Thankful for yet another month filled with Japanese music. 

I know this month’s the month that parts of the world celebrate Thanksgiving, but here on the Monthly Recommendation Roundup, we’re always thankful for the many bands and artists and the great work that they do putting out music for us listeners to enjoy 😉 Before I proceed any further, if you’re new to the site and you’re not fully aware how exactly we go about celebrating this past month’s Japanese music offerings, here’s a quick explanation on what this series is all about—

At the end of each month, I put together a post featuring Japanese music that I’ve listened to and want to recommend to you all. Keep in mind, these songs don’t necessarily have to be recent releases. Some might be tracks I’ve just discovered, while others could be longtime favorites that I’m excited to share on a whim.

The songs I feature will all come from YouTube links to their respective PVs, which means there are some limitations on what I can include. However, I find that sticking to one platform ensures the most accessibility for everyone (and there are easy workarounds for region restrictions). This also allows me to create a playlist of all the songs featured in each Roundup, which I update and share at the end of every post

Just as a reminder before we get to this month’s featured tracks—this is the last Roundup post for the year. In case it slipped your mind or you don’t yet know because this is your first year of following this series, in lieu of the Monthly Recommendation Roundup, next month we will be having our annual Roundup Awards!

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アイノ最適解/ai no saiteikikai
by 理芽 (“RIM”) × 明透 (“ASU”)
Pure chemistry

We missed out on covering ASU’s rebranding of sorts following the now formal dissolution of SINSEKAI’s two-person unit Albemuth (formerly made up of her and label alum ARU), which came along with it a couple of new originals signaling the next new chapter in the former’s artist career. As such, there was no way I could pass up one final opportunity to have her here on the Roundup before the end of the year as it presents itself here with the song Ai no saiteikikai alongside KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO standout RIM. One of RIM’s strengths as an artist is her range—not just vocally, though she excels there too, but in her versatility. In my opinion, RIM is arguably the most adaptable singer in V.W.P, as shown by the diverse array of songs she’s covered over the years. The pairing of ASU and ARU is, for the most part hard to replicate, with ARU having served as a perfect foil to ASU and vice versa, but RIM proves herself to be more than capable of making herself a suitable dance partner for this occasion, in turn allowing ASU to pretty much go all out here. And as the cherry on top, the track is arranged by none other than maeshima soshi!

蹴り飛ばして/keri tobashite
by 明くる夜の羊 (akuruyo no hitsuji)
I can’t stress how good they were this year

As I mentioned back in the July Roundup, Akuruyo no Hitsuji delivered an incredible sophomore album, pointillism, in May—a release I highly recommend checking out if you haven’t already. That said, I hesitate to describe the band as having “improved” since we last saw them, as their current sound isn’t a significant departure from how they were a couple of years ago with their first full album. Vocalist Kawano Yui, in particular, continues to be at her empowering best. Instead, after listening to their latest single Keri Tobashite, I’m more convinced than ever that the band has always been this good—it’s just taken me some time to fully appreciate their brand of blood-pumping rock. My fascination with this style of music, as I’ve mentioned when discussing similar bands and artists, likely stems from my offhand exposure to Atomic Skipper. It’s become one of my favorite genres to explore lately, and Akuruyo no Hitsuji has firmly established themselves as one of its standout examples.

27:00
by ブランデー戦記 (brandy senki)
Ladies and gentlemen, Brandy Senki have officially arrived

It might’ve taken Brandy Senki a moment, but the Osaka-based trio seems to have found their groove. Fresh off the release of their second EP, Akumu no You na Isshuukan, which dropped just this past August, the band is back with a relatively quick follow-up in the form of their new single, 27:00. I touched on this a fair bit when I covered the EP for the J-Music Advance Party on my Substack newsletter (check it out here!), where I noted that, prior to its release, many—including myself—didn’t quite know what to make of Brandy Senki. Their sound was still largely undefined, owing to the limited number of songs they’d put out up to that point. It’s the kind of growing pains you’d expect from a young band, but as is often the case, it seems Brandy Senki have started to figure out who they are—or at least the kind of music they want to create. With 27:00, it feels like the pieces are finally falling into place, hinting at a clearer artistic direction for the band moving forward.

itadaki
by Quw
Yes, I will indeed humbly receive this offering

Speaking of quick turnarounds, Quw make their way back on the Roundup after debuting in it just last month, and with a brand new single to boot in Itadaki here—which further solidifies their inclusion in my ever-growing list of bands and artists to keep an eye out for. Not that I thought they necessarily needed to prove themselves even more than they already have, but I thought the timing was just too fitting not to point it out. At any rate, I really am just glad that I get to enjoy composer mdrm’s catchy synth melodies paired with vocalist i’s light and airy singing style which in tandem just make for a fun and addictive tune. I personally also really like how they artificially layer harmonies to i’s vocals in their songs, making her voice sound flush and full, while also giving their tracks a cool sort of “electric”, almost Vocaloid-like feel to them like it does here. Looking at their discography, it’s clear Quw churns out releases at an impressive pace. As a newer fan, I’m not quite used to it yet, but if they keep this momentum, I have no doubt they’ll become a regular fixture around here.

21 century boys
by SATOH
Ain’t no party like a SATOH party

If the iconic DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future making an appearance in the PV for 21 Century Boys is meant to symbolize anything, it’s that SATOH is inviting us to break free from the past and present and take a glimpse into the future with their new-age hyper pop. Then again, it might just be there because Linna Figg and Kyazm thought it looked cool—which, let’s be honest, is probably the case (XD). That aside, I can’t help but imagine a future where this duo becomes even more of a “life of the party” than they already are. I saw it firsthand when I had the chance to watch SATOH perform live, and it really feels like only a matter of time before more people get on board. Especially if they keep delivering tracks like 21 Century Boys, which is a shot of pure adrenaline from start to finish. With racing drums, electrifying guitars, and an energy that doesn’t let up, it’s exactly the kind of irresistible fix you’d expect from these two at this point.

VETICA feat wadfah
by ん・フェニ (“N-FENI”)
I’m a couple of years late on N-FENI, but hey, we’re here now

I stumbled across N-FENI’s All Night Radio back in September, and from there, I went on an absolute binge (lol) of everything she’s released so far. I knew next to nothing about her at the time, so learning that she was a former member of MIGMA SHELTER and other idol units under a different name was all news to me. While the idea of a former idol branching out into a solo career might have caught my interest if I’d known beforehand, I’m not sure that alone would’ve been enough to get me to actually check out her music. In hindsight, maybe going into N-FENI’s music completely blind worked out for the better. What immediately drew me in was her style—which, as you’ll hear in VETICA, is an intriguing blend of vaporwave, dream pop, and grunge; distorted guitars carry a pop melody while N-FENI’s airy vocals float over a grainy wall of noise, creating a trippy, atmospheric vibe. What makes this track feel even more special is the feature from Thai singer-songwriter wadfah. It’s such a perfect pairing, as wadfah is in a lot of ways like a direct Thai counterpart to N-FENI, down to their shared aesthetic. I didn’t dig too much into how this collaboration came to be, but I’m so glad it did.

ミカクニンハスキー/mikakunin husky
by sanetii
Speaking of becoming hooked

Much like with N-FENI, I was a little late to the party with sanetii, whom I mostly discovered through X. Interestingly—and I think this might be a first for me—I came across him thanks to mutuals who are fans of the same bands I love, particularly muque and CLAN QUEEN. Sure enough, sanetii’s music scratches a similar itch, though in a distinct way. While muque’s pop is uniquely offbeat and CLAN QUEEN’s alt-rock is explosive and grandiose, sanetii leans into hyper-energetic pop rock. His track Mikakunin Husky perfectly embodies this style, with many Japanese fans likening his sound to bands like PEOPLE1 or WurtS. The comparisons make sense, especially in terms of vocal delivery, but what sets sanetii apart for me is how his music feels like it speaks directly to today’s generation of Japanese music fans. Much like muque and CLAN QUEEN, sanetii seems to be carving out a space for a new era of Japanese pop rock—a distinctly “Reiwa” kind of pop rock, if you will.

プレミエール/premiale
by chef’s
Long overdue Roundup feature

I’ve been meaning to feature chef’s on the Roundup for quite some time now—specifically since the release of their single Hitchcock back in February, which marked my first encounter with their music. I’ve mentioned before that I keep a running list of bands and artists, waiting for just the right moment to showcase their work. With Premiale, chef’s has made themselves impossible to overlook any longer, earning their well-deserved spot. What quickly stands out about chef’s sound—something the band aptly refers to as oishii ongaku (literally “delicious music”)—is the intricacy and technicality of their compositions, especially their guitar work, which shines throughout this track. I also loved the addition of brass accompaniments here, giving the song a classy, refined vibe that perfectly complements the “Michelin star” quality of their music. I have no idea what chef’s will serve up next, but you can bet I’m already on the waitlist. Okay… that’s probably enough food and restaurant puns for one night.

SUPPER
by セブンス・ベガ (seventh vega)
I admit, I may have had the wrong idea about them

When I first came across Seventh Vega, I was convinced they’d be another manufactured girl-rock outfit, akin to early Silent Siren or SCANDAL—where the vibe leans more “girl” than “rock,” with aesthetics and music skewing toward sugary pop rather than anything with real edge or bite. However, it seems the Tokyo-based four-piece is intent on challenging that notion, as evident from the opening seconds of the PV for SUPPER, where vocalist Shibuya Kanna takes a drag from a cigarette. That said, adopting an “edgy” image can still feel like just another aesthetic, so I’m holding judgment for now. Time will tell if these girls are truly about that city/hard rock life or simply playing into the look. Sound-wise, though, their songs definitely lean in that direction, which is what surprised me most about this band. It’s not just the tone but also the nuance in their music that stands out. Clearly, the band has a solid grasp of their identity and is confidently running with it. I’m very curious to see how far they can take it, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them.

僕の話/boku no hanashi
by TRE@SON
If anything else, they definitely have that *it* factor

There’s just something so endearing about this trio from Kanagawa and what they’re trying to do here—maybe it’s my soft spot for Japanese youths living their best indie band lives. The fact that TRE@SON is gaining decent traction despite still being in high school is pretty remarkable when you think about it, and I believe that’s where much of their appeal lies. That said, I’d like to think some of the hype surrounding them also comes down to their sound. Take Boku no Hanashi, for instance—their music feels as raw and youthful as you’d expect from a high school band. The compositions aren’t overly complex, the lyrics capture the earnestness of youth, and vocalist Urumi’s voice still carries that unmistakable teenage quality. At the same time though, their sound is impressively clean and neatly arranged (and if I had to say, reminiscent of early Hump Back). They have massive potential in that regard. It’s always fascinating when bands like TRE@SON emerge because, as much as they show promise, it’s not uncommon for members, especially as young as they are, to eventually pursue more “future-proof” paths. Here’s selfishly hoping they stick it out though as I do genuinely think they have something special here.

MUST LISTEN:
“Ai no Saiteikikai” by RIM x ASU and “Mikakunin Husky” by sanetii
I always feel compelled to give the ‘must listen’ tag to vsingers whenever I get around to featuring them here on the Roundup as I find that often they’re the ones who tend to get overlooked simply due to the nature of their artistry being virtual (and thus maybe subject to the same predispositions that one might have with vtubers or similar entities). If that’s not your cup of tea, that’s perfectly fine, but I humbly ask that you do at least give Ai no Saiteikikai a try. It’s a fun track sung by a pair of amazing singers with an incredibly talented producer at the helm. From the back half of the Roundup I do want to make up for a bit of lost time by asking that you guys go give sanetii a listen as well if you haven’t yet prior, starting with Mikakunin Husky here. As mentioned, if you’re a fan of muque and CLAN QUEEN (which, if you follow the Roundup, there’s a decent chance that you do), I think you’ll find it to your liking.

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The YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music playlists have ALL now been updated with this month’s featured tracks. Make sure to follow them on your preferred listening service if you haven’t yet!

The Roundup EP for November 2024 is now up! If this month’s featured tracks weren’t enough to satisfy your Japanese music needs, fret not because there’s plenty more where that came from in the playlist down below 😉

What are your guys’ thoughts on this month’s Roundup? Let me know down below! Likewise, if you have your own recommendations for the month, feel free to share with the class in the comments as well. Would love to hear ’em!”

We held the J-Music Advance Party once again this month, where we played host to yet a whole slew of new Japanese music releases for November (catch it here!). As a reminder, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the Party, but it you want your monthly invite to these, feel free to subscribe! Our next one (and the final one for the year for that matter) is set to be held on December 8, 2024. Hope to see you there!

Week 22 and Week 23 of the Spotify J-Music Playlist Draft is in the books, along with Week 24 which came out… just today! (lol) A ton of activity for this series this month so be sure to catch yourselves up if you haven’t yet already 😁

The J-Music Exchange/Rate was also back this month for another new pair of album reviews for yours guys’ reading and listening pleasure. I picked out this month’s theme, where I went and had ourselves listen to albums by lesser-known projects of otherwise famous people. For this one I had Al listen to the album BITEKI by Biteki Keikaku. You’ll be in for a surprise if you didn’t already whose behind that one. Read all about it in Al’s Review over at the Omunibasu Substack! Al in turn went and had me go take brkfstblend’s City Habits for a spin—check out my review here!

Lastly, before I let you guys go, I again would like to humbly remind everyone that in lieu of the Monthly Recommendation Roundup, we will instead be having the annual Roundup Awards next month! The Awards has traditionally served as my year-end post in celebration of this past year of Japanese music that we’ve had, and I’d love nothing more than to have you all join me for it 😊

That about wraps it up! Thank you all so much for dropping by whenever you do—it truly means a lot. As always, I hope the Roundup was just as enjoyable for you to go through as it was for me to put together.

Happy Listening!