I really wanted to catch up with my ever-growing backlog, but it's been pretty crazy these past few weeks as I've been working late in preparation for my vacation for the next week and a half to Japan and Taiwan. In less than 24 hours, I'll be in Japan. After spending a day layover, I'll be going to Taiwan. Next Thursday, I'll be going back to Japan again and finally back to LA the Sunday after.

I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XT just for the trip (and for use afterwards). It's a pretty awesome camera.

I doubt I'll be able to update 'scribbles from abroad, not that I would want to use the time to work on a web page. I'm not bringing any manga, novel, nor music (not even my iPod, one more thing to lose) on the trip because I'm pretty sure I'll be coming back with more than I can carry. My suitcase is only half full right now, plus I have "disposable" Old Navy clothing just in case I need more space. Plane leaves in 8 hours and I'm staying up all night prevent jet lag when I get there.

Title: 君のぞらじお (Kiminozo Radio) New OP/ED Single
Original Creator: Age
Vocals: Wild 3nin Musume with C.T. Veronica
Release Date: 4/27/05
Catalog No.: LACM-4179
Rating: 4/4

So this CD finally got released. While the intro is still sung by the group, the "Three Wild Girls," they changed the cast. Sputnik Ota-sasa is replaced with Kisho Taniyama. For the ending song, the two vocals are listed as MINAMI KURIBAYASHI and C.T. Veronica (Chiaki Takahashi).

The opening song is as catchy as the first radio opening song, if not more. Joy Max and Kisho's rapping make no sense at all, but the way they do it fits the song extremely well. Of course, Minami's sing skills shines through in this song too. The ending song pretty good too. The song is styled as being more "soulful," as in similar to R&B. I'm really surprised (and impressed) by Chiaki's singing as she sounds extremely different.

The cover above is the back cover of the CD, a little tribute to the letter they read on-air right before mine. That listener was explaining how he went into a music store to find that all the CDs were showing their back cover. The explanation from the store owner was that he thought it would sell better if he showed the back cover. Speaking of the back, it's is also reversible.

Title: よつばと♪ (With Yotsuba)
Original Creator: あずまきよひこ (Kiyohiko Azuma)
Release Date: 4/2/05
Catalog No.: GNCA-1042
Rating: 3/4

This CD has music inspired by the comic, performed by the Kuricorder Pops Orchestra. The music is composed to tell a day in life of Yotsuba and friends. For obvious reasons, the music reminds me a lot of Azumanga Daioh because of the instruments used. True to the name of the performing group, they use the recorder a lot through the entire album. They also use some unique sounds in their composition like the typing of a computer keyboard. While I like the music as it gives off a light and cheery mood, I have to say that this is more of a soundtrack without an anime rather than an musical story. I can't really find a theme in the music that would represent the characters. Regardless, it's something I can keep playing in the background while reading.

First edition comes with a postcard with Yotsuba playing the recorder in a photograph of the recording studio.