Perfume – Spring of Life
04/11/2012 at 12:17 PM | Posted in Perfume | Leave a commentTags: new label, perfume, review, single, spring of life
~Single~
Perfume – Spring of Life
1. Spring of Life
2. Communication
3. Spring of Life (Original Instrumental)
4. Communication (Original Instrumental)
A label change, looking to reach a global market, next stop world domination? We’ll see…
There’s something fresh sounding about “Spring of Life” and I’m not sure what it really is, but I’m liking it. I feel like this song does a good job of revitalizing the girls. The synth is bright and especially during the chorus kind of cheery, the chorus itself is really catchy. The bridge was especially good to me as it starts out with a change to a bit heavier, edgier synth. Although when hearing something like that I crave more of it, a la edge, but oh well. A new synth melody starts playing afterwards and continues on into the song’s last chorus which I thought was really cool and made the ending of the song that much better.
Score – 8.5
“Communication” confuses you really quickly by starting up with a bit of natural percussion, but the song is nothing like that. The song is one of the more cutesy ones that the girls have done in a while. The same basic melody loops for the entire song and I wasn’t sure at first if it was annoying or not, but over time I’ve come to think it’s perfectly fine. The chorus is great, I loved the quickness of the lyrics and how well they flow along with the music. Overall I find the song to be just a small cut above Spring of Life, though I can see why Spring of Life is the A-side.
Score – 9
Final Note
A good new single for a new label, hopefully they continue like this.
Overall Rating
MiChi – THERAPY
04/04/2012 at 5:00 AM | Posted in MiChi | 2 CommentsTags: album, michi, review, therapy
~Album~
MiChi – THERAPY
1. MadNesS Vol.3
2. TOKYO NIGHT
3. LOVE is.
4. Together again
5. YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!
6. Special Someone
7. WoNdeR WomaN
8. Light Up
9. Take It Easy!
10. motto.
11. Find your way
12. THERAPY
13. ONE
So after such a long time since the release of MiChi’s major label debut with UP TO YOU, she finally releases here sophomore effort with THERAPY. Considering the recent singles I wasn’t sure what I would think overall, and may or may not have been dreading listening to the album. Continue Reading MiChi – THERAPY…
Namie Amuro – Go Round / YEAH-OH
03/28/2012 at 11:00 AM | Posted in Namie Amuro | 3 CommentsTags: go round, namie amuro, review, single, yeah-oh
~Single~
Namie Amuro – Go Round / YEAH-OH
1. Go Round
2. YEAH-OH
3. Go Round (Instrumental)
4. YEAH-OH (Instrumental)
OK, I’m just going to say what everyone else is thinking, this girl needs to release her next album already. Let’s be honest with each other. This single will make 9 A-sides released before a proper album. Who does she think she is? Ayu?
“Go Round” starts off with some clapping and stomping along with some pretty nice beats. When Namie starts singing a funky guitar plays in the background almost unnoticeable but it was a good addition. The chorus is super catchy and really brings the song up to another level. The synths kind of had this dark tone to them I felt, but they made sense with the song as a whole. Go Round is super short and while I wish it went on for longer. It was one of those where I was repeating it because it was good, but also because I felt like I hadn’t heard it enough, if that makes sense.
Score – 8.5
“YEAH-OH” ends up feeling a little similar to Go Round but with a little more of a darker tone to it both in the synths and Namie’s singing. However, at the same time, it seems more like a dance song than anything which I liked. It never really lets up and builds up perfectly to a pretty good chorus ending with a catchy ” We’re singing YEAH-OH, singing YEAH-OH”. Incidentally I was reminded of a few recent and popular American R&B songs when I listened to this. Again, as with Go Round, this song is short and I kind of wanted more from it once it ended.
Score – 9
Final Note
Good songs but I’m left wanting more, and above all else, a freakin’ album already.
Overall Rating
Ayumi Hamasaki – Party Queen
03/28/2012 at 7:30 AM | Posted in Ayumi Hamasaki | 4 CommentsTags: album, ayumi hamasaki, party queen, review
~Album~
Ayumi Hamasaki – Party Queen
1. Party Queen
2. NaNaNa
3. Shake it❤
4. taskebab
5. call
6. Letter
7. reminds me
8. Return Road
9. Tell me why
10. a cup of tea
11. the next LOVE
12. Eyes, Smoke, Magic
13. Serenade in A minor
14. how beautiful you are
So with no prior singles, except for how beautiful you are which was released not too long ago and is a digital single so it doesn’t really count even though I reviewed it… we have this album with all new songs! Continue Reading Ayumi Hamasaki – Party Queen…
Crystal Kay – Delicious na Kinyoubi / Haru Arashi
03/07/2012 at 2:30 PM | Posted in Crystal Kay | Leave a commentTags: crystal kay, delicious na kinyoubi, haru arashi, review, single
~Single~
Crystal Kay – Delicious na Kinyoubi / Haru Arashi
1. Delicious na Kinyoubi
2. Haru Arashi
3. Delicious na Kinyoubi (Instrumental)
4. Haru Arashi (Instrumental)
This is Crystal Kay’s second new single on her new label and first new double A-side single.
“Delicious na Kinyoubi” starts right off with a thumping beat and nice vocalizing from. The music borders on a more synthetic side contrasting with her first new single Superman, which I think is a good thing because while I do love her R&B, I love her Pop a bit more. Crystal sings in a slightly low range at first and kicks things up in the chorus which is amazing. At first it seemed so different and a bit detached from the rest of the song, but after giving it a couple listens it feels more natural. It’s so upbeat and super infectious, not to mention her vocals sound perfectly controlled. I was less than crazy about the breakdown in the bridge, it’s not that I didn’t like it but it kind of felt out of place.
Score – 8.5
“Haru Arashi” continues a more upbeat vibe when honestly, I was kind of expecting a ballad here. Regardless I was pleasantly surprised to hear this electric, kind of dance-y track à la FLASH, which is something I’ve been waiting to hear, that is, songs that sounded like they did on FLASH. It has this really cool ethereal vibe going throughout which I thought was really cool. The lead up to the chorus was one of the highlights of the song. It builds a bit, comes down, builds again and then the chorus hits.The chorus itself is pretty good too, but certainly a little shadowed by that lead up. I thought it was cool to hear the English words “the spring storm” at various parts of the song, “Spring Storm” is what Haru Arashi directly translates to. The song ends in this kind of abrupt way that I liked, it didn’t feel cut short though, which is good. This is exactly one of the kinds of songs I needed to hear from Crystal.
Score – 9
Final Note
More impressed than I thought I would be. I’m glad that her new direction looks as if it will have some variety.
Overall Rating
FEBRUARY & HEAVENLY
02/29/2012 at 7:57 PM | Posted in Tommy heavenly6 | Leave a commentTags: album, dual, february & heavenly, review, tommy february6, tommy heavenly6, tomoko kawase
~Album~
Tomoko Kawase – FEBRUARY & HEAVENLY
Disc 1 “february6″
1. HOT CHOCOLAT
2. GIMME GIMME GIMME
3. I’M YOUR ANGEL
4. MY FUTURE BOY
5. LAST SLOW DANCE
6. GOOD NIGHT MY SWEET DAY
7. I HOLD YOUR NIGHT
Disc 2 “heavenly6″
1. CALL ME PRINCESS
2. HATE YOUR LIES
3. I’M YOUR DEVIL -Short-
4. YOU HURT ME
5. monochrome rainbow
6. DARK DARK SKY
7. I’M YOUR DEVIL (Halloween Remix)
So here it is, a Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6 dual album! And guess what, I’m even going to review the february6 side. Still putting this under Tommy heavenly6 though. Sorry this is a little late in the day, had some complications. Continue Reading FEBRUARY & HEAVENLY…
how beautiful you are – Ayumi Hamasaki
02/22/2012 at 11:00 AM | Posted in Ayumi Hamasaki | Leave a commentTags: ayumi hamasaki, digital single, how beautiful you are, party queen, review
~Single~
how beautiful you are – Ayumi Hamasaki
1. how beautiful you are
2. how beautiful you are (Instrumental)
A short one today, a digi single in anticipation for her new album Party Queen, which I can’t wait for.
“how beautiful you are” is naturally a ballad and quite a typical one for Ayumi. One thing I must commend is the simplicity of the arrangement. It’s not overly grandiose which was refreshing, though it does build a little as the song progresses so it’s definitely not a bore at the same time. The song contains piano and strings and the occasional harp which makes it that much more lovely. I really liked the vocalizing in the bridge and even more so when it built up after the first round, it’s probably one of my favorite parts of the song.
Score – 8
Final Note
Not bad, honestly, really can’t wait for all the new songs coming from the upcoming album.
Overall Rating
MiChi – TOKYO NIGHT
02/15/2012 at 11:00 AM | Posted in MiChi | Leave a commentTags: michi, review, single, tokyo night
~Single~
MiChi – TOKYO NIGHT
1. TOKYO NIGHT
2. December
3. Revolution
4. TOKYO NIGHT (Instrumental)
MiChi’s lastest single before her new album THERAPY comes out! Let’s see now…
“Tokyo Night” starts off with quite an electronic sound which I think was probably foreseeable. As soon as MiChi starts singing though, things sound a little flat, and dare I say it, boring. The building right before the chorus showed promise but then once the chorus actually hits, it just definitely felt a bit lackluster. Again it was one of those songs that I kept waiting for something to really happen, but it never really goes anywhere.
Score – 7.5
As soon as “December” starts, I was feeling it. It’s quite quiet at first but then bursts into some percussion and electric guitar. It suffers a little bit from being slower paced and I do wish it was faster. The chorus helps alleviate some of the draggy feeling and is the highlight of the song. MiChi sounds a little shaky in this one which isn’t something I hear from her often, but it didn’t detract too much and I still enjoyed the song. Interesting to note that the song is all in English.
Score – 8
“Revolution” is a cover, naturally for a MiChi single, of The Veronicas song by the same name. The music sounds a little on the light side and I wish it had been a little harder like the original. The sound seems to get a little better towards the end. MiChi occasionally sounds shaky again while singing this one, I noticed it more here than in December. An OK cover, she’s definitely done better though.
Score – 7
Final Note
Well all I can say about this single, with the exception of December, is that I’m glad her new album is coming out soon because this just wasn’t really up to par, like many of her latest singles unfortunately.
Overall Rating
Koda Kumi – JAPONESQUE
02/08/2012 at 6:17 AM | Posted in Koda Kumi | Leave a commentTags: album, japonesque, koda kumi, omarion, review, slow, t-pain, v.i.p.
^the only cover I found tolerable.
~Album~
Koda Kumi – JAPONESQUE
1. Introduction ~JAPONESQUE~
2. So Nice feat. Mr.Blistah
3. Boom Boom Boys
4. V.I.P. feat. T-Pain (Album Version)
5. Slow feat. Omarion
6. Brave
7. Everyday
8. IN THE AIR
9. You are not alone ~acoustic version~
10. Interlude ~JAPONESQUE~
11. ESCALATE
12. Love Me Back
13. No Man’s Land
14. Ai wo Tomenaide
15. KO-SO-KO-SO
16. Lay Down
17. Love Technique
18. Poppin’love cocktail feat. TEEDA
19. All for you
Sorry this was delayed although that’s probably now expected of me (working on it I swear!) I have my reasons of course… but anyway, was a little skeptical about this one given Dejavu, though still optimistic.
girl next door – Agaruneku!
01/13/2012 at 11:45 PM | Posted in girl next door | Leave a commentTags: agaruneku, album, girl next door, review
~Album~
girl next door – Agaruneku!
1. Dada Para!!
2. No.1
3. Summer Time
4. Boogie-Woogie Night
5. Kimi no Moto e
6. Kimi no Tomodachi
7. ROCK YOUR BODY EXTENDED
8. my own path
9. Zutto
10. Kiss Kiss Kiss
11. Yume no Hana
12. Your Story
13. snowflakes
Sorry this is so late, again, wasn’t really looking forward to this review as I was afraid it would be bad… So let’s see if my suspicions are true.
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