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 July 28, 2008

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

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 July 28, 2008

 

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~ July 28, 2008

 

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 July 28, 2008

 

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.

Utada Hikaru – For You/Time Limit July 28, 2008

Track Listing

1. For You
2. Time Limit
3. For You (Original Karaoke)
4. Time Limit (Original Karaoke)

1. For You

Ahhh, its a new R&B song, but its a little boring comparing with her other the other related songs she’s done.  Utada has some of her soft vocals in the song and it really kinda sounded nice to listen to.  I was ending up bored though with no little changes to the song *sigh* .  It’s a simple track though.

2. Time Limit

Another R&B track as an A-side?  It’s a bit more lively than the previous track and she kinda gives a shoutout to DARKCHILD in the beginning which is a nice thing to do.  Her vocals are better here than in “For You”.  Not the best A-side for the era but it does its job quite nicely. There’s a nice rap interlude also, but it was kinda of useless as it was just the usual whats up, jam to it kind of rap…

 

 

I really don’t know why this single was big, then again I read it was right before her 1st nation-wide concert and I guess this was a promotion single?  Then again, it did go bac to her roots for this which i guess is nice *shrugs*?