Hello Arama Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Sandaime J Brotthers beat out Juice=Juice and Naoto Inti Raymi to come out on top. 3JSB is back again this week, but with a different song. They’re up against a newcomer. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the physical and digital charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

Oricon #1 / Recochoku #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – starting over (iTunes #2)

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Ronald: This song is nice enough, I guess… It just doesn’t give me “single” though. It’s much more an album track or a B-side as opposed to an A-side. It lacks any sort of qualities that makes it stand out. It’s just… nice. The vocals are nice, but that’s about it. It’s so… just there. 4/10

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iTunes #1: Gesu no Kiwami Otome. – Watashi Igai Watashi Janai no (not released physically til 4/22 / not released on Recochoku til 4/22)

Ronald: The indie boom is happening! I’m honestly surprised that this song is doing as well as it is. I knew that Gesu no Kiwami Otome. was on the rise, but this ranking is a really pleasant surprise. Now in regards to the song, this is their first single since their album last fall, “Miryoku ga Sugoi yo.” As I said in my review of indigo la End’s album, I wasn’t too impressed with “Miryoku ga Sugoi yo.” It seemed as if Enon Kawatani had but more effort into the indigo la End album as opposed to the Gesu no Kiwami Otome. album (for those who don’t know, Enon is the songwriter and frontman of both bands, hence the inevitable comparisons). But man, this single got me back on the Gesu boat… It’s as if the spark of their earlier work was revived for this single. “Watashi Igai Watashi Janai no” is funky, groovy, and full of energy. I love the addition of vocals by the band’s female members, keyboardist Chan Mari and drummer Hona Ikoka, to give the song a touch of softness at times. Their bridge in this song, featuring Chan Mari’s keyboard work, provides a nice little break from the action. In the end, I very happy with this song. It’s great seeing Gesu no Kiwami Otome. rise the way that they have. I really do think they’re one of the soon to be leaders of the Japanese rock scene. I kinda think of them at times as a more sophisticated SEKAI NO OWARI at times, due to their fun mixture of pop and rock. 8.5/10

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Ronald’s Rank:

1. iTunes #1: Gesu no Kiwami Otome. – Watashi Igai Watashi Janai no

2. Oricon #1 / Recochoku #1: Sandaime J Soul Brothers – starting over