Aira Mitsuki – C.O.P.Y September 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. GALAXY BOY
2. China Discotica
3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
4. Darling Wondering Staring
5. HEART LINE ALIVE
6. China Discotica (Substance remix)
7. Fantasy Candy
8. High Bash (Original ver.) Regular or (YAKENOHARA ver.) Limited
9. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E (Cherryboy function ver.)
10. Beep Count Fantastic (feat. Terukado)
11. Yellow Supercar
12. Happiness land
13. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER (Regular only)
14. Rock’n Roll Is Dead (Regular only)
15. ROMANTIC ROPE (Regular only)
16. Darling Wondering Staring (PLASTIC FANTASTIC remix) (Regular only)
17. L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl (HMV Bonus Regular only)
18. COPY YAKENOHARA MEGAMIX (Hidden bonus Limited only)

1. GALAXY BOY

We blast off the album with the promotional track off the album and truth be told it’s really good.  It’s different with it’s cybernetic sounds and futuristic synth drive.  Aira’s lisp is actually helping out and I’m pretty sure she goes the full 1st verse in English.  The bridge had such a cool drive in it that made me fall in love immediatly.  I still think the best reason I love this song is because of the PV.  Definitly an awesome one to check out.

2. China Discotica

Random China Discotica pops up next and starts with string of A-sides.  Not only was this her most known track, it’s pretty catchy as well.  Another one of those songs with a great bridge.  It’s got such a funky electropop feel to it, that you have to dance.  Then it gets into the interlude where she ad-libs for a little bit.  Weird.  Still, it’s a happy track and it makes me happy.

3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9

DEBUT!  It’s still reigns as my favorite A-side through this entire era.  It sounds definitly poppy with its bouncy synth melody.  Aira definitly sounds quite nice in the verses and the bridge she enters a higher range which isn’t real bad.  The chorus is probably my favorite part because I don’t know what she says in it yet I know shes saying the title.  A smooth electropop tune…Totally.

4. Darling Wondering Staring

As much as I thought this track would be, I was disappointed in it in the single.  It was an indies single as well.  The song sounds a bit messy and sounds a bit too laidback for me.  Aira to me sounds a bit different and she whispers a little bit.  Is this a electro ballad?  It’s my least favorite A-side so far.  Wished there was more to the song.

5. HEART LINE ALIVE

Finally, we enter our first of the new tracks.  This song is like “Darling Wondering Staring” but it has a beat to it and sounds a lot more better.  I kind of thought the track was dragging a little bit, but once it gets to the chorus it gains a nice magical quality to it.  I’m also fearing that the song was borderline filler at some spots but eventually because of the various moments I changed my mind.  Nice soothing track after all.

6. China Discotica (Substance remix)

I wonder why they decided to put the remix in…Is it because it’s being featured on “Beautiful Techno”?  It’s basically a more watered down version of “China Discotica”.  Add some club beats and different synths and you get this.  It’s not bad persay, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the original at all. 

7. Fantasy Candy

Fantasy Candy was a hard song to remember exactly.  There’s some awesome stuff in the interludes in the song giving it a playful kind of sound.  Aira gave a good performance, but I felt this song was acting too much like something of Perfume’s.  The synth in here is so good though….it is Fantasy Candy to the ears.  Oh yea the ending….not the best.

8a. High Bash (Original ver.)

If you got the Regular version of C.O.P.Y. you get this track.  It has a very distinct club sound and somehow at the same time it feels incomplete as a whole.  The interlude kinda accents it.  The verses feel more complete mixing synths and piano.  Sadly there wasn’t much that surprised me.  Least favorite of the new tracks.

8b. High Bash (YAKENOHARA ver.)

If you got the Limited edition, you got the remixed version.  Only 33 seconds longer.  This actually some change of sound, but it’s nearly the same arrangement.  I actually am fond of this version compared to the original.  Sad part is that the vocals are odd to me.  Aira sounds muffled by the additional synths and vocoder.  Maybe she should have done a little more to differentiate the two.

9. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function ver.)

Ok, This has to be the coolest next to “GALAXY BOY”.  The beat and anti-beat was so good.  The techno beats are just so random and yet some catchy a the same time.  It also doesn’t sound like any of the other tracks on the album.  I found Aira’s voice to be clearer to hear than some of the others.  Then there’s this lower voice…I wonder if that was Aira saying that or not…I was very impressed by the track. 

10. Beep Count Fantastic (feat. Terukado)

Just like MEG’s “SUPERSONIC” it’s dark and very aggressive for an Aira song.  There’s synths that also sound like “GALAXY BOY’s” interlude which took me by surprise.  Though it’s mostly there for the music rather than the vocals.  Though at least there were vocals though I couldn’t understand a word she said.  It’s just a song to get lost to.

11. Yellow Supercar

Starts out with a steady beat for a while that is and then someone shot the tempo so and gets the fast beat.  Then it just gets so good.  The music sounds lively even though the percussion is everywhere.  Another one of the original sounding tracks.  It sounds like a Nami track almost.  Later on the track it slows down and sounds so good.  Another great track off the album.

12. Happiness land

I don’t now what to say about the last track on the limited album.  It’s so different and even more simplistic than the other slower songs.  It’s soothing and calm.  Actually it’s the nicest track on the album with it’s smooth vocals.  I love the ending where the synths takes over her voice.  That was awesome.   Aira is so good changing different electropop styles.

13. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER

The next 4 tracks are all regular edition only tracks starting with the B-side to “Darling Wondering Staring”.  It’s magical in sound and the fact that you can hear guitar mixed with the percussion and magical sounding synths are great.  It’s got great flow and being a remake, it probably sounds better, but I haven’t heard the original.  The only negative about the song is that…there’s repetition in the chorus where it’s just ~Star Fruits, Surf Rider~

14. Rock’n Roll Is Dead

OMG, I for being a Lenny Kravitz remake it was very true to the title.  It starts off with the guitar riff that everyone’s known then it dies out and turns into this trance tune that takes over.  Aira seems to covered by the music, but when the song is so great and aggressive, who cares.  Aira sounds kinda cool being all teched up.  I think I heard her real voice somewhere in there.  It’s the best of both worlds, but mostly the dance world.

15. ROMANTIC ROPE

I still think she’s going so fast for the chorus.  It sounds jazzy almost, which is interesting considering it’s “China Discotica’s” B-Side.  There’s something missing in the song though.  I don’t know what but I do how it sounds groovy with the instruments.  The ending was the coolest part though.

16. Darling Wondering Staring (PLASTIC FANTASTIC Remix)

Yea, this is the last of the 4 bonus tracks and to be honest, I was majorly disappointed that it wasn’t “Candy Light Mode” that took the final spot.  The music was alright, but I was annoyed with Aira’s vocal here.  I don’t like how they treated her voice.  Definitly not worthy of being on the album period!

17. L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl

Another song that went under the radar is the “final” new track.  It actually has a pretty sweet beat and it seems to remind me of “STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER” and “GALAXY BOY” swirled together.  There really isn’t much to the song but you know the repetitiveness of Electropop which is shown here.  I love the second verse with its synth line and bouncing factor.

18. COPY YAKENOHARA MEGAMIX

1. China Discotica (Substance remix)
2. China Discotica
3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
4. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E.
5. Beep Count Fantastic
6. ROMANTIC ROPE

This is more of a medley since none of the songs were truthfully changed of sound.  It starts with the Substance remix of China Discotica…that was pretty much it just the startup music, nothing more.  Then it leads to the familiar China Discotica where it goes through the first verse, but I thought there was something different in the lyrics…oh well then it finishes up in the chorus and the ad-libbed section of the song where it safely is led to Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9…Though it butchers this section just by doing some of the chorus and doing it’s awesome interlude which is the best part of the song.  Funny it goes pretty smoothly into the start of Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. where the cool beats are still intact.  Aira doesn’t sing it’s just that croaky speaker and then the song gets into some freeze frame spots and then goes through a quiet spot and she sings into Beep Count Fantastic’s start.  It still is aggressive in sound but carries on until the MOST ANNOYING PART where it’s pitch gets higher, and higher, and higher, and higher…x.x  Once it got to its highest points it seems to just somehow end up at ROMANTIC ROPE. That’s where the medley leads to its final seconds.  It’s also the longest part of the megamix.  3 minutes.  I think they chose this because the song itself isn’t on the Limited edition of the album.  I thought it was cool megamix, it that’s what it really is.

 

Tracks Recommended

• GALAXY BOY
• Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
• Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function ver.)
• L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl
• Rock’n Roll Is Dead

Aira’s album really beaten out my expectations of the album.  Everything had a distinct sound to it and really impressed me overall.  Though both versions of the album are different one having 5 tracks different from the other while that one had a megamix and the original version of a track, it was hell finding every track.  Still a very ubertastic album.  GAME, Dolce, Switch, STEP, and C.O.P.Y are all powerful electropop albums.  Play them all together and it’s a huge party…well you might want to take a few songs off of Dolce XD

 

 

 

Final Fantasy VIII Original Soundtrack – Disc 3 September 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. The Spy
2. Retaliation
3. Movin’
4. Blue Sky
5. Drifting
6. Heresy
7. Fisherman’s Horizon
8. ODEKA de Chocobo
9. Where I Belong
10. The Oath
11. Slide Show Part 1
12. Slide Show Part 2
13. Love Grows
14. The Salt Flats
15. Trust Me
16. Silence and Motion
17. Dance with the Balamb-fish
18. Tears of the Moon
19. Residents
20. Eyes On Me

1. The Spy

The oddest song to start with happens on the 3rd disc with The Spy.  Another sneaky track which has some sounds that sound like “Martial Law” from D. 2.  It really doesn’t spark anything but I do like the funky jazz feeling that the song shows off.  I just wish there was more to it again.

2. Retaliation

A very nice track this is indeed.  Albeit, very short but it does make some epic sound in it which is great.  The horns/strings make a very suspenseful drive and then the strings end it off on a very sad note.

3. Movin’

Another very strong track appears.  I’m not sure where it’s played, but I think it’s when Balamb GARDEN moves for the first time.  The sense of a march is apparant here and in its concept it fails because I don’t know why you need a march style to say, oh yea this place is moving.  Then it gets this beat where it sounds like a factory…now that’s where it got good.  Now as a track by itself it totally rules.  Smart track here.

4. Blue Sky

A short song, but also with a short scene.  It’s a graceful and valiant tune.  They could have made is longer as well.  This is Rinoa’s scene and only appears if she’s in the main 3.  So it’s kind of a hit-miss track.  Though it’s a pleasant tune.

5. Drifting

The most boring track is right here.  Not only that it doesn’t grasp my attention, it makes me want to press next.  All it is is strings playing phrases and nothing else really.  It does fit the title however since it does sound like drifting…into sleep maybe HAH.

6. Heresy

Oh yea, this is very evil with the organ playing long and short notes, it really possessed a dark quality, that’s ranging to vampiric status.  Though there isn’t too much of a change, It really puts a mood into your thoughts.  Probably the scariest track on this disc so far.

7. Fisherman’s Horizon

Kind of a twist into this song.  This just like “Breezy”, this has a very calm atmosphere and some beautiful instruments.  I know it’s synth but the harmonica sounding synth plays so well into the song.  To even include a pan flute was even smarter and give some soothing sounds all around.  It is a town theme as well.  I think this game had some of the better town themes than all of the others.  Beautiful.

8. ODEKA de Chocobo

It’s the chocobo theme but in 8-bit!  Yeah, it’s totally cute and playful and most of us have heard the main melody at some point throughout the various Final Fantasies.  This song was just here for pure randomness and especially to cause an interlude from FH to our next track.

9. Where I Belong

The “Ami” theme returns again but in almost a saddening tone to it.  Then again it’s played by some kind of different sounding piano.  Maybe it’s just me but I think it’s like a music box kind of sound.  The strings come in and gave some hope into the music which was much appreciated.  I think this was, however the weakest of the “Ami” tunes.

10. The Oath

A quite longing tune comes together and to be honest it’s melody is just as sad sounding as the previous.  The instrumentation was there, but there was just nothing that really stood out for me as anything special.  It is a smooth track though, I’ll give it that.

11. Slide Show Part 1

Another Laguna song that was part of a dream sequence.  I thought it was funny and the song sounds just as funny if not more.  Though the song is pretty quick when it loops so it’s nothing too spectacular.  The piano playing like a Western was an interesting catch.  The only thing that bothered me was the movie clicking sound.  That was a bad choice.

12. Slide Show Part 2

Then after the 2nd tie through it leads almost unnoticebly into the 2nd part which took out the annoying clicking and it sounded fun keeping its Western roots intact.  I like pianist in this song.  They kept the bounce and manages to keep fun in its meaning. 

13. Love Grows

Love Grows is a nice example of a love theme.  Interesting is they use the melody of “Eyes On Me” in a more loving kind of way.  The woodwinds also sound beautiful playing a different part of the song.  This I think was the scene where Squall was carrying Rinoa to Esthar.  So it was a charming and lovely scene with the right music.

15. The Salt Flats

I thought winter track when I heard this.  There a feeling of serenity with this song, but the striking notes are also appealing since it was like pushing an emotion to the listener.  Some of the chords also provided some sort of uneasiness also which was interesting.  Way to convey the cold!

15. Trust Me

Trust Me has some bouncy instrumentation and the pan flute adds some childish moments.  Another “Ami” track…it does its job very well.  It’s where Laguna saves Ellone in Esthar.  So it did it’s job well.  Though I kind of wished it was a little longer.  I mean I was hoping for more stuff again…

16. Silence and Motion

Esthar’s theme.  Not only is the city of Esthar pretty to look at its music is just as pretty.  Combining orchestrated sounds with the futuristic bleeps and bloops.  This song has the most fantastic of melodies consisting within a 3/4 time signature.  I’m in complete awe with this track because I never thought it could be done.  More or less be implemented in the city of Esthar.

17. Dance with the Balamb-fish

Something is wrong when you place a song that’s a waltz in space.  I would have never have guessed it would’ve been especially for its title.  I do like the interesting beats for this quirky waltz.  The strings sound lively and the brass is bouncy.  Moon dancing perhaps?  Nahhhh…

18. Tears of the Moon

Ok, everyone seems to know this track as the moment Hell broke loose and Rinoa revived Adel.  That was a jaw-dropping moment to see this whole scene.  The song was as dark and menacing as well.  Another of them short songs that pack a punch, it really made an impact.  Luckily it was short enough for me to like it.

19. Residents

Yeah, the Ragnarok did have “residents” and this song proved to be a nice track.  The plucked strings mixed with evil low synths…Not really much to the song by itself.  Later before the loop the song had some bounce and kind of contradicted the song itself.  Making the Propagators look like cakewalks (which they weren’t)…So the song kind of failed its purpose.

20. Eyes On Me

Faye Wong was the lady to give this song some life and she did an awesome job doing it as well. I love the arrangement to the song.  A true love ballad with the simple of musical arrangement that turned into a grandiose song.  Her voice sounded pretty and with the infamous love scene happened it really stuck out in my mind.  Squall proposing to protect Rinoa at all costs even though she’s a *SPOILER* a sorceress. 

Tracks Recommended

• Silence and Motion
• Fisherman’s Horizon
• Movin’
• Eyes On Me
• Tears of the Moon

Yea, this disc changed moods at various times.  There was no song that had the same mood throughout which was funny.  Some of the songs were random while the important ones were placed after these random moments.  Though the songs are placed chronologically in-game…There could have been more connections around it and couldve been more fluidity.