City Pop 101
One year ago I started a list documenting my foray into city pop, which ended up spiraling into a deep dive that capped out the list entries. I've greatly enjoyed what I've discovered. With some slight reassessments and two new entries, this is the (roughly) ranked version of all of the albums I've listened to. City pop generally refers to the pop music of 80s Japan when it started pulling more and more from jazz, funk, disco, soft rock, Latin music, and the sorts. Not all entries here will strictly fall into city pop, but they share enough elements that I will call them satellite city pop. |
| 1 |  | Anri
Timely!!
Released 1983.
The one that started this whole adventure. While technically it was all downhill after this, I still found many amazing albums. I basically consider it the perfect pop album. Such a bright and bouncy record with plenty of disco and funk groove. Amazing thick slap bass, super tight instrumentation, and sublime backing vocal harmonies. I quickly fell in love with this album and wrote a review for it.
RATING 4.8 |
| 2 |  | Toshiki Kadomatsu
Sea Is a Lady
Released 1987.
Toshiki Kadomatsu is a legend among city pop. In addition to his solo work, he's also worked on handful of other albums on this list, Timely!! being one where the majority of tracks are his work, be it compositions and/or production. Sea is a Lady stands out as an oddball in his prime 80s output in that it's mainly instrumental. This album cranks up the jazz fusion and he lets his guitar sing for him instead. When you're skilled in making catchy vocal choruses, stripping those out takes some guts, but he still knows how to cook without vocals. Definitely in the upper echelon of jazz fusion stuff. It's also fun to hear some albums that have influenced the sound of later video games soundtracks, and this one definitely has a few video game ass songs.
RATING 4.6 |
| 3 |  | Akina Nakamori
Fushigi
Released 1986.
The first satelitte city pop album of this list. Ms. Nakamori was a rather famous teen idol of the 80s, but her work started as more standard 80s pop fare. While there was some overlap, she isn't a city pop artist. But this one has a few video game ass songs and it's incredible so on the list it stays. She added more and more new wave over the years, and here at the age of 21 she made something wildly experimental. You have tight new wave synthpop but with this dark brooding gothic fog over things, and then her vocals are very muted in the mix. She sounds like a ghost haunting the album.
RATING 4.6 |
| 4 |  | Toshiki Kadomatsu
After 5 Clash
Released 1984.
This album is fully entrenched in the city and its nightlife scene, and has his strong disco-influenced sound throughout. The bass playing of Tomohito Aoki (RIP) is what elevates this album to new heights. There are some ballads, but they're pretty solid. Mr. Kadomatsu also usually liked to put in a kookier curveball song, so Step Into the Light has some weird disco rap thing going on. But if you want more Timely!! but a smidge worse imo, here it is.
RATING 4.6 |
| 5 |  | Himiko Kikuchi
Flashing
Released 1981.
Himiko Kikuchi is a legendary jazz fusion artist, and deserves to be on this list despite being a satellite city pop situation. She didn't set out to fall into this label, but was pulling from the same roots that city pop was. Despite going in a different direction, you can tell this album was influential for the style as a whole. There's a few songs with city pop vibes, probably some chord structure music theory thing I can't explain, but there's lots of cool sax and Latin influence. Definitely some video game ass moments, but this one gets jazzier and more technical. Incredible jazz fusion.
RATING 4.6 |
| 6 |  | Junko Yagami
Communication
Released 1985.
Despite being 40 years old, this sounds incredibly modern to me, but it's probably because that synth tone is on point. Synthpop that basically throws all of the trends of 80s pop music into a blender, making it kind of a parallel precursor to synthwave in a way. Miss Yagami has one of the best voices in the genre, though she doesn't flex too much here. Simply an amazingly consistent synthpop release.
RATING 4.6 |
| 7 |  | Yasuha
Transit
Released 1981.
Flyday Chinatown was a song that was a big deal and picked up by the internet algorithm when city pop revived, but you're doing a disservice if you only listen to that song and not the rest of the album. Production on this album is very strong, and Yasuha has a nice voice, able to sound soft and sweet or strong as the song demands. This is pretty varied in sound for city pop, dancing around various funk, rock and roll, jazz, and even samba sounds. A scatting/guitar solo duet is not something I expected in this genre.
RATING 4.5 |
| 8 |  | Yoshino Fujimal
Yoshino Fujimal
Released 1982.
Look at this dude, he's so slick. And the music is pretty slick, too! Pretty much the perfect fusion of yacht rock and city pop. This can definitely slug it out with Aja imo, which is very high praise (though Aja is definitely way jazzier).
RATING 4.5 |
| 9 |  | Masayoshi Takanaka
Seychelles
Released 1976.
Masayoshi Takanaka is a legend in the city pop scene, despite kind of being adjacent to it, but too many of the beachy albums on this list have been influenced by him for him to be separated from city pop at this point. This is strong pop jazz fusion that takes you straight to the islands. Has some funky tunes, and the basslines are killer, but there's more chill out soak up the sun songs, too. Really hard to find much faults here other than a couple of parts are afraid to stick out.
RATING 4.5 |
| 10 |  | Sugar Babe
Songs
Released 1975.
Here it is, widely regarded as where it all began. Tatsuro Yamashita and Taeko Onuki were in this band, and Eiichi Otaki produced it; the former two more legends than the latter, but he's on this list, too. I wasn't expecting soft rock with lots of groove based on the name and cover. Kind of impressive how ahead of its time this sounds in terms of how city pop came to develop, but that's probably Tats' work on a lot the compositions. Kind of a shame they fell apart shortly after this album since I like the combined package of what they bring to the table over them going solo. You also love to see a founding album not be a watered down milquetoast version of what it ends up inspiring.
RATING 4.5 |
| 11 |  | Takako Mamiya
Love Trip
Released 1982.
Very strong jazzy chill city pop that has the nocturnal city feel locked down. Super smooth but with some appreciated slap bass. There's enough chops and nice licks to break up a samey feel throughout the album. It's a shame this was a one and done release, but that's how cutthroat the music business was back then. At least it's been unearthed and appreciated since then.
RATING 4.5 |
| 12 |  | Kaoru Akimoto
Cologne
Released 1986.
Synthpop with a lot of variety in sounds that ebb and flow throughout the tracks. Like if a song sounds like it's going to meander, some extra instruments are going to come in and spice things up. The first three tracks are an insane run for pop music. My only mark against it is it kind of simmers down as it keeps going. Kind of wild this was also a one and done release.
RATING 4.5 |
| 13 |  | Masayoshi Takanaka
An Insatiable High
Released 1977.
His second album that year and third overall from Seychelles the year prior? Dude's a workhorse. More great summery easy listening jazz fusion, but Mr. Takanaka does not think easy listening should mean an easy composition. Side A (first three tracks) are jazzier and super good, Side B (the rest) is poppier, both sides are nice and funky. I feel Seychelles has better consistency, but this one is certainly no slouch with better peaks.
RATING 4.4 |
| 14 |  | Meiko Nakahara
Friday Magic
Released 1982.
I think the bass could be a touch louder, but there's plenty of mellow funk grove, sophisticated strings, and nice Latin touches on some songs. There's a lot of variety here, and it's quite impressive she's the composer of these songs when city pop is usually a whole bunch of people involved. And insane that this is rated so lowly here. Y'all hate music around these parts?
RATING 4.4 |
| 15 |  | Masayoshi Takanaka
Takanaka
Released 1977.
Yeah, I don't think it's possible for Takanaka to miss in his early career, at least. There's still plenty of stuff not on this list to check out from him. The cover is accurate in that this is immediately more guitar-centric, but it's fun funky jazz fusion beachy vibes all around good time stuff like his usual.
RATING 4.4 |
| 16 |  | Yurie Kokubu
Silent Moon
Released 1990.
City pop was in its death throes by the time the 90s arrived. The economic bubble that supported both its carefree vibes and the finances behind their strong production had burst, and it was started to feel antiquated with the rise of R&B. This is one of the last dying gasps of the genre until its resurrection with the internet, and it's a hell of an album to go out on. Very funky synthpop, and Ms. Kokubu has a very strong, confident voice. There's some video game ass songs so you know we're still in city pop territory, but there's plenty of strong groove to stave off any weariness the long run time may cause.
RATING 4.4 |
| 17 |  | Anri
Coool
Released 1984.
You know it's gotta be cool if she used three Os to spell it. Still has that groovy disco feel of Timely!! since Kadomatsu wrote this album too, but it's chiller overall fitting more squarely in the traditional city pop vibes. But it's still high quality stuff. Also I always have to call out slap bass because it slaps.
RATING 4.4 |
| 18 |  | Taeko Onuki
Mignonne
Released 1978.
I definitely listened to Ms. Onuki's albums too early in my original city pop journey; they're all much better than my original assessments. But I always liked this one more than the other two on this list. It's proto-city pop, but it holds that nocturnal jazzy feel that would come to define a lot of the genre, but still with plenty of soft rock, funk, and folky stuff mixed in from her new music roots. She also has a very soft and lovely voice.
RATING 4.3 |
| 19 |  | Tomoko Aran
浮遊空間
Released 1983.
This is also better than my original assessment. It's incredibly varied synthpop: Ms. Aran was not afraid to experiment. The first track had me thinking who put this 2018 synthwave song in my 1983 city pop album? There's some quirkier stuff, but nothing weirder than Hannya, which is something completely out there. It takes guts putting that on this album. But this feels like a nice sampler of the different sounds of city pop outside of that weird ass track.
RATING 4.3 |
| 20 |  | Tatsuro Yamashita
For You
Released 1982.
Tatsuro Yamashita is regarded as the king of city pop, and it's easy to hear why. Perfectly composed pop with just the right flourishes of funk and jazz. What a song, that Sparkle. But the album clearly leads with its best foot forward and the back half has things that drag just a hair. It's very polished and pristine pop, but there's a few more ballads than I'd like. The song Hey Reporter feels a little out of place but I don't see how this would detract from the album that much, it has slap bass even.
RATING 4.3 |
| 21 |  | Kirinji
愛をあるだけ、すべて
Released 2018.
A real nice modern take on funky disco mixed with nice catchy J-Pop and electronic soundscapes. One of the best of the neo city pop movement, which has the same kind of compositional touches of traditional city pop but has a much wider toolbox of music to pull influence from this time. Honestly this feels like a new spin on what Toshiki Kadomatsu would have cranked out in his 80s heyday, complete with a kooky disco rap moment that also works. Pretty kickass, but it does mellow out after the first half.
RATING 4.3 |
| 22 |  | Toshiki Kadomatsu
On the City Shore
Released 1983.
This album is the closest thing Mr. Kadomatsu did to Timely!!, and there's some similar sounding licks on this album. Nice slap bass, and a good mix of summery chillout songs and bouncy sunny ones. He just tightened up his songwriting after this album, which is why it's down here.
RATING 4.3 |
| 23 |  | Tatsuro Yamashita
Moonglow
Released 1979.
Tats firmly establishes he knows what he's doing in composing pop songs, but I always feel he's missing a little extra something. I think it's track order. It starts nice and mellow, picks up with some more disco stuff... then back to ballad town. Maybe I just want more disco bops from him and he's content to make mellow jams. And then he kneecaps Yellow Cab by suddenly wanting to be weird just play it straight my man. But whatever, there's a lot of bitching here for a really good album, lol.
RATING 4.2 |
| 24 |  | Jadoes
It's Friday
Released 1986.
The hip hop tag on RYM made me raise an eyebrow, but this is mid-80s, so turntables and talking lyrics instead of attempting a flow... and unless I zoned out hard I'm pretty sure that's all only in the first track. Toshiki Kadomatsu produced and performed on this album, so all his talented dudes are also here. Very synth funk with jazzy city pop injected here and there. It's definitely quirky but not trying to be weird. Tracks 2-5 is an incredible run of songs. The others aren't as great but solid funky stuff. Underrated gem for sure.
RATING 4.2 |
| 25 |  | Masanori Ikeda
Quarterback
Released 1987.
Look at dude he thinks he's so cool. A few of his songs were used as anime openers and then he became a voice actor. But this album is that fun kind that oozes 80s cheese and that nightclub feel. Very obscure hidden gem.
RATING 4.2 |
| 26 |  | Tatsuro Yamashita
Ride on Time
Released 1980.
When I made the exploration list a year ago, this was the highest rated city pop album on RYM, and it's easy to hear why. Though having heard more Tats albums, I feel this one is a little weaker even though he's rock solid. The back half of the album winds down, making it a little dry at the end when the front half has more energetic songs. I think mixing up the order would have helped things out a bit.
RATING 4.2 |
| 27 |  | Mioko Yamaguchi
夢飛行
Released 1980.
I like your style, lady. Very neat sophisticated synthpop with a lot of eclectic touches. Traditional sounding Japanese melodies flow and mix with western 80s ones. Nice chill sound. Feels pretty forward for something released this early, and it stands out as wholly its own thing in this list, which is no easy feat.
RATING 4.2 |
| 28 |  | especia
GUSTO
Released 2014.
smh can't be a Pyro list without broken album art somewhere. This was an idol group that tried to capture that retro feel (which you can clearly tell by their fashion choices), but they were several years too early before the city pop revival was a thing, so they disbanded a few years later for failing to gain an audience. This is nice synthpop with plenty of disco-funk groove to it; the composers definitely know their stuff. Kind of a shame this didn't catch on, it's pretty legit and probably one of the best examples of how to blend the old and the new. Only problems are a ridiculously long run time and not all of them are the best singers. But that synth tone is on point.
RATING 4.1 |
| 29 |  | Tomoko Aran
Last Good-bye
Released 1986.
This is more artsy than Fuyu-kukan for sure, but it contains a variety of styles like that album did with some nice synth tones. Lots of eastern melodies on this one, too. It's more of a mid-tempo drive through Neo-Tokyo.
RATING 4.1 |
| 30 |  | Uwanosora
陽だまり
Released 2017.
A very strong neo city pop release: There's no way this would be something you'd hear in the 80s, but it's still using all of the techniques of city pop: horns, strings, soft jazzy vibe with wall of sound moments... just in a different way that feels modern instead of retro. Very enjoyable summery feel good stuff, and manages to stay fresh throughout the long run time. I see some people critiquing this by saying it's cafe music, but if that's the case then I want to go to that cafe.
RATING 4.1 |
| 31 |  | S. Kiyotaka and Omega Tribe
River's Island
Released 1984.
Fun, soft funk with a soothing, pining romantic side. While it's lacking a little extra bombast to push it to true greatness, it's still remarkably solid stuff.
RATING 4.1 |
| 32 |  | Spectrum (JPN)
Optical Sunrise (Spectrum 2)
Released 1980.
This sounds like a jazzier Earth Wind and Fire. Very funky, probably not city pop on main, but we love and accept satellite city pop albums on this list. More instrumental than you'd expect from the EWF comparison. Nice bass work. Gets a little goofy at times, but they're having fun. And so am I listening to this.
RATING 4.1 |
| 33 |  | Akina Nakamori
Crimson
Released 1986.
What do you meeeaaan the gothic vampire babe cover is for a more ordinary synthpop sound? The vocals are higher in the mix compared to Fushigi but still have that airy ethereal quality: you wouldn't think she was only 21 still. All of the songs here were composed by women, and this feeling of feminine grace comes across in the music. Obviously going more conventional shortly after Fushigi is going to be a step down, but this isn't bad at all.
RATING 4.1 |
| 34 |  | Miki Matsubara
Pocket Park
Released 1980.
This Stay By Me song is another one of those city pop classics that broke out of the initial time capsule this genre was in, but people are comparing it to Plastic Love where it carries the album. I wholly disagree; this album stays funky and disco throughout, getting jazzier on the slower songs. That song also isn't leaps and bounds better than the other songs on this album. This is just real solid stuff through and through.
RATING 4.0 |
| 35 |  | Taeko Onuki
Sunshower
Released 1977.
Lmao what was my problem with this album in the original list to give it a 3.3? It's proto-city pop, so it's softer and folkier but there's plenty of strong funk influence here and lots of cool guitar parts.
RATING 4.0 |
| 36 |  | Bread and Butter
Late Late Summer
Released 1979.
A new entry for this list. More on the folky/soft rock side with plenty of beach influence as expected from the title. While this kind of stays on one lane through most of its run, there's plenty of extra instrumentation and a lot of different musicians involved on this to spice things up. Dunno why they felt the need to go so hard with Blue Horizon, but I appreciate it.
RATING 4.0 |
| 37 |  | Casiopea
Mint Jams
Released 1982.
While Casiopea is a long running jazz fusion act and not pop, from the first few notes you can tell why they belong. When so much of city pop is interlaced with jazz fusion anyway, it makes sense that a release from the heyday of city pop is going to have sounds straight out of it. Casiopea has plenty of video game ass songs, inspiring the soundtrack to the game Outrun, meaning synthwaves owes themselves to them. But is this the best sounding live album ever? It sounds straight out of the studio. Even if Casiopea never plays it up or foes ham, this is real solid instrumental jazz fusion with great bass.
RATING 4.0 |
| 38 |  | Yukika
Soul Lady
Released 2020.
You can tell this is modern but it does not skimp out on that classic city pop funk groove and synth trumpets. Whoever composed this did their homework, but they made everything except the bass loud ): and a few songs are weaker because they're mainly K-Pop and not city pop (no funk or jazz means no groove). Still really solid, shame she stopped making music to be a parent; there's still potential here.
RATING 4.0 |
| 39 |  | Toshiki Kadomatsu
Gold Digger
Released 1985.
Continues the nightlife feel from After 5 Clash. Explores different sounds and manners to groove, but unfortunately the bass work is mixed lower and subdued, boo. The bounciest track where the bass is finally let loose has some of those weird disco rap vocals in it. I like this but I wish it did some stuff differently.
RATING 4.0 |
| 40 |  | Haruko Kuwana
Show Me Your Smile
Released 1979.
This feels like it's taking more influence from Masayoshi Takanaka and Haruomi Hosono in being mellow groovy beachy tunes. Opening song is an interesting Brazilian disco piece. This one feels like a hidden gem. It doesn't blow away, but it's very pleasant and has lots of little nice twists.
RATING 4.0 |
| 41 |  | Yurie Kokubu
Relief 72 Hours
Released 1983.
This is a very solid city pop list, doing everything right but also kind of plays it safe. But it's more of that classic slightly funk/disco good bass feel good 80s city pop sound with a strong vocalist.
RATING 4.0 |
| 42 |  | Piper
Summer Breeze
Released 1983.
If you couldn't guess, you can tell immediately this is going to be one of those beach vibes albums. Some really good jams here that remind me of a Mario Kart soundtrack. Unfortunately an uneven track mixture: frontloaded, some lull in the middle, and then an inability to pick back up from that. Overall real solid stuff.
RATING 4.0 |
| 43 |  | Minako Yoshida
Monochrome
Released 1980.
The music fits the vibes of the cover. Mellow jazzy soul pop, nice and classy, but with a few more disco-influenced upbeat tracks. Kind of the perfect companion album to Let's Do It in feeling like the more sunset twilight counterpart. But this one feels more consistent to me and her vocal flexes hit harder here, so I have it higher.
RATING 4.0 |
| 44 |  | Makoto Matsushita
First Light
Released 1982.
Very nice sunset summer beach album, with lots smooth jazzy soft rock in the mix. Nice slap bass, some funky feels, real chill.
RATING 3.9 |
| 45 |  | Kenjiro Sakiya
Difference
Released 1987.
Not too much to say about this one. It's very competent synthy funky catchy 80s pop. Real solid stuff.
RATING 3.9 |
| 46 |  | Maiko Okamoto
Fascination
Released 1986.
Nice easy listening stuff with funky guitar licks and bouncy synth bass. Varies things up a little bit with each song, which is welcome.
RATING 3.9 |
| 47 |  | Mioko Yamaguchi
月姫
Released 1983.
Yes girl, do... whatever you're doing on that cover. This one is fairly removed from city pop, but it has a very lovely dreamy atmosphere, with a nice mix of synths and orchestrations. It still keeps those traditional Japanese melodies/scales from her first album. I like the other one more because it's more immediate, but this one could definitely be more rewarding if you let yourself soak in it.
RATING 3.9 |
| 48 |  | Taeko Onuki
Grey Skies
Released 1976.
Proto-city pop that laid a lot of the ground work for the genre after she left Sugar Babe. It's neat hearing the influences while it's pulling from other stuff. Soft jazzy folky pop, with her lovely soft voice. Now that I've heard lots of city pop, it's fun how full circle things are: this is more similar to the soft jazz pop that defines many neo city pop artists). Also even though she's smiling on the cover the resolution here makes it look like she has a tummy ache, get well soon. Shitposting aside, Breakin' Blue is a superb song.
RATING 3.9 |
| 49 |  | Blue Peppers
Retroactive
Released 2018.
The game of some random reddit posters, flexing their power levels by whipping out some ultra obscure modern releases. I like the double meaning of the album title (retroactive and retro is active). These nerds have cooked up some nice pop with some jazzy feel and lots of synth work, be it keys, orchestrations, or horns, making a fuller sound. Some tracks also have female guest vocalists to shake things up a little bit more. Solid stuff and the textbook definition of a hidden gem.
RATING 3.9 |
| 50 |  | Ryusenkei
Tokyo Sniper
Released 2006.
Probably the most well-known album that tried resurrecting city pop from the grave. We have Hitomitoi on vocals here with some very nice and mellow jazzy music. Bass is nice and audible with that funk groove, plenty of keys and synth strings to make the sound fuller. I see elevator music thrown around as a critique for this album: sure, the dynamics are kind of one-track, but what kind of elevators do these people go to? I want to go.
RATING 3.9 |
| 51 |  | Minako Yoshida
Let's Do It
Released 1978.
Much more mellow than I was expecting based on the cover and title. Sure, there's some lighter disco tracks here, but it's mainly a lot of nice softer stuff. I guess I shouldn't have suspected something too vivacious since this is before city pop hit its stride. Ms. Yoshida has a very pleasant voice and this is simply competently composed and produced; sure, I would have liked more things to be a certain way, but it's hard to find fault in the final product.
RATING 3.9 |
| 52 |  | Lamp
At Komorebi St. / 木洩陽通りにて
Released 2005.
It doesn't look like these guys specifically set out to make something like city pop since it was dead and buried at the time, but this jazzy bossa nova pop with wall of sound sensibilities definitely shares the same DNA. Nice and mellow but with a lot of extra flair on the songs, very nice.
RATING 3.9 |
| 53 |  | RA MU
Thanks Giving
Released 1988.
This is Momoko Kikuchi trying to escape her idol roots (she'll come up later on this list). The group she formed disbanded shortly after this album due to not finding much success, but it's a nice mix of city pop and the funk/R&B of the late 80s. While it's kind of samey throughout the album, it's quite enjoyable and feels like a proper bridge between city pop funk and the stuff that would overtake it in the 90s.
RATING 3.9 |
| 54 |  | Shigeru Suzuki
Lagoon
Released 1976.
Proto city pop really bringing the tropical vacation into your speakers. Easy listening, easy groove, very nice.
RATING 3.9 |
| 55 |  | Eiichi Otaki
A Long Vacation
Released 1982.
Very Beach Boys, but with a lot of extra instrumentation. While some songs have those sunny beach vibes, there's a lot of melancholic nostalgic pining underneath things. Plenty of variety here, I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
RATING 3.9 |
| 56 |  | Tatsuro Yamashita
Big Wave
Released 1984.
A soundtrack for a film, but it sounds just like his other albums I've heard. So then this has to be one of the best film soundtracks of all time, yeah? The B side is also all Beach Boys covers, and that's another band I'm only aware of what they sound like via cultural osmosis. But this is definitely a very beachy album in sound, very relaxing and sunny. The B side is weaker; Tats' stuff is better than those Beach Boys songs.
RATING 3.9 |
| 57 |  | Yuuko Shibuya
Made in Japan
Released 1980.
jfc this album cover, she's so goddamn cool. Thankfully this album can approach the imagery, being the kinda jazzy, kinda funky, kinda disco stuff I love in city pop in the first place, so we have a winner here. Doesn't stand out among the pack but it's still good stuff. Shame she dropped off the face of the earth after this release.
RATING 3.9 |
| 58 |  | Junko Ohashi
Magical
Released 1984.
Magical 9/11 sounds like some kind of bootleg video game (that's all I can think of when I see that album title and cover). But anyway, normally I'm against compilations because they yank songs out of their album context, but like half of these songs are singles so there is no context. Ms. Ohashi has a pretty good voice; nice vibrato on those sustained notes. Not sure what they were thinking with that opener since it's kind of ass imo, there's a string of bangers right after it. Ballads are a little too long imo but some of them have grown on me. The compilation could have definitely been trimmed down. So there's some stuff holding it back, but it's still pretty good.
RATING 3.9 (would be MUCH higher with the chaff cut out) |
| 59 |  | Yuki Saito
Axia
Released 1985.
Soft beachy summer vibes, but not in an overbearing way. Ms. Saito has a very sweet voice. I like the more melancholic tracks over the fun in the sun ones; fortunately there's no shortage of those.
RATING 3.8 |
| 60 |  | Nadja (JPN)
月日星 (チイチョホイ)
Released 1989.
Definitely more eclectic than your standard city pop but without going into wacky hippy dippy territory like Mr. Hosono far below. Lots of experimental/weird instrument choices in the harmonies but they don't clash or stand out too much. Nadja has a lower register which also gives this album a bit more charm.
RATING 3.8 |
| 61 |  | Momoko Kikuchi
Adventure
Released 1986.
Another chill and jazzy album, and Miss Kikuchi has a lovely airy voice. But I think this does little to try and stand out other than the opening track with sounds like a SNES RPG intro. Not to say it's bad at all; it's definitely grown on me as I fleshed out this list some more. Also I love the thumbnail of the album here the resolution makes it look like she is FREAKING out.
RATING: 3.8 |
| 62 |  | Momoko Kikuchi
Ocean Side
Released 1982.
This chick really likes swimming. Compared to the ultra mellow Adventure, this one is more of that sunny vibrant beachy sound. So I like the instrumentation better here, but her soft voice works better on the smooth sounds of Adventure. Definitely feels like a two sides of the same coin here.
RATING 3.8 |
| 63 |  | Mai Yamane
TAた SOそ GAが REれ
Released 1980.
This is the lady that sang The Real Folk Blues in Cowboy Bebop. She has a nice, strong, smoky voice. Definitely vibes of like a small roadside pub at night, with some jazzy rock feel. Pretty cool.
RATING 3.8 |
| 64 |  | Keiko Kimura
Style
Released 1988.
Strong bossa nova influence here, so it's very mellow and smooth. There's a couple of more energetic tracks here and there. Very elevated background music vibes.
RATING 3.8 |
| 65 |  | Naoko Gushima
miss.G
Released 1996.
This was released after city pop was dead in the water after 1990, and it's not a late stage city pop album. I'm pretty sure I yanked this off of the top charts on RYM, but there's a little genre war going on because it's not tagged city pop anymore. Which is fair, because it isn't. Has that smooth R&B sound common in 90s pop, but with a bit of smooth jazz feel mixed in, which is probably the source of the confusion. Pretty great satellite city pop album though, very soothing with enough flair to keep it not feeling one-note.
RATING 3.8 |
| 66 |  | Tomomi Sano
Silent Flight
Released 2005.
I wonder if there was a brief nostalgic boom during this timeframe for a city pop album to be randomly released in the middle of the aughts. This definitely sounds more modern, but with a nocturnal breeze of smooth lounge jazz/funk. Nice bass, but I wish it was louder in the mix. Similar issues with some other albums here where it's a little too smooth and doesn't stick out a lot, but the fifth track is a banger.
RATING 3.8 |
| 67 |  | Junk Fujiyama
Happiness
Released 2020.
Obvious Tatsuro Yamashita worship, but we like Tats, don't we folks? Nice uplifting beach vibes, bass isn't that loud but is audible enough and we have some nice funky guitar licks constantly. It's a little one-note, but it's enjoyable all the way through.
RATING 3.8 |
| 68 |  | Yumi Matsutoya
Misslim
Released 1974.
The earliest release on this list, so this is another precursor to the city pop and from the first song surely this was influential back then. Immaculate production for something from the 70s. Soft, folky, moments of funk here and there, nice backing vocal harmonies. I prefer something a little more bouncy if you can tell by the higher rated things on this list, but the songwriting chops are strong enough here to get a high rating from me despite this being something that would usually be out of my zone.
RATING 3.8 |
| 69 |  | Hitomi Tohyama
Next Door
Released 1983.
Funky stuff with bouncy synth bass and guitar. Something about the synth tone is reminding me of like some N64 or PS1 video game soundtrack. Miss Tohyama has a pleasing strong voice. Not the most exciting city pop release, but a solid bop.
RATING 3.8 |
| 70 |  | Mari Iijima
Rose
Released 1983.
Not quite city pop (except that penultimate track), but it's adjacent enough. Sugary sweet synthpop that doesn't lay it on too thick but also does a lot of neat little things here and there to be more elevated than that sounds.
RATING 3.7 |
| 71 |  | Naomi Akimoto
4 Seasons
Released 1983.
Yo where the FUCK is Vivaldi? Even though there's no violin shredding to be found, this is still nice synthpop with a lot of little eclectic touches scattered throughout.
RATING 3.7 |
| 72 |  | Kanako Wada
KANA
Released 1987.
Fun, bouncy, funky synthpop where even the ballads are tight. Even though this album is pretty late to the scene in city pop's heyday, it's pretty good. But there are definitely too many ballads on this.
RATING 3.7 |
| 73 |  | Anri
Heaven Beach
Released 1982.
What a smorgasbord of credited musicians on this album. Toshiki Kadomatsu the GOAT is here, but he probably didn't have as much of a hand in this as he did her later albums since there's so many others credited. It's a nice, warm album but there's a lot of slower/midtempo songs here and not too many bangers. But the bangers that are here are pretty great.
RATING 3.7 |
| 74 |  | Momoe Yamaguchi
L.A. Blue
Released 1979.
Miss Yamaguchi's... eighteenth album? And she was only twenty? Girl put in crazy work singing in those teenage years, but I guess that's an idol for you. This has that disco/yacht rock feel, putting it in the realm of city pop even if it was made a little earlier before the style exploded. Has a few bangers sneakily hidden in a sea of mostly laid-back songs.
RATING 3.7 |
| 75 |  | Yurie Kokubu
Steps
Released 1987.
That dude on the cover is up to no good with that giantess, you can just tell. But this has that funky synth sound that Silent Moon has over the more traditional city pop sounds. There's a bit of R&B in here. This definitely captures that late 80s sound for sure. Feels kind of like a bridge between Relief 72 Hours and Silent Moon. The problem with this one is the dude behind the compositions is just worse than those other two albums. Still good at least. Though why do the two bonus tracks have to be the best songs on the album?
RATING 3.7 |
| 76 |  | Junko Yagami
Full Moon
Released 1983.
Less bombastic than Communication, but you could probably guess that based entirely on the album covers. There's definitely a feel of a blend of old and new here in these sound like mellow older pop songs with "modern" instruments and licks here and there. Some standout moments but a lot of it kind of blends together with some really saccharine ballads. It's nice, though.
RATING 3.6 |
| 77 |  | Hiromi Iwasaki
Wish
Released 1980.
Laid back, smooth, a variety of sounds... but it's all very restrained feeling. Even though they shouldn't be blending together, the songs do. Maybe a similar dynamics/BPM kind of thing? It's nice at least. A few songs get more lounge/disco feel and those stick out more, should have done more of that.
RATING 3.6 |
| 78 |  | Cindy
Angel Touch
Released 1990.
This sounds like a transitory sound between city pop and R&B. Or, to my out-of-time viewpoint, R&B with a little extra jazzy spice to make it interesting to listen to. This is good it's just not my cup of tea for an entire album. My brain is smarter than I am so there's probably some music theory thing going on why this isn't as gripping to me. It has slightly grown on me over time, but I don't see it shooting up too far from here.
RATING 3.6 |
| 79 |  | Akira Terao
Reflections
Released 1981.
This was the best selling album in Japan in the 80s, even surpassing Thriller. Definitely has an older sounding beachy/Latin vibe here that was apparently pop music in the 60s over there. But it blends it with more soft rock inspired stuff modern to the time. So it's a mix of old and new, but not risking alienation by being cutting edge and looking forward first. It's aight, fits the brooding cover art.
RATING 3.6 |
| 80 |  | EPO
Vitamin E-P-O
Released 1983.
City pop with some soul feel in the vocals, but that usual jazzy funky mid-tempo disco musical fare. The choruses are spammed a little, but they're catchy enough. Winds down in the back half and gets too ballad-filled. Competent but could be better.
RATING 3.6 |
| 81 |  | Minako Ito
Tenderly
Released 1982.
Soft with a lot of smooth jazz. Tender, indeed. Pretty nice but not a lot stands out. The more upbeat disco track comes in too late to make a splash, and even then it's kind of mellow.
RATING 3.6 |
| 82 |  | Hitomitoi
City Dive
Released 2012.
Released after a couple of few heartbeats in the otherwise buried corpse of city pop, but at least Hitomitoi carried the torch long before others picked it up. It's nice synthpop with a little funky disco bounce to it, very chill and smooth. Unfortunately it's rather front loaded and loses steam as it goes, but it's still good.
RATING 3.6 |
| 83 |  | Greeen Linez
Things That Fade
Released 2012.
I believe I found this on some RYM list? It's not city pop at all but it has the spirit of it, since one of the two producers in this project lives in Japan and used a lot of city pop stuff (and things that influenced city pop) as influence for this album. This feels more similar to vaporwave to me, but it definitely as that laid-back beach sound with touches of funk. Neat retro-futuristic feel, but many tracks do start to drag just a hair for my tastes... but there's definitely some bops here.
RATING 3.6 |
| 84 |  | Ginger Root
SHINBANGUMI
Released 2024.
Interesting vocals, remind me of some alt rock band with the effects over it. But it's very lush electro-funk instrumentation with the alt rock feel in how the songs are composed. Definitely more inspired by the psychedelic exotica kinds of city pop like Haruomi Hosono with that vague island feel and quirky touches here and there. A little clunky in parts, but a fun time.
RATING 3.6 |
| 85 |  | Mariya Takeuchi
Miss M
Released 1980.
It's the Plastic Love lady, but the album with that song isn't all that cracked up compared to the song. This is a more highly regarded album from her, but it's... adequate again. Some disco-y tracks, some yacht rock-y tracks, some tracks in English, couple of ballads that are just there. But this is definitely more 80s sounding than the Beach Boys-y Variety(-y), so this is a little better and more consistent.
RATING 3.6 |
| 86 |  | Ai Furihata
Moonrise
Released 2020.
Looks like she was a voice actress for some idol anime franchise, so it's good when she became a solo artist she decided to go full into nostalgia bait instead of more idol junk. This is pretty decent all things considered, but track 3 isn't city pop and kind of obnoxious. Not the most exciting city pop resurrection, but a serviceable tribute.
RATING 3.5 |
| 87 |  | Maria Asahina
Maria
Released 1979.
Damn what a fire disco opening track. Looks like this is a nepo baby product since she's the daughter of a popular post-war singer, but that fact doesn't matter when you're in economic miracle Japan and talented musicians and producers are a dime a dozen. And she's a fine singer herself even if this is her only album. But you have cool and catchy disco tracks, some jazzy funky jams... but then some uninteresting ballads to drag stuff down.
RATING 3.5 |
| 88 |  | Noriki
Dream Cruise
Released 1984.
This is mainly an instrumental album with a few vocals here and there. This one goes into jazz fusion/smooth jazz territory but keeps that funky, airy feel of city pop. Not terribly exciting outside of a few banger tracks, but perfectly inoffensive.
RATING: 3.5 |
| 89 |  | Yumi Matsutoya
Cobalt Hour
Released 1975.
A new entry for this list. Opening with the title track sets the wrong impression that this is going to be filled with bops, but it's far more lighter than that. Proto-city pop pulling more from soft rock and funk. I prefer Misslim's jazzier outing, and a few of these songs fall a little flat for me. It's still nice, but I wish more tracks were like the bookending ones.
RATING 3.5 |
| 90 |  | Natsu Summer
Orange Airmail
Released 2024.
You can juggle those oranges, I believe in you girl. Laid back ballady kind of pop with some beachy/reggae undertones. Serviceable and enjoyable, but not the most exciting.
RATING 3.5 |
| 91 |  | Momoko Kikuchi
Tropic of Capricorn
Released 1985.
She's not swimming? Well, this was released between Ocean Side and Adventure, so this is probably the midday flight after the morning swim to find the swimming spot for sunset. It's chill like Adventure, laid back mainly but not very jazzy. It's fine, but they nailed the sound more in Adventure I feel. This one's much too mellow.
RATING 3.5 |
| 92 |  | Hiroshi Sato Featuring Wendy Matthews
Awakening
Released 1982.
I figured with a feature so strong she's in the album title that Mr. Sato is the instrumentation and Wendy is the vocals, but no, this is mainly him with her on backup duties. Mellow funk, cheesy but quite smooth. Not exciting, but good chillout vibes. Gets a slight bump because the music definitely tells a story you pick up on without having to dig into it, which is neat.
RATING 3.5 |
| 93 |  | Iyo Matsumoto
風のように
Released 1987.
Definitely has the sophisticated vibe the cover puts off, but it's more uplifting than the picture would suggest. Some nice moments here and there, but it kind of blends together for me. Also this feels city pop adjacent most of the time instead of actual city pop, but it's still good. Like track 6 is an full-on city pop song, and it's the best one, go figure.
RATING 3.5 |
| 94 |  | Anri
Bi・Ki・Ni
Released 1983.
Toshiki Kadomatsu is magic in capturing this specific sound, I swear. But why is this so far down here if he's on board? Well this has a "Disco Side" and a "Sea Side". I like a variety in tone to be spread around an album instead of back to back with a weird switch up in the middle. Disco side is kind of subdued and more laid back than you'd think... kind of feels like a prototype to Timely!! where all the ingredients are there but the mixture just is lacking something. And that switch up in sound to the Sea Side is quite jarring, the instrumentation is entirely different now. Smooth sunset beach vibes... but kind of uninteresting with spikes of neat sounding stuff. Two EPs awkwardly smooshed together, and both need some sauce. Could definitely be worse though.
RATING 3.5 |
| 95 |  | Junko Yagami
Lonely Girl
Released 1983.
There's waaaaay too many ballads on here. That does give her an opportunity to flex her pipes, at least. Another mixed bag with high highs and okay lows like Full Moon. "Touch you, tonight" is a GOATed city pop song though. 100k views is fine but it should have millions like some of her other songs. Junko could have easily been a power metal vocalist if it existed at the time, she has some Roy Khan delivery on that song.
RATING 3.4 |
| 96 |  | Seiko Matsuda
Citron
Released 1988.
Ms. Matsuda was an idol throughout the 80s, which means she probably flirted with city pop in her standard pop music fare. This one is pulling from R&B and pop rock, making it more of a satellite city pop album. Chill uplifting vibes with a touch of funk in the backing synth bass. It's rather formulaic and does its one thing well, but I'm left wanting something a little more engaging. Having a classical-inspired ballad is one of the ways to do that, but not when it's the last song on the album lol.
RATING 3.4 |
| 97 |  | Miho Fujiwara
California Crisis
Released 1986.
A short EP that's also a soundtrack to something? I was wondering why this was rated so low, but I might have some idea as soon as she opened her mouth, lol. She's got a little bit of that anime girl screech in her voice and she sounds just a little off-key. Music's nice funky synthpop stuff, but Miho is the weak link here.
RATING 3.4 |
| 98 |  | Rie Murakami
Sahara
Released 1984.
Real deep cut this random reddit poster pulled out; this album is already obscure but we know barely anything about Miss Murakami other than she made this album. She's singing in English and some of her pronunciations are rough enough to be noticeable. The first song is a weirder chorus-way-better-than-the-verse synthpop song but it goes into more standard funky city pop after that. Not bad with some great swells, but a little rough around the edges.
RATING: 3.4 |
| 99 |  | Mariya Takeuchi
Variety
Released 1984.
This is the album with the legendary Plastic Love on it, but it eclipses everything else on this album and it's not indicative of the overall sound at all. The version on this album is also a lot shorter than the popular one and the little guitar solo feels out of place. That cut on youtube was stitched together from various versions by a fan and it's the definitive version. The rest of this album is mainly Beach Boys inspired. They start to run together after a while, and it's not really my jam but I don't anything really wrong with the album.
RATING 3.3 |
| 100 |  | Hitomi Tohyama
Sexy Robot
Released 1983.
Awww yeah, more of that N64 synth bass tone. This one lays on the funk, but it also feels like it could have some more instruments, since the verses are kind of just there compared to the choruses, and that's pop composition pitfalls that most city pop tends to avoid. Then the B-Side switches to a bunch of ballads that are just okay. Definitely a mixed bag, but there's a few pretty good songs here.
RATING 3.2 |
| 101 |  | Haruomi Hosono
Paraiso
Released 1978.
Mr. Hosono's been mentioned a few times on this list; he's a cultivator of the exotica obsession in Japanese pop music that was one of the influences for city pop, so he's satellite enough. He's also contributed to other city pop releases. This has the funky sound of city pop, but he adds so many exotic, psychedelic, and quirky elements all over the place, and his vocals are kind of mid. Pretty inconsistent with some corny tracks in the middle that really don't hit imo, but the bookend track clusters are pretty dece. Definitely deserves to be on this list for the influence even if I'm not a fan.
RATING: 3.2 |
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