LMN J Music Top 30 Countdown 2013.09.18
The artistry and mastery of Japanese music shall inundate your heart, once again.
Before I begin, please accept my quittance for disappearing without prior notice. The past six-months have brought on many changes to my life - some of which have put a significant restraint on my free time. However, I am not here to make excuses. I am here to address the state of J-Music - as always.
The absence of many fascinating bands from years past is yet another significant reason why I haven't felt the passion to release countdowns as I have in the past.
With the likes of &, VIDOLL, and Administrator already gone, and Versailles, SuG, and Lolita23q on indefinite hiatus, the Visual Kei segment, overall, has been less than fulfilling. With that said, there still remains plenty of great music to listen to.
First among that group is ACE's "Shiori Akuma ~Phantom of the Snow", which is one of the best songs released this year. This single was initially set to chart in MEMOIR IV - a countdown that never came to fruition. During the absence, the single twice topped the chart, and has remained in the Top 20 for fourteen straight weeks. It survived the summer, and with winter approaching, will likely remain in the Top 30 through the remainder of the year.
Another single that was supposed to chart in that lost countdown is vistlip's "CHIMERA", which also peaked at no.1. Since then, vistlip has released its third album "CHRONUS", with "prey shadow" also taking the throne. While all three releases by vistlip this year have been impressive, it seems very unlikely that any of them will be significant enough to push the band to the Top at the end of the year. I do hope that vistlip releases something else before then, but that seems unlikely as well.
During the absence of the aforementioned bands, it seems that MEJIBRAY has evolved into an elite band.
One-of-a-kind. Chef d'oeuvre. A gem.
All of these words describe all four releases by MEJIBRAY this year. And all four seems bound for high ranks in the Final 2013 Countdown (assuming there is one).
In other news, Crimson Shiva is striving. Demon's Garden may be the band's best release yet, and even better, finally a PV to go with it. LiSA remains in a category of her own, with "traumerei" closely following the trails of "crossing field". Not a whole lot needs to be said about MEGAMASSO either - everything about this band defines originality.
Perhaps though, the biggest surprise right now comes from 12012. Who would have....thought...?
Featured Artists:
12012
ACE (Anonymous Confederate Ensemble )(エース)
ALSDEAD
Angelo
Crimson Shiva
D
DaizyStripper
D=OUT (ダウト)
DuelJewel
Fis block
the GazettE
GILLE (ジル)
girugamesh (ギルガメッシュ)
GReeeeN
KAMIJO (Versailles)
LiSA
Mamoru Miyano (宮野真守)
Masaharu Fukuyama (福山雅治)
Matenrou Opera (摩天楼オペラ)
MEGMASSO (メガマソ)
MEJIBRAY
MY FIRST STORY
NIGHTMARE (ナイトメア)
ROGUE
Royz
vistlip
Yousei Teikoku (妖精帝國)
I will commit my best efforts to keep the countdown up to date. However, reality is that I can not promise anything at this point, and thus will be halting previews and viewer voting until the situation changes.
For everyone who is still around - I appreciate your commitment. Please stay tuned.
Vanquish L.L.
LMN J Music Executive Producer
LMNjmusic2011 / LifeMusicNetwork