Channel-Ai Community Blog - JPop reviews, articles

ORANGE RANGE’s “Kizuna”

September 4th, 2005 by spellcheck · 2 Comments · ★★★½☆

… On the cover a swing set is shown and the symbol of the band is drawn in the dirt. The picture is in black and white and gives it more of a nostalgic feel. The CD design and the back of the sleeve feature little doodles of stick men with parachutes being eaten by alligators and struck by lightning and a game of tic-tac-toe won by the O’s. No doubt about it, “Kizuna” is about friends and remembering the good times, so grab your warm and fuzzy childhood memories and let’s go! …

ZONE’s “O”

September 3rd, 2005 by spellcheck · 6 Comments · ★★★★½

ZONE’s sophomore release “O” came out on November 27 of 2002. The jacket photos have a fall theme which is fitting for that time of year. The pictures are beautiful and this is actually one of the best jackets I’ve ever seen in an album…

ZONE

September 1st, 2005 by spellcheck · 50 Comments

In 1999, Studio Runtime held an audition in Sapporo for a new type of group that they called a “bandoru” (band+idol, a group that could both dance and play instruments). Initially, 8 members were picked…