ICEMAN – POWER SCALE June 21, 2008

Track Listing

1. DARK HALF – TOUCH YOUR DARKNESS
2. Something feel like Heaven
3. Nartic Boy
4. reimei-REIMEI-
5. Mr.D
6. White Fusion
7. Dear My Friend? make your shine way
8. furiitaa buruusu
9. BREATHLESS NIGHT SLIDER
10. Edge of the season
11. ICE BREAKER

1. DARK HALF ~TOUCH YOUR DARKNESS~

I thought it’d be a ballad after the beginning, hell no.  This is a rockin’ song.  Michihiro, the vocalist, sounds kinda bored in thorugh the chorus.  He does get better later in.  The bridge is pretty awesome.  I love Daisuke in this song, he made the song livelier.  Kenichi’s solo was WHOA!  I’m like impressed beyond with him.  Go ICEMAN!

2. Something feel like Heaven

Starting with Daisuke’s finger power, it kind of has a islandy feeling to it,  It eventually does sound even more like it, I was like hehehe, definitly fun.  Though, there is little work in it, since it’s mostly Daisuke and Michihiro at the reins in the song.  Very reminescent to like Sonic the Hedgehogs’s music…..lol and what’s with the girl….she sounds very uhm….XXX rated lol

3. Nartic Boy

It’s got a funky beginning I’ll start off by saying that.  Sounds like there’s a rapper guy in it.  We hear Kenichi come back playing the acoustic.  It’s something you don’t hear from ICEMAN much.  Though the music eventually covers it back up, it was a treat.  I know that this was a single, but it just sounds very filler to me even.

4. reimei-REIMEI-

Reimei’s got more of a mellow tone to it, like a elevator song lol.  The random synths is unusual in a song like this, but it really help the boredom with the song.  I have no idea, why I’m even listening it’s just bleh…

5. Mr.D

Ooooo, we’re jumped back in a dance mood with Kenichi powering with his guitar.  Ok, the verses are very fast for me, and they sound a bit like Orange Range in here but with synths.  I was thinking that this song is poppy.  OMG, I love the entire chorus.  I think this is their fun song of the album, I wouldnt blame them, It’s a good listen and funny too.

6. White Fusion

After the joyride, where brought to this dark, and droning song.  I think Daisuke in the early parts of the tune, was very random.  Though after Michihiro stops singing then it actually sounds good.  After that it turns out to be something you’d her from Red Hot Chili Peppers.  It’s got a strong bass sound and even nicer guitar playing.  I guess the fusion is here. 

7. Dear My Friend? shine your own way

A ballad?  From a rock/dance group?  This is just pandemonium.  Lacking any Daisuke/Kenichi.  It’s pretty much a Michihiro solo, though I like how the music sounds like it’s being played by a record player.  There’s an interlude where it leads to more instruments, probably is a good thing, I was getting bored pretty fast.  Still am by the end.

8. furiitaa buruusu

Haha, very jazzy like here.  Michihiru is definitly is into this song I can tell.  Though he lets himself go too much, as some of his notes are squeaked or very outta tune.  Love, the fact that there’s so much to it and it’s overly catchy. Oh yea, Trumpets!

9. BREATHLESS NIGHT SLIDER

Hmmm?  I’ve seen a close title like that, oh yea T.M.Revolution has a track called “BEDLESS NIGHT SLIDER”.  Though this song beats the latter because it’s at a faster pace.  I can imagine this song being connected to Gundam Wing, it has that sound, where most of T.M.R’s music represents.  I just like the wildness of the song.  Daisuke also won points with his playing. 

10. Edge of the season

Ok, I’m also thinking this song is kinda of unusual, the dance beat just doesn’t quite fit.  The guitar also makes point of the reasoning as well.  I didn’t enjoy this song also because it was just too slow.  If it was a bit more alive there prolly wouldn’t have been so many issues.

11. ICE BREAKER

This definitly made me feel like I was in an ice cave, I like how they portray that feeling at the beginning.  Then we got into a synth starting sounding and wow, it drives even further more down the “make the song more cold”.  Though I think this doesn’t have any lyrical content, except for that guy who repeats the same phrase.  It takes a while, but eventually Michihiro comes in late in the tune, but it’s a nice entrance dont ya think?  Still, great ending song.

 Tracks Recommended

• DARK HALF ~TOUCH YOUR DARKNESS~
• ICE BREAKER
• furiitaa buruusu
• BREATHLESS NIGHT SLIDER

 

So ICEMAN’s first album was very catchy, some of the songs were boring but right when I was too bored they came back with an even better track.  My favorite track has got to be the 1st track, totally, ICE BREAKER is probably my 2nd, I just like how that song conveyed the track almost perfectly.  AHHHHH, you should get this album

 

Kana – Chimame June 21, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Chimame
2. Hone
3. Momo
4. Hamushi -Nankotsu Shiki-

1. Chimame

Well, the title is a bit disturbing, Chimame = Blood Blister……ewww.  It sounds very grungy, if you know what I mean.  She eventually gathers momentum in the song, though her voice is very all over the place, and definitly doesn’t fit in a song like this.  I like her commitment in the song.  Then she starts to echo out in the song, actually it sounds pretty good there.  The music is so dirty and dark it’s pretty frightening really.

2. Hone

Does she scream at the beginning, well def took me by surprise.  She sounds like her voice is digitized which also shocks me.  The chorus is very catchy.  I like the guitar riffs.  The chorus is where the songs shine the most, adding in the ghostly sounds in the back really puts a mood in.  Then she starts singing simultaneously with the guitar….very freaky and the end, OMG what was that?

3. Momo

We enter Kana’s depressing song.  She sounds like she’s crying in the song, the first long note she hit, she scratches, and again at the long notes.  I’m surprised to find an Acoustic Guitar playing mostly in this sad song.  Still, it doesn’t really save the song.  I found myself hating Kana staying on one note and purposely messing up the long notes.  Nice try Kana but this “Peach” isn’t good at all.

4. Hamushi -Nankotsu Shiki-

I like the very mysterious beginning.  With a booming drum keeping beat, whistling, bugs, Kana ad-libbing?  It’s almost calm to hear.  I actually like the jungle feeling of the song.  Kana sounds like she’s hypnotized by the song too, as she is blabbing along in the song.  There’s Acoustic playing in with Kana.  Still, it’s pretty much lyrically empty as songs go.

 

 

Kana, this single was half/half for me, Hone and Hamushi are definitly cool song in their rights.  Both really put moods for me, which easily gets a point for me. Chimame was alright, but it’s not as great as “Hebi-Ichigo”.  and Momo…..ugh….I can’t believe that it made the album.  Sucks!

day after tomorrow – day after tomorrow June 21, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. prize
2. faraway
3. gradually
4. vivace
5. for you
6. gift

1. prize

Wow, organ starts out the song, after a bit synths drive up the sound.  The chorus sounds pretty catchy, then again a lot of their stuff is, so I can’t really make it a good thing huh.  Actually the chord progressions are actually quite nice to hear.  Misono sounds oh so strong in this song, which is a bit too loud actually.  I love the solo from the guitarist really sets this song in stone.

2. faraway

Actually more stronger than “prize”.  It’s definitly more relient on the synths which isn’t real bad.  Misono does sound a bit different than in the previous song too, which does set you off a bit thinkin, where’s our normal vibrato-heavy Misono?  Still, it’s a pretty awesome single from them.

3. gradually

A little more cosmic sounding in the beginning, it actually is a bit more slow on the tempo range.  I’m actually finally hearing acoustic guitar within the song.  She kind of sounds a bit messy in this song, so I’m not such a fan of this.  I also kinda don’t like how there’s so much percussion, I think it would’ve been better a ballad….x.x

4. vivace

Kickin the pace back is vivace, I actually quite enjoy this song.  This space synths really helped it out too.  Though once again, I also feel that this song is very forgettable, it’s not that I’m bored with it, it’s just that when comparing to the other track with the same properties, you’re left with fillers, I kind of felt this is the filler track of the mini-album.  I so <3 the synth solo too much.

5. for you

This track, right here is their best from this album.  I just love how forceful the drum beats get and Misono’s enthusiastic vocals mixed with great sound from the keyboard.  The chorus actually is even more catchy, all fast and then slows to make sense.  ~Love Song for you~ ends the chorus, and Misono sounds good at English here. 

6. gift

The mini-album ends with I’m guessing the Christmas tune, obviously meant from the overall sound of the song and the title.  It’s a ballad folks too, so you might wanna watch out because this is Misono singing XD.  She sounds off a lot which is pretty bad.  It isn’t til she hits her medium range where she’s alright.  The low side needs workin done.  All in all, this track just dragged on for me *sigh* Dang, XMAS songs….

 

 

dat’s 1st mini-album was an alright one.  Though all the songs are pretty forgettable, well maybe not “for you”, still there were problems in here, like wrong stylings, too much percussion, and Misono’s control on her vocals.  Though it sorta does get better when she becomes a solo artist. 

Rina Aiuchi – Run up June 21, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Run up
2. Rainbow
3. Run up ~GLOBAL TRANCE Mix~
4. be happy ~Grandale Euro Mix~
5. Run up ~instrumental~

1. Run up

Starts up in this synth sound which sounds so great to me.  A very medium paced sound, Rina actually sounds at home with this song.  Her voice doesn’t sound way thin in the verses, though she does have more power within the chorus, which is rare in Rina songs.  I just love the dance feel of this song.  This is also my 1st Rina song so I gotta give her credit for that.  Still, it’s one of my favorites from her.

2. Rainbow

A lot more mellow than “Run up”  It’s got more of a pop sound to it.  Though I did find myself entranced in this song pretty good.  It’s got a somewhat of an ethereal feel to it, which is surprising.  Though it’s a ballad with a beat to it, I still like it alot.  As for the vocals, she sounds just as good if not better, definitly could have been an A-Side for real.

3. Run up ~GLOBAL TRANCE Mix~

Wow, this remix, is very odd….It’s got great trance feels, though when Rina sings, her voice seems like it’s been messed with too much, it’s like she put her face in water and is trying to sing it.  It’s kind of annoying to listen to.  Though the chorus brings her full sound back into a more quiet part of the song. I like th e synths def after the chorus, some very nice game beats were added too, I was like, wow, this is pretty cool.  Strange Remix for sure.

 

 

I love Run up alot!  I mean, I know it’s nothing new, but this definitly has some of Rina’s strongest vocals in this single.  Rainbow also was pretty good in quality too. Got to get this single!

Nami Tamaki – Heroine June 21, 2008

Track Listing

1. Heroine
2. Koisuru Chikara
3. better half
4. Heroine -instrumental- feat. Junko Hamaguchi
5. Fortune Reproduction ~Radiata Mix~

1. Heroine

Wow, it’s a pretty rockin’ song we have here.  Starts with a descenting screech from the guitar, it dives into the synth rock song Heroine.  She sounds very powerful, though the BKGD vocals are a bit odd.  Though I love how she says ~Heroine~  it’s definitly different. I still enjoy how strong her vocals are at the middle of the song where it quiets down for a bit. Nami, rock is definitly your genre. 

2. Koisuru Chikara

Ok, remember what i said about “Distance” and “DreamerS”? Well here’s Koisuru Chikara, they all sound similar though the other two came first, this has to be the cleanest of them.  I like how there’s not much background annoyance unlike “Distance” or unusual beats like “DreamerS”.  This song does have the whole anthem feel too, but a grandiose one at that.  Strings are heard alot through the song, which is pretty good.  That’s why this song should have replaced “Distance” at least. I like how she put this on her ~Road to Make Progress~ tour and performed it, it was one of the better moments.

3. better half

Starts off very mysterious like a jungle, but when Nami comes in and adds lyrics it’s very slow, but not a ballad.  Add some piano, and some Acoustics reminescent from “Naked” and you have Better Half.  Not a very memorable song, least played on my Ipod. I think it’s probably her worst B-Side from this era, well that and “Distance”

4. Heroine -instrumental- Feat. Junko Hamaguchi

I’ll mention this only because of Junko….she totally ruined the instrumental of Heroine….I think the whole “thank you” talk should have been a secret track or sumthin else. ugh.

5. Fortune Reproduction ~Radiata Mix~

Ok, this song was used for the PS2 game “Radiata Stories” and took the dance track off Make Progress and turned it to a beautiful ballad.  Jingle Bells are heard in the song which make me think, this was a wintry remix.  Either way, it’s great.  It’s also evident that she resang this song, and IMO it’s made for a better song overall.  I’m happy that there was a male vocalist also backing some of Nami, which is something new at this point.

 

 

So, the final single of the era was pretty awesome.  Heroine is definitly her strong point in the single which is awesome, proves that Nami can do rock!  Koisuru Chikara is such a grand song and is really vocally strong too, I’m surprised this wasn’t on the album, such awesomeness wasted. Better Half was well the axe in the single.  It really didn’t stand out for me, and was pretty boring.  and the limited bouns track was such a nice treat to listen to.  I love how fast songs get morphed into better ballads.  Still it’s hard to find the limited edition so you’re better out looking for it on sites.