Moshi Moshi (Single)
Artist: Smile.dk
Release Date: 12/16/11
Still no update on “Moshi Moshi” being released in the US. In fact, Smile.dk seem to have disappeared completely from most US distributors. I’m guessing their new label reacquired international rights to their back catalog, but hopefully everything will be up again eventually. In the meantime, they’ve released a new music video for the song, so US fans can finally hear it in full:
Pop the Track (Single)
Artist: J-Mi & Midi-D feat. Hanna Stockzell
Price: $2
The spiritual successor of “Top the Charts” from DDR. Apparently Konami wouldn’t allow J-Mi & Midi-D to release “Top the Charts” commercially, but this is a more than adequate substitute. In fact, I think it’s their best work yet. Hanna Stockzell does a marvelous job as usual, but the real star here is the fantastic music production. The synths have a great, brassy sound, and I love the breakdown in the middle of the extended version. Really well done, guys. Disko Warp also contribute a Hyper Techno remix with classic Juliana techno synths.
To be honest, though, I’m not quite sure I understand the lyrics. How exactly does one “pop the track”?
Utatte Mita J-Pop
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen
More repeats from Akiba Koubou. Again, there had better be new arrangements or this’ll be another waste of space. If you didn’t notice, “Ginga Tetsudou 999″ is listed on this as well as the Anison album. Maybe they’ll do both “Ginga Tetsudou 999″ as well as “The Galaxy Express 999.” Or maybe they’ll put the same song on two different albums. :{
Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan, Usa and Priko.
Utatte Mita Anison
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen
Sigh, here comes “Zankoku” again. Almost all of the tracks announced so far have been covered by Akiba Koubou in the past. At the very least we’ll get some resings, but the description provided to retailers did mention house, techno and trance remixes in addition to the usual euro so perhaps we’ll get new arrangements as well. Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan and Usa.
Dancemania Sparkle Classics – Best of 80s Disco Pop
Release Date: 1/18/12 ⇨ 1/25/12
Price: 2381 yen
It’s the same repeats you know and love and are sick of by now. Mixed by Mitsugu Matsumoto and DJ Mocchi.
Utatte Mita J-Pop
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen
It looks like EMI took a page from Tokuma’s book and will be releasing TWO AKBK CDs on the same day. I think we can officially declare March 7, 2012 as AKBK Day. For those keeping track, March 7 will see the release of 2 Utatte Mita CDs from EMI, 2 Geki Atsu! Drama Euro CDs from Tokuma, and Utatte Mita Best Selection from Full Moon.
Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan, Usa and Priko. This release’s theme is J-Pop covers, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if “Sousei” and “Zankoku” appear. So far it’s scheduled to be an 18-song non-stop mix.
Utatte Mita Anison
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen
I suppose this should be a bit surprising since they abandoned the Wa Euro Best series, but it seems even EMI can’t escape the Utatte Mita craze. It’s actually not yet confirmed that Akiba Koubou will be handling this release, but the description promises House, Euro, Techno and Trance remixes so it sounds right up AKBK’s alley. Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan and Usa. This release’s theme is anime song covers, so don’t be alarmed if “Sousei” and “Zankoku” appear. So far it’s scheduled to be an 18-song non-stop mix.
K-Pop Generation II
Release Date: 1/25/12
Price: 1714 yen
Follow-up release to last September’s K-Pop Generation. Produced by X-TRA 7. Some of the songs listed were already on the first release. I’m not sure if that means repeats, or if they’ll be new covers. Oh, who are we kidding? It’ll probably be repeats.
V.I.P. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop/Dance Trax DVD Mix 2
Release Date: 12/14/11 ⇨ 12/21/11 ⇨ 12/28/11
Price: 2171 yen
A special “DVD mix” of music videos from V.I.P. artists. It’s a shame they didn’t release a special Dancemania DVD this year. 
Born in the USA (Single)
Artist: Captain Jack
Release Date: 12/19/11
Another new song from the new Captain Jack. This one’s a cover/remake of the Bruce Springsteen classic. Whereas the original was about Vietnam, CJ’s version updates the lyrics to be about more current situations.
Available on iTunes, Amazon, and Juno Download.
V.I.P. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop/Dance Trax VIII
Release Date: 12/21/11
Price: 1200 yen
Download selection featuring 12 tracks from V.I.P. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop/Dance Trax VIII plus 2 other random EMI tracks.
I Was a Fool/Rainbow in the Sky (Single)
Artist: Captain Jack
Release Date: 12/8/11
New single from the new Captain Jack. It’s labeled as “a new single for Christmas” and the artwork reflects that, but the lyrics don’t. o_O The first track is your usual generic eurodance ballad, while “Rainbow in the Sky” is actually from the 2008 album, Captain Jack Is Back! Odd that they would include a track from that and not from Back to the Dancefloor. Maybe they figured that everyone forgot about it.
Available on iTunes, Amazon, and Juno Download.
Baby Boom (Single)
Artist: Smile.dk
Release Date: 2012
Good news, everyone! Hot off the heels of Cecilia’s pregnancy, Veronica just announced that she’s pregnant with her second child. To celebrate, they’ve written a new song called “Baby Boom.” The title alone sounds like it’ll make for prime bubblegum dance. No release date has been set yet, as the song is still in production.
Moshi Moshi (Single)
Artist: Smile.dk
Release Date: 12/16/11
Moshi moshi! The new Smile.dk is finally out on Swedish iTunes, and you can also hear a snippet on their official website. Cecilia sounds lovely, as does Veronica as usual. The best part is that it’s not a simple “Butterfly” retread, which was my biggest fear. No word yet on when it will appear on US iTunes, or if we’ll get any remixes, but 2012 is definitely looking like it’ll be an exciting year for Smile.dk fans.
V.I.P. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop/Dance Trax VIII
Release Date: 12/14/11
Price: 2171 yen
Eighth release in the V.I.P. series. In the past it’s mostly been a showcase for EMI’s artists, but this time they’ve spared no expense in licensing tracks from other labels. I’m still pretty shocked that dance has reworked its way back into the mainstream. Just a few years ago this series was nothing but R&B/Hip-Hop. Also, in the past these albums were not mixed, but the commercial states that this will be a non-stop mix.
DanceMaster | 
02 6th, 2012| 
Loading ...