Konnichiwa S::L:

A few upcoming releases from my list of favorites:

Maria Rita / SAMBA MEU
release date: 09/18/2007

Samba! New album! Track listing:
Samba Meu
O Homem Falou
Maltratar, Não é Direito
Num Corpo Só
Cria
Tá Perdoado
Pra Declarar Minha Saudade
O Que é O Amor
Trajetória
Mente ao Meu Coração
Novo Amor
Maria Do Socorro
Corpitcho
Casa de Noca

Akiko / A WHITE ALBUM
release date: 11/07/2007

Akiko's first album of Holiday classics! As of this writing I've
only found the track listing in Japanese, but via online translation
I picked out some of the tunes, several of which appear to be
Japanese (e.g., Hotaru no hikari). The English songs include
Santa Baby, The Christmas Song, The First Christmas, Winter
Wonderland, Jingle Bell Rock, and Let It Snow!

From what I've read, Pizzicato Five's Konishi Yasuhara is producer,
and his last collabo with Akiko (LITTLE MISS JAZZ & JIVE...) is being
reissued on the same date as the holiday CD, reportedly with a
different cover.


M-Flo / M-FLO TOUR 2007 @ YOKOHAMA ARENA
release date: 10/31/2007

2 discs (it was a long concert!). I've mentioned this before,
but here's the track listing. I don't have time to match guest
artists with song titles but Namie Amuro, BoA, Monday Michiru,
Monkey Majik, Bonnie Pink. Chara, Yoshika, Double, Emyli, and
others were there.

Love Long and Prosper, Summer Time Love, Love Don't Cry,
Loop In My Heart, DOPEMAN?, Picture Perfect Love, Love Song,
Life is Beautiful , Love Me After 12AM, LOVE ME, HATE THE GAME,
she loves the CREAM, A.D.D.P. , TRIPOD BABY, How You Like Me
Now?, Hands, L.O.T., been so long, gET oN!, ONE DAY, Taste Your
Stuff , the Love Bug, Love to Live By, Lotta Love, come again, let
go, Luvotomy , miss you

Lisa Ono / A TRIBUTE TO ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM
release date: 11/21/2007

I was already aware of a live DVD (out 10/10/2007, with DTS sound),
now a CD follows, but I'm not sure if it's a soundtrack to the DVD
or studio versions (hopefully the latter). As much as I love Lisa as
tourguide to musics around the world, I like the idea of a new
Brazilian album! Both sets have Paulo Jobim (son) and Daniel
Jobim (grandson) among the guests.

Here's a track listing of the DVD:
Chega de Saudade, Garota de Ipanema, Samba de uma Nota So,
Aguas de Marco, So Danco Samba, Corcovado, Ela E Carioca, A
Felicidade, Meditacao, Agua de Beber, Insensatez

Parliament / CASABLANCA YEARS 1974-1980
Ohio Players / MERCURY YEARS
already available or out soon

Two examples of the kind of amazing reissues that Japan is famous
for. Newly remastered boxed sets in Mini-LP sleeve format of two
legendary funk groups of the 1970s (and before, and after).
Something like 10 CDs in the P-Funk box and 7 for the OP. A
bit out of my price range to get both, not to mention not having
enough time to listen to so much new/old music. Pretty cool, though.

Tokyo Jihen / SENKO SHOJO (DVD single)
release date: 11/21/2007

I can't keep track of all the Ringo Shiina releases, either under her
own name or as Tokyo Jihen, but here's another to add to the long
list. CD Japan reports the vids are directed by Yuichi Kodama, and
feature 96k/24bit sound.

Various Artists / JOBINIANA - AI TO HOHOEMI TO HANA
release date: 10/10/2007

Monday Michiru mentioned this in her newsetter, being that she
participates. Also on hand are bird, Orange Pekoe, Akiko, and others.
That's like an all-star team to me.

bird / BIRDSONG EP
release date: 11/14/2007

CD Japan: "New EP from bird features the Kirin "The Gold" commercial
song "Batacuda"," "Club Tropicana," a cover of The Police's "Roxanne"
with Mummy-D of Rhymester, cover of Kuchiroro, and a cover of
Takao Tajima. Limited edition includes bonus acoustic version of
bird's debut single "SOULS.""

Best,
John

NP DVD: HEROES - SEASON 1
(HD/DVD...trying to catch up b4 the new season starts)
NP CD: Kanye West - GRADUATION
NR BOOK: John Dean - BROKEN GOVERNMENT
NP (PODCASTING) - enough already (okay, its the Stephanie Miller Show,
interviewing Gen. Wesley Clark ... even if I already heard it on my
morning commute to work)