T.M.Revolution – Dokusai -monopolize- June 17, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Dokusai -monopolize-
2. LIAR’S SMILE
3. Dokusai -monopolize- (Original Backing Track)

1. Dokusai -monopolize-

I actually didn’t like this song at first because of Takanori’s lack of his known vibrato…he also sounded like he was yelling at the top of lungs which made him crack noticeably.  Eventually I started like this song because of how interested Takanori was in this song.  Though I still cringe on some of the notes he cracks at.  Daisuke really made this song his sounds pretty different from most of the other stuff going around at the time.  The guitar solo is uber great, actually hearing the guitar was great all-around!  Good debut song overall.

2. LIAR’S SMILE

This track actually focused a bit more on the Daisuke’s synths this time, though kinda sounds a bit off with this song.  It’s got a dark feeling, which surprised me a bunch, considering Daisuke isn’t known for that as much.  Takanori is still cracking notes and it’s really taking a toll on him in the single, luckily he doesn’t hit them as much as in “Dokusai” .  Definitly a B-side for sure.

 

 

T.M.Revolution’s debut single is pretty good at the time, but in the time we have gotten to know both Daisuke and Takanori this is actually pretty bad and not to the best of their degree.  Takanori’s lack of vibrato caused the songs to be a little boring and too simple for him and at the time Daisuke, just broke up access for Iceman and T.M.R.  So the music to me isn’t really surprising.  I do like the guitar playing in both though really saved the single.  Both do appear on the main album.

Ai Otsuka – Happy Days June 17, 2008

Track Listing

1. Happy Days
2. Hoshikuzu
3. Happy Days (Instrumental)
4. Hoshikuzu (Instrumental)

1. Happy Days

Hmmmm?  This is definitly rockin’!  Ai starts in a megaphone sound though she keeps it until the most unusual chorus.  ~Ha-ppy Days, ugh!!!~.  This is her second of her many crazy songs.  I definitly enjoy the bridge though, the chorus is just uber sugary.  The guitar solo is definitly nice, kinda reminds me of Jun Senoue’s work AKA Sonic the Hedgehog’s series.  Ahhhh…this is just wild! 

2. Hoshikuzu

Then it’s led to a soft ballad, kinda of a mood swing isn’t it?  I kinda found myself bored with this ballad actually, though all it is really is piano and acousitc guitar.  It does eventually gather some momentum.  It’s kind of like “Always Together” from her 1st album, that it eventually gets stronger and becomes a powerful ballad, still not in the likes of her more known ballads.  It’s an airght ballad.

 

 

Ai Otsuka’s 1st single for the “LOVE JAM” era is a very mood swinging one.  1st you got the craziness of Happy Days while on the other hand you got the soft-spoken Hoshikuzu so the single is mostly what your mood at the moment is.  Though Hoshikuzu doesn’t go on the main album it still has points for me because it’s an Ai ballad.  so your decision to get this single

 

 

 

m.o.v.e – ROCK IT DOWN June 17, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. ROCK IT DOWN
2. ROCK IT DOWN (FAVORITE BLUE DIGI-ROCK mix)
3. ROCK IT DOWN (English Ver.)
4. ROCK IT DOWN (tv mix)

1. ROCK IT DOWN

Some strong plucked guitar starts us off with this euro-beat tune.  T.Kimura is sure impressing with his synth playing.  Very different than Nakata’s.  motsu’s rapping is actually a breath of fresh air from the pop stuff I’ve been stuck with so far.  He’s very quick and he wrote the lyrics to it too.  yuri however, sounds a bit off though.  Her voice sounds very nasally in this song which is a turn off.  Comparing to their later stuff this has very minimalistic sounds which is surprisng for a debut.

 

 

m.o.v.e.’s 1st single was definitly an odd one….though I would pass this because it is on their 1st album….Yuri, that voice does not suit you….UGH!!! 

misono – Hot Time/A.___~answer~ June 17, 2008

Track Listing

1. Hot Time
2. A.___ ~answer~
3. Hot Time -instrumental-
4. A.___~answer~ -instrumental-

1. Hot Time

You’d think this would be a fast song huh?  Well forget it, this is Misono’s first A-side ballad.  Mostly piano playing in the tune and drums too.  Guitar plays a role later in the song, actually in the chorus.  Misono and ballads aren’t really great, but I like how emotional her vocals can get with this song.  I can’t believe how well this song is for her, it’s one of her best songs IMO.

2. A.___~answer~

Continuing with ballads, Answer actually is a bit dark in its interpretation.  Seems almost depressing to listen to.  Misono actually sounds alright in this song, there’s a bit more rock-influence here but still retains the ballad formula.  Still it isn’t as epic as “Hot Time”

 

 

OMFG…Why did they put in Answer and not Hot Time?  I mean it was a much better ballad and Misono is showing emotion through it, it’s kinda left me thinking did AVEX mess up?  Still as this is Misono’s only ballad single it’s quite shocking and actually a pleasant surprise to my ears. go and look for Hot Time

EDIT: Well, seeing the “Say” tracklist my prayers have been answered.  Hot Time is set to be on the album so this single was the last for “Never+Land” with A.___~Answer~ and the first for “Say” with Hot Time.  What a great part on AVEX!