Kent Ito and Shunichi Toki dazzle in January and February 2023 with two albums that are all about good vibes and stylish performances.
The 13th episode of the new video feature on The Hand That Feeds HQ’s YouTube channel is out!
As the name says, Monthly Review is a monthly feature in which I find yet another excuse to talk about male seiyuu music and 2D groups.
This is a feature in which I get on camera covering the most impressive/buzzworthy releases in any given month – and hidden gems that not many people may end up paying attention to -, counting on your participation as well in all 4 corners:
- Best of the month (3 best/buzzworthy/gems of every given month as picked by me + 3 suggested by THTFHQ readers
- Monthly Choice (3 CD suggestions by me – regardless of when the CDs were released – and 3 suggestions by THTFHQ readers)
- Music in the Horizon (a look at next month’s releases – it mixes my and your comments on upcoming releases by male seiyuu artists, bands, units or 2D groups)
- Ask Vanessa (ask me anything about male seiyuu or 2D music)
This month’s episode is all about the music released in January and February 2023.
While January 2023 was one of the weakest and most uneventful months in the past decade – when it comes to music releases by male seiyuu artists and 2D groups, February changed things around and brought forth a couple of awesome CD releases including the first candidate for album of the year, Kent Ito’s “Hanabi”.
January 2023’s highlight is, undoubtedly, Shunichi Toki‘s “Glorious World”.
Shunichi Toki continues to evolve his sound, betting more on rock and jazz music – now in equal measures – to create a fancy, mature single in “Glorious World”.
The title track is exactly what you’d expect from a song that is featured in an anime series. It is intense, powerful, and has good pacing, things that are more than enough as the core of a good anisong track that catches the attention of the listeners.
The stand-out performance here belongs to “Highway Love”, song that feels like arriving at an exclusive party at a casino. Stylish at all times and with a tasteful citypop sound, this is already one of the best songs released in 2023.
And Kent Ito’s “Hanabi” arrives to share with us all top quality citypop music with awesome vibes.
The consistency in his sound, the warm, laidback soundscape that envelops the listener, and those beautiful vocals by Kent Ito gave away to an EP that is already in the running as the best of 2023.
These and more thoughts/comments can be found in the almost 1-hour-ish episode that just dropped on the channel and that you can find in this article as well.
Please remember that these episodes are much more enjoyable with your insights, so participate when the survey is open on social media. Although only 3 were chosen for each corner (less if there were fewer submissions from you), do know I’ve read them all. I read everything and keep being impressed by your musical sensibility!
THTFHQ’s community is filled with talented individuals, fans of music, and voice acting who geek as hard – or even more – about both things as I do!
Do you want to participate in MONTHLY REVIEW?
This show is a collaborative work between you and me, sharing our love for male seiyuu and 2D music projects so don’t be shy to participate.
And don’t worry about not having perfect English writing or the sort, we all make mistakes and even I am not a native speaker – and typos are really my bread and butter here on the website – so don’t let that stop you from participating, should you want to!
As always, several times during the month, the survey to participate in next month’s episode is shared on THTFHQ’s social media (Facebook and Twitter) and on THTFHQ’s YouTube channel‘s community section (make sure to subscribe to not miss the notification, or lurk if you don’t want to subscribe).
You can participate as many times as you want, I only ask that you avoid submitting the same answers in the various entries you make in this feature.
The goal is to feature as many CDs as possible, not to talk only about 1 or 2 CDs.
If the links are not working, CLICK HERE to check the video.
