The last issue that I wrote was only two months ago after a long hiatus. Part of the reason that I write that issue was, well, the pandemic. I hope that you've been keeping safe while COVID-19 is causing supreme hell over the globe.
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What have I been up to...?
Not that you asked...or cared...
Since the last issue my life has kinda gone haywire. I went from working occasionally to working double-time. That's kinda why I totally didn't do anything for the thirteenth anniversary of my dead-ish Youtube channel.Speaking of...I have been slowly bringing some videos from unlisted hell into the real world. Not that it really matters since Youtube lists my videos as being for kids. Ehh...I don't know. I'm kinda glad I stopped when I did, though I really miss making videos.
If I were to try something new on my channel...what would you like to see?
I've been trying to keep busy with everything going on.
Other than that...I'm fully back into the grind at this point.
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More and More and More Streaming
Since I last wrote it seems like more and more things Ultraman and Kamen Rider are streaming. You know what is still completely flippin' dead, though? Super Sentai. Go to hell, Hasbro.
It only makes sense to branch out. Maybe there wasn't an incentive to peddle wares outside of Japan thirty years ago, but it's pretty apparent how limited the market is these days. I'm just incredibly grateful that we're finally getting an opportunity to participate here in the world. Again...go to hell, Hasbro.
Kamen Rider Heisei Generations FOREVER and Ultraman Z are pretty remarkable in that we're basically getting things simulcast. How cool is that...........HASBRO????
I never thought I would be so desperate for a Fiveman DVD release.........
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Ultraman 80 / Andromelos Music Collection!
This one certainly came out of nowhere.
Assuming it isn't delayed we will be getting a five-disc set containing all of the songs and music from Ultraman 80 and Andromelos (and some additional BGM from THE⭐ULTRAMAN)! I'm super down with this whole thing since Ultraman 80 is musically one of my favorite Ultraman series.
This is the latest in this series of massive box sets from Columbia. Last year we got a five-disc box for THE⭐ULTRAMAN that I haven't picked up yet. Before that there was an Ultraman USA/Ultraman Great four-disc set that was released in tandem with the essential Ultraman Powered set from CINEMA-KAN.
The Sentai, Rider, and Metal Hero libraries may be abandoned at the moment, so it's nice to see at least Ultraman getting some love from Columbia.
Oh, and the best combination of Ultraman 80 themes are the first opening theme and the second ending theme song. They're all good, but those two are the best out there.
There's no link to buy it on Amazon yet, so here is the page on Columbia's site with the full tracklist.
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Kiramager...again...what...
In the last issue I kinda railed against the lousy packaging of the Kiramager toys. This time I'm kinda baffled by the package AND the toy.
I'm likely never going to watch the show, so I'll never know what exactly is going on with this thing. Yeah, the Shiny Kiramai Changer is...a thing.
I don't have mine yet since the shipment has been held up for a month due to the item I ordered with it being stuck in backorder hell, but I'm kinda confused at what exactly is going on with this design.
I get that they had to do something different after the drink coaster Kiramai Changer, but damn.
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Some More Isolation Listening...
Even though I've been going to work everyday, I've still been really careful about interactions and have largely been isolating. Who am I kidding...I've been isolating most of my life. I only emerged briefly to get married and go to school. Haha. The music never ends for me.
Miho Nakayama - COLLECTION I
I never really got into Miho Nakayama...but I can tell you two facts about her.
2. This CD is worth your while.
You can tell I'm not serious when I'm only really into the greatest hits album. There is a lot of gold here, though. The main reason I picked this one up is because it has two tracks from super-producer Tetsuya Komuro of TM Network...who coincidentally also has a Famicom game. This is early Komuro, so his tracks are actually lacking his signature style.
[C], CATCH ME, and Tsui terune notteru ne are really good songs with Komuro's weird 50/50 and incredibly sweet JINGI Ai shite moraimasu not disappointing in their greatness.
The stand-out track by a mile is the infectious WAKU WAKU sa sete. The weird thing is that if you told me that this was a Tetsuya Komuro track, I would absolutely believe you. This song is a regular in my rotation, for sure. I genuinely enjoy a good pop song and this is one that ticks all of the boxes.
Check this disc out if you're looking for some non-offensive 80s JPOP to rock out to.
I'm not a fan of ska...or games from the first Playstation. This soundtrack is something of an exception.
While I don't own the Tondemo Crisis! or Incredible Crisis! game anymore, I will forever rock this soundtrack. The game's theme song is one of the catchiest ever and this disc features a few variations of it. I enjoy a lot of the stage music as well. My favorite has to be the smooth Taneo Dance Fever stage music with the Freeway Running theme right behind it.
I've always wanted to talk about this one, but there isn't mush more to say than this is a really fun little game soundtrack.
I've yet to meet a VGM Rock Arrange album I didn't like yet.
Sure, I'm not the biggest fan of Rockman/Megaman, but there is no denying some of the catchy tunes. I own the Rockman-Rockman 10 soundtrack boxset for a reason.
This one really blasts off with the Elecman~Crashman~Magnetman Medley and glides along nicely for twelve total tracks. My only complaint I guess is that sometimes the rock part tends to be a little vague in favor of almost bare game music. It's a decent mix, but at times it just sags a little bit. It's hard to describe, but maybe you'll pick it up if you give this one a listen.
There is also a Techno Arrange album out there, but I could never really bring myself to snag it. I think I'll just stick to rock...man...
1966 Quartet - Thriller ~ Michael Jackson Classics
I have NO idea how this album made it's way into my radar, but apparently I've owned it for exactly five years according to Amazon,
The title pretty much says it all. It's a Quartet...and they perform Michael Jackson classics. I've enjoyed this album immensely in the time that I've owned. It kinda ranges from dramatic (Thriller, Bad, Billie Jean, Beat It) to really, really sweet (Human Nature, We Are The World). It's all really good, though. My personal favorite has to be Human Nature. It was just made for this type of cover.
No gripes with this one. I just wanted to share that this great album exists. So check it out!
Tatsuro Yamashita - Big Wave (30th Anniversary Edition)
It's really weird how I wasn't paying attention and suddenly Tatsuro Yamashita and his wife Mariya Takeuchi because immensely popular. Great! I have no idea what City Pop is, but I'm glad that we've run out of decent new music and have to look back to a time of smooth grooves.
Oddly enough this album is more of a soundtrack...or at least it was a video album of sorts. Yeah, the music was played over some generic surf footage of your Aunt and Uncle in the early 1980s. The biggest clue is the title track, The Theme From Big Wave, which happens to be my favorite track of not just the album but from Yamashita in general, kicks things off. Jody is also a top jam, and one that always makes me think on the R33 Nissan Skyline.
From there, this album doesn't really do too much for me. Magic Ways is great, but really this is one I like to put on for ambiance rather than for any kind of emotion. It's a bit too Doo-wop-ish. It's a great album, I can't see this one setting anyone's playlist on fire like a lot of his other work. Jody and The Theme From Big Wave are universal gems, though.
(Bet you thought I was going to link to Plastic Love. Nope. Sweetest Love is the greatest. Fight me.)
Yuji Ohno - The Best Compilation of Lupin the Third
It's always weird when you come across a compilation that mainly focuses on covers of a single song. More often than not there is good reason for such a thing to exist, but it doesn't always mean it isn't repetitive.
I can say in good faith that this set borders on being too monotonous, but the Lupin theme is just so damn good that it somehow overcomes it and makes for a great listening experience. Sure there are some other tracks included, but who didn't buy this for that brassy masterpiece of a theme?
I'm a big fan of Yuji Ohno's work, particularly his Machineman Songs and Music. This, however, is really what he's known for...
My favorite versions of the theme have to be '78 (2005 New Mix Version), '79 (2005 New Mix Version), '89, and '97. Those two from the 70s are just so damn funky and face-paced while '89 is just LOUD. The '97 version is just...madness. Haha.
I love this set.
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Anyway...that's all for now. I'll be back later in the month with a new article that will expose a truth that you may not be ready to accept. I'm not sure why I wrote that so dramatically...it really isn't that bad. Heh.
Stay safe! Wear a mask! The virus never went away...
-CC
Previously.....
Love, love your videos. Would love to see more indepth views/reviews of your changers! For as many as you have, that would be videos for at least a year haha.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThe issue I'm having is this whole nebulous COPPA thing. My videos are automatically flagged for Kids...which isn't entirely accurate, but not a stretch either.
The whole thing is kinda irritating since maybe a kid would look for a video on the Kiramai Changer...but would they be looking for a video on the Aura Changer? Nah, that sort've thing is nostalgia driven. Try telling that to Youtube, though...