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The Best Japanese Albums of 2007

OK, if ZB's A-Z recommends Budo Grape, above, why not the likes of Morning Musume, Berryz Kobo, °C-ute and AKB48?

YO's rating: C+ | No doubt that Zac Bentz sets the industry standard for Japanese music reviews and news. But ... he has a blind spot for idol music, and he compounds it by making statements like this (bold-face emphasis mine): "2007 was a great year for Japanese rock. While the pre-fab pop/idol scene is still what Japan is best known for, it's starting to show some cracks around the edges. Many bands are pushing strong playing and even stronger songwriting to the forefront instead of relying on the shallow gimmicks of massive industry backing." Ordinarily, a post as excellent as this would receive an "A+" or better, but as long as ZB completely ignores idol singers, and even puts them down as he does here, a giant hole exists in A-Z.

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