Ami Suzuki – BE TOGETHER July 31, 2008

Track Listing

1. BE TOGETHER
2. BE TOGETHER (BAND MIX)
3. NIGHT SKY
4. BE TOGETHER (TV MIX)

1. BE TOGETHER

Ahhhhhh, well, here we have Ami’s biggest hit which is actually a remake of a TM NETWORK hit.  Ami really took to the song and you can tell from her happiness shown in it.  The guitar hooks in it are catchy and fit so well with Ami’s vocals.  The interlude of the song kinda was long but who cares, this was just a cool synth track. 

2. BE TOGETHER (BAND MIX)

A live version found on the same single, how crazy.  I’m not sure where she performed it but it sounds a little different as majority of the synths are actually live brass instruments.  The chorus did sound a bit off but whatever.  Ami sounds alive in it, what a proud moment for her.  Oh yea, awesome solo there.  Awesome live track.

3. NIGHT SKY

After all the pep, NIGHT SKY is the ballad of the single and it’s a real nice sounding ballad.  Kind of soulful but retains a great lullaby quality to it.  They still have the backup singers too which is a nice touch to a nice soothing song. 

 

 

Ami’s 1st single for the “Infinity Eighteen Vol.”1 era was her biggest single in her entire career.  I was totally impressed by all 3 tracks.  Even greater is that NIGHT SKY appears on the album, while BE TOGETHER gets shafted into being a mix, which sucked.  Other than that, fantastic single!

 

Ai Otsuka – Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 680 Yen

Track Listing

1. Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 680 Yen
2. Hon Maguro Chuutoro 300 Yen (Midori Iro)
3. Tsukune 70 Yen
4. Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 680 Yen (Instrumental)
5. Hon Maguro Chuutoro 300 Yen (Instrumental)

1. Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 680 Yen

Wow, this starts off kiddy-like, but it goes straight into a great rock track.  Ai sounds mature with this song.  The title is a bit misleading and silly but she puts out something like this it’s just so great.  The chorus is simple but real cool and with the music is great.  In the middle of the song there’s a pretty cool solo section. What’s even more interesting it’s a remade track and IMHO sounds so much better.

2. Hon Maguro Chuutoro 300 Yen (Midori Iro)

Taking a full jazz sound for the first A-side, I was pleasantly surprised by this track.  Ai sounds perfect in this song.  Soothing to ears, blending with music, and has a good tone.  It’s got a smooth beat to it, I couldn’t help but sway with the band.  I thought the was the best song on the single.  Great sax ending!

3. Tsukune 70 Yen

It starts off sweet enough and quiet enough, but…then it goes friggin crazy.  I mean rock-hard crazy.  This was so strange and quite of Ai, especially with her drugged up stuff, for example: Katorisenkou.  Ai’s vocals are also mixed with the guitar which was a new surprise.  However, it’s a bit messy and the guy talking is unusual.  Very weird song.

 

 

Not only this was a strange  recut titled single, it’s got some strange songs too!  The title track is a nice rock song that is definitly something we haven’t really heard of from her yet.  Hon Maguro was an awesome jazz track that should’ve been on the album.  Tsukune though was a crazy track…very gritty and in your face, another new area of sound Ai has waddled in.  Oddly enough, none of these tracks make on LOVE JAM.  Kuroge fine-tuned and changed from “Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 735 Yen”  Which IMO was better than this.  Awesome recut/final single for the “LOVE JAM” era.

m.o.v.e – electrock

 

Track Listing

1. World of move
2. Bust the Future Wall (move into the rockin’ beat)
3. around the world
4. Rage your dream
5. Wanna fly to Be wild
6. ROCK IT DOWN
7. BLOWIN’ WIND
8. See you, my best love
9. over drive
10. take me higher
11. past days ~ Tsuioku

1. World of move

This is the introduction to the album, and pretty much the group since it epitomizes what’s to come in the future from them.  It’s not much but it’s a good start.

2. Bust the Future Wall (move into the rockin’ beat)

Our first new track is very freaky.  motsu takes up the first half with his sharp rapping skills.  They come out so fast and smoothly, I’m always surprised by him.  Yuri then comes in next with a verse and chorus, but she’s so harsh sounding.  I can’t believe they had her hit the high notes like that.  As for the music, it’s funky with some wacky percussion and some cool synths and piano coming in whenever Yuri starts singing.  Sadly, the song loses some points from that horrendous chorus.

3. around the world

Continuing with the funkiness, around the world does step it up quite a bit.  motsu once again flashes his rap skills across the song which is pretty cool.  I still think this song is a bit slow for some reason, it’s usually when Yuri starts singing where I think that.  Poor Yuri getting shafted like that. 

4. Rage your dream

Taking a new turn is Rage your dream, where it’s piano that leads the track which is a nice change.  Yuri actually sounds pretty good in this song for the first time.  The piano doesn’t overpower her either which is so perfect.  The beats are still the same-ole eurobeat stuff but isn’t oberbearing on me.  motsu has some quick rapping parts but its not annoying at all. Best single of the era.

5. Wanna fly to Be wild

Odd start of a song, but it gets to the usual fare of eurobeat stuff.  mostu is rapping really fast again and I got lost with it.  yuri again sounds great in this song too.  I found myself once again thinking “Why is this song slower than it needs to be”.  Yeah I know if it was faster I would’ve liked it a lot more but this is a nice start.

6. ROCK IT DOWN

We’ve hit the debut song now?  Strange place to put it if you ask me.  I really didn’t enjoy this track.  I mean the beginning was just too long for me and too repetitive.  Everyone sounds a little different also.  motsu sounds young and yuri sounds like she need major work on her vocal ability.  Worst song on the album.

7. BLOWIN’ WIND

I really liked the start of the song with the eerie synth sound.  Then after all that it goes all happy sounding which really threw me off and the end of the melody sounded like “around the world” and yuri also ends the verse sounding exactly like that, talk about unoriginal.  Though out of that it’s a pretty good feelgood track from them.

8. See you, my best love

Ahhh, a good combination of piano and synths if you ask me.  Yuri actually starts the song off and I can’t tell if they are trying for a ballad.  Then yuri ends the verse and the beat comes in.  I actually really like this track.  motsu does rap but he does it in a monotone way which bothered me a bit, but the song is not like the other tracks.  Very cool.

9. over drive

Ack!, I really don’t like the original song at all.  It’s so slow and boring and just uninspired.  If I had heard this version first I might have somewhat enjoyed it.  Even on their Best singles, they decided to use the faster version since it was more popular and for good reason too.  At least they made a good decision from that right?

10. take me higher

Talk about fast brass sounds from the keyboard.  This is at a right speed and it’s another feelgood song with it’s airy composition.  Yuri sounds pretty good, she’s has such a nice voice and good vibrato.  The chorus has her shooting lyrics pretty quickly, she does it precisely and didn’t take away from the song.  motsu’s rapping sounds like there’san echo in it and it was fast, you can tell what he’s was saying though.  Another good track from move.

11. past days ~ Tsuioku

Yuri once again starts this track, but she sounded sharp on the first note, it kinda was bad.  Another pop track but with a different sound altogether.  It’s another one of their songs that stick out pretty obviously.  I kind of thought Yuri sounded nasal here and motsu’s rapping was just unusual in a track like this.  It does make a great album closer.

Tracks Recommended

• See you, my best love
• take me higher
• Rage your dream

Song of Avoidance

• ROCK IT DOWN

This was one of the oddest albums of the time, and seriously it wasn’t that good of one either, most were eurobeat stuff and really didn’t change any factors at all.  I think this was an ok experimental album from them.  Though the are a experimental group anyways LOL.  Oh well

day after tomorrow – day after tomorrow II

Track Listing

1. futurity
2. rosy girl
3. My faith
4. Hello, everybody!
5. melody
6. after all…

1. futurity

Ahhh, the 2nd single of the era appears first and truthfully is a good starting song.  It’s got such a cool beat and definitly something fresh at least to everything that came out at the time.  A beautiful track indeed.

2. rosy girl

A more beat-driven song, rosy girl is an alright song with a consistent beat, but it doesn’t really stand out for me.  I thought I heard this same production somewhere.  The synth solo however was a nice surprise but it didn’t really help this filler track at all.

3. My faith

 Then we get into our winter track, My faith.  I still think it was awkward for misono.  Her vocals just seemed not in a good place here, and well c’mon it’s misono for gosh sakes.  It was boring too lol.  I’m pretty sure they could rework it better.

4. Hello, everybody!

Surprise!  This silly track appears and it’s like very catchy.  The music is wild, fun, and almost too outrageous.  misono is definitly having fun too making perfect sense.  The chorus is a bit catchy to me and I catch myself humming along.  The best track of the mini-album.

5. melody

Going back to slow down the mood is melody, our rock ballad.  It’s one of the standout tracks because of their use of synths.  It’s kind of lacking in something, but its an alright tune and the synth solo once again made the song XD…strange

6. after all…

The final song is a ballad of course.  It’s a bit better than “melody” of course, and I actually enjoyed misono’s vocals in here.  I would’ve been happy if this song was a tie-in for an anime.  A nice finisher for the album.

 

 

dat’s 2nd mini-album was a bit like the 1st one…Which i was kind of disappointed to hear.  Luckily the new tracks were alright, but not at their best caliber.  Luckily, it’s their last mini-album

miyavi – galyuu July 30, 2008

Track Listing

1. Instrumental
2. Ippiki Ookami Ron
3. Eccentric Otona Byou~Kudo Gaki ver.~
4. Instrumental
5. Aa, Kanashiki Kana Yatoware no Mi no Blues
6. Coo quack cluck -Ku Ku Ru-~Oresama ver.~
7. Instrumental
8. Joushou Gaidou
9. Shikenkan Baby
10. Ossan Ossan Ore Nanbo
11. Ashita, Tenki ni Naare ~Doshaburi ver.~
12. Instrumental
13. Tom to Jerry
14. Requiem (Acousic ver.) (Bonus Track)

1. Instrumental

Just an audience applauding….Is that it?  Yep!  There’s so many of them too.  Whatever, let’s just move right on with the next track.

2. Ippiki Ookami Ron

Damn, what a hard song we’ve been led into.  Miyavi is straining his voice on purpose and what a surprise for the 1st song.  There’s a melody in the song which was pleasant to hear above the furious guitar playing.  There’s somewhat of a tribal sound to it which sounds pretty darn cool too.  What a nice 1st track.

3. Eccentric Otona Byou~Kudo Gaki ver.~

Miyavi speaks a bit before the mish-mash of sound comes in.  It does sound a little like the previous song which I guess wasn’t too bad.  Though the chorus is pretty catchy and in your face for sure!  I love the furious sound overall, awesome song.

4. Instrumental

Yeah, you know what, the intrumentals suck and aren’t even long in the first place, I didn’t really hear what was going on but I guess it was put in for aeshetic value.

5. Aa, Kanashiki Kana Yatoware no Mi no Blues

miyavi, stop playing with your cell phone, lol.  Then some beatboxing starts up and we enter an acoustic track.  I’m surprised that this would’ve been on this album.  miyavi sounds pretty good not screeching across his songs.  He’s created a catchy beat with it and does his signature chuckle.  Then the chorus comes and here we are with screechy miyavi….oh well.  Still one of the golden moment of the album.

6. Coo quack cluck -Ku Ku Ru~Oresama ver.~

A very grungy and dirty song, Coo quack cluck is a slower rock track but sounds pretty weird too.  I’m pretty sure this was the easiest song to create.  The chorus is a bit dependent on the beat and I kinda was a little turned off by it.  Still, as one of the songs that did get a PV, it was just as dark.

7. Instrumental

10 seconds of wasted time of motorcycles starting up….though it does lead to…

8. Joushou Gaidou

His strongest song off the album is in this powerhouse of a rock song.  It’s like crazy but still has a great melody to it.  miyavi sounds great in his deep voice and then he hits this anger voice and it’s awesome.  Everything is blaring and just wowzers, it definitly made the instrumental before it useful too. 

9. Shikenkan Baby

Then it fades away to a more slower hard rock track.  It’s got a continuous beat and even has a good instrumentation.  What really caught me off guard is the repetition of some phrases.  It’s a little messy but after a few listens I got used to it.  The chorus is pretty hardcore too if you ask me.

10. Ossan Ossan Ore Nanbo

The next song is a shortie.  Still it doesn’t let up on the powerful sounds and has some synths in it???  I was pretty surprised but the song was just so busy and full of stuff and I really couldn’t pay attention to just one thing.  I think it’s messier than “Shikenkan Baby” so watch out for the song. What’s up with the ending though WTF….

11. Ashita, Tenki ni Naare ~Doshaburi ver.~

Oh wow, I like this song, it’s devoid of any hard rock feelings and we’re left with a happy, acoustic leveled track.  It’s pretty nice to listen to after all that loudness.  It’s a simple track really with piano too.  Hehehe, giddyness all over.

12. Instrumental

Dangit, not another one, I didn’t really catch on with this one either luckily it’s the last one of the album…I can’t believe Miyavi would just have this many to begin with.

13. Tom to Jerry

Obviously an homage to the cartoon classics, Tom to Jerry was another standout track with a march-like rock arrangement.  It’s a more regular rock track but it’s got some great things going for it.  miyavi actually ad-libs too which is more or less a surprise to me since I haven’t heard it since “Girls, be ambitious” of last album. 

14. Requiem (Acoustic Version)

Before going solo, Miyavi was part of Due le Quartz, a visual kei band.  Miyavi decided to go acoustic with one of their songs and really, I’ve never heard the original.  This one was just unusual at the beginning with Miyavi just sounding off.  The beat comes in for a bit and he gets real loud, then suddenly gets quiet, it’s just all over the place…ick.

Tracks Recommended

• Joushou Gaidou
• Ashita, Genki ni Naare
• Aa, Kanashiki Kana Yatoware no Mi no Blues
• Ippiki Ookami Ron

Song of Avoidance

• Requiem (Acoustic Version)

What the hell, this album was definitly a step down from Gagaku, I mean for one all his best singles weren’t even on this album only two made it and were remade.  POP IS DEAD and Jibun Kakumei should had its place here.  Failure not adding them.  Still a lot of the new songs were pretty good.  Too many instrumentals though icky.

Perfume – Computer City July 28, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Computer City
2. Perfume

1. Computer City

A very awesome track, Computer City really exploits Nakata’s talent with synths and such.  After the chorus they go into the verses with an acoustic guitar playing an awesome part.  We don’t see the girls get their own parts, but they sound together even with the vocoder helping them out.  The song doesn’t really enter any strange areas, but does stay in a safe area, repeating mostly everything in the song twice.  Which kinda annoyed me a little, the only different between the verses is a matter of 2 words ~Kumo and Kioku~.  They could’ve done soo much more with the song.

2. Perfume

Not shaking off their indies mood, Perfume is a fast-acting track.  With the beeps and synths acting like it was Vitamin Drop pt. 2, this song actually has the girls singing individually.  They sound more or less like they did then.  I really did enjoy the fun they had with the track but Nakata, that’s a little too much synth. Hmph, this song was a bit too long-winded too…the ending had a thumping beat til it faded……huh?

 

 

Perfume’s 2nd major single was an odd one with serious Computer City and playful Perfume, I kinda found it so unusual.  I think I’ll stic with the next single though. 

capsule – phony phonic

Track Listing

1. phony phonic
2. RGB
3. cosmic tone cooking
4. Ice Cream
5. weekend in my ROOM
6. life style music
7. swing 54321
8. end of summer
9. idol fancy
10. Hanjuuryoku Ryokou

1. phony phonic

Hehehe, what a cute opening track, with piano and some xylophones.  Reminds me of Mister Rogers ^_^;  Too much, but it was a short intro.

2. RGB

What can I say about this colurful track?  I mean it’s got such a nice vibe with it.  The beepy synths also create a fun sound and c’mon, it’s just so crazy.  It has a bossa nova sound to it, which is Nakata’s new view on this album, so I’ll just leave it as it is.  I’m surprised that this track is so catchy and Koshi added more to it.

3. cosmic tone cooking

Maybe it’s me but this song was so random with its space sounds and phones ringing, this song sounds like something Perfume could cover.  The artist singing sounds a bit off though kind of ruining the mood.  It’s got a nice traveling vibe but still I wasn’t falling in love.

4. Ice Cream

This album is scaring me to death, with all this randomness.  The beginning has this ice cream truck tune and I was like I’m hungry.  Then the main music comes in and omg, it sounds like a videogame…Dahlia returns for this track and she’s airy in her vocals.  Then again, she says ~Ice Cream~ right.  The timpanis are added for more silliness and I’m not complaining.  Cutest track.

5. weekend in my ROOM

Sounds of a baseball game begins with this very odd track.  Nakata uses the vocoder right here and it’s obvious.  Then a nice piano line plays before the lead singer from Hazel Nuts Chocolate sings.  I always liked her voice since it’s not straining or anything.  Though she ad-libs a lot through the song.  It’s also got a bit of an island-like sound, what a nice track.

6. life style music

a short track, the percussion is leading the track mostly with Koshi singing along.  I kind of found this track to be the predecessor for the next album, with synths being totally different from everything else.  Though it’s very repetitious and gets annoying after a while. 

7. swing 54321

Yep, its obviously a swing tune with its shuffling percussion and wacky piano lines.  What gets me is that baby laugh in the beginning, that was so not needed.  I think it’s an instrumental however, the only vocals in ~5, 4, 3, 2, 1~  I guess it make a pretty cool dance tune.

8. end of summer

Another instrumental?  Well, this one’s a lot shorter and has accordion playing on a record sound.  It plays for a while then kinda stops midway, hmmmmph.  Then again it leads to best song

9. idol fancy

OMG, I love this track, its got such playfulness and some great instrumentation.  Yuppa’s nice vocals easily carried the cuteness of the track and it has accordion also!  It maybe silly but I think it’s one of Nakata’s masterpieces. The middle of the song changes the sound altogether into a dark moment but livens up after, what a nice transition.  I was also entranced with the PV also, so much ORANGE.  A very lively song too.

10. Hanjuuryoku Ryokou

An applause leads to our final track, which is definitly a bossa nova song with blaring string bass and some cute xylophone and piano parts.  It sounds like it’s live but it isn’t XD  I can’t help but enjoy the free feeling from the album.

Tracks Recommended

• idol fancy
• weekend in my ROOM
• Ice Cream
• RGB
• Hanjuuryoku Ryokou

Song of Avoidance

• life style music

capsule’s finest works can be found on this album.  It’s so different from so many other works, I was surprised from this album since I only really listened to one song, idol fancy.  So far this is my favorite capsule album reviewed.

m.o.v.e – Rage your dream

 

Track Listing

1. Rage your dream
2. around the world (EXTENDED VERSION)
3. Rage your dream (TV MIX)

1. Rage your dream

A calm piano starts off in this awesome tune.  It’s europop but it’s got piano and guitar on the mainfront.  Yuri sounds actually kinda good.  motsu’s rapping as quite soft and not forceful either, which is also a nice change in sound too.  Though I once again think it could be a little faster, but it’s not as bad as like “over drive”.  Still, it’s one of their popular songs from this era. 

 

 

m.o.v.e’s final single actually saved the era with it’s nice piano work and difference to the other singles, A nice ending single.  Beautiful ending.

T.M.Revolution – HEART OF SWORD ~Yoake Mae~

 

Track Listing

1. HEART OF SWORD ~Yoake Mae~
2. IMITATION CRIME
3. HEART OF SWORD ~Yoake Mae~ (Original Backing Track)

1. HEART OF SWORD ~Yoake Mae~

Ah, one of his most well-known tracks with its tie-in with Rurouni Kenshin, it’s a slow pop track but with a continuous beat.  Though it is a it slow for my taste, HEART OF SWORD did really make an impact on its anime.  Still I love the bird calling sound that was interesting.

2. IMITATION CRIME

A bit more faster than “HEART OF SWORD”, this track is a little more filler  sounding than rather being a full track.  Though I do love the bridge and its arrangement through it.  The chorus just seemed so bland and Takanori just reeked of boredom, I’m not lovin this track overall.

 

 

Takanori and Daisuke created a great song with HEART OF SWORD, but really missed with IMITATION CRIME, though both are on the album, I just felt it was a weak single. 

Koda Kumi – So Into You

 

Track Listing

1. So Into You
2. COLOR OF SOUL (Dub’s Guitar of Soul Remix)
3. TAKE BACK (BLACKWATCH Remix)
4. So Into You (Instrumental)

1. So Into You

Here we have a classy R&B track from Koda Kumi.  Even though the formula’s been used many a times, Kumi actually makes the song sexy.  The beats are affectious and leads to a loud chorus.  I actually kinda am turned off by Kumi yelling practically in the chorus.  Other than that this is one catchy tune.

 

 

So Into You, was an alright single the only thing missing was a nice B-side to compliment this track.  Either way, it’s a nice R&B track and pretty smooth one at that as well.