Mai Kuraki – Stay by my side July 27, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Stay by my side
2. Just Like You Smile Baby
3. Love, Day After Tomorrow -Day Tripper Drum n’ Bass Mix-
4. Stay by my side ~Instrumental~

1. Stay by my side

A soft pop song, Mai sounds kind of nice with the shuffling R&B beats.  It’s got a nice sound with Mai’s soft-spoken vocals.  Strange thing is that I think the shuffling would’ve been better left off, making it a more ballad-like track.  she does get more apparant later in the song and she sounds nice.

2. Just Like You Smile Baby

Even more R&B than the last track, we get to listen to Mai’s deeper voice which oddly sounds like Utada.  I do like the configuration of the synths in the track.  Mai does mess up saying the title, she mashed them up so you can really decipher ~Smile Baby~. 

 

 

Mai’s 2nd single was alright, not her best but it was pretty good from her.  Stay by my side only goes on to be on “Delicious Way”  The b-side well, I’m not going to miss it at all.

Tommy February6 – Tommy airline* July 27, 2008

Track Listing

1. AttenTion pLEasE
2. je t’aime ★ je t’aime
3. sEpia memory
4. Futari no Seaside
5. CAndY EyEs doLLs
6. ChOOSe mE or Die
7. daNCin’ bABY
8. SwEEt dREAM
9. ThE RoSe fraGranCe
10. MaGic in youR Eyes
11. I still love you boy
12. Love is forever

1. AttenTion pLEasE

The introduction to the album, obviously making it seem like it’s on a plane saying, enjoy your time.  There’s also the T.O.M.Y. heard from her 1st album. Nothing too spectacular

2. je t’aime ★ je t’aime

Yep, our 1st track is also the 1st single and it was placed properly on the album.  Traces of French are on the track which I loved the best in this song.  Tomoko makes good use of all the synth and c’mon the bridge was the coolest I’ve heard in a while.  Oh yea, it was a pretty odd transition from the first track too.  *sigh*

3. sEpia memory

Taking on a more jungle-like feeling song, sEpia memory is a bit more minamalistic then the previous track, but it’s got some pretty nifty synths though.  I was surprised at how good this track was since it is the 1st new track.  What a great track.

4. Futari no Seaside

Another great track is Futari no Seaside the drive-by ocean track.  I love how Tomoko mixes up the English and Jap.  Though I’m still wondering why she said ~Candybar~.  Also, I’m still baffled by all the jingle bells present in here.  Still, impressive track.

5. CAndY EyEs doLLs

Uhm, so here we have a happy happy track.  When I saw the title I was thinkin *Oh no, not another CANDY POP IN LOVE*  I was kind of right and also kind of wrong at the same time.  It’s sugary pop but there’s also some seriousness to it.  The chorus was weird for me because it just didn’t sound like anything like the verses/bridges.  Whatever lol

6. ChOOSe mE or Die

The ever-needed dark song of the album is less going on than the previous song until the chorus where things pickup for a bit.  She chants the title and its minorlly disturbing.  It’s a pretty catchy song albeit an evil one. 

7. daNCin’ bABY

Kinda gettin repititious with the synth, daNCin’ bABY really failed to make an impression on me.  Though the random whistle was kinda nice.  A pop tune still Tomoko sounds a bit more alive than she has been in a few of the earlier tracks.  The after-chorus with the swervy synth was the best part.

8. SwEEt dREAM

I’m not sure what to call this but I think it’s a ballad or at least trying to be.  The drums throws it off for a little bit, but eventually it makes sense.  It does have a different sound compared to the rest of the album, which is a plus.  Tomoko also sounds a bit different to me personally like she’s more airy in her vocals and they sound controlled to.  A memorable track indeed.

9. ThE RoSe fraGranCe

Ahhh, I love the beat to this song, so straightforward and aggressive.  The verses are so catchy and the chorus is just as good.  The back and forth with the beats made a quick dance beat and I just can’t help but bobbing me head to the beat.  It’s probably the best new track here.

10. MaGic in youR Eyes

A magical tune fills our ears next.  It’s a different track because it has a brass instrumentation written into it.  It’s also got the same pulsing beat but its put at a faster pace than “ThE RoSe fraGranCe”.  As it is also the last single, I found its charming well-needed on the album.

11. I still love you boy

An oddly slow tune, I still love you boy is the 2nd ballad of the album and well, it really didn’t leave anything for me to enjoy since I liked “SwEEt dREAM” a lot more.  I think I was better off with one ballad on the album.  Tomoko does sound real strong, I’ll give her that.

12. Love is forever

The 2nd single is our final track?  Definitly surprising, but y’know it did make a good ending to a good album.  It’s your usual synth job here, so I wasn’t too impressed since majority was like this.  I think there so should’ve been a different song to finish up the album than with this pop tune.

Tracks Recommended

• ThE RoSe fraGranCe
• je t’aime ★ je t’aime
• sEpia memory
• ChOOSe mE or Die
• MaGic in youR Eyes

Tommy February6’s sophomore album was definitly an odd album because of how different it compared to her last album.  A lot of people say this paled in comparison, however to me I liked this album just as much as her debut.  Now this is probably her final album though she released two singles after this album and things’ve changed:  Buriguri got back together and her reining assault as her alter-ego Tommy Heavenly6 which I might start reviewing soon.  As for TF6, recently there’s been news she’s doin a track for the Cyndi Lauper Memorial Album, which gives good news that she isn’t gone yet.

Kana – Doubutsu-teki Ningen July 27, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Rainbow -Ningen Shiki-
2. Hebi-Ichigo
3. Kabi
4. Mirukii
5. Toraboruta
6. Chimame
7. Jueki
8. Mori
9. Kuuchuu Buranko
10. Tsuno
11. Daichi
12. Momo -Me ga Haeta Shiki-

1. Rainbow -Ningen Shiki-

Not the nicest way to start the album of, with her kiddy-like voice.  The music is a bit depressing and with the random xylophone moments it kind of made it a melancholic track but with Kana’s extreme vocals it can get weird for the listener.

2. Hebi-Ichigo

1st single really kicks off this album in a good way really.  Kana is really showing at how good she’s capable of and her talent to show how far she can totally destroy it also.  I’m still loving this single, if I’m correct this is her most popular song or most recognizable, and I can see why.  Awesome rock track.

3. Kabi

WTF is she doing at the beginning?  Rolling the lips like that, that totally was random.  It’s a very fast rock track and got’s a nice steady beat to it.  Kana sounds a tad monotone in the verses sadly.  It’s one of the “being chased” tracks, if you know what I mean. 

4. Mirukii

A dark and eerie beginning with the strings and odd percussion.  Overall, it is a strange track but it’s got a nice arrangement and the offbeat guitar makes for a better song.  Kana actually doesn’t sound real bad either.  A nice slow rock track here.

5. Toraboruta

Travolta?  Ok, it might be about the famous actor, but this song is just the two tracks before shoved together.  It’s got the soft sounds from “Mirukii” and the chase sounds of “Kabi”.  This song was just overly creepy.  After the chorus there’s a guitar solo that sounded pretty shweet and Kana coming in after that was so cute. 

6. Chimame

We’re here with the 2nd single of the era and it was gritty, strange and c’mon it’s gotta be rockin’ as well.  I still find it oddly slow and kind of messy for a single.  Then again, why am I complaining?  Not the best track off the album.

7. Jueki

Thr shortest track off the album barely reaching 2 minutes, it acts like an interlude.  It’s got some strange percussion with Kana ad-libbing and that’s all it is, not really much of anything and kinda creepy too.

8. Mori

Mori is the oddest track with it’s soft pop roots written to it.  It’s got such a nice calming atmosphere to it which last time seen was “Tsuki no Tsubasa” from the “Kuuchuu Buranko”.  Kana’s vocals can seem whiney here, but they do compliment the song in a way.

9. Kuuchuu Buranko

The final single shows up in a flurry of guitars and pounding beats.  It’s got such a cool sound to it.  Kana sounds evil in this song as well.  It can be a bit messy in the chorus and Kana can sound off a lot.  When she says the title she really stresses into saying it too, What a cool, crazy song.

10. Tsuno

Whoa, definitly the fastest opening in a Kana song, it slows down back into the usual rock fare.  I do like the beats from the drum.  The bridge gots some of the creepiest undertones found on this CD.  Tsuno wins for darkest track.  She’s a bit messy in the vocals and is monotone again, still it’s catchy for sure.

11. Daichi

Daichi, who’s Kana’s brother, I think she wrote it for him.  It’s so abstract with its screeching parts and obscure beats.  Kana’s voice is layered too which caught me as distracting from the song.  I really don’t what to think of the song, its the strangest track for sure.

12. Momo -Me ga Haeta Shiki-

NO, NO, NO!!!  This song sucks just as much as it did in the “Chimame” single.  I tried to find a difference between the 2 versions and there isn’t any.  It’s got the worst vocals in it with Kana sounding so off everywhere.  Terrible final track.

Tracks Recommended

• Hebi-Ichigo
• Daichi
• Mirukii
• Kuuchuu Buranko

Kana’s debut album was a pretty good start for this gothic lolita.  Every song except Momo was alright, though she could have added a B-side or two.  I’m not sure exactly what her future albums sound like yet, but I think I’m terrified