Rina Aiuchi – Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense June 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense
2. Hikari Iro no Kakera
3. Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense ~KH-R Jr STAR LIGHT MIX Ver.S~
4. purple haze ~future techno mix~
5. Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense ~instrumental~

 

1. Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense

We return to the basic eurobeat song, which isn’t too bad actually.  Rina’s vocals are once again a little off for a song like this.  She needs more power for this song.  The techno beats in this song is actually quite catchy though.  so sometimes in the chorus she says ~Love is a thrill, shock suspense~ haha, isn’t that true?  This song is a thrill, not a shock, and very suspenseful!  Middle of the song gets really good too!!!

2. Hikari Iro no Kakera

We slow down the tempo a bit for Hikari Iro no Kakera.  It’s a bit less exciting than “Koi wa” and I definitly found myself passing the song up.  I enjoyed “purple haze” a lot more.  The synths were pretty cool, but shortlived.  Either way it’s totally safe to say that B-side material it is.

 

 

Rina’s final single before the album “Be Happy” was a pretty below average single.  Title track did have some golden parts, but other than that, it’s nothing new.  The B-side was just flat-out boring to me.  Pass this single up and get the album!!!

Rina’s colors: None – surprsing there’s a few singles where there is no color.

 

 

Ai Otsuka – Amaenbo June 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Amaenbo
2. Ame Iro Parasol
3. Sakuranbo Sutajio Raibu ver.
4. Amaenbo (Instrumental)
5. Ame Iro Parasol (Instrumental)

1. Amaenbo

Wow, oboe featured in an Ai song? Sweet.  Well, ballads are definitly one of Ai Otsuka’s high points in her career.  This one isn’t any different, but it’s not “Planetarium” or “Cherish”, but it’s still a good ballad nonetheless.  It’s pretty much piano until the chorus where all the other instruments come in.  Ai’s voice is ery simple and sweet, which is definitely something normal to Ai.  It’s a very nice song to listen to on occasion.  Still Ai’s ballads are great and this fits the bill quite well.

2. Ame Iro Parasol

It’s raining and you feel like just playing in the rain.  That’s what this song is all about.  It’s got this great jazz feel to it, I guess having the needed instruments makes this song really cool.  Also, at this point it’s a new sound Ai is trying out.  This should have been the A-side, like OMG this is very different and it’s so much fun.  Ai does pinch her high notes but who cares!

3. Sakuranbo Sutajio Raibu ver.

Remember when I said Sakuranbo was also tweaked with and made it more rock sounding?  Well this is the song, and I find it so much better then the original.  Sakuranbo with gritty guitars and loud drums is so much fitting.  The BKGD voices are a bit annoying but we’re here for Ai Otsuka not them!  Good version of Sakuranbo!

 

 

So this single from Ai-chan is pretty good.  I still think Ame Iro Parasol should have been the A-side, it was something we haven’t heard of as of this far in her career.  Amaenbo is alright but can be a bit boring to the casual listener and Sakuranbo is mood twister of rock and pop which is a great way to end off the single.  Oh yea, Ame Iro Parasol doesn’t get to be on the main album *cries*

Utada Hikaru – Movin’ On Without You June 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Movin’ On Without You
2. B&C
3. Movin’ On Without You (Original Karaoke)

 

1. Movin’ On Without You

~Nothings gonna stop me, only you can stop me~ starts coming in immediatly when the song starts.  This had some real good e. guitar riffs playing in the background.  I actually enjoy this more than “Automatic” it’s got much more of a catchy beat.  The piano playing the off beat parts made this song even more interesting.  Utada is also singing at a fast pace in the verses which surprised me, since she’s not really not known for that.  I really, really like this song.

2. B&C

We go back to the R&B side of Utada with B&C which stands for Bonnie and Clyde, which, I guess doesn’t fit with the song.  Besides that, Utada is more calm in this song, but the chorus…I think the BKGD voices don’t sound right with Utada, it could just be me, but thats my opinion.  I didn’t like this compared to “Movin’ On Without You” still it’s an alright song.

 

 

Well for Utada’s 2nd Japanese single, I kinda found this a bit half and half.  The title track was great while the B-side was kind of disappointing.  Both songs are both found on “First Love” which doesn’t surprise me at all. 

 

Perfume – Sweet Donuts June 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Sweet Donuts
2. Secret Message
3. Jenny wa Gokigen Naname

1. Sweet Donuts

Ok, well this song is so pop and filled with cute it’s almost sickening, and yet it’s catchy.  I like it more on the single rather than the album because it wasn’t after two other uber cute songs.  The gals themselves sound alright, but they are obviously getting used to their voices.  Yoo know what’s even weirder is the fact that the single version is 2 minutes longer than the album version.  Why was this even planned. 

2. Secret Message

Another short tune, this is way cooler, starts with some strange synths and the girls singing with the keyboard.  The chorus almost sounds like they are chanting which is cool.  When they count backwards that part was really awesome. And I just noticed they are saying ~Secret, OK, Message, OK.  All in all, a great fun song.

3. Jenny wa Gokigen Naname

Redoing Juicy Fruit’s big hit, Perfume did this song very mechanically.  I mean the beats were all staccato, adding a robotic sound.  I’m not sure if they were going for this.  I like the chorus which sounded like something you’d hear from back when.  The ending was just not needed, ugh…..oh well.

 

So, here we have Perfume’s debut under Yasutaka Nakata, what did I think of it?  It was way sugary.  I mean if your into this kind of stuff go ahead take it on.  I can’t listen to this whole single without thinkin, why am i sittin through this.  None of the B-sides make onto the album which I can understand.  Sweet Donuts however did and was placed horribly on it. Still, it’s not as sucky as you might think.

capsule – Haikara Girl June 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Samurai Logic
2. Konayuki
3. Koi no Hana
4. Mayonaka no Denwa
5. Hanabi
6. Kowareta Tokei
7. Aishiteru Aishitenai
8. Utsutsu
9. Kamisama no Utogoe
10. Kakurenbo
11. Denki Soroban
12. Tokyo Kissa
13. Shashin
14. Sakura
15. Haikara Girl (Hidden Track)

1. Samurai Logic

So we start off this album with an introduction to the album, which pretty much sound like some Nintendo game which is totally unusual.  The album doesn’t sound like this so don’t worry about it.

2. Konayuki

First song is this brass-affiliated song. Koshi sounding really sweet and smooth in this track.  It’s very laid-back sounding and sort of Jazzy if you listen to it.  Though it can be too slow for the listener but truthfully Konayuki is a definite strong jazz song.

3. Koi no Hana

Continuing with the nice steady beat, Koi no Hana does have a different sound.  It has much more of a Lounge kind of style.  The use of the synths and percussion really makes this song good for listening.  Though against the other songs this was a filler.  Still, a good listen for lounge lovers.

4. Mayonaka no Denwa

Starts off with some acoustic guitars and then you hear a phone ring?  Haha, still in the lounge sound, it’s actually got more going on in it, which is a plus.  Koshi is definitly is more sophisticated in this song.  Her voice is just great to hear in this kind of setting.  I like the accordion playing in this song, it really did add more fun to this song.

5. Hanabi

It sounded epic in the beginning, but it turns into a lively pop song.  There’s definitly some fun in this song.  It’s definitly not like the beginning songs at all.  Then again it is called “Fireworks” so it’s gotta be spontaneous.  Koshi also shows off more of her fun side.  The piano is so catchy in the song….Great song!

6. Kowareta Tokei

Uhm, well we go to a ballad of some sorts?  Well, Koshi is made for ballads too.  It reminds me of some of Ami Suzuki’s songs for some reason, there’s very little synths and guitars and percussion mostly.  It’s a surprise because of Yasutaka Nakata’s known ability to use synths like crazy!  So it’s a nice song for what it’s worth. LOL

7. Aishiteru Aishitenai

Welcome to strange lounge music 101.  Well, it’s not that strange, but the beginning was unusual, this song is very mysterious in the chorus which took my by surprise.  It sounds a bit jazzy too albeit a mysterious Halloween like feeling to it. I can’t help but tap my feet to it.  Darn you Yasutaka!

8. Utsutsu

Uhm, well all I have to say is that this is one long interlude.  4 minutes and 30 seconds to be exact.  All it is, is just Yasutaka playing piano the whole time.  I guess it’s on this album to be the interlude.  It was used in a film of the same name also.  I like the piano playing but where is Koshi?

9. Kamisama no Utagoe

Unusual percussion starts this song off.  Hear some Japanese instruments in the background also before the song starts off.  Koshi returns and sings like she actually cares for this song.  It really gets the Japanese flavor out with this tune.  It’s got some rock roots in it, but doesn’t go into it fully.  Very surprising song indeed. 

10. Kakurenbo

Haha, I love how ~Kakurenbo~ is said by Koshi and the guitar it was definitly cool.  Koshi is trying to sound cute in this song.  Does it work?  Uhm, nope lol.  Who cares though, Nakata has a way with songs and he made this to be oddly fun and yet be serious at the same time.  Still, a good song hahaha ~Kakurenbo~

11. Denki Soroban

We return to lounge music with Denki Soroban.  ~Computer~ jeeze, most random moment in the song and it was very Nakata-like.  Though, thats the only word that’s said in the song.  There’s brass introduced here which sound very much like “Konayuki” which is definitly not good on his part.  Then some cool keyboarding comes in and then the brass come in again.  No vocals again, so I’m guessing “Utsutsu” and this aren’t interludes if they are this long.  Maybe they are focusing on Nakata. I like this way more than “Utsutsu”. BTW over 6 minutes.

12. Tokyo Kissa

We start out hearing glass clinking, and fun beats come in, though it makes me think of Puffy a bit.  Anyway, Koshi starts singing again and she sounds inferior to the music, I have no idea.  The bridge gets her louder which is cool.  OMG but the best part is the chorus which is hella catchy!.  Anyway it’s a good pop song.

13. Shashin

Starts out with some synths playing the melody, when Koshi comes in the song takes a turn and goes acoustic.  It’s a ballad of sorts, well as much as it is, I guess.  I found Koshi to be a bit bored in this song.  I kinda find myself feeling the same.  Even Nakata’s lack of synths didn’t help.  Ahhh….

14. Sakura

And he we are at their debut song!  Clocking a little after 7 minutes.  Now this is very poppy and yet carries that Japanese sound in it.  It’s very, very catchy.  I like the kind of synths he uses for this song.  Actually listening to the synths it made me think of “Samurai Logic”.  Koshi sounds awesome in this song.  The main song ends at 4:30 but there’s an stretch of silence before the bonus track.

15. Haikara Girl

So, after Sakura ends a record starts playing and Koshi sings with piano backing her up.  Now, it’s got that old, muffled sound to it like a record would.  It sounds good but it’s like all the other catchy songs, and it ends kinda quickly.  A pretty good ending to an album.

 Tracks Recommended

• Aishiteru Aishitenai
• Sakura
• Kamisama no Utagoe
• Hanabi

If you think that just Yasutaka Nakata is part of this duo and think this’ll be dance-heavy music ala Ami Suzuki, Perfume, or MEG you are horribly wrong.  capsule’s music didn’t get that way til recently.  This album not only shows Nakata’s versatility with synths, it shows that him working with the right people really make things great as with this album.  Koshi is a great singer.