A Version Of "Asia no Junshin" That I Did Not Expect

At this point we have all seen a ton of awesome versions of Asia no Junshin... but an orchestra driven one with Puffy. Coolest thing I might see all week. Mike found an accompanying version of Nagisa ni Matsuwaru Et Cetera.

h/t to Ü 須玉湖 dh2 : New01 - x for the cap.

Puffy Dinner Show

Saw on Puffy's site they have their first holiday / Christmas dinner show which is a very interesting turn of events.

Here is the info from their English site:

17 years from PUFFY's debut and it will be the first time to have a dinner show!
Let's spend a wonderful Christmas with PUFFY while eating a special dinner.

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★Ami Onuki★
I've heard that dinner show's is the gateway to success for young artists.
17 years and finally...I'm too full for words.
Please enjoy a PUFFY-like dinner and show.

★Yumi Yoshimura★
Ever since our debut, the management's plan for us to wear thoses jeans and t-shirt...
Phew, we're finally free, and the time has finally come for us to change into our own dress!
Yippee, Yippee!

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【Kobe】December 20, 2013 (Fri)
Hotel Okura Kobe 1F "Heian-no-ma"
Reception：17:30 /OPEN：17:45
DINNER: 18:00～
SHOW: 19:30～
Ticket: 36,000 Yen(Food・Drinks・Service charge included)
※children preschool age and younger not allowed

Reservation contact: Starts from Sept. 21日(Sat) via. telephone
【for 9/21 only】078-333-3800 (10:00～19:00)
【from 9/22日～】078-333-3801 (10:00～19:00)
※Hotel website:http://www.kobe.hotelokura.co.jp/

It might have been someone commenting here or from another blog (full credit to the original writer, I honestly can't remember which it was) discussing these holiday shows and how more established artists turn to doing these shows.  For about 360 dollars a head it is probably a decent revenue source, but finances aside it feels like Puffy has turned a corner in their career and I am not entirely sure I know how I feel about that.  Ultimately if it leads to more good music, that is not much of a worry at all.

Also noted it was in Kobe, which I also find interesting.  I wonder if it is a finding an opening geogrpahically or partnering with a hotel to host.  Probably great for people around the Osaka metro area, kind of a hike for folks in Tokyo.

Finding Puffy in Tokyo

Got back from Japan a couple of weeks ago.  In short: Japan was everything I thought it would be and more.    I would go back again for a vacation without question.  I know what you are asking, did I find any Puffy items.  My first stop was in Kyoto but it  was not my first choice, my wife wa snot in the mood to go to a music shop when we were walking to the Nishi Honganji Temple.  There was a store called Book Off which probably would have been great as I suspect a used store might have more Puffy stuff.  But not worth pressing as the vote was 3 to 1 against me.

As we were walking up to Kiyumiza-dera Temple, which is basically a pedestrian mall filled with tourist stuff.  There was a store that catered to Japanese celebrity type items.  No dice, simply the young clerk giving me the X sign with his hands.  Which to me was about the only off putting thing in Japan, but that seems to be a young people thing and they can be just as annoying no matter where in the world they are. :)  Now my last chance was the final leg of the trip back in Tokyo.

In Tokyo stayed at the Marriott in Ginza (great location, three major subway lines right outside the door) and then time was running short.  Luckily the plucky hotel staff helped me out and pointed me to Yamano Music on Chuo Dori.  A five minute walk from the hotel (well for me... the advantage of being tall).  So we stopped by while looking for dinner and I met with some success.

(via Google Street View)

It was a bit of a bummer to only have recent singles to choose from but I try to make the best of a situation.  So I got the Sweet Drops and Datsu Dystopia singles.  It was a nice way to end the trip as the following day was our flight back to the States.

If anyone is interested I can post some travel pics and I promise I will keep them to a reasonable amount.

Wild Girls On Circuit Rarity

Once in a blue moon I find a fun rarity on Youtube. Not exactly sure where and why this version of Wild Girls On Circuit was used as the official PV is very different. It looks a notch above normal TV appearances, but there are some little items (like a car jump off the track and veering towards Ami's feet) that suggest this was a limited take (perhaps even one) performance.

Your guess is as good as mine (I would hunch Pa-pa-pa-pa-Puffy....).

P.S. Due to leave for Japan tomorrow via Singapore. Sadly the J-Music selection in Singapore has trickled down to nothing over the past years, so I am not surprised.  Not a lot of down time, but music shopping is on the list. If I get inspired or see Puffy related stuff I will post up.

P.P.S. More thinking about an expanded blog, now just a matter of starting the graphics work with another freelancer I know.

Datsu Dystopia Single Review

After a modest hiatus Puffy is back with the Datsu Dystopia single.  The album cover(s) are nicely shot but do not really convey much beyond Puffy is back.  The upside is both Ami and Yumi look terrific and their new look works.  Hopefully this is a sign they have stepped away from the hobo fashion culture that they have been sporting for a few years (to be fair that just may be a Japanese fashion trend they were compelled to follow).  This review is covering the regular single, but almost everything is applicable to the deluxe version.

Datsu Dystopia is not a bad song, it simply is not the song I wanted.  Not like I get to vote. There are a lot of elements I like and the electronic influences and over the top synthesizers are fun changes.  Unfortunately the things I do not like about the track balance out the things in the positive column.  The pace of the song feels staggered and a touch manic, which doesn't quite work for me.  Ami and Yumi do a decent job singing, but at points it feels like the instruments overwhelm their performance.

My Journal is a solid b track and probably closer to what I like hearing from Puffy.  It probably is not as well engineered song as the title track but the weird part is that it is probably the better song and were it tightened up a little it probably should have been the a track.  I found myself enjoying the guitar focused instrumentation more than the synth heavy lead track.  More importantly there is a throwback feel to My Journal which is a better feel for what Puffy has done musically over the past decade and a half.

Ultimately after the hiatus Datsu Dystopia is not what I was waiting for and it doesn't leave me wanting for more.  I think the contracts with Dareka Ga in that was a single most of us can agree was a great single and created an enthusiasm for Thank You.  As with Dareka Ga I would be surprised if Datsu Dystopia made it onto the next album. If it does I won’t mind but I also do not want the that album to sound like Datsu Dystopia either.

Scorecard
Music: C+
Singing: B-
Instruments: B
Engineering: A-


P.S.  Have a happy Independence Day.  

P.P.S. I will hopefully post something up before I leave for Singapore and Japan, but I just might post up while I am overseas if I find some fun Puffy inspirations.  No luck on reaching out to Puffy, but I did not have high hopes to begin with.

P.P.P.S.  Strong odds I will be spinning another blog from Amiyumidas,at some point. Not am issue with Puffy at all, just that there is so much more I would like to talk about regarding Japanese music that is not Puffy.  You'll still see me kicking out content here, I promise. :)