Best Artists 2010

This should go pretty fast, since I honestly don't what I could to add to the numbers. So let's just start this thing.

Best Indie Artist 2010:

#10: AK-69 - 49 pts.
#9: MUCC - 55 pts.
#8: NERDHEAD - 55 pts. (The reason why they're #8 is that they only had one song in the Top 10)
#7: Ai Kawashima - 58 pts.
#6: SEEDA - 59 pts.
#5: Golden Bomber 60 pts.

Best Major Single of 2010

#10: Kobukuro - Ryusei, 26 pts.

Week 48: #3
Week 49: #8
Week 50: #6
Week 51: #8
Week 52: #4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzYo1R-G3rQ

Best of 2010

If you ask yourself who would be the most successful artist or which would be the most successful single in the year 2010 in terms of chart position, then I have the answer for you. I've been going through the charts for every single week throughout the year and made a list with every artist and song that was in the Top 10. 349 songs from 206 artists and 271 songs from 204 artists were represented in the Indie charts. Of course, it would be too much to list them all, so I'm only gonna show the Top 10 of the Top 10. But how was I able to rank them ? Easy. If a song was on #1, it got 10 points. #2 9 points and so on until #10 got 1 point. Example: A song was #1 the first week of its release, then #4 the next week and #8 in the 3rd week before dropping out of the Top 10, it got a total of 20 points.

But enough of that for now. Let's start with the Indie charts, before coming to the Majors.

MUSIC REVIEW: exist†trace - TWIN GATE

Founded: 2003

Members:
-Vocals: ジョウ (Jyou)
-Guitar: 乙魅 (Omi)
-Guitar: ミコ (miko)
-Bass: 猶人 (Naoto)
-Drums: マリ (mally)

DRAMA REVIEW: My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox (2010) - Korea

It was epic.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

That's all you need to know. Watch it.

Linwe's Rating: 10/10

(okay I'll be good and write a proper review later, but really, it'll be on the lines of above)

DRAMA REVIEW: Brother Beat (2005) - Japan

OK so i'm shallow and started watching this because of two bishies. So sue me.

This drama is essentially a family, comedic drama centred around a widow Haru and her three sons: Tatsuya, Kiku and Junpei and the trials and tribulations each go through as they grow, mature, find love and purpose to their lives. Tatsuya (Tamayama Tetsuji) and Kiku (Hayami Mokomichi) are the resident bishies. And might I say Moko-chan is mighty good looking in this . Ok nuff said. Back to serious review...ahem. Now I love Japanese family-orientated dramas as there's always that sense of respect and camaderie in each family. For example, I adore the Japanese greeting custom of 'ittekimasu', 'tadaima' and 'Okaeri'. That simple acknowledgment of when a person comes or leaves the house makes a person feel valued in the household.

This family is no different and is very close (despite the constant tantrums, brother-bashing and ninja slapping that goes on). This drama works best when they're focusing on problems each son is facing - the serious, workaholic eldest son still pining for his ex, the wild and immature middle child (with obvious middle child syndrome) and the kind youngest son that keeps getting taken advantage of. Their mother, Haru is hilarious and a complete loose cannon and she is the centre-piece of this drama. Her response to an obstinate potential in-law later on in the show is priceless!

However, the drama's pacing begins to unravel mid way through when the central romance plot-line begins to take over and bored me to tears. The main love interest Chisato fell in love with Tatsuya at first sight and pines for him ever since. The girl is personality devoid, doormat and it makes me ANGRY! Personally, i thought the ex was spunky and way better than Chisato - sure she was fickle but that can be forgiven hehe. I'm soo used to the atomic level chemistry that Korean drama couples have that watching a couple with ZERO chemistry was Painful. Painful. Painful.

I never thought I'd say a drama would be better off without the main romance. oh lulz.

Overall, the drama is worth watching for Haru, a few moments of comedy gold and for the family dynamics which is fun to watch. The love storyline is what pulled this drama down for me and if you use your fast-forward button wisely and liberally, you'll enjoy this drama very much.

Linwe's Rating: 6.5/10

DRAMA REVIEW: Coffee House (2010) - Korea

When Coffee House began its broadcast in Korea, it started with a unique premise – two actresses would play opposite Kang Ji-hwan... but just who was the actual female lead was never announced. As you all know, the lead actor/actress announcements are a pretty big deal as Korean dramas usually work on a 2F+2M system. Secondary actors are doomed to become annoying third wheels, vicious mega-bitches, emo princes, forgotten oppas and the like. So to not know the outcome before the beginning? I like the sound of this!

Seo Eun Young (Park Shi Yeon) is a smart and savvy president of a publishing house and book café whose star writer of thriller novels is eccentric Lee Jin Soo (Kang Ji Hwan) When Lee Jin Soo suddently meets ordinary Kang Seung Yeon (Ham Eun Jung) seeking shelter from the rain in her family’s ordinary café, somehow she knows her ordinary life is going to become a lot less ordinary and a lot more difficult being hired as his secretary...she just has no idea how much. She has absolutely no skills as a PA so she goes about making undrinkable coffee, shaving pencils while also becoming his dogsbody for his chores, research and personal amusement - so the first few episodes are hilarious! Throughout the series these two continue to build a bond as her straightforward nature and impertinence infiltrates other parts of his life and she gets to know him soo well that his eccentricities cease to phase her.

Always a part of his life, old friend and boss Eun Young and Jin Soo share fantastic chemistry and underlying sexual tension in their banter and bickering. She’s intelligent, doesn’t take his bullshit and is utterly charming. From the second half onwards the focus is on the relationship between Eun Young and Jin Soo and their complicated past, as well as dealing with annoying git of an on/off fiancé who reminds me of a bulldog. Ugly man get off my screen.

Jin Soo’s chronic Situation-Denial Syndrome causes soo many misunderstandings, jerking of emotions, frustration and regret that towards the end while you don’t lose empathy for him (for the sake of the woman that loves him) but you feel that the shit she’s dealing with is his fault as his actions got them there in the first place. I also didn’t feel enough personal growth in his character through the series - he never really paid the price yet got the girl. Watching this drama you'll find yourself swinging like a pendulum shipping between Jin Soo/ Seung Yeon and Jin Soo/Eun Young. Towards the end you do know who’s going to get her man (but a little part of me hoped the drama would throw a curve ball) and to the one who missed out, the final realisation scene was done soo well that naturally I bawled. I am such a sop. I just loved her too!

The main actors all played their roles well but Park Shi Yeon was the standout here. I never really liked her before this drama as in the past she’s probably more famous for her plastic surgery and relationships making the gossip rounds than her acting but she’s soo natural and vivacious in this drama not to mention her clothes were gorgeous. Spunky girl characters I like!

Coffee House is slick and stylish like a rom-com movie…albeit only one that goes for 18 (enjoyable) hours. Its tone is light and fun without being slapstick or sitcomy and the novelty of finding out the ‘true partner’ makes it engaging to watch. The story itself doesn’t have much re-watching appeal to me but besides bawling my eyeballs out in the final episode (there's my curveball), there’s a lot of laughs to be had in this drama so check it out.

Linwe's Rating: 8/10