Saturday, September 13, 2003

>> OLIVIA’s “Comatose Bunny Butcher”

With the September 12th release of OLIVIA’s (ex-D&D) latest CD-single “Comatose Bunny Butcher” (CTC1-14271) — her 2nd J-indies single release — we find her slowly solidifying the transition from pop star to underground artist. Her last gig with D&D as a peppy J-pop star compared to her new image as a grungy J-indies star is quite a big leap but one that fits her as well as the song titles included with the current single: 1) Celestial Delinquent, 2) 026unconscious333, 3) 57Sto R M03(*R wa Hanten), 4) Devil’s in me, 5) Bliss Forest. The first single, “Merry & Hell Go Round” (CTC1-14270) — don’t you love these titles — was released on June 27, 2003 and that was preceded by a brilliant English version self-cover album called “Internal Bleeding Strawberry” (VECD-89141) released back in February of this year.

OLIVIA is without a doubt, one of the more interesting artists to watch because she’s doing something totally against the norm which has been and remains J-pop music. Whether by personal choice or by management decision, I think OLIVIA’s finally found her true calling, and the evidence can be heard through her emotionally filled singing. Interestingly, it seems as if her J-indies releases are only being sold through Tower Records Japan who have been supporting Japanese indies artists for quite some time now.

Here’s hoping that she’ll remain underground yet find a fan base that keeps her (as well as her management company) happily headed in this direction.

posted by Richie at 11:28 PM