Tower Records has decided on its recommended push items for September 2024.
With the motto “Let’s create breakout items starting from the shelves!”, buyers at Tower Records stores across the country rely only on their own ears and intuition to pick out artists before they become popular with the public, regardless of whether they are foreign or Japanese or what genre they are, and then promote them in all stores for the popular project “Tower Recommends.”
This highly-recommended project, which began in 2006, sees buyers make serious presentations and votes each month to select items, which are then rolled out to all stores.
■ September Tower Recommendation Product Details*In alphabetical order
① Artist: Atarayo
Title: Morning dew melts in the sunlight
Release date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Price CD only: 2,640 yen (tax included)
CD+Blu-ray: 5,940 yen (tax included)
CD+DVD: 5,940 yen (tax included)
Label ASAB
Tower Records original bonus
: Jacket design sticker set (3 types random)
Introduction
A three-piece rock band from Tokyo that mainly works in Tokyo. They started posting songs on YouTube in November 2020. Their first original song, “October Silent You Forget,” became a hot topic for its sad and emotional singing voice, urban atmosphere, and sad lyrics that evoke empathy, and the music video has now exceeded 50 million views on YouTube, making it a huge hit. Less than a year after starting their activities, they have attracted attention in various media, including their appearance on THE FIRST TAKE. This work contains a total of 8 songs, including “I am…,” which became a hot topic as the opening theme song for the second season of the TV anime “My Heart is Dangerous.” The live footage included in the Blu-ray and DVD includes footage of the tour finale held on June 13, 2024, and behind-the-scenes footage of the Asia tour.
Tower Recommendation Comments
Recommended by: Sapporo Parco Store/Nakanishi
A new mini album from Atarayo, who recorded a hit with “October Silent You Forget”! This work is even more noteworthy after being tied up with an anime!
② Artist: QOOPIE
Title MODERN TIMES
Release date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Price: 2,420 yen (tax included)
Label QOOPIE
Introduction
Formed in Nagoya in 2017, this four-member instrumental band (Gt/Gt/Ba/Ds) pursues musical expression where “instruments sing”. Armed with the performance and expressiveness honed through street live performances, their groovy ensemble is filled with singing and soulful performances, which is their greatest appeal. This is their first nationwide CD, released exclusively by Tower Records. In addition to re-recorded versions of their popular songs “Alaska”, “Oliver”, “Cycle”, “ODD”, and “VAN”, the album contains a total of seven songs, including the unreleased new song “Crybaby” and a live version of the new song “LIT”.
Tower Recommendation Comments
Recommended by: Product Management Department/Chiba
Danceable tunes that shake the floor, melodic phrases that are so captivating you can’t help but listen to them, all with a funky and soulful groove! A new band that is sure to catch your attention, opening up new possibilities in instrumental music!
③ Artist: Ginger Root
Title: SHINBANGUMI
Release date: Friday, September 13, 2024
price
Domestic CD: 2,750 yen (tax included)
Imported CD: 2,690 yen (tax included)
Limited color version (Sunray and Juban TV Building Vinyl): 6,820 yen (tax included)
Colored Vinyl: 7,090 yen (tax included)
LP: 6,290 yen (tax included)
Cassette: 3,290 yen (tax included)
Label: Ghostly International
Benefits
Introduction
This is the project of Cameron Lew, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and visual artist from Southern California. He creates handcrafted yet impeccably polished synth pop, alternative disco, boogie, and soul, shaped through the lens of an Asian American who grew up obsessed with the music of the 1970s and 80s, especially “the creative and cultural dialogue between Japanese city pop and the Western music of French pop, Philly soul, and Ram-era Paul McCartney.” This is his third album and the first release on his new label, Ghostly International.
Tower Recommendation Comments
Recommended by: Product Management Department/Hirokawa
All of their previous works have been long-running hits, even though they have only been distributed on vinyl! This is the third album from Cameron Lew’s project, and it’s finally making its domestic debut. Their solo performance last year sold out in an instant, and their appearance at Fuji Rock was also a hot topic. Their previous works will be reissued at “CITY POP on VINYL” on August 3rd. This will definitely appeal to CITY POP fans! They have also confirmed their long-awaited Japan tour in 2025!
