We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

The girls from Maison book girl are preparing for the release of their first major single now officially titled “river (cloudy irony)”, releasing the full MV of its leading track “cloudy irony”. The MV is full of the signature features of the band: intrincate dresses, low-saturation colour palettes, mysterious behaviours and an overall melancholic feel. This time, the settings for the song are a dark room and a cloudy heliport, though some other ones appear briefly. Coupling the release of the MV, the cover arts for both the regular and the limited edition has been published. It has also been revealed that its Track 3, which in their previous announcement was still Title TBA, is now titled “14days”. Check the MV and album’s covers just after the jump!

In the Staff Selections post for September, I said that I had more to say about Utada Hikaru’s comeback album “Fantôme.” Today is that day! My review of the album for The Japan Times was released online earlier today and will be out in print in a few hours.

Before the album’s release, a lot of people were saying that Utada’s comeback would be the album that “saves” JPop. But did it really need saving? No. The scene is perfectly fine, but some people aren’t willing to look past the top of Oricon for things that are actually decent. They can’t let go of their old faves who are hasbeens, flops, or retired now. A lot of people wanted Utada back because in a strange way they thought that her coming back would banish idols and make their faves relevant again. Or maybe they were just chasing after their dying youth. But no, none of this is going to happen because this album is simply not dynamic enough to create change in the industry.

This week’s guest was Yasutaka Nakata.

Kajani8 – Ai Deshita.

This week’s guests were Sexy Zone, THE YELLOW MONKEY, and Sakanaction.

Sexy Zone – Yobisute

THE YELLOW MONKEY – Suna no Tou

Sakanaction – Tabun, Kaze.

This week’s guests were Fuse Akira, Hikawa Kiyoshi, Sexy Zone, and Segawa Ayaka.

Fuse Akira x Hikawa Kiyoshi – Cyclamen no Kahori

Hikawa Kiyoshi – Miren Gokoro

Sexy Zone – Yobisute

Segawa Ayaka – Koi no Shirase

Fuse Akira – Kimi ni Ai ni Ikuyo

Just a few weeks ago we reported that popular rock band [Alexandros] would be releasing a new studio album titled “EXIST!” on November 9th.  The group have been ramping up the promotion for this release ever since and have now chosen to make its cover and track list available to the public.

In addition, the band have also posted the first official teaser for the album to their label’s Youtube channel.  This short video contains snippets of previously released songs as well as previews for two new tracks, “Moon Song” and “Ima made Kimi ga Naita Bun Torimodosou” (the theme song for film “Kyou no Kira-kun”).

Read on below for a look at both the teaser and the cover and track list for “EXIST!”.

Pop/Hip-hop quartet Ketsumeishi have announced that they will be releasing their tenth full album “KETSUNOPOLIS 10” next week on October 26th.  This will be the group’s first studio release in two-and-a-quarter years and includes their previously released tracks “Saraba Namida”, “Kimi to Deatte”, “Tomo yo ~Kono Saki mo Zutto…”, “Yashi no Ki no You ni”, and “Color Variation”, as well as 11 new songs for a total of 16.

Ahead of the album’s release, Ketsumeishi have also published the PV for its lead track “Bokura no Tame ni…” to avex’s official Youtube channel.  This special video is a collaboration between the quartet and the cast of film “Bokura no Gohan wa Ashita de Matteru” (which “Bokura no Tame ni…” will serve as the theme song for), featuring actress Yuko Araki in her role as heroine Koharu Uemura.

You’ll find the full version of the music video for “Bokura no Tame ni…”, plus the cover and track list for “KETSUNOPOLIS 10” if you read on below.