Nana Kitade – HOLD HEART June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. HOLD HEART
2. blue butterfly

1. HOLD HEART

I found the song at the beginning very reminescent of the band, The Police.  Nana actually sounds strong in this tune.  After the loud guitar ends it goes back to Police like sound.  This is very much more mellow than last single “Utareru Ame”.  I guess she wasn’t going to make this very hard rock.  Though I like this safer, rock side to her.  It’s like “Kesenai Tsumi” but devoid it of the synth.  Great song overall.

2. blue butterfly

More safe rock huh?  The beginning of the song scared me because she was squeaky.  Anyway after that intro she sounds a lot better.  Though she does that whiney thing again later in the song which is pretty harsh to my ears.  The guitar is the better one to do that Nana. The middle was a bit shocking, enter more whiney Nana. The tempo Is a bit slower than “HOLD HEART” but it’s got its good sides because of it.

 

 

“HOLD HEART” is definitly a great single.  Shows more of a softer rock side to Nana’s music.  blue butterfly doesn’t end up on the album which is fine for me.  Do I recommend it?  Well, sort of, you can always pass this up and find “HOLD HEART” on the album or get the single just for “blue butterfly” It’s really your choice.

Perfume – Monochrome Effect June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. Monochrome Effect
2. Elevator
3. Oishii Recipe

1. Monochrome Effect

Robotic sounding synths start up.  Now when the ladies start up, I’m already disliking it, it’s like uber Morning Musume with Nakata.  Though the verses sound great it’s just the chorus that bothers me so much.  It also sounds slow for me, it’s making me bored.  Yea, I’m just downright bored in this song.

2. Elevator

Well, this song actually is a bit more interesting than “Monochrome Effect” though I’m somehow still bored with this song.  The song itself has less annoyance happening, which is definitly a good thing.  The synth does get repetitive, though I like the xylophone part, it was kinda cool.  Anyway, ehhhh it’s an alright B-side.

3. Oishii Recipe

Sounds like a casino in the beginning, though them strange synths happened.  Whoa, this song is definitly a fast one at that.  I still think this is a good song to hear in a casino XD.  The chorus is like mega fast or is that the bridge?  The later part of the song changed it up a bit, which was pretty unexpected.  AHHHH…Still this saved this single from failure.

 

 

Okay, 2nd indies single Monochrome Effect IMO sucked.  Monochrome Effect just plainly sucked.  Elevator was a step above it, but still didn’t really attract me, and Oishii Recipe totally caught me off guard and it was the best song of the single.  As with “Sweet Donuts” the B-sides do not get to be on the album, which sucks cause Monochrome Effect was crap.

Utada Hikaru – First Love June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. Automatic -Album Edit-
2. Movin’ on without you
3. In My Room
4. First Love
5. Amai Wana ~Paint It, Black~
6. time will tell
7. Never Let Go
8. B&C -Album Version-
9. Another Chance
10. Interlude
11. Give Me A Reason
12. Automatic -Johnny Viscious Remix- (Bonus Track)
13. First Love (John Luongo Remix) (Vinyl Bonus Track)

1. Automatic -Album Edit-

We start off this album with the track that ultimately made her famous.  It’s an edit, which means the song is shorter than the single itself.  Anyway, this is definitly the one of the catchiest songs on the album.  Utada just is oozing fun with this tune.

2. Movin’ on without you

With a guitar riff and a catchy sound, this song is also one of the best songs on this album.  The piano is very cool and Utada’s rapping/fast lyrics is pretty cool.  The chorus is great and definitly is memorable.  The guitar is definitly probably the coolest in the song.

3. In My Room

Hmmmmm…well gosh this song is very R&B influenced.  Utada sounds pretty good and her pronunciaton is superb.  The piano is mostly featured in this track creating a soft atmosphere.  The guy in the background however sounds annoying but he isn’t too prominent and his voice is held back on the sound so it’s not bothersome as much.  This was an alright track.

4. First Love

Slowing down even further is the ballad, First Love and title track too.  Her voices is so beautiful in this track and sounds emotional too.  It’s definitly the love track on the album which is a high point in her career already.  Let’s just listen to this track and sway to it.  Love this track.

5. Amai Wana ~Paint It, Black~

Dark synths start off this not so much dark sounding tune.  It actually turns out to be a funky R&B tune.  The verses sounds a bit all over but it isn’t until the bridge where it gets prettty cool.  So, Utada took the *Paint It, Black* from the Rolling Stones, hmmmm interesting!  This track is very different of the other tracks.  It’s a great, fun dance track.

6. time will tell

We enter piano-ladened time will tell.  She sounds really good in this track…though I’m already getting bored of the R&B-ness of this song.  It would have been better if it was a ballad.  I think she’s nodding back to “Precious” with them BKGD voices.  I didn’t really enjoy this track as much still….oh well.

7. Never Let Go

Another R&B track?  Well this is more laidback and the guitar even sounds repetitive.  She sounds oddly whiney in this song too…I have no idea why she does it’s not of her to do that.  Listen to the chorus, it’s really bad.  Gosh, let’s just pass this tune up.

8. B&C -Album Version-

Damnit!, no more R&B….Utada! you are so much better then this.  Though I do enjoy this song still.  Now, I’m not sure what’s the difference between the album version and the single version exactly.  Though, recently I found out that Utada was saying Bonnie and Clyde….wow, I’m really dumb for not noticing that.  Still, it’s an alright track.

9. Another Chance

Coins are inserted to start this once again R&B track…though this one actually has life in it.  Utada is soft in the vocals and the BKGD vocals do well to keep with her.  It’s has a shuffle feeling too it, which is definitly odd too.  The guitar solo sounds so good with the layed out beats, it’s so great.  This song is a favorite of mine from this album.

10. Interlude

A chorus starts out for a bit and drains away into what sounds like a cafe or a diner.  Though you hear telephones ringing in the background too.  This is just strange for an interlude.  Though this does set a trend with the other Utada albums. 

11. Give Me A Reason

Give me a reason to listen to this song.  I swear this R&B thing has to stop lol.  I didn’t really like the sound of this song, it just really didn’t fit Utada.  She sounds great but that background sound of sweeping percussion was just a bad idea. I thin it’s a ballad but the percussion is really messing up the song.

12. Automatic -Johnny Viscious Remix-

The bonus track is actually a remix of the more memorable singles “Automatic”.  Staccato beats start off with Utada doing the beginning.  Actually this is very catchy and very unorthodox on the album lol.  It does beat out a lot of songs on this album truthfully.  I got caught bobbing my head to this, it’s a great remix.

13. First Love (John Luongo Remix)

The vinyl special edition had the First Love remix found on the single.  A very lively tropical remix totally.  I still hate the hollowed, echoed voice change, which was kind of annoying…Still it’s a pretty good remix of her hit. 

 Tracks Recommended

• Automatic -Radio Edit-
• Another Chance
• Movin’ on without you
• First Love

 

Utada’s major debut album for me was disappointing as there was not a lot of interesting songs.  Like “Precious” it stuck with R&B.  I got to say the singles were great choices as the other songs probably not have fared well.  “Another Chance” actually was the only album song that stuck out to me.  The remixes were both exceptional choices as well.  At least, Utada gets more vareity as time goes on.

Abingdon Boys School – HOWLING June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. HOWLING
2. NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

1. HOWLING

Takanori talks at the beginning of the song, he sounds anxious almost downright creepy ~A night sky full of cries. Hearts filled with lies, The contract – is it worth the price?  A soul pledged to the darkness.  Now I’ve lost it, I know I can kill.  Does truth exist beyond the gates?~ Now that’s even cooler.  Then the song just blazes outta the gates with very loud and strong guitars.  Takanori then proceeds with the song.  It’s so darn catchy to me.  Best part of the entire song is before end of the chorus when Takanori growls out ~Just HOWLING in the shadows~ that’s just perfect right there.  His vibrato works well with this song too.  Then after the second chorus they go on some odd guitar strikes, I lost time with the song, but eventually they get back to the chorus.  Very cool track from a.b.s.

2. NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

Guitars starts going off on this track.  Takanori is singing quietly but seems layered which is pretty cool.  You hear him getting louder.  The chorus sounds great with the members having great tone quality with each other.  It’s slower than “HOWLING” plus it sounds like they are singing majority in English which is pretty surprising for them Takanori fans out there.  The guitar solo = awesome!

 

 

a.b.s’s second single is so much better than the 1st.  HOWLING was a great rock tune, that was in your face rock.  NERVOUS BREAKDOWN is also very powerful, but not as dark and menacing as the title track.  NERVOUS BREAKDOWN does not appear on the album, which is a bit of a disappointment.  Still, great, GREAT single. you gotta get it!!!

Nami Tamaki – Reason June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. Reason
2. Promised Land
3. Truth
4. Reason (Instrumental)

1. Reason

The next important song in Nami’s career is Reason, another Gundam-linked song.  Nami starts off by singing the chorus in a quiet background then the sounds rush in and this techno/dance track starts flying.  This song is her best single so far and I can see why, it’s a great track for her.  The track itself is even awesomer at the bridge she just sounds so strong.  <3 this song.

2. Promised Land

This is a beautiful slow song that escalades to a medium-fast tempo. There’s more strings and guitars than the synth, but you can still hear it there which is good.  And a good extensive English part, *You’ll find the promised land, kitto* Though i couldn’t tell if it was her voice or backgrounds, but when she performed it live she sang it and it was real good for her English!  Now, the song sounds depressing.  Best part is that other than the song is depressing, it sounds more like there’s hope in it all.  Great track and it’s a fan favorite.

3. Truth

And we are here at Truth.  The beginning is pretty cool, and the BKGD voices at ~Whoa, Whoa, Whoa~ ~Making My Day~.  That was spiffy.  The bridge did get her lyrics oddly fast.  I still was bored with this song.  I mean it was boring in “Make Progress” and it’s boring here too. 

 

 

Nami and Gundam goes so well like Peanut Butter and Jelly…that being said, Reason was a great single.  We have our dance track, and ballad-of-sorts, and well a filler track.  Reason and Truth do get on the album, but Promised Land didn’t??? That’s total bull.  I say get this single for the Reason and Promised Land both are awesome tracks. 

 

misono – Speedrive June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. Speedrive
2. Ari to Kirigirisu ~10 Years Later~
3. Speedrive (Instrumental)
4. Ari to Kirigirisu ~10 Years Later~ (Instrumental)

1. Speedrive

Talk about a weird start….A car starting up and drving off.  Misono comes in and she sounds pretty good.  The bridge is very cool, though the chorus sounds like she’s all over the place.  This song should have been so much faster and not light pop.  Though the brass was a great thing to put in, I just felt it was slow.  It’s an OK track but not her best.

2. Ari to Kirigirisu ~10 Years Later~

Now this is the song.  Why is this the fast song while “Speedrive” is the slower one will always question me.  Misono sounds right at home in this song, fast rock song.  The bridge also sounds great, though she sounds more controlled here thann in “Speedrive”.  Another thing I kinda was shocked was that censored bleep before the final run through the chorus, did she cuss?  All of the instruments are all great in this song and I deem this song a better track in overall sound.

 

 

Ok, so Speedrive is an oddball single.  Like I said Ari to Kirigirisu is much faster than Speedrive which is definitly weird all over.  Both are on her album which is great!  Pass this single up however, since they are both on the album. 

Utada Hikaru – First Love June 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. First Love
2. First Love (Strings Mix)
3. First Love (Original Karaoke)
4. First Love (John Luongo Remix)

1. First Love

So, I heard this song actually watching Kikia….If you guys don’t know what it is, it’s a horror flash game, where you have to pay attention then a scary and loud scream blares in ur ears.  Anyway, the song is a sweet ballad.  Utada sounds great in this song.  Just piano and acoustic guitar is playing until the chorus where she mixes in English which is great for an artist like her.  Still, it’s one of her memorable tracks in her career.

2. First Love (Strings Mix)

So this remix is actually more of a instrumental because Utada isn’t even singing in it.  The strings are actually playing the melody, in which IMO sounded pretty beautiful and added more emotion to the instrumental.  Beautiful!

4. First Love (John Luongo Remix)

Well, this remix has got a good beat to it totally.  Though I don’t like how her voice has echoes.  It just doesn’t fit all too well.  Still it’s definitly a feel good remix altogether. 

 

 

First Love was definitly a good song, though I wish there was a B-side seems like it was a boring single.  The remix did help it some….My guess is the Strings Mix was also boring.  Pass this single up people, you can wait for the album.

Rina Aiuchi – Be Happy June 10, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. be happy?
2. Close To Your Heart
3. Koi wa Thrill, Shock Suspense
4. snow drop
5. Her Lament ~Dare ni mo Kikoenai Kanojo no Sakebi~
6. It’s crazy for you
7. Can you feel my…?
8. Ohh! Paradise Taste!!
9. kimi e no sayonara
10. Dear…。 From…。
11. be happy. 

1. be happy?

Mysterious voicing starts off with this dance track.  The piano playing with the synths are great.  Though I do find that there’s less things going on in this song.  The 2nd verse sounded like 80’s pop which was kind of random hahaha.  Then we go back to the guitar laced chorus.  ~Then why should I be happy?~ finishes off the chorus.  This song is kind of sad. An alright title track.

2. Close To Your Heart

We then go to the first single, Close To Your Heart.  Like “be happy?” there’s a lot less instrumention.  Her la’s sound exotic in this song.  It’s a bit more darker sounding than the previous song, it’s already winning points.  The 2nd verse still sounds cool to my ears.  It just sounds too similar too “be happy?” though which kind of turned me off.  Still this song is pretty good.

3. Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense

Still on the eurobeat music, Koi wa Thrill, Shock, Suspense actually is better than the 1st two tracks.  Rina sounds alright in this song, still I think we need a new song, since I’m used to this song too much lol.  The song altogether sounds great though.

4. snow drop

Our next new song is snow drop, which is more or less eurobeat music…*sigh* I’m actually getting bored with this style.  Still, this song has piano in it which does save it from becoming like the other songs.  Kind of sounds a bit jazzy-like too which is a nice breath of fresh air, but it needs to get rid of that synth.

5. Her Lament ~Dare ni mo Kikoenai Kanojo no Sakebi~

Eerie sounds starts us off with this *once again, eurobeat song*.  This actually has life in it.  Unlike the other’s it’s a bit faster and Rina is singing pretty fast.  This actually sounds more winter-like than “snow drop”.  It’s a great song to listen to, but it isn’t like the next track.

6. It’s crazy for you

Okay, I know I’ve been complaining on how this album’s tracks so far are sounding more or less the same but this song, is my favorite from the album.  It’s got a strong beat and Rina sounds great in it.  I still beef on the rapper guy but still, it’s a great song to just get up and dance to!

7. Can you feel my…?

Can you say dirty title?  So here we still are with them beats, though I swear I heard this in a Ridge Racer game….Anyway the piano is very apparant in this song which like in her previous songs is good.  Though I’m getting very bored now, so this song doesn’t really stand out for me.  We need a new sound now!

8. Ohh! Paradise Taste!!

Whoo!, our tropical single has finally appeared!  I like how this song just sounds great for Rina.  She sounds like she’s having fun with this song, it’s definitly better than the cold, synth stuff we’ve heard so far.  Definitly a great song overall.

9. kimi e no sayonara

We drift off farther from the dance stuff with kimi e no sayonara.  Actually, this sounds a bit like what BoA would do!  Which is surprising she doesn’t sound like her, but she gives a good performace of a song like this.  Sounds a bit angry…but doesnt levitate to furious.  Heh, Rina angry?  Maybe not. This is definitly worth a listen.

10. Dear…。 From…。

Enter her acoustic flare with Dear…From…  It starts with acoustic guitar and then it sounds like it’s spanish based but only for a little bit throughout the tune.  Rina sounds kind of non-existant in this song.  She’s sounds great, but I’m more entranced with the guitar for some reason, it isn’t until the chorus where she shines.  Though there’s a high note where I know she’s having problems.  Still, it’s an alright song.

11. be happy.

Ending off the album, is the title track, wait we had one already right?  ehhhhh….whatever…  It’s definitly not like its counterpart.  It’s a ballad which is awesome.  Rina and ballads are great together.  Though it seems like the 1st half is boring as hell, beats do enter right when she starts up the 2nd verse, making it much more of a pleasant listen. ~I wanna be happy~ ends off the chorus which kind of fits with “be happy?” just fine.  Great ending.

Tracks Recommended

• It’s crazy for you
•  Her Lament ~Dare ni mo Kikoenai Kanojo no Sakebi~
• be happy.
• Ohh! Paradise Taste!!

Ok, Rina’s first album was a kind off blah one.  Majority of the album was stuck with this dance/eurobeat sound which definitly got repetitive and almost made me stop listening.  The last few songs were actually pretty good and devoid of that dance sound.  So it depends on which Rina you like better.  Still this album is a good listen.