[analysis] Oricon album charts, what just doesn't fit

Anyone who checks the daily or weekly Oricon album charts on a regular basis, or even once in a while, know how things generally work on it. On Wednesdays, a flood of new albums appears. The majority drop off after the first day or two, and the more popular ones last a week or two before succumbing to newer releases. Then there are the best albums that have a magical ability to stay on there for months and months. (Koda Kumi's Best~first things~ is a prime example of this; released in September, it's still holding a relatively strong top 20 position.)

However, there's one album that's been clinging to the top 10, and that's "Sora Ippai ni Kanaderu Inori", a debut mini-album by Aqua Timez.

Now, I've listened to Aqua Timez. They're alright to me, but nothing spectacular (just a personal opinion here). A mix of rock with a few "Jawaiian" sounds, though I'm not sure if that's the best thing to call it, along with slightly higher pitched vocals than the norm that don't really stand out, it adds up to something totally average and unimpressive in my eyes.

So now I have to ask myself, how could this band's first mini-album and so far only release be so strong in the top 10 now when it was released last August, 6 months ago? Going back as far as the charts presently allow to the week of 1/23, I now see that the album was at 11 then and on the rise. Perhaps a recent popularity spike can explain the sudden boom for this 6-month-old album?

But then, what caused that spike? As far as I know, none of their songs were featured in an anime/movie/drama. I haven't seen any promotion. I only know of one TV performance they've done. Is this just one of those instances of infectious promotion through word of mouth? Or is this just one of those things that someone outside of Japan will never be able to figure out?

Regardless, I actually am looking forward to hearing their next mini-album. I half-liked their present one, from what I heard of the samples on their official website, despite the vibes of mediocrity I got from it. I do think they have potential, and I'm eager to see them excercise that potential in their upcoming release. Will their second mini-album enjoy the same popularity that their first has achieved? Time will tell.