Best of 2011

The year 2011 was another eventful year, dominated by the Tohoku earthquake which also left a big impression on the music industry. Many artists and bands set up charities, such as concerts, merchandise and so on, aiding the victims.

Just like every year, many artists performed overseas, some of them trying it out for the first time, others following previous successes. A number of bands disbanded, but also a lot were formed or even revived. A phenomenon that rose to attention in Japan was the amount of Korean groups dominating the charts, though they weren't able to beat Japan's own idols such as AKB48 and Arashi.

On the last day of 2011, the JaME English team members would like to present their opinion on the best artists, releases, concerts and happenings of the year. We're curious to see what our readers regard as the best of 2011, so feel free to leave a comment at the bottom with your choices!


Kay's Choices

Artists of the year

1. SUGIZO: for his charity activities in the Tohoku area.
2. INORAN: for the variety of releases and activities he held this year.
3. Galileo Galilei: it was a very eventful year for the young band with many releases and a movie dedicated to one of their songs, which even got an international debut.

Albums of the year

1. PUSHIM - Milestone
2. INORAN - Tear Drop
3. Galileo Galilei - Parade

Singles of the year

1. Galileo Galilei - Aoi Shiori
2. Amazarashi - Anomie
3. lecca - Right Direction

Concerts of the year

1. LUNA SEA - A Promise to the Brave in Saitama
2. SCANDAL in Nakano

Lowpoints of the year

1. All the musicians passing away
2. V-ROCK FESTIVAL '11

Best newcomers/artist discoveries of the year

1. Galileo Galilei
2. Syza
3. Masterlink


Meg's Choices

I think the Jmusic scene has come a long way in the past decade, and as we move into a new year, I hope to see new originality and more inspiring artists who continue to carry the torch in the genres we love.

Artists of the year

1. Yamashita Tomohisa
2. The God and Death Stars
3. Shota Shimizu

Albums of the year

1. Yamashita Tomohisa - Supergood, Superbad
2. The God and Death Stars - Addle Apple
3. Shota Shimizu - Colors

Singles of the year

1. Yamashota Tomohisa - Hadakanbou
2. Highfashionparalyze - Spoiled/Ari ha chi ga jouyou de aru/ Kata no nai aishita no ha omaedakega
3. U - U

Highlights of the year

1. Yamashita Tomohisa going solo

Lowpoints of the year

1. Isshi (ex-Kagrra.)'s passing


Vulpix104's Choices

Artists of the year

1. Nothing's Carved in Stone
2. MAXIMUM THE HORMONE
3. The Birthday

Albums of the year

1. Nothing's Carved in Stone - echo
2. The Birthday - I'm Just a Dog
3. The Hiatus - A World Of Pandemonium

Singles of the year

1. MAXIMUM THE HORMONE - Greatest the Hits 2011–2011
2. The Birthday - Nazeka Kyou wa
3. KAT-TUN - Ultimate Wheels

Concerts of the year

1. HITT at Anime North

Highlights of the year

1. Kis-My-Ft2's debut

Best newcomers/artist discoveries of the year

1. HITT
2. MAXIMUM THE HORMONE
3. ABSTRACT MASH


Silverfaye's Choices

Artists of the year

1. D
2. Jui
3. KOKIA

Albums of the year

1. D - Huang di ~Yami ni umareta mukui~
2. Jui - XI

Singles of the year

1. D - Torikago goten ~L'Oiseau bleu~

Lowpoints of the year

1. Kagrra,'s disbandment
2. Isshi's passing
3. Vidoll's disbandment

Best newcomers/artist discoveries of the year

1. Nightmare
2. KOKIA
3. Mao Abe


Jessieface's Choices

There are so many groups, so many different sounds but only one pair of ears.

Albums of the year

1. Perfume - JPN
2. Yamashita Tomohisa - Supergood, Superbad

Singles of the year

1. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – PONPONPON
2. SuG – Gimmie Gimmie

Highlights of the year

1. The many charities musicians set up for the victims of the Tohoku earthquake
2. An array of Korean idol groups debuting in Japan and achieving success.
3. Announcement of Golden Bomber going to perform at Budokan in 2012; tickets sold out a while ago.

Lowpoints of the year

1. Kagrra.’s disbandment; Isshi's passing
2. V-rock Festival not being streamed online via Ustream or Nico Nico Douga for overseas fans, even for a fee.

Best newcomers/artist discoveries of the year

1. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
2. Hyadain
3. nano.RIPE


Claire's Choices

Artists of the year

1. UNISON SQUARE GARDEN: for my stand-out album of the year
2. L'Arc~en~Ciel: who have been so busy this year and constantly announcing news
3. Shonen Knife: for another hectic year and almost constant touring

Albums of the year

1. UNISON SQUARE GARDEN - Populus Populus

Singles of the year (I can't think of any singles I've listened to! I've been so lazy this year!)

1. DIR EN GREY - LOTUS

Concerts of the year

1. DIR EN GREY in London (August)
2. LITE in Birmingham (October)
3. MIYAVI in London (March)

Highlights of the year

1. Akanishi Jin's competent English singing (I might not be taking this seriously)

Lowpoints of the year

1. All of the artists who passed away
2. Doremidan's disbandment announcement

Best newcomers/artist discoveries of the year

1. 9mm Parabellum Bullet
2. LITE


Leela's Choices

It's been another rocky year for visual kei, but on the contrary, visual kei artists have banded together stronger than ever, determined to fortify the genre. MCs throughout the year have been heartfelt and inspiring and bonds seem to have grown stronger as artists and bands have realized more than ever how much support they receive from their fans and from each other. With a lot of exciting concerts and releases already planned for 2012, the visual kei community is in high spirits crossing over into the new year.

Artists of the year

1. Moran: After Zill's passing, Sizna joined the band as guitarist in 2010 (while Shingo continues to fill in Zill's position on support bass.) Sizna's addition to the band has enhanced their sound and 2011 was a very strong year for Moran both with releases and performances.
2. lynch.: Over the last year, lynch.'s following has increased triple-fold. They also had the best advertising of the year with three whole trucks lined up in Shibuya each with a different advertisement.
3. hide: This may sounds strange thirteen years after he passed away, but for the thirteenth anniversary year of his parting, there have been many exciting activities such as the musical Rock Musical Pink Spider, hide FILM ALIVE!!, numerous Club Psyence hide based DJ events, and hide birthday party!! 2011. On top of that, his music has appeared on both CRUSH 90s V-rock cover albums covered by artists heidi. and Megamasso as well as a special cover release by defspiral. Italian band DNR made their appearance at V-ROCK FESTIVAL '11 sporting his yellow hearts design on one of their guitars along with many other appearances of his designs such as heidi.'s Summer concert yukata. A special hide doll was also released during the year. Gone but never forgotten and never more so than in 2011.

Albums of the year

1. Various Artists - CRUSH 1
2. heidi. - Sixth Sense
3. A(Ace) - Black & White album

Singles of the year

1. Moran - TRICOLORE
2. Blue Planet Japan - Hitotsu dake We Are the One
3. Doremidan - Sentimental Rocking Slumber

Concerts of the year

1. Moran "The Cult Musical" tour final at Shibuya O-West
2. Golden Bomber - Yareba Dekiruko at Zepp Tokyo
3. Blue Planet Japan "Hitotsu dake We Are the One" Vol. 1 at Shibuya O-West

Highlights of the year

1. Blue Planet Japan charity coalition.
2. V-ROCK Festival '11
3. Return of Mikaru and Syu with Black Line.

Lowpoints of the year

1. Cancellations of concerts due to the Earthquake and wish to preserve electricity in Tohoku. (Sad, though understandable.)
2. Passing of Taiji and Isshi within a week.
3. Loss of Hayato's voice (from Duel Jewel) and continuation of tour without him.

Best newcomers/artist discoveries of the year

1. A(Ace)
2. Liphlich
3. Black Line