The Other East Mid-Year Reader’s Choice Awards.

A lot has happened this year in the world of J-music. Not only have there been scores of good releases but several prominent bands; D’erlanger, X-Japan, and Oblivion Dust have been working on their comebacks. For Americans and Europeans J-rock is becoming less and less niche and are seeing serious efforts from Japanese musicians to include those huge markets.

Not all the news has been good, Kisaki is retiring after his legal troubles, Boa got caught in a black mail scheme and worst of all Zard’s sole remaining original member Izumi Sakai died a tragic death. Bands such as Amaterasu , La’Cryma Christi, and Daigo Stardust called it quits.

It wasn’t all dead bands though, 2007 has seen the beginnings of Acid Black Cherry, Angelo’s debut album, SKIN, and Jun’s solo career. I’ve surely missed things so without further wait here are the categories.

You may nominate 2 items for each, your #1 one choice worth 2 points, your #2 choice worth 1 point. the top 5 will go to voting. Nominations will run until 11:59 USA Eastern time August 5th. Items must have occured no later then July 29th.
Best Album

Best Single

Best DVD

Best new act(group or solo)

Best concert/tour(united states)

Best Concert/tour(Europe)

Best Concert/tour(Asia)

Best News

Worst News

Best Music video

NOMINATE! and spread this around the internet

mine
Best Album
D’erlanger-Lazzaro
Kagrra-Shizuku

Best Single
Mucc-Libra
Angelo-Winter Moon

Best DVD
X-Japan-White Night/Blue Night

Best new act(group or solo)
Acid Black Cherry
S.K.I.N.

Best concert/tour(united states)
Jrock Revolution
The Candy Spooky Theater: Zull’s last tour

Best Concert/tour(Europe)
n/a
Best Concert/tour(Asia)
n/a

Best News
X-Japan Reunion
Kisaki didn’t die

Worst News
zard’s singer died
Kisaki retires

Best Music video
Mucc-Libra
Angelo-Winter Moon