Future1investor’s Neighborhood

*Thank you* to Anise & Cloves, Ada xD, maiZe & Hello!Jessie for sharing your thoughts on Aichan♥ in her leadership~ role...so many facets of her personality, professionalism, ability and intangibles learned over time as an idol♥~ but perhaps most of all she's just Aichan♥ a complete natural at this! ＾　＾

So~ I'm thinking that you may like your *chances* as with four eligible entries for Aichan's shashinshuu giveaway with the deadline now passed last night...you each will have a 25% chance of winning~ ＼(^o^)／☆ albeit the variables and unpredictable nature of yes~! racing♥! o(*´∀｀)o゛

Just to see once again what's at stake here....

For more of "Watashi" koko ni click~! ＾　＾

Okay~ for Anise & Cloves, Ada xD, maiZe & Hello!Jessie~ it's time to start your engines!! or rather thinking caps~(^-^*)！

Please select your one race♥ fantasy team by choosing 6 drivers whom you think will have the best combined average finish at the final race for the Cup Series at Homestead Miami Speedway~ to be held on Sunday November 22nd~! Post only one of your driver choices here (important: one of your driver choices must be outside of the top 12 in points which is listed below) and PM to me your other five choices~ keeping them a *secret* until race♥day...(I'll post all four complete fantasy teams prior to next Sunday's race event at Homestead Miami Speedway so you may follow along live if you're curious for the results ＾　＾。). Only the top 35 drivers (in points) are eligible for choices as shown below~.

The top two finishing teams~ will then face off in a one time final drawing....may be odd to only have two names "mixed" up in a hat…(^q^)! but I'm hoping that CK♥ can once again maybe help me with this...so bad of me I haven't even asked him yet (*´艸`)！

Each entry must be posted here by Thursday November 19th...midnight (Hawaii time).

*Good~luck* and happy racing♥!! ＼(^o^)／☆

Here are the current top 35 driver points standings....prior to today's race results:

RANK	+/-	DRIVER	POINTS	BEHIND	STARTS	POLES	WINS	TOP 5	TOP 10	WINNINGS
1	--	Jimmie Johnson	6297	Leader	34	3	6	14	22	6,876,910
2	--	Mark Martin	6224	-73	34	7	5	13	20	5,068,950
3	--	Jeff Gordon	6185	-112	34	1	1	16	23	6,210,810
4	+2	Kurt Busch	6126	-171	34	0	2	9	19	4,717,880
5	--	Tony Stewart	6119	-178	34	0	4	15	23	6,651,720
6	-2	Juan Montoya	6061	-236	34	2	0	7	17	5,051,550
7	--	Greg Biffle	6050	-247	34	0	0	10	16	4,625,260
8	+3	Denny Hamlin	5975	-322	34	1	3	13	18	4,977,340
9	-1	Ryan Newman	5973	-324	34	2	0	5	15	4,798,850
10	-1	Kasey Kahne	5898	-399	34	0	2	7	14	5,530,440
11	-1	Carl Edwards	5857	-440	34	0	0	7	13	5,337,040
12	--	Brian Vickers	5777	-520	34	6	1	4	13	4,529,770
13	--	Kyle Busch	4183	-2114	34	1	4	9	12	5,928,260
14	--	Matt Kenseth	4151	-2146	34	1	2	7	12	6,847,850
15	--	Clint Bowyer	4078	-2219	34	0	0	4	15	4,216,160
16	--	David Reutimann	3969	-2328	34	2	1	5	9	4,676,220
17	--	Jeff Burton	3677	-2620	34	0	0	3	8	4,981,800
18	--	Marcos Ambrose	3637	-2660	34	0	0	4	7	4,008,470
19	--	Joey Logano*	3600	-2697	34	0	1	3	7	5,140,930
20	--	Casey Mears	3571	-2726	34	0	0	0	4	3,781,640
21	--	Kevin Harvick	3535	-2762	34	0	0	4	8	5,761,360
22	--	Jamie McMurray	3389	-2908	34	0	1	1	5	3,818,200
23	--	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	3285	-3012	34	0	0	2	5	3,922,860
24	+1	Elliott Sadler	3231	-3066	34	0	0	1	5	3,668,140
25	+1	A.J. Allmendinger	3218	-3079	34	0	0	1	5	3,721,480
26	-2	Martin Truex Jr.	3210	-3087	34	2	0	0	4	4,472,080
27	--	David Ragan	3097	-3200	34	0	0	0	2	3,527,760
28	--	Reed Sorenson	3019	-3278	34	0	0	0	1	4,431,330
29	+1	Bobby Labonte	3012	-3285	34	0	0	1	2	4,059,220
30	-1	Sam Hornish Jr.	2991	-3306	34	0	0	2	7	3,952,790
31	--	David Stremme	2919	-3378	33	0	0	0	0	4,141,680
32	--	Paul Menard	2818	-3479	34	0	0	0	0	4,165,570
33	--	Michael Waltrip	2706	-3591	32	0	0	0	2	3,295,400
34	--	Robby Gordon	2556	-3741	33	0	0	1	1	3,686,360
35	--	Scott Speed*	2544	-3753	33	0	0	1	1	3,379,600

That and everything nice! :-)
An assignment on subjects with complimenting colors.
I opted for red and green bell peppers.

Such a nice night for mid-November at the 400 Bar. Athletes in Slacks (myspace) warmed up the crowd with their laidback loungey harmonizing sound that only two keyboarders and a guitarist can produce. The band claims all their songs are about love, except later on their hour-long set, they introduced a song about hating two guys from New York. They did finish strong with a cover of INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart", and that's what really matter.

The first time I heard about Swedish band Little Dragon, was in January. Ceji was really into them. Since we generally like Swedish bands here, I did try and keep up with their whereabouts. As it turns out, they're in the middle of their tour through the US to promote their sophomore album, Machine Dreams. Although the band's been here already, they confessed last night that this was their first time in Minneapolis.

They didn't do Ceji's favorite "Recommendation" song, but I though hands-down their best song played was "After The Rain", complete with an amazing ending.

From what I heard from their live set, their new songs seems to drifts from the R&B and Jazz influence to more electro and beats. I think the combination works well for them, especially since I like their big beats/electronica sound.

Little Dragon

So one thing I should point out is that singer Yukimi Nagano's dance moves looks very martial and yoga-like. She's often doing this tough smirk and her fists in boxing stance. It's as if she's saying, "bring it on". The way she dances and handles herself, she seems like she was born to be an entertainer.

I've been to a lot of shows lately, and I can tell you that this was one of the best shows yet. They're heading their way to the East Coast, so definitely check them out. If they're not heading through your city, you should check out Machine Dreams, out now on Peacefrog Records.

Enjoy!

~Nikki

The Maladies

The Maladies - Album Launch - Oxford Art Factory

It was a dark and stormy night.... well, less stormy and more irritatingly rainy.... anyway it was a night to venture out for the purpose of viewing the album launch show of Sydney boys, The Maladies. 

Playing a bunch of songs from their debut album, With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down, it was a pretty fine show, I must say. Loud, dirty, bluesy rock, from foot tap inducing tunes to slow, sullen mini-epic songs, but still not quiet. I'd never actually been to a Maladies show before so I was not sure what to expect. Thankfully, it wasn't disappointing in the slightest. I can only assume that the horn section and the back-up lady singers might have been a special occasion for album launching purposes, possibly not the correct sized stage for so many people to squish on to, but you really can't go wrong with a very large saxophone. All the same, quite impressive musicality, the entire band (including back-up musicians on this particular occasion) didn't put a foot wrong. Nice.

Ask me to name a track. Well no, I can't because I am yet to acquire a copy of the album, but i can assure you, that either catching a Maladies show and/or purchasing your very own copy of With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down is quite a good idea.

If you are in Brisbane or Melbourne you are in luck because there's more shows to be played:

19 Nov - The Step Inn Fortitude Valley, Queensland w Mexico City & Sue Ray           

27 Nov - The Tote Melbourne, Victoria. w James McCann’s Dirty Skirt Band, Black Pony Express & Little John.           

 

An honourable mention also has to go to Jamie Hutchings. I'm sure he's being playing shows in some form or another since before the dawn of time. Always enjoyable.... and, it seems, about to embark on a tour of europe, so if you're over that way, be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled. Or maybe just look at his website for tour dates (might be easier).

The Maladies - http://www.myspace.com/themaladiesband

Jamie Hutchings - http://www.myspace.com/jamiehutchings

The Rocketsmiths

The Rocketsmiths

The Rocketsmiths.... brought to me by facestalk.... but really.... considering the vast volumes of bands that pop up via the internet I must admit this offering from The Rocketsmiths is not too shabby at all. Not what i'd usually admit to listen to. 

Anyway, a neat little tune named Doctor has landed on my earpod, and i must say I like it. It's simple, it's pounding, straight down the line. Punk pop, short and sweet. A five piece from Brisbane, The Rocketsmiths have been around for some time (well, since 2006 at least) and released a handfull of EP's. Well worth further investigation.

Tour dates for the Doctor tour... here:

20 Nov 2009 - MUM at World Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney,

21 Nov 2009 - The Clubhouse (formerly Empire Corner Bar), Fortitude Valley

The Rocketsmiths -http://www.rocketsmiths.com/

Fan Death

Fan Death

Well, according to Wikipedia (an obvious reliable source) Fan Death is "a South Korean urban legend which states that an electric fan, if left running overnight in a closed room, can cause the death of those inside (by suffocation, poisoning, or hypothermia)." 

As for the band, Fan Death is a couple of ladies who make a brand of discotheque pop stylings of the type that I have never heard before. It's like modern disco, really. Very simple standard disco backing with two female voices singing over the top. Enough to drive you nuts if disco isn't your thing, but i have a little soft spot for disco music....(thanks mum), but not so much for this tune (bring on the Walter Murphy Band... ahem). 

There's not a lot of obvious information available as to where these ladies are from, so I can only assume that they are american and it appears there are no live shows on the horizon. Maybe they've gone to Korea to dispel the rumours.

Fan Death -http://www.myspace.com/fandeath

Sally

sally@weheartmusic.com

Today~ a gift♥ from Paul-kun arrived~!。。。o(*´∀｀)o゛when I was unable to attend the Anime Expo held earlier this year in L.A. (;_;) he was so *thoughtful* as he was thinking about sending me some items from the event...before we even spoke~ (*´∀｀*)！Hmm..there's sort of a story of how these became delayed but it was so much my fault (ノロ≦。)！A~h! so many items that Paul-kun sent and I want to say *thank you*~! so much!! you're such a wonderful friend~ o(*´∀｀)o゛ ！W~ah! I really can't say *thank you* enough~!! ＾　＾！

The two Momusu photo sets are absolutely gorgeous~ and I especially love Gakki and Kamei's! and Junjun's and Aichan's and Reinachan's and....hm I love~ them all。。。(。ーωー。)♪♪～ *Thank you* so much for my very first Hangry & Angry photo set~ ＼(^o^)／☆。。Yossi and Rikachan look so wickedly great~! A~h the Momusu in USA event shirt might appear a bit strange above but it's because it's folded over in one corner and I'm really hesitant to actually wear it as I'm thinking of it as more of a collector's item~ (^-^*)。I love the mirrored logo...so *pretty* ne~!

I imagine that everyone who attended the expo must own these but I scanned them anyway just below...just click on any individual photo card image for a larger image size~.....




Paul-kun was so *sweet* to also include the CD of a Chinese artist that he's really fallen in love with recently~ as he's always experiencing so much new music♪♪～ I think~! (￣▽￣)♥ I've been listening♪～♪♪～♪♪～一日中～！ヽ(。´▽`。)ノ。。！I only own one other Chinese pop album from awhile back by Sandy Lam although she's singing in mostly English so today's listening♪ was so much a new experience for me~....the artist is "Rainie" pronounced ”レイにー。ヤン” as her full name~. This is a Japanese release but all tracks are sung in Chinese which is really so sweet♥ with it's softness and *swishy*♥ pronunciations ＾　＾。

Rainie's album is titled "Dokodemo Door" (as translated into Japanese~) and includes 10 tracks and an additional DVD with seven of her music♥videos~!! It's sometimes a bit rare when an entire album plays through so catchy~ and "Dokodemo Door" does just that so much~!!

Rainie's vocals encompasses such natural vocal control and elegant nuances~ with a most *sweet* falsetto~♪♪ and yet she projects powerfully when the melody calls for it~! Such amazing range and *feel* in her voice~ and it translates so well to this album's collection of beautiful contemporary ballads to a most lively side of pop~ which delves into an almost nostalgic retro early 90's sound at times...all the while keeping its modern edge~.

Below I've chosen two very different music videos which have nearly polar opposite musical arrangements to accompany them in hopes of *sharing* a wider scope of her music both visually/musically and both are from the included DVD~ which is purely awesome~!!! One is a most sweet♥ contemporary pop ballad while the second pv has a so awesome break in the middle sandwiched between all of the high energy *cuteness*!!! Both pvs have an amazing production behind them and they're so truly unique and so so creative....you'll see what I'm speaking of when you click below to play~! ↓↓

At first I was thinking I would include my most favorite♥ songs here but then her entire album is so *amazing*!! so instead I included the first eight tracks of "Dokodemo Door" and they're just below the pvs~....kiite ne~! o(*´∀｀)o゛ (all song titles are in their Japanese translated forms~)

Rainie Yang's CD+DVD release album can be ordered here at Cdjapan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ps~ Paul..I ♥ your meishi~ ＾　＾！

Gomen ne~ I'm so late in scanning the latest issue (ノロ≦。)！Kawaguchi Haruna is this issue's covergirl~ and this the first time I think she's making an appearance in UTB?...chotto that could be wrong~, she's currently starring Fuji TV's drama "Tokyo DOGS."

AKB48 continues to have many articles and picture features in UTB which has been a growing trend in these pages and (more ♥ for CK ne~!) they're really taking the idol group genre to chart topping heights in both position as well as sales~! Takusan~! AKB features in this issue!!! with both solo and group pictorials/articles on AKB48's Oshima Yuko & Maeda Atsuko, SKE48's Matsui Rena & Mukaida Manatsu as well as an AKB48 feature and a mini group named ”く～のね4”。。(should have read "Watarirouka Hashiritai" :P thank you~! CK & Wendychi for clearing my confusion~)seifuku♥ so *kawaii*~!! ＾　＾

H!P who's been a mainstay in UTB also has *cute* features on Maimai with additional off shots not included in her 1st solo shashinshuu~, an upcoming preview of Riichan's new shashinshuu always so *adorable* ne~! and Maimichan's♥ ongoing photo feature continues towards the back of this issue with what I think is possibly her most *kawaii* photo shoot to date for UTB~! ＼(^o^)／☆

While the format of UTB has seen so many changes over the years one of their staples has always been their high level of photography, engaging articles w/ idol games...news...interests..hobbies♥ as well as the occasional idol♥room invasion~! (・д・`*) With their glossy covers and flat spines back now for some time~ UTB has really returned to their original prestige in idol♥ publications setting the standard so much~.

The extras which in the past has included pull out posters, clear files and a most impressive DVD in each issue...now published every other month~ are randomly inserted photo trading cards and you'll receive with each issue a chance for one out of three possible sets~! This month I received set "A" and for the most part your favorite♥ idols are divided up pretty well within these card sets so for instance if you're a fan of either H!P or AKB48?SKE48 you'll receive at least one member in your set no matter if it's A, B or C~ ＾　＾。

In addition...in the middle variety features section there's more on S/mileage with member profiles so you can learn their personalities much better, a solo shashinshuu article with Riichan♥ where she reflects on her previous pb releases~ and Nakki & Airiin preview C-ute's upcoming "best of" album which has a tentative release date of November 18th~!

Okay~! before I lull you into sleep ( 」´０｀)」Zzzzzzz with any more of my talk~…(^q^) here are those aforementioned article's scans.....I'm beginning with Maimichan's♥ as I think it's the most *wonderful* pictorial in this issue and really she's just so so *adorable* here as she portrays daily activity *moments*~ from waking to playing to sleepy time here's Maimichan in "Days" vol.5 up first.....

Wow?
W-O-W.

Thank you, Lord!

---

Night photography has always been one of my challenges. So obviously, it is surprising that I was able to get this shot without any help from Photoshop.

I arrived late to the Triple Rock, in Minneapolis, so I had already missed some of Surfer Blood (myspace / twitter). However, I did get the gist of the band, who seems like they are going to be a hot new buzz band - like Vampire Weekend. Highlight of their set was the last song, in which the guitarist brought the solo drum into the audience as everyone on stage went monkeys. (Sort of feels orchestrated to me, like they didn't really put much effort in trashing their equipments). The audience seem to welcome Blood Surfer, so it's all good.

Art Brut

Loads of Art Brut fans were in the audience that night. You can tell by all the t-shirt and their eagerness of being in front and center. When the band came on, doing "Formed a Band", which singer Eddie Argos turns to the audience and said, "you ought to try it, it's brilliant!"

Eddie looks like a guy that doesn't take himself too seriously. He seems to like to drink a lot and talk a lot (but with his thick British accent, it's not like we could understand half what was said). He seems to swagger on stage a lot, often using his left arm to illustrate the songs.

There wasn't enough room on stage for Argos to do his infamous microphone skip, but he did manage to sing half of "DC Comics" by the bar section. Speaking of which, I think it's cool that Argos is a huge DC fan - since UK comics are usually, you know, 2000 AD/Judge Dredd sort. During the song, Argos spouted out what I hear as "Christian Bale", "Booster Gold" (if I can remember, I think he was basically a janitor from the future with future tech and a Legionaires flight ring), and something about "Metropolis".

Setlist

As you can see from the setlist, they did a mix of new and old songs. The setlist also doesn't reflect what was played, for instance, I know "The Passenger" was played well after "DC Comics". I suppose the setlist was more of a rough guideline than actual instructions.... which actually fits the way Art Brut operate.

The thing about "The Passenger", from their latest album Art Brut vs Satan, is that it got this great introduction. Eddie explained how he thought the Iggy Pop song was about taking the subway, "Iggy doesn't seem to me to be the driving sort." It wasn't until later did he discovered that Iggy's song was about taking heroin in back of a limo with David Bowie. Too funny.

Oh the other thing, the way Eddie sings, if you can call it singing, is quite interesting. It's more like rambling, it definitely feels at time like The Fall - only with a lot heavier backing band.

The band left and came back with three encores. I thought I heard Eddie saying "we don't normally do this", which may have been said in an ironic kind of way. I really couldn't tell, all I know is that the encores were met by the fans' demands.

Art Brut's funk sole brother            1 comment

PS, They only had T-Shirts and CDs for sale at the merch table. I was hoping to see some of their awesome shoes. It's £20 online, which is about $40 USD, but totally worth it if you are a massive Art Brut fan. Get those shoes, and also their latest album, Art Brut vs Satan, at the usual online stores.