Dolorous Haze » 2009

Rock Japan Elec-tric Performs With Steve Appleton

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Steve Appleton | Comments (0)

Elec shares some clips of Steve Appleton’s show where he played bass. The last two are particularly interesting.

SNSD TaeYeon and SuJu ShinDong Win Radio Awards

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: DMC, Girls Generation, Super Junior, TaeYeon | Comments (0)

SNSD TaeYeon and Super Junior ShinDong awarded the radio newcomer awards at MBC Drama Awards « K Bites.

Congratulations to both – but what’s up with ShinDong’s hair? It reminds me of the early Beatles – or the public obscenity penis hairdo from DMC.

Some Candid Amuro Photos

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Amuro Namie, avex trax | Comments (0)

The first picture is especially adorable. It’s like she’s ready to be in a Dickens novel or something.

Pink Wota Reacts To Ayu Concert Setlist

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: avex trax, Hamasaki Ayumi | Comments (1)

Pink Wota » [News] Countdown Live 09-10 ~Future Classics~ Kneejerk Reactions.

Vee finds a great deal to like from the initial reports on Hamasaki Ayumi’s latest tour. The T-shirt is indeed pretty nifty!

And I like the part about the spoon.

BKI Has Poll For Favorite Berryz

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Berryz Kobo, Hello! Project | Comments (0)

Year end ranking : Girls @ Berryz Kobo International.
Year end ranking : Songs @ Berryz Kobo International.

Interestingly enough, my three choices for the top poll were also at the top of the overall results…

Exile, Big Bang Win At Japan Record Awards

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Big Bang, EXILE | Comments (0)

51st Japan Record Awards: EXILE, BIG BANG – Tokyograph.

This is the second year that Exile took the grand prize, while Big Bang became the first Korean group to win Best New Artist. Congratulations to both!

Kanjani8 Claims Top Three Spots In Oricon Weekly Chart

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Johnny's Entertainment, Kanjani8 | Comments (0)

Charts: Kanjani8 takes top three – Tokyograph.

A very impressive feat, but now I’m guessing some others – Koda Kumi, maybe? or another JE act? – will try to top it with four singles.

HanKyung Contract Trial Begins January 8

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: SM, Super Junior | Comments (1)

HanKyung’s Contract Termination Trial Begins Jan 8 « K Bites.

Holy crap, that was fast – and his lawyers are maneuvering against possible delaying tactics from SM. What this means for Super Junior – especially the others allegedly filing suit – still remains to be seen, of course. But I’m thinking SM will be doing some major PR damage control in the coming days and weeks.

Amuro Namie Looking Sweet In with Magazine

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Amuro Namie, avex trax | Comments (0)

Always good to remember the Queen of Hip Pop has her soft side, as well…

Eff Cooze Gets Jiggy

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: F.CUZ | Comments (0)

F.cuz gives 1st tease with ‘Jiggy’ « K Bites.

Seriously, this is all turning into a strange single-entendre joke.

Ichii Sayaka On Sabra.net

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Ichii Sayaka | Comments (0)

Sayaka Ichii ~ Next Stage | Jappydolls.

Sayaka is looking great! Now how about some Ayappe eyecandy? I know she’s still hawt, too.

jrocknyc On Deleting Music Files

December 31, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: file management | Comments (0)

jrocknyc: with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuff’d bosom of that perilous stuff.

Go is trying to figure out the best way to separate musical wheat from chaff, and is seeking advice. The comments section is even more interesting than usual, as a result.

Hikaru Genji Akasaka Akira Faces New Drug Charges

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Hikaru Genji, Johnny's Entertainment | Comments (0)

Hikaru Genji’s Akasaka caught for drugs again – Tokyograph.

Apparently, it takes an old school boy band idol to show all these Jpop and Kpop upstarts how to really get into trouble.

Deflowering H!P Virgins, One Song At A Time

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Hello! Project | Comments (1)

Time to rank! – Top 5 songs to deflower H!P virgins with « Nyu chan desu!!!.

So I picture Maeda Yuuka with Metallica’s “One” playing softly in the background and then we turn it up and break out the trapeze and…

What? Ladybird is talking about how to get people not into H!P to like their music? Never mind, then.

And I’d think “Rottara Rottara” would be a natural for this list.

jrocknyc Finishes Best Albums Of Decade

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Decade In Review | Comments (0)

jrocknyc: The Best Albums of the Decade Part 9: 2009.

Go ends the decade in review with a huge four-way stand-off. That was a pretty good review series, wasn’t it? I found it the best so far this year.

Getting Morning Musume Soaking, Sopping Wet

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Hello! Project, Morning Musume | Comments (0)

Pocket Morning Weekly Q&A (week of 12/27/2009) – Hello!Online.
Pervy Morning Weekly Q&A « Morningtime.

Morningtime does a nice job of further interpreting the answers the girls gave. And yeah, they really shouldn’t ask that question if they don’t want certain images dancing in the minds of wota.

Totally Hello! Project Looks At Girl Group Sales For 2009

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: AKB48, Hello! Project | Comments (0)

Top Selling Singles of 2009 « Totally Hello! Project.

So AKB has sold more copies of fewer singles than all of H!P combined? The times, they have a-changed!

New S/mileage PV Previewed

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Hello! Project, S/mileage | Comments (0)

S/mileage – “Suki-chan” PV Preview Released « Hello!SayuNii.

An all-Yuuka all-bikini version of the PV is apparently being held back at the moment, but I KNOW they’ve got one planned. Right?

Past < Future Sells 87,000 In Second Week

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Amuro Namie, avex trax | Comments (0)

A huge drop, but she’s within a week or two (fingers crossed) of the half-million mark.

Funky Monkey Babys Announce Best Of Album

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Funky Monkey Babys | Comments (0)

Funky Monkey Babys announce best album – Tokyograph.

This seems to’ve been a good year for the group, so this Best Of is a nice capper.

Crystal Kay Makes Drama Debut

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Crystal Kay, Hidarime Tantei EYE, Yamada Ryosuke | Comments (0)

Crystal Kay to make drama debut – Tokyograph.

I’ve never been jealous of Crystal Kay before, but working so closely with Yamada Ryosuke? Ohh, be still my heart!

SM In Trouble If HanKyung Misses New Year Eve Concert

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: SM, Super Junior | Comments (0)

SM to face hefty compensation if Hankyung were to miss Hunan TV’s New Year Eve Concert « K Bites.

More serious repercussions in the SM contracts war. It’s ironic, given that the big worry were DBSK performances.

2PM TaecYeon Thinks He’s EPMD (Or Michael Corleone)

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: 2PM, JYP | Comments (0)

2PM TaecYeon on ‘couple’ performance with YoonA, “It is just for business” « K Bites.

It’s just business? A love song is just business? You whore! How much for a freakin’ half-and-half, then, TaecYon? And does your pimp JaeBom get a cut, all the way in Seattle?

SaeYaka Paradise Has 39 Reasons

December 30, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: AKB48, Miyazawa Sae | Comments (0)

SaeYaka, Team K and AKB48 Paradise: 39 reasons to buy Sae’s photobook.

It’s Sae eyecandy – lots of it. You don’t need any more reason than that.

Big Bang Concert Tickets Sell Out In Five Minutes

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Big Bang | Comments (0)

Big Bang ‘2010 Big Show’ tickets sold out in just 5min in 1st window sales « K Bites.

The five minutes is astounding, but they could have easily sold twelve times as many tickets – even more impressive!

Pink Wota Finds Hamasaki Ayumi’s Redemption

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Hamasaki Ayumi | Comments (0)

Pink Wota » [Review] Redemption.

Vee does a detailed track-by-track review of this single, finding it Ayu’s strongest in the past two years.

Jappydolls Has Young Champion 24

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Nakamura Miu, Yamamoto Azusa | Comments (0)

Young Champion No.24 [2009] | Jappydolls.

This one features Yamamoto Azusa and Nakamura Miu… Hey, I thought Nakamura retired a while back! Why won’t she finally give it a rest?

Conflict Productions Does 2009 H!P Rankings

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Hello! Project, Year In Review | Comments (0)

2009 Year End Hello! Project Rankings « Conflict Productions.

Siggy writes, “Before I start, I apologize if I offend anyone due to my opinions.” But he’s doing H!P rankings. If there’s anything that can be fighting words in wota world, it’s saying your favorite idol is better than someone else’s favorite idol!

And wait! His blog is called Conflict Productions and he doesn’t want to piss people off? Something’s fishy here…

When Confucius Meets Rain

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Confucius, Rain | Comments (0)

Chinese netizens object to Rain’s appointment as Goodwill ambassador of SanDong province « K Bites.

Sounds like a Zen riddle, eh? But actually, Rain was chosen as the Goodwill ambassador for Confucius’ hometown and some Chinese folks are upset that a Korean – even Korea’s current pop god – was chosen. Maybe Rain should say something profoundly wise and in doing so prove his worth as a representative of Confucius.

Now, let’s all hold our breath and wait for it to happen…

jrocknyc On 2008’s Best Albums

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Decade In Review | Comments (0)

jrocknyc: The Best Albums of the Decade Part 8: 2008.

I appreciate taking a little time out to jab at Chinese Democracy.

Not Quite The Merchant Of Venice, But…

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: gravure | Comments (0)

Young Magazine No.01 [2010] | Jappydolls.

Yes, there IS a shot where models are weighing each breast on a scale.

No, I don’t know what the price per kilo is.

SNSD TaeYeon Declared Pervert

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Girls Generation, SM, TaeYeon | Comments (0)

SNSD TaeYeon gets a new nickname “ByunTaeYeon”? « K Bites.

… Hey, she can ram a stick up my ass any time she wants.

And I know I’m not the only one thinking that.

Blue Hearts Release 25th Anniversary Best and Tribute Albums

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Beat Crusaders, Blue Hearts, Melon Kinenbi, Puffy, Yaida Hitomi | Comments (0)

The Blue Hearts to simultaneously release best album, tribute album – Tokyograph.

Most of us know them for “Linda Linda Linda”, but that’s more than enough to love the band as far as I’m concerned. The tribute album includes tracks by Yaida Hitomi, Puffy, Beat Crusaders, and Melon Kinenbi! Boss Saito and company are sure keeping busy post-H!P.

MBLAQ Mir Likes Bears

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: MBLAQ, Rain | Comments (0)

[Photo Of The Day] MBLAQ Mir is a Cute Bear for fans! « K Bites.

For a moment, I thought the title referred to big, hairy gay men, and then I imagined Rain asking such men to call him Daddy… but alas, that scenario will have to remain in my dreams and not a reality.

Selective Hearing Reviews Viva A.I.

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Ai | Comments (0)

A.I.’s Viva A.I. Reviewed |.

I don’t care if Spielberg’s intentions were misunderstood, it’s still a travesty – especially given Kubrick’s posthumous role in…

What? Oh. Never mind.

Of Ballades and Ballads

December 29, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Misia | Comments (0)

MISIA – JUST BALLADE « Beyond the Sea ~ The Style. Edition.

Lex parses the title phrase as a prelude to his review of the album, finding it an enjoyable release but not recommended for Misia noobs.

AKB48 Get Asses Kicked In Basketball

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: AKB48 | Comments (0)

SaeYaka, Team K and AKB48 Paradise: Shuukan AKB: Ange’s dream continues… SaeYaka basketball! (and how to get your ass kicked in 20 minutes ^^;).

That said, Sayaka and Sae and the rest of the girls clearly gave it their all and played quite passionately.

But still, an ass-whupping is an ass-whupping. One look at Sayaka’s face post-game shows that she knows that all too well.

Wotaku Now! Finds Something Good About Ishikawa Rika

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Ishikawa Rika | Comments (0)

Wotaku Now! » Rika Ishikawa – Twenty Four.

Namely, her ass.

I actually like Rika’s personality and work ethic and even enjoy her singing kind of, but I can certainly understand setting all that aside and just focusing on an idol’s physical charms.

Eating Out With Acchan

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: AKB48, Maeda Atsuko | Comments (0)

Atsuko Maeda ~ YS Web Vol.330 | Jappydolls.

I’ve said before that I don’t really like Acchan, but that doesn’t mean I’ll deny how hawt she is when working the vegetables… and oh my God, now there’s pictures of her with fish as well. Fish!!!

we to U Shares What’s flumpool !?

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: flumpool | Comments (0)

flumpool – What’s flumpool !? « we to U :: futarinomusic.

ace3 has a very quick track-by-track assessment and recommendations, and of course you can download the songs to judge for yourself.

Past > Future Boost Sales of Best Fiction Tour DVD

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Amuro Namie, avex trax | Comments (0)

Also, congratulations to Namie for the DVD crossing the quarter-million mark sometime ago!

KBites Has Special Report For 2009

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Kpop, Year In Review | Comments (0)

[Special] KBites Kpop Report 2009 « K Bites.

A very nifty overview of the year in Kpop, definitely worth a perusal. That said, shouldn’t “Self-Destructing Boy Bands” be considered one of the trends of the year?

jrocknyc Now At Best Albums of 2007

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Decade In Review | Comments (0)

jrocknyc: The Best Albums of the Decade Part 7: 2007.

I’m actually a little surprised a.b.s. didn’t get top honors this time around.

Wonder Girls Make JWT’s 100 Things To Watch in 2010

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: JYP, Wonder Girls | Comments (0)

WonderGirls listed on JWT’s list of ‘100 Things To Watch in 2010′ « K Bites.

Congratulations on getting noticed, though I should add that this list is pretty eclectic. Among the remaining 99 items are the mentally challenged dude in The Hangover, “TV for tween boys”, “Spanish e-books”, Jay Chou, and Ironic Sports.

SM Denies SNSD Role In HanKyung Suit

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Girls Generation, SM, Super Junior | Comments (0)

SM Entertainment refutes Chinese report pointing So Nyeo Shi Dae to one of reasons for HanKyung’s case « K Bites.

I don’t think calling SM a “family” would work right now, but this at least shows the company is taking these accusations seriously.

Isoyama Sayaka Goes Choo Choo

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Isoyama Sayaka | Comments (0)

Sayaka Isoyama ~ Choo Choo | Jappydolls.

Alas, Sayaka does not pull a train, much as I wish it would be so…

Selective Hearing Takes On Past < Future

December 28, 2009 | Ray Mescallado | Tags: Amuro Namie, avex trax | Comments (0)

Namie Amuro’s Past < Future reviewed |.

Another vote of confidence for the new direction Amuro Namie’s taken, and again despite the admission of some weak songs on the album. The consensus is interesting in and of itself, I’d say.