like a majority of their album Attack to be pretty darn good, and the remix version of the album ain't half bad either.

[Leet-Nagato]

Sukiyaki, Kyu Sakamoto, is a good old song. Don't listen to any rewrites ;D

[raphaël]

Today's recommendation.

Rosso - Emissions.
Their last album. Not Jpop. It's real rocking rock. :cool:

I bought the CD. Yeah I did. lol. So trust me, seeing my financial situation lately, I can tell you this is pretty good stuff.

[janmurphy]

The one who did the Grandia III opening song rather apeals to me. Indeed I liked the song better than the game once I found the japanese version. Its Miz, album is Mizrock. Song is in the Sky, one of those corny seize your dreams songs but it makes me smile.

[Lucifer_san]

miyavi
gackt
anna tsuchiya
all the songs from gravitation
Lucifer - Lucy
:D

[Emil Scherbe]

Kinniku Shoujotai's 2nd album "Sister Strawberry" is fucking great.
http://www.kids.co.jp/King-Show/disco/html/sister.html

I was shocked their HEAVY METAL LED BY ACCOSTIC PIANO music
back in late 1988 and still now when I listen.

This mini album is no longer in production, so it is a bit difficult to find even in Japan,
but if you loves creativity in rock music, it is worth searching.

They changed members after this album and stunning pianist Satoshi Mishiba left.
But he joins Kenji Ohtsuki and Fumihiko Kitsutaka's Welcome to the NHK ED.
This is dream members for their old fans like me.

Kinoko Power (2nd track)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGoEqGbpA3I

3:02-3:57 piano and guitar solos

Onmyoza and others covered Matango (1st track)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjTe7BzbQ_8

[Dorfl]

I have a ton of Kin-sho songs I love but I've never bothered to try and find out who's in the band or what's going on with them. I find knowing such things often distracts from the music anyway. Music is music, put the drama aside. Anyway, other Kinniku Shoujotai songs I recommend:
Tatakae! Nani wo!? Jinsei wo!
Soshite Jinsei wa Tsuzuku
Daishaka
Ikujinashi
Odoru Dame Ningen
Hokkyokusei no Futari
Searchlight
Saji, Amari Koroshicha Dame da yo
Kana, Atama wo Yoku shite ageyou
Tetsudou Shounen no Ikoi
Koinu ni Shite Ageru.

[SpaceKnight]

Maybe UVERworld or High and Mighty color. If you don't like these then Ayumi Hamasaki and Utada Hikaru are always good choices ^^

[Suikun]

Pop music fans absolutely must get "The Light" by Ryohei - an absolutely awesome new single!

Sowelu's newest album, Twenty Four, is also very good, with "Smaile", "Crazy for You", and "Dance" being my favorite tracks.

[Chinsuke]

Okay, seeing as I seem to have different tastes than most people here I just want to say that I can take basically any kind of music that you throw at me except for lame American boy bands from the 90s (I'm looking at you N'Sync and Backstreet Boys!)

As for JMusic, if you like background music Yuki Kaijura is pretty good.
For JPop I enjoy KOTOKO,
Under17 (who has sadly broken up),
Funta (who did a cool collaberation song with Under17 called 'Gemstone'),
Rie Tanaka (she was Lacus Clyne, Meer Campbell, and Chii),
savage genius (OP and ED for Uta~Kata),
and Round Table (feat. Nino) (who has done a lot of OP and EDs for shows including: Chobits, Welcome to the NHK!, Gunbuster 2, and Uninhabited Planet Survive).
I came into contact with these artists through anime OPs, EDs, and insert songs, so I would recommend that, even though it may not be the top tier of music in Japan, it could give you a reason to scout out more JBands that you want to listen to. So get to it and experience the magic of Japanese music!:D

[kakasensai]

Hmm some japanese songs lets see

Utada Hikaru(Simple and clean Techno japanese version)
YUI=LIFE
AYUMI HAMASAKI=TRAUMA


Anime Japanese Music
MAHOU SENSEI NEGIMA=Happy Material
Ouran High School Host=Sakura Kiss
Chobits: Let me be with you
SUZUKA: Kimi No Koto
SUZUKA: Hiroshima Carp Carp
Love Hina: Sakura Drops

etc etc

those are some good japanese music

[eternal]

If you guys ever heard of Ikkitousen's insert song in episode 9 or 10,which the name of the song is FATE,please recommend some song which is similiar to it.I think it's an old school style of song.My jpop music knowledge is very shallow so please right my wrongs.

This song is quite normal if you just listen to it without having to image the scene in that anime.It's sad to listen to this song cause the scene in the anime was too depressing for me T_T makes me sentimental,especially the part where the girl raped and eventually died for another girl,who's a really close friend of hers.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I think Onitsuka Chihiro is the greatest singer in the world. I wrote more about her in another thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=747087&postcount=34).

[Tasdern]

Kitaro is one of the best in the world.

[esquire]

The Japanese band Mintyjam is also very good, you can download their tracks at www.mintyjam.net

They sound very similar to mainstream visual j-rock, such as the likes of X-Japan and Luna Sea

[Pockylova28]

I recommend to listen to some of Ayumi Hamaskai's songs and Namie Amuro's songs. I like Namie's Speed Star! That song is really good.....and also Inspire from Ayumi is good as well.

[DarkHonour]

Acutally it depends on what genre you would like to hear:

For my taste of pop, definitely Ayumi Hamasaki, ELT, Ai Otsuka etc.

For my taste of R & B, usually Namie Amuro, BoA, Utada Hikaru etc.

For my taste of ballads, I'd go for OLIVIA, Hajime Chitose but I don't really go for those who sing purely ballads.

For my taste of rock, usually HAndMC, Orange Range, abingdon boys school etc.

[LCeh]

I recommend ayaka, great voice, superb live singer, and can sing all types of songs. She is most famous for her slower songs, like I believe, Mikazuki, Te wo Tsunagou, but her more upbeat songs are pretty good too. In fact, I think I am going to make a thread about her right now.

[Samurai Panda]

Depends on your interests. Artists like Nami Tamaki (Brightdown, Oversoul) are good to listen to just for the sake of listening to a good japanese song/voice, L'Arc~En~Ciel or Gackt if it's light J-rock you're into. If you're feeling perticularly demonic, Dir En Grey or MAXIMUM THE HORMONE (or atleast some of MTH's songs... try to avoid "Hesei Strawberry Vibe", anyway >_>).

[Nervous Venus]

LCeh: Funny, I was just listening to Ayaka's live performance of " Te o Tsunago" at budokan like two minutes ago.

She's really amazing and hits all the right keys. Very rare for female jpop artists. Good choice :)

[LCeh]

LCeh: Funny, I was just listening to Ayaka's live performance of " Te o Tsunago" at budokan like two minutes ago.

She's really amazing and hits all the right keys. Very rare for female jpop artists. Good choice :)

That performance is definitely one of her best, and at that very same concert, she performed Mikazuki almost to perfection as well. She really is something, the way she performs at live occasions is just amazing, and she is still so young. I hope she will keep striving to improve her singing as well as lyrics writing.

Unfortunately, she isn't really known outside of Japan, although she has been doing quite well in Japan. That's why I have been promoting her on forums these days. :D

[Hayaku]

Naraku No Hana by Shimamiya Eiko - opening of "Higurashi no naku koro ni kai"
Higurashi no naku koro ni by Shimamiya Eiko - opening of "Higurashi no naku koro ni"

[Flame-X]

here's the list of bands/artists i recommend

Luna Sea
D'espairsRay
Janne Da Arc
Kawada Mami
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
T.M.Revolution
Koda Kumi
HAL
girugamesh
Suara
Gackt
Miyuki Hashimoto
abingdon boys school
ACID
Galneryus
Nightmare
D
Minami Kuribayashi
Ayumi Hamasaki
Dir en grey
HOME MADE KAZOKU
Nami Tamaki
the GazettE
Riyu Kosaka
KOTOKO
move
Chemistry
alice nine
Ryohei Yamamoto
12012
UVERworld
Aira Yuuki
I've Girls
Stephanie
Nana Kitade
Mikuni Shimokawa
BACK-ON
Maaya Sakamoto
Do As Infinity
m-flo
Nana Mizuki
X Japan
Kagrra
LM.C
Chihiro Yonekura
FictionJunction YUUKA

[nines]

Baby Tears / Freedom remix by Ayumi Hamasaki
BLOOD on fire by -AAA
BRAVE PHOENIX By MIZUKI NANA
Silent Sky by Tiaraway
"Red-reduction division-" by fripSide

are some i reccomend if you want a sample of them you can look them up on youtube their 2x cg vids 1x gunda 1x shana 2x A's i think theyre all really good

[Mueti]

I'm too lazy to write something about all of these artists, so I'll just list them, roughly divided by genres. Awesome stuff only. :p

~Rock / Pop / Folk:
Acid Mothers Temple (& the Melting Paraiso UFO / SWR / & the Cosmic Inferno / & the Pink Ladies Blues)
Jun Togawa
Apogee & Perigee
Yapoos
Halmens
Guernica
Tipographica
Boredoms
Boris
Flower Travellin' Band
Happy End
Koenjihyakkei
Ruins
Les Rallizes Denudes
Maximum the Hormone
Midori
Number Girl
OOIOO
Piana
The Pillows
Rovo
Shizuka
Supercar
Té
Tokyo Jihen
Shiina Ringo
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Bi Kyo Ran
Rin Toshite Shigure
Christine 23 Onna
Cruyff in the Bedroom
Color Filter
4 Bonjour's Parties
Ichiko Hashimoto
LSD-March
Kan Mikami
Tomokawa Kazuki

~Electronic / Ambient / Techno / Glitch / Drone:
Antennasia
YMCK
Aube
DJ Krush
Ryoji Ikeda
Cyclo
DJ Sharpnel (:D)
Eel
Tetsu Inoue
Ken Ishii
Denk Groove
Hiroshi Watanabe
Jairamji
JP-Juice
Kagami
Takehisa Kosugi
Nobukazu Takemura

~(Free-)Jazz / Sound Collage / Avant-Garde / Industrial:
Keiji Haino (+all his projects/collaborations)
Masayuki Takayanagi
Kaoru Abe
Contagious Orgasm
Dissecting Table
Toshinori Kondo
Masahiko Togashi
Death Ambient
Otomo Yoshihide (+all his projects/collaborations)
Ground Zero
Les Sculpteurs De Vinyl
Tatsuya Ysohida (+all his projects/collaborations)
Guilty Connector
Merzbow
Masonna
KK Null
Aki Onda
Taj Mahal Travellers
Toshiya Tsunoda


I'll stop here for now. It's not like a lot of people will look through the whole list anyway. :uhoh:

[nanafan]

there are a lot that i like
brilliant green (pop)
hitomi takahashi (pop/rock?)
tommy heavenly and february 6
yui(pop/rock)
anna tsuchiya "(pop/rock)
maaya sakamoto (pop)
hanako oku (pop)
yuki kajiura (does the soundtracks for gundam tsubasa resevoir chronicles...)
kimura kaela (pop)
shikao sugao (pop, op for xxxholic and xxxholic kei)
yui makino (pop, anime songs)

[kininku buster]

I don't listen to much Japanese music but I'd highly recommend the Pillows, Sparta Locals, and the Polysics. They're all awesome imo.

[jouttex]

Can't live without their voice:
- Mizuki Nana (Heart-shaped chant, Innocent starter, Dancing in the velvet moon)
- Okui Masami (Rinbu -revolution-, Sora ni kakeru hashi, Jama wa sasenai)

Others I like:
- Suara (Wasurenaide, Musuoka)
- Kuribayashi Minami (Hoshizora no waltz, Precious memories)
- Jyukai (Anata ga ita mori, Hikari)
- Ishikawa Chiaki (Uninstall, Utsukushi kereba sore de ii)
- angela (Asu e no brilliant road, Mirai to yuu na no kotae)

[ThoHell]

Try both Odore (from live action Osen) and Yukiyanagi, both are pretty good.

[BrokenWingz]

Well, I listen to most genres of music ( jap mainly). Also it's no fun mentioning names that everyone knows i.e HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR, ayumi hamasaki, BoA, EXILE, aqua timez etc So I'll just go with less infamous bands / singers. Maybe next time I'll list somewhat well known groups.

More unknown-ish artist that I listen to, ones that are from the Bemani franchise ( or was). Bemani being the company or so that produces games like DDR, beatmania, drummania, pop at music, etc. Songs that are more upbeat and can pump you up somewhat xD.

BeForU - red rocket rising, yoru hanabi, moon bike, 6 rainbow, kiseki, dive, bala bala etc

Kanako Hoshino - inferno, gekkou, dance, taiyou, max love, etc

DJ Yoshitaka - alot of his songs he composes are awesome . ( darling my LUV, max love with kanako hoshino, etc)

Sayaka Minami - under the sky, double loving heart, life

TЁЯRA (naoki + jun karashima ) - More favourite bemani group - switch, hana ranman flowers

PlatoniX ( not active anymore, yes junko is in this ) - Don't be afraid myself


FripSide - save me again, velocity, misery, end game, etc

Junko Hirata - double loving heart, under the sky) [ both sang with Sayaka Minami

Riyu Kosaka - freedom, baby's tears, danzai no hana, platnium smile, etc

Ayane [ Junko Hirata's mainstream] - romancing story, cloudier sky, lunatic tears, wish on truth, etc

Naoki a.k.a god of bemani, composes a lot of BeForU’s songs, Part of Terra, tons tons of alias’s.

Those are the only ones that stand out atm.

TЁЯRA - Hana Ranman Flowers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRZQmb81hCQ&feature=related) for an example :heh:

[mandarb916]

I don't listen to male vocals much anymore so...that said..

Spitz & Kamakura Kei are the 2 male artists/groups I listen to...oh and Kaguya Hime from 15-20 years ago...lol

Mitose Noriko, Shigata Akiko, Shimotsuki Haruka, Ishibashi Yuuko (Ar Tonelico song birds...currently on heavy rotation in my listening, even if you haven't played the games, I HIGHLY suggest trying to snag the soundtrack...VERY beautiful singing...unique too)

Akino Arai
Anna
Ayane
ELISA
Eufonius
Makino Yui
Mizuki Nana (particularly Astrogation)
Monet/PixelBee (currently on break due to pregnancy)
Snow*
Suara
THYME

[bhl88]

I listen to anime music XD mostly

Like

Hare Hare Yukai
Bouken Desho Desho
Cosplay no Kokoroe
and others

[Hey Boss!]

here's the list of bands/artists i recommend

Luna Sea
D'espairsRay
Janne Da Arc
Kawada Mami
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR
T.M.Revolution
Koda Kumi
HAL
girugamesh
Suara
Gackt
Miyuki Hashimoto
abingdon boys school
ACID
Galneryus
Nightmare
D
Minami Kuribayashi
Ayumi Hamasaki
Dir en grey
HOME MADE KAZOKU
Nami Tamaki
the GazettE
Riyu Kosaka
KOTOKO
move
Chemistry
alice nine
Ryohei Yamamoto
12012
UVERworld
Aira Yuuki
I've Girls
Stephanie
Nana Kitade
Mikuni Shimokawa
BACK-ON
Maaya Sakamoto
Do As Infinity
m-flo
Nana Mizuki
X Japan
Kagrra
LM.C
Chihiro Yonekura
FictionJunction YUUKA



GOOD list all of my fav!!!! ^_^

[satoshi2oll]

I love Ayumi Hamasaki, Nami Tamaki, Mami Kawada, and the jpop groups under H!P called C-ute and Buono!

[Phantasmagoria]

I third CLAMP-X's list!!
Omg, he has the almost exact same taste as me!!

[mandarb916]

Exec_Phantasmagoria?

[Phantasmagoria]

Exec_Phantasmagoria?

Haha, Ar Tonelico's Hymn :D :D

Oh, almost forgot:

GLAY (VERB)
GReeeeN (Kiseki)
Mihimaru GT
Aqua Timez (Niji)
V6
Kumi Koda
ORANGE RANGE

[Nena]

Clamp X i agree those are awesome..lol here is a list of some suggested bands: :smile:
The GazettE, SuG, LM.C, Antic Cafe, Lolita 23q, Himeyuri, Ayabie, IOSYS, High and Mighty Color, Maximum the Hormone. Visual Kei <33

[Same_Shark]

Anything by Boom Boom Satellites!

[xxanimefan4_ever]

for indie/rock I recommend these, they're like actual singers/artists so they have albums cause I guess somep eople just posting someone who sang some anime song but not an actual singer- no album, etc.

brilliant green, quruli, advantage lucy, ikimono gakari, stephanie, SNoW, tommy heavenly6, Mr. children, HY, moumoon, STRAIGHTENER, school food punishment,

monkey majik - they're awesome, real catchy stuff adn 2 members are canadian so I think there's white peopel singing in english/japanese and I think thoese people's japanese sound rather good.

[mons]

Ketsumeishi is fine.

http://hopstepjpop14.blog126.fc2.com/blog-category-2.html

[Thomasunde]

Malice Mizer is an amazing Japanese 'Goth' band. The best song by them is 'Au Revoir.'
Try them. Best songs are on youtube anyway.

[iluvnuriko]

Abingdon Boys School for J-rock.
Onmyouza for Heavy-metal with folk tunes thrown in.

[Appurukami]

I recommend Pez'moku if you want a bit of jazz/rock.
Horns, double bass, jazz piano and such.

[emotionless_teenage]

go with UVERworld songs(their pre-proglution song are the best)
other than that
-ketsumeishi
-aya hirano
-T.M.Revolution
-kotoko
-rie kugimiya(lawl)

the list is long but most of them already being stated before
good luck

[-KarumA-]

It all depends on what you like, for instance I like anything vocal from Key Sounds Label, they include the opening of Air, Kanon and Clannad, I must say the the CD Love Song is one of my favs ever

[-Sho-]

Go for Maximum The Hormone !!!

[k'2]

mostly jrock

and i recommend:

1- despairs'ray

2- the rodeo carburettor

3-asian kung-fu generation

4-nightmare

5-jinn

6-the pillows

7- the gazette

8-no regret life

9- ellegarden

[ninjinsamax3]

Otsuka Ai
Takahashi Hitomi
Super Flying Boy (Chou Hikou Shounen)
YUI
High and Mighty Color
Antique Cafe

[Aoi_chan]

té
Lostage
Avengers in Sci-Fi
NICO touches the Walls
Go!Go!7188
Doping Panda
9mm Parabellum Bullet
Rin Toshite Shigure or Ling toshite Shigure　（凛として時雨）
School Food Punishment
Starboard
Radwimps
Oblivion Dust
Quruli （くるり）

[ezara]

xxanimefan4_ever.

You have great tastes. I second Advantage Lucy. They are one of the most innocent/refreshing/unique groups I have heard from Japan. Hello Mate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SkoOyJChI&feature=related) is one of my faves.

[syakudo55]

My favorite Jpop on YouTube.


male

Around the world - Monky Majik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDT06xdozsg&feature=related

Train - Ketsumeishi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpopQ_Tnow4

Youthful Days - Mr.Children
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Ao87ni8zo

Amai koibito - Kaji Hideki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32kxnE-6yt4&feature=related

Freeza - Maximum the Hormone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anw6b4Eo6ww

Asymmetry - Suga Shikao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odGFEg4SBZw

Kimi no suki na koto - Hirai Ken
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6B-N2iqtgs&feature=related

Sora mo toberu hazu - Spitz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-I9Tn6RL0Q

We Can Make It - Arashi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX1RJYAyKng



female

Kibun jhoujhou - mihimaru GT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5FPtxQFIkY

Came again - m-flo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNBiaZbFGII

Killer Tune - Tokyo jihen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv4Snc8_nLU

Swallowtail Butterfly Ai no uta - Chara
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL9GzM7dQi4&feature=related

Retro memory - Capsule
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMtSet5UTOE&feature=related

Game - Perfume
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyZ3g4phWpw&feature=PlayList&p=91CC75279D69894D&

[Sam_Sayikarou]

Maximum the hormone, Nightmare, Dir en grey, The gazette, Antic cafe, Malice mizer, Gakt, Phantasmagoria (Y)

all great bandsss

[ginran]

well, before I recommend anything, I gotta know what you like! :D what music do you usually listen to? any genre or specific band you like? because I have a pretty varied taste, I like A LOT of music, so if you name a genre, etc, I'll probably have a few suggestions for ya. :)

[xYuki]

THYME-

forever we can make it..- OST to-love ru

EGnJ_NcDr3Q