Review – Moshi Moshi Harajuku



I can’t play it off, I had no idea who Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was until the Internet found her Tsukematsukeru song and championed her message of false eyelashes and guys dancing in lion suits. However, before that single arrived, she had another EP that I needed to ingest with the quickness.

The album Moshi Moshi Harajuku (literally: Hello Harajuku) came out last year (2011) ago and was made popular for the track “PONPONPON” in which Kyary is just too damn cute and personifies the way that my mind is always working. You can imagine my surprise when I found that the EP was available through iTunes for the low asking price of $6. Seriously, I’ve spent upwards of $80 for the soundtrack for Bubblegum Crisis, so paying a sliver of that cost for some legit JPOP had me sold.

I’m glad to say that my investment was well worth it…as there’s not a bad song on the entire EP.

Before this EP was released, Kyary was a fashion blogger and model based out of the Harajuku district of Tokyo…and if you don’t know what that means, I’ll give you a second to google Harajuku and Japan. Please take as much time as necessary because it’s a fascinating part of the world.

As I write this, Kyary has released a new EP which is good as well, it fails to capture the charm of Moshi Moshi Harajuku, more specifically the tracks “PONPONPON” and her version of Capsule’s “Jelly” (keep an eye open for me gushing about them later). These two tracks are the heart and soul of the album, but if I had to pick one song in particular to share with you all, it would have to be “Chodo Iino”.

Editors note: Finding a legit Youtube Video while Xopher is asleep is HARD (RT)



On this track the real potential for Ms. Pamyu Pamyu to grow into a full fledged idol appears. I’m not talking AKB idol, I’m talking Megumi, Mayumi, and Ayumi Hamasaki levels of renown, she’s that damn good.

I could go on and on about this EP, but if you’re a fan of JPOP, especially the kind made my an amazing producing genius by the name of Nakata Yasutaka (of Capsule fame). It has the perfect blend of electro-pop that so many American groups try to create or mimic, but is all done without the slightest bit of fluff or grrl power. Get it, now!