misono – end=START / Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~
July 3, 2009 at 5:43 pm | In misono | 1 CommentTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
misono – end=START / Shuuten
~Kimi no Ude no Naka~
1. end=START
2. Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~
3. end=START [instrumental]
4. Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~
[instrumental]
This is misono’s 14th single and it was released on June 10, 2009. This single reached #19 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 4,924 copies. The 2nd track was used as the theme song for the movie The Harimaya Bridge.
After a series of duds, misono finally rebounds with a good song! I can honestly say that end=START is a big improvement over her last couple of singles. It’s a hard-hitting and aggressive track that represents a darker side of misono, something we don’t see that often. The electric guitars are furious and don’t let up, giving the music a lot of energy. The vocals are somewhat better as well but I would still like more control in her voice.
We all know that misono’s ballads haven’t been all that great, but she’s working on that too! Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~ isn’t that bad. Throwing out that bland acoustic guitar, this song utilizes flowing piano and strings with light percussion to keep up the pace. To me, it was a nice change from those awful acoustic based songs.
Overall Rating
3½ stars
BENI – Koi Kogarete
July 1, 2009 at 10:04 am | In BENI | 1 CommentTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
BENI – Koi Kogarete
1. Koi Kogarete
2. CRUISE the WORLD
3. FOREVER 21
4. Koi Kogarete (Instrumental)
This is BENI’s 11th single and it was released on June 10, 2009. This single reached #70 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 1,266 copies.
Koi Kogarete is another mid-tempo A-side from BENI. Basically, it’s like her previous single Kiss Kiss Kiss but in a melancholy form. Rampant with tinny beats and acoustics, the music tries to remain at a steady pace for the most part. I have given this song multiple listens but I just wasn’t feeling it like I did with Mou Nido to… and Kiss Kiss Kiss. It’s still waaaaay better than her avex stuff though. ;D
However, the B-sides show more promise. The first one is CRUISE the WORLD, a sleek and futuristic sounding electropop track. The beats and synth riffs are pretty hot and it seems that BENI has been on a roll when it comes to her upbeat songs. Vocally, I thought she did very well and I liked the occasional electronic distortions in her voice. In my opinion, this should have been the A-side.
FOREVER 21 is on the other side of the pop spectrum since it has that overall “cute” feel to it. The music isn’t as energetic as the previous track’s but I thought the melody was catchier. The chorus is memorable thanks to that ”Forever loving you” line as well. In the end, I liked B-sides more on this single and they balance out my indifference towards the A-side, which will take more time to grow on me.
Overall Rating
4 stars
May J. – FAMILY
June 26, 2009 at 11:38 pm | In May J. | 1 CommentTags: albums
ALBUM REVIEW
May J. – FAMILY
1. Garden feat. DJ KAORI, Diggy-MO’, Clench & Blistah
2. Moshi Kimi to… with Kimaguren
3. Tabidatsu Kimi ni
4. FAMILY -Interlude-
5. Give My Heart
6. Story of Love
7. Sayonara no Hoka ni
8. Remember feat. Clench & Blistah
9. Unity -Outro-
10. Crescent Moon -DAISHI DANCE remix-
♦ ♦ ♦
This is May J.’s 2nd album and it was released on May 27, 2009. This album reached #4 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 69,153 copies.
There weren’t any singles released prior to the album, but the first 3 tracks served as the promotional material. Starting things off is Garden, a cheery R&B track that is a cover of a Sugar Soul song. It features 4 different people as well. DJ KAORI, as her name indicates, remixed the track and it includes more frequent beats than the original while still maintaining those looping piano chords and strings. The rappers include Diggy-MO’ (from SOUL’d OUT) and the duo Clench & Blistah, who each have their respective solo lines. Personally, I liked Clench & Blistah’s parts more since Diggy-MO’ has a funky voice. Anyway, it’s a good opening track.
The next song is something that is more on the acoustic side. Moshi Kimi to… is pretty upbeat as well and it features the duo Kimaguren, who remind me of Spontania but with acoustic guitars. Next to May J.’s strong vocals, the two guys of Kimaguren have nice solo lines and I liked their harmonizations during the chorus. This is another great collaboration and I liked it a little bit more than Garden.
Okay, here’s a song with just May J.! Tabidatsu Kimi ni is the album’s pivotal track because of its theme relating to people who stick together because they are family. It is a lovely song and the music is filled with light beats, piano, and sweeping strings. May J’s vocals are at their best as well and she displays great control of her voice.
The album includes 2 short tracks that consist of just a simple piano with May J. talking in English. In FAMILY -Interlude-, May J. talks about what a family is and how important it can be for somebody. Being an interlude, it provides a transition into the next track and the album’s pop phase.
The interlude makes more sense since Give My Heart is quite different from the previous tracks. This song is upbeat, cute, and definitely within the realm of pop. There is a lot of high pitched synth and rhythmic beats in the music. I don’t think this is a bad thing for May J. though since she can pull off less R&B oriented material. The chorus is a good example because she sounds great and not forced at all.
The next track is a little slower but has heavier beats. The music in Story of Love doesn’t have much variety since it’s mostly just a looping harp with detached beats. I got bored with this song pretty quickly and it was one of the album’s least memorable tracks for me. Let’s move on, shall we?
Sayonara no Hoka ni is much better. It’s a sweet mid-tempo song with cute chimes and fingersnap beats. It starts off pleasant enough but the chorus is especially good since it’s catchy and adds gentle strings in the background. May J. performs the high notes very well in this song too.
May J. collaborates with Clench & Blistah again for Remember, a laid back song with a steady, thumping beat. The additional acoustics and synth were a nice touch as well since they make the music more interesting. I thought the rapping in this song was pretty good and Clench & Blistah are a great R&B duo. They both have sleek, fluid voices that compliment the tone of the music. I can add them to the list of Japanese rappers that I like!
Here is the other short track and it serves as the album’s “outro”. Unity is also longer than the “FAMILY” interlude and it has brighter piano chords. In this track, May J. talks about how war, hate, and discrimination are things that will break us apart. After a pleasant solo, she goes on to say that love, music, and passion will unite us. A little corny, but I understand the message behind it. I’m not hating! =x
Ending the album is the DAISHI DANCE remix of Crescent Moon, the English version of Tabidatsu Kimi ni. I love me some DAISHI DANCE remixes so I was really pleased with this track. I just enjoy how he transform songs to have an amazing neoclassical sound and that’s exactly what he does here. The English lyrics, penned by May J. herself, are nice too.
It’s true that FAMILY is a lot less “urban” than May J.’s debut album Baby Girl, but I wasn’t disappointed. Honestly, I don’t mind the overall pop sensibility of this album and she has released a solid sophomore effort. Almost all of the songs were executed with a good amount of production value and I liked most of them. Overall, her vocals were better too. On a final note, I thought the album’s main theme surrounding the importance of the family was great and it presented a positive, uplifting message. For that, I applaud her.
Overall Rating
4 stars
Mai Kuraki – Beautiful
June 24, 2009 at 9:52 pm | In Mai Kuraki | 1 CommentTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
Mai Kuraki – Beautiful
1. Beautiful
2. wana
3. Beautiful -instrumental-
This is Mai Kuraki’s 32nd single and it was released on June 10, 2009. This single reached #2 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 33,344 copies.
I really like Beautiful, a gentle pop ballad with some R&B undertones. The song has a tranquil, peaceful vibe to it thanks to the light piano and strings but an assertive beat is present as well. Kuraki’s vocals also fit the part and she sounds lovely, especially next to the catchy melodies of the arrangement. For me, the chorus is the most memorable part of the song.
Mai-K has gone ~old school~ with the B-side. wana has that early 90s R&B sound like some of the new tracks on touch Me! and it’s pretty slick. Some people have said it’s similar to her older songs as well, which I can agree to. Anyway, the music is aggressive and is heavy with the synth riffs. There’s also some parts of the song that have background vocals yelling “AY!”, which I got a kick out of.
Overall Rating
4 stars
YUI – again
June 20, 2009 at 10:12 pm | In YUI | 1 CommentTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
YUI – again
1. again
2. Sea
3. SUMMER SONG ~YUI Acoustic Version~
4. again ~Instrumental~
This is YUI’s 14th single and it was released on June 3, 2009. This single reached #1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 148,679 copies. The title track was used as the first opening theme song for the anime Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
It’s been kind of a hit and miss with YUI’s last couple of releases but she is once again in full force with again. Let’s just say that her short hiatus worked wonders for her! Completely ditching that dreary alternative nonsense, again is aggressive, blunt, and forceful rock. It’s also her most dynamic song in quite a while thanks to fast paced vocals and an relentless arrangement. The song is a big improvement and a step in the right direction. Nice job, YUI!
The B-side is excellent as well. Sea is a mid-tempo song that makes use of a relaxing string section next to the familiar acoustics and drums. YUI gives one of her best vocal performances in this song because she keeps her voice nice and controlled. There’s no screechy crooning here like in SUMMER SONG (thank goodness). Anyway, it’s a really pretty track and I like it just as much, if not more than the A-side.
The YUI acoustic version of SUMMER SONG felt a little unnecessary to me. The original was “acoustic” enough as it is so you’re just getting an extra dose of it here. On a side note, I never got a summer vibe from this song. It’s too lazy for the summer.
Overall Rating
4 stars
HIMEKA – Asu e no Kizuna
June 16, 2009 at 10:04 pm | In HIMEKA | 4 CommentsTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
HIMEKA – Asu e no Kizuna
1. Asu e no Kizuna
2. Sayonara Solitaire
3. Asu e no Kizuna ~Instrumental~
This is HIMEKA’s debut single and it was released on May 27, 2009. This single reached #28 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 9,241 copies. The title track was used as the opening theme song for the anime Valkyria Chronicles.
I gotta say that Asu e no Kizuna is a very strong debut single. While the song itself is your standard J-pop track with upbeat electric guitars and strings, it’s HIMEKA’s voice that attracted me to it. Her vocals are crisp, neat, and quite pleasant to the ears. Overall, she sounds GREAT and honestly, who cares about the language she’s singing in? I think her Japanese pronunciation is pretty good anyway. It’s better than some other people I’ve heard…
The B-side is a cover of Saeko Chiba’s Sayonara Solitaire, which is an ambient piano ballad. So we’ve heard HIMEKA perform an upbeat song with the A-side, but how does she fare with something slower? Well, I was equally impressed with this song too. Once again showcasing those clear vocals, we hear more of what her voice is capable of and I was liking that she was showing more range.
This single just left me wanting more from HIMEKA and I honestly can’t wait for her next release. She has left a good impression on me and I think she shows a great deal of promise.
Overall Rating
4½ stars
Yuna Ito – DREAM
June 13, 2009 at 11:51 pm | In Yuna Ito | 6 CommentsTags: albums
ALBUM REVIEW
Yuna Ito – DREAM
1. love you
2. Ima Demo Aitai yo… / Yuna Ito feat. Spontania
3. Brand New World *
4. Koi wa groovy×2 *
5. trust you *
6. BAILA BAILA
7. BREEEEEZIN!!!!!!! *
8. miss you *
9. LOVE MACHINE GUN
10. No one else
11. Body
♦
Note: Songs with a (*) at the end of their titles have already been reviewed.
Click on the links to see their reviews.
Songs in bold are new tracks and will be reviewed.
♦ ♦ ♦
This is Yuna Ito’s 3rd album and it was released on May 27, 2009. This album reached #7 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 32,373 copies.
Opening the album is the infectious love you, an upbeat pop number filled with loud brass and constant percussion. It’s the chorus that gets to me since it has a catchy mix of English and Japanese lyrics. The song is also effective in setting up the album’s summer feel.
The next track is definitely one of my favorites off the album as well as an awesome collaboration. Ima Demo Aitai yo… is the answer song to R&B duo Spontania’s Ima Demo Zutto which also featured Ito. The original was kind of clunky as a whole so I thought Ito’s version was much better. It’s more upbeat to sound less like a ballad, the vocals are better, and the arrangement has been revamped with added strings and beats. Everything, but the overall melody being the biggest factor, sounds a lot more polished as well. Released as a digital single first, it also served as the album’s main promotional track.
I’m glad Brand New World is on the album! It’s a fun pop song that is extremely catchy and uplifting. I really like dance beats and upbeat synth that play next to Ito’s exuberant vocals. This song was originally the B-side on the trust you single.
The party continues with Koi wa groovy×2, a song that I didn’t really care for at first. I’m pretty fond of it now since it follows Brand New World and heck…it IS groovy. It does make for the ideal celebration song.
We slow down a bit for trust you, my favorite A-side off the album. It is indeed a strong ballad that showcases a more emotional side of Ito when it comes to the vocals. She sounds absolutely radiant when she performs the passionate chorus.
The next 3 tracks are what I like to call the album’s “summer beach” phase. It starts with BAILA BAILA, an amusing song that sounded like it took its inspiration from a party in the Caribbean islands. Sure, it comes off as cheesy, but I can’t help but find it quite charming at the same time. Incorporating steel drums and brass, the music is very cheery. You try getting that “BAILA BAILA HIYA HIYA” phrase out of your head!
When I first saw the tracklisting, I was immediately opposed to having BREEEEEZIN!!!!!!! on the album…but this was solely because I wanted Mafuyu no Seiza. XD Oh well, but this is why I mentioned the album having a ”summer beach” phase because the song fits in perfectly here. It’s not a bad song anyway so I’ll just shut up and start breezing. (lol) It originally appeared as the B-side on the miss you single.
I still love miss you, a bittersweet song with a beautiful island influenced sound. The arrangement just screams “I like long walks down the beach and getting my heart broken”. D<
Anywho, it’s a fantastic song that is soothing, yet sad.
OMG OMG! LOVE MACHINE GUN isn’t just an amazing song, but also her best upbeat track EVER. This song took me by surprise because it has a powerful, floor shaking sound. Featuring a furious mix of synth, drums, and electric guitars, the music is loud and in your face. I love the intense chorus as well and Ito sings with incredible energy. This song is HOT and the best new track off the album.
No one else is definitely more reserved when compared to everything else on this album. The music is mostly on the acoustic side, but there are also prominent beats and strings that come later on. The progression of the song is nice and I liked how Ito’s vocals got stronger towards the end.
ARE YOU TRYING TO BE SEXY, MISS ITO!? I’m not gonna lie though because I totally dig Body. It’s a mid-tempo track but it has some hot clapping beats and an overall sensual atmosphere. On top of that, the lyrics and Ito’s lower pitched vocals show a more mature side of her. I’m pretty sure that there are plenty of people who want your body, Yuna. ;D
But wait, there’s more! The album doesn’t exactly end with Body and you have to wait over a minute until the secret bonus track groovy×2 appears. It’s the English version of Koi wa groovy×2 and it was originally released as a digital single in late 2008. Also, it is performed as her groovy, English speaking alter ego Christine Ito (who needs to release her own album, pronto!). Aside from having English lyrics, the song opens and ends differently compared to the Japanese version.
The third time’s a charm for Yuna Ito because I was really impressed with DREAM. Aside from having some really excellent material on it, the album is by far her most well-rounded and cohesive to date. Honestly, HEART and WISH are messy and disjointed when compared to DREAM. Unlike those past 2 albums, this one has a solid foundation with new tracks that aren’t half-assed filler. It’s true that there could have been more because of the previously released songs but that’s beside the point. Ito has stepped it up and delivered an album that is not only wonderful, but extremely easy to pick up.
Overall Rating
4½ stars
GUESS WHO!? ~THE SEQUEL~
June 12, 2009 at 11:19 am | In ~Blog Updates & Announcements | 5 CommentsHere are 2 more artists that will be featured on the blog! If you’ve seen the Upcoming Reviews page and wondered who they were, I got your info. =D
HIMEKA was an artist that totally came out of nowhere and I was definitely surprised by her. Her real name is Catherine St-Onge and she’s French Canadian, hailing from the province of Quebec. She got her big break after winning the 2nd annual Animax Anison Grand Prix in 2008 and later getting a record deal with Sony Music Japan International. Think of Leah Dizon but with actual talent (I’m a Leah fan and that’s a fact LOLZ). I like her already, guys. ♥
Check out my review of her debut single Asu e no Kizuna in the near future!
May Jamileh Hashimoto, known professionally as May J., made her debut in 2006 under Sony’s Ki/oon Records sublabel. I found out about her through an interview on the show J-MELO and she is currently one of the hosts (her and another singer replaced melody. in late 2008). Anyway, she’s an R&B and pop singer and I thought her debut album Baby Girl was pretty good. She has recently switched labels and is now with Rhythm Zone (avex’s R&B sublabel).
I will start by reviewing FAMILY, her 2nd studio album and first release under Rhythm Zone.
RANDOM BLOG UPDATE~
Expect my review of Yuna Ito’s DREAM today or tomorrow. It depends on how I feel. A word of warning: IT’S AWESOME.
LET’S PARTY! GOOBI GOOBI!
hitomi – WORLD! WIDE! LOVE!
June 11, 2009 at 4:14 pm | In hitomi | Leave a CommentTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
hitomi – WORLD! WIDE! LOVE!
1. WORLD! WIDE! LOVE!
2. Kokoro no Sougen
3. WORLD! WIDE! LOVE! (instrumental)
4. Kokoro no Sougen (instrumental)
This is hitomi’s 33rd single and it was released on May 20, 2009. This single reached #119 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 645 copies.
It’s been well over 2 years since hitomi has released anything new but she’s finally returned from her hiatus! On the plus side, she has rebounded with a great single. WORLD! WIDE! LOVE! shows off that pop rock sound that hitomi does very well so it’s a high quality A-side. Even though I liked the ”retro” phase as heard in her previous album LOVE CONCENT, I prefer when she dabbles into rock. In any case, I’m glad she’s back.
With its upbeat big brass arrangement, I really enjoyed Kokoro no Sougen. This is a fun song and I think it’s just as good as the A-side. hitomi’s vocals are cheery and she sings with a lot of enthusiasm as well. The chorus is my favorite part since it’s very catchy and features faster brass and percussion. Along with a new version of the A-side, this song will appear on her upcoming album LOVE LIFE 2.
Overall Rating
4 stars
Tiana Xiao – Kanashii Uso
June 9, 2009 at 10:13 pm | In Tiana Xiao | 1 CommentTags: singles
SINGLE REVIEW
Tiana Xiao – Kanashii Uso
1. Kanashii Uso
2. Promise
3. You’re My Heart
4. Kanashii Uso (Instrumental)
5. Promise (Instrumental)
6. You’re My Heart (Instrumental)
This is Tiana Xiao’s 3rd single and it was released on May 20, 2009. This single failed to make an appearance on the Oricon Weekly Charts.
I get an 90s R&B vibe from Kanashii Uso, a mid-tempo track that features prominent acoustics and light beats. The verses have Tiana Xiao singing in a neat, low pitched manner until her voice becomes stronger when the catchy chorus arrives. I think she sounds her best when she sings at full capacity. The chorus is definitely the focal point of the song since you hear it A LOT near the end but some things are added like Xiao talking in English and a little adlibbing.
Both of the B-sides on the single are ballads and Promise is the ”poppier” song of the two. Starting with a nice piano, the music later adds chimes and ambient beats, but I liked those solo piano bits the most. This is a pleasant song and makes for a good B-side.
However, I thought You’re My Heart was much better. Plus, this is Xiao’s first epic ballad! Her debut album didn’t have any tracks like this one so it was nice to hear. The strings and drums in this song are well done and they build up into a sweeping, grandiose chorus. While the verses are in Japanese, the chorus is mostly in English and I thought Xiao sang with a lot of emotion. I’ll go ahead and say that this was my favorite track on the single.
Overall Rating
3½ stars
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