Okay, at least on my computer that didn't go well...
(is it just me, or is Yahoo groups a bit antiquated compared to other
boards?)

[BEADY BELLE] Belvedere (2008/Norway CD)
A very favorable 1st impression! Their 4th full-length -- loved the
first two, imo the 3rd one was hit'n'miss -- and I hear a subtle shift
from the electronic chill-out jazz pop to a more organic sound that
took a little time getting acclimated to, but the strong vocals and
songs won me over, and the more acoustic-bluesy accompaniment
reminds me a bit of some of Cassandra Wilson's recent recordings
(e.g., some steel-guitar, etc.), and to a lesser extent Norah Jones.
Even so, the electric piano provides some linkage with the past, and
Beate's voice and songwriting are as distinctive as ever. Perhaps less
eclectic in its overall sound, but there's something to be said for the
consistent flow from cut to cut on BELVEDERE. Highly recommended
if you're open to a bit more of an unplugged sound than previously.
Jamie Cullum and India.Arie guest on one track each.

http://www.myspace.com/beadymusic
(includes two tracks including "Intermission Music," a currently-
popular cut with Cullum guesting on vocals)

[M-FLO] Award Supernova -Loves Best- (2008/Japan CD+DVD combo)
A best-of their m-flo "loves" series of collabos. Well, my personal
choice for best-of "m-flo loves" cuts would have a few that didn't
make the cut here (huh, no Monday Michiru, no Sowelu, no Double?).
Even so, not a bad set if you don't already own the last few albums,
with a slant here towards j-pop top sellers (many of whom sound
better here than on their own albums). And then again, Crystal Kay
is a top-seller appearing here several times, so yay for j-pop. One
unusual m-flo track that really impresses me is the almost straight-
up pop-soul ballad "Let Go" with Yoshika ... so pretty (I meant the
music, but now that you mention it...). The selling point for me was
the DVD, collecting 18 videoclips, which strangely isn't ALL of the
"loves" PVs. For one, the Monkey Majik clip is missing, although
last time I checked it can be found on youtube. Not really a
complaint though, because it's great to have so many of the PVs
available under one roof.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Av0Tggmbww
(here's the Yoshika video, someone even added English subtitles on
this upload)

[M-FLO] Tour 2007 Cosmicolor (2007/Japan DVD)
Great concert with all sorts of guests from j-pop stars BoA and
Namie Amuro to Monday Michiru and Double at her jazziest.
Unfortunately, imo the DVD editors have taken the annoying
habit of lightning-quick cuts -- constant jumping from one
camera angle to another -- to often unwatchable extremes ...
at times not even allowing one second go by before bouncing
to an entirely different view ... and doing this for minutes on end
without letup! Kind of like that last sentence? Talk about eye
fatigue and headaches, after the first five minutes I needed some
Tylenol. At times -- particularly the slower tempo tunes -- the
editors settle down a bit (although not enough), and the Monday
Michiru track is at least watchable. Overall, I was really
disappointed with the DVD, though. Seems like I'm whining
about this problem of editing live concerts as if they were music
videos way too often. I repeat: Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense"
is a great tutorial of how to shoot a concert video correctly. On
the plus side, the audio is fine, and it appears that the entire
concert is presented without any interruptions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O4AYoLU080
(lots of excerpts on youtube including Monday's spot, the above
one links to BoA, don't get whiplash watching it, though ... although
it's a little less wearisome on small screen than on large)

[LISA ONO] 2007 Sunset Bossa (2007/Japan DVD)
Sweet `n' lovely Lisa Ono and friends sing Jobim from a recent Tokyo
gig. Lisa's voice is perfect as usual, and she actually takes a back
seat on a few tunes to not only several Jobim offspring, but also
veteran Brazilian singer Miúcha (spouse or ex-spouse of João/
mother of Bebel Gilberto). There's a unique ambience at the venue
-- the surround sound of cicadas in the background -- that might
bother some listeners, but I found that my ears adjusted to it a lot
better than say, my eyes adjusted to the barrage of shifting camera
angles on the m-flo DVD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GbTRR-YQ_s
(youtube clip of that tune about the gal from Ipanema that I still love
hearing even after the millionth time, with links to other segments
from the DVD, too ... actually LOTS of her up on the tube that I
didn't notice before, even some with Getz-like Sadao Watanabe on
breathy sax)

There's also a Lisa Ono studio album with the same Jobim theme
that also was issued in Fall 2007. Ok, that's a pretty good one, too.

[TOKYO JIHEN] Goraku -Variety- (2007/Japan CD)
As impressed as I was with Ringo Shiina's first solo album in several
years released earlier in 2007 -- HEISEI FUZOKU, see an earlier post
here at S::L -- this studio album released under the group name
Tokyo Jihen didn't really do much for me. I don't think the fact that
it is alt-rockish rather than pop-jazzy was the determining factor
(although the latter is more my type of thing), it's just that the tunes
and production didn't compel me to further listens. Even if this album
wasn't a keeper for me, I'm still keeping an ear out for what Ringo's
going to be up to next time around. There's also a DVD out with
several videoclips which Im a bit more in tune with. I suppose I like
the material with pictures and in smaller doses than an entire album.

MOre to come in part 3 ...

NP: Feist - REMINDER