GIRL NEXT DOOR – Guuzen no Kakuritsu September 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Guuzen no Kakuritsu
2. Breath
3. Red Ribbon ~Unmei no Hito~
4. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (ice cream mix)
5. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Instrumental)
6. Breath (Instrumental)

1. Guuzen no Kakuritsu

As I was told they were like day after tomorrow you know actually this song doesn’t sound so much like them.  I mean the startup is so wild.  Though I’ll agree when we get into the chorus.  I do love how this track is like them.  I mean the lead singer CHISA does not sound like misono in anyway, her vocals are a lot easier on the ears.  As for the music I thought the keyboard and guitar mix is still refreshing to hear.  I’m not surprised this song has already made them famous.  It’s that good.

2. Breath

Breath is more on the soft side for them and with CHISA fronting they don’t sound so meshed up like it did with dat’s.  There is some nice piano work and small thoughts of keyboards.  The bridge has her get vocally stronger as well with the synth.  I actually like the production to this track.  It might has well been an A-side as well.  Definitly a nice ballad.

3. Red Ribbon ~Unmei no Hito~

I found this to be another great track.  Now this is definitly reminescent to dat’s last songs.  A lot of piano and the guitar taking over the instrumental parts of the song.  Oddly the song reminds me too much of “Kimi to Aeta Kiseki” which is one of my favorite dat songs so I guess hearing this really made me happy.  Y’know all three songs are so good!

4. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (ice cream mix)

I don’t know why they needed this but I guess they needed to make it more summery and synth happy.  Like they took out the guitar and replaced it by these synths which to me sound like they’d fit with Nami Tamaki.  It’s not a bad remix but I just found that they really didn’t need to release a remix albeit good.

 

 

So GND’s debut is definitly a strong single.  All the songs are above average and being dubbed as dat 2, I think they are pretty good and carried the spirit the previous did.  I’m happy that one of the members is from dat or I wouldn’t have been making all the connections.  I can’t wait for the next single from them!

chatmonchy – Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira September 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira
2. Doppelganger
3. Ikuji Ari

1. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira

We start the single with a powerhouse of a rock tune.  For being a all-girls band, I’m pretty surprised that their pretty catchy.  Lead singer, Eriki has a pretty distinct voice and does have some power, but I thought it was a little too nasally.  I do love the energetic performance and it’s a pretty fun song.  How she does the chorus without taking a breath for a while is impressive.  Otherwise, I do like this song.

2. Doppelganger

Doppelganger has an interesting rhythm but what really happened was that Eriko’s voice comes off even stranger than normal.  Tempo-wise it’s slower than the A-side which I guess made sense, but I just didn’t like how it flowed aimlessly.  The chorus though seemed to be more better.  I was kind left scratching my head as the song progressed and finished.

3. Ikuji Ari

The happiest and shortest track at a little over 2 minutes is actually the best song off the single.  It just flowed more precise and Eriko doesn’t bother me as much.  I can see why people like her because of her vitality in each track.  I still think her voice is odd but this wasn’t that apparant here.  I love the drummer here as well.  Very impressed.

 

 

Y’know, I knew what I was getting myself into and to be honest it’s a little inder my expectation but they seem to be a very energetic group altogether.  If I had to compare them, I’d say a female Orange Range perhaps.  This single was alright, I won’t give them a higher mark but they seem to know where they are going.  Hope, they release better things.

 

misono – Mugen Kigen September 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Mugen Kigen
2. Last Song
3. Mugen Kigen -instrumental-

1. Mugen Kigen

Already I thought wow, this was so much better than “Juunin Toiro”.  However it lacks the power and force that “Zasetsu Chiten” or “Ninin Sankyaku” had.  So it’s in the middle.  I just with there was more to it than this kind of bland rock track.  I was just overall bored here.

2. Last Song

To be shocked, misono actually finally did an acoustic only track.  It’s not that bad really, but I was oddly surprised how off her vocals can sound without backing sounds.  She sounds so vulnerable to being flat and having that crazy vibrato she has. 

 

 

So here’s the 3rd of the “Rock Project series” and it was boring.  Nothing really stood out for me on this single and luckily she’s kicks it for the next single (even though I already reviewed it)  Still I would pass this up and just get the album.

Mai Kuraki – Simply Wonderful September 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Simply Wonderful ~Club Edit~
2. Simply Wonderful ~Radio Edit~
3. think about
4. Baby I Like ~Turn Me On Mix
5. Simply Wonderful ~Club Edit~ (Instrumental)
6. Simply Wonderful ~Radio Edit~ (Instrumental)

1. Simply Wonderful ~Club Edit~

 Odd way to start off with a remix version of said  single.  They decided to change the original formula and made it club-friendly.  It does have a 90’s dance sound to it which is pretty cool.  There’s some interesting warping to the notes but at the end of it all, it didn’t really capture the essence of the Radio edit.

2. Simply Wonderful ~Radio Edit~

This was what was put to the PV and I love the whole latin feeling of this track.  The acoustic guitar really stood out and really made the song what it is.  I mean it’s R&B still, but at least Mai is trying to combine which is a smart idea on her part.  The sound is definitly refreshing and as fro her vocals it’s still thin on the higher parts, but that doesn’t really take away from this track.  Awesome.

3. think about

To be honest, I’m not really into her B-sides much and this is another case of bland but stands out in a way track.  It’s definitly an R&B track but I do like her voice in this track.  It’s not really thin and she actually is putting effort in this song.  It’s pretty smooth and made a nice B-side after all.

 

 

Mai’s 1st single for the “Perfect Crime” is definitly a strange one overall.  I mean the two main tracks were well produced and I’m happy for that.  I find it strange to start a single off a remix though, which I don’t know how that decision was made.  Even worse is that “think about” is on the album while Simply Wonderful is shafted and isn’t seen until her “Best of” album comes out….how depressing.

Nana Kitade – Cutie Bunny ~Nana-teki Rock Daisakusen – Codename: C.B.R~ September 25, 2008

Track Listing

1. Lum no Love Song
2. Moonlight Densetsu
3. Arashi no Sugao
4. YOU MAY DREAM
5. Roppongi Shinjuu
6. Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru

1. Lum no Love Song

I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into this mini-album.  Oddly it was definitly something new.  I actually enjoyed this track but once she started singing I knew that punk rock Nana was gone and we got out lolita Nana.  I don’t really like where her sound is going at all as in her vocals I meant.  It’s just to weak and squeaky.

2. Moonlight Densetsu

The only track I know because it’s from Sailor Moon.  I do like how this song is, it’s like very Scooby-Doo like.  You know its like 70’s rock with a twinge of mysteriousness edged into it.  I always thought this song was the best here.  Talk about an awesome track to behold here.

3. Arashi no Sugao

Returning into a more punk style, Arashi no Sugao is a bit on the safe style and it really didn’t impress me much.  Nana’s vocally tried to be like her past but with how she’s sounding now it doesn’t really work in a rock track like this.  The guitar sos did save the song from being so damn boring. 

4. YOU MAY DREAM

Another great track that made its way onto this album.  Though it’s more punk than any of the others.  At least she’s not trying to be damn cute.  There’s a part where she speaks English and to be honest it sucks and she needs lessons bad!!!  How she sings through the verses though is kind of boring but at least she’s keeping everything else up to speed.

5. Roppongi Shinjuu

Way darker than all of the tracks, Roppongi Shinjuu stay true to its title.  Also the longest trackat more than 5 minutes.  This dark rock song actually is pretty cool with its addictive guitar and bass riffs.  Sadly, for us though this is where Nana totally goes into her lolita voice in a pretty uncomfortable way.  I do like her take of the song though.  So I praise Nana for this track.

6. Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru

You’ve seen me review Momoi Haruko’s version and this was a more better cover than hers.  Though I do think her voice is irritating at some points of the songs but other than that this song actually is probably her most known track from this album which is kinda strange.  I definitly adore how she ends the chorus by sounding all sexy and mysterious.

 

 

Nana’s cover mini-album is the bridge between her style so seeing this was a pretty good mix of old and new.  Sadly, the choices of songs to cover could ahve been better perhaps since some of them were on the boring side.  Interestingly, Lum no Love Song goes to be on “I scream” which I think was a good choice.

Final Fantasy X-2 Original Soundtrack – Disc 2: 1/2 September 24, 2008

Track Listing

1. The Gullwings March
2. The Colossus
3. Shleep Tight
4. Disquiet
5. Trois Souris au Chateau Leblanc
6. Rikku’s Theme
7. Chocobo
8. Paine’s Theme
9. Bevelle’s Secret
10. The Bevelle Underground
11. Yuna’s Ballad
12. Your Friendly Neighborhood Gullwings
13. Joost leave it tae us!
14. Labyrinth
15. Turmoil

1. The Gullwings March

 Babies crying, random fanfares and flute lines?  There’s just so much going through this march-style track used on the Celsius.  One can say this is amessy track but for what it’s worth it does makes sense and you won’t hear it as much as you think.  On the soundtrack though it just is odd to start off the 2nd disc like this.

2. The Colossus

As opposed to all of the happy songs there’s got to be a dark track.  The Colossus is pretty evil too with strings being the major point of the song.  There’s some rather loud moments as well to coincide with the strings.  I wouldn’t say this is Vegnagun’s theme but it surely is “The Colossus”

3. Shleep Tight

Yea, it’s your sleeping theme.  So you know it’s really short and very sleep-like in sound as well.  Nothing new to report from here.

4. Disquiet

 Another really creepy tune.  There’s some interesting strings at the beginning but when the song really starts there’s some growling perhaps?  Either way it’s a very tense track with a lot going for it.  Very cool

5. Trois Souris au Chateau Leblanc

Another interesting track.  There’s some ethnic sounds in it.  It really does retain the sneakiness of where it’s played as well.  The thing was also to sneak by hence the name which means “3 Mice in Leblanc’s Chateau”  I wonder who the three mice in question are?  Hahaha.  Very nice for a sneaky theme.

6. Rikku’s Theme

Back in the poppy side of things, Rikku’s Theme is very lively and happy with some major brass playing then a nice xylophone line comes in.  This is actually my favorite character theme in this game.  Very true to Rikku who is always happy and giddy though she is a little on the dumb side of things XD

7. Chocobo

Ok, so we’ve all heard the chocobo theme at one point or another right?  Well this track doesn’t even have the melody just so slowass beat and random chocobo squawking and some chick blabbing so random crap like I don’t know what she’s saying!!!!.

8. Paine’s Theme

Interesting that her theme takes on a more lounge style.  Mostly being played by piano and xylophone.  Somehow I didn’t feel like this should have been her theme as it doesn’t fit her character at all.  Eventually I did come around to liking this track, but it really isn’t Paine.  Oh they play a small piece from “The Gullwings March” as well too!

9. Bevelle’s Secret

Holy chanting takes it’s course for this song.  Somehow there’s evil lying afoot and you can tell just by hearing the chords being sung by the choir.  There’s little beckground music but when it plays it does show a more darkside to it.  It’s very short before looping so it’s just kind of a moment thing.

10. The Bevelle Underground

I would’ve put this as the hurry theme because it just has that sound to it.  Though it’s played where you would think it would be.  The whole tense sound works for this song and really sounds nice played by bass.  There’s a snippet of guitar before the loop which was cool.  Other than that nice track.

11. Yuna’s Ballad

As you can tell, this would be just playing by a piano.  I’m pretty sure there’s a line from “Yuna’s Theme” played here as well.  This time they changed it to make it more sad and melancholic.  I kind of thought it wasboring since they really didn’t add anything beyond…oh well.

12. Your Friendly Neighborhood Gullwings

The 2nd Celsius theme comes in as a funky tune.  There’s actual gullwings making sounds and its just so good to hear.  Sadly, the song doesn’t have as much pizzaz as the other two Celsius tracks.  I do like the more relaxed feeling this song brings though so it’s just there I guess?

13. Joost leave it tae us!

Another funky tune with it’s odd rhythms and such.  The song though doesn’t go anywhere for me until the fanfare shoots in.  Bass comes in and is loud and pretty sweet to listen to while the keyboard plays a small melody before the loop happens.  Not really my song though.

14. Labyrinth

Cave theme.  It sounds just as sneaky as “Trois Souris au Chateau Leblanc” but this time there’s some fluttering strings.  It’s weird that the song goes from loud to really soft and that’s the entire song until the loop back to loud.  So this song pretty much is weird all-around.

15. Turmoil

Wow, this was a pretty kickass track.  With some brass kicking force.  I’m pretty sure it was used in a boss battle, but who’s really paying attention?  This song was dark and very evil and with the brass exploding so we wouldn’t get bored that really worked!  Awesome end to the 1st half

Tracks Recommended

• Rikku’s Theme
• Turmoil
• Trois Souris au Chateau Leblanc
• The Colossus
• The Bevelle Underground

You canreally tell the difference between the two discs.  The 1st was all happy and town themes and maybe a few here and there dark tracks.  This disc is definitly the opposite with majoirty being the darker themes and less happy even though the are still there.  Overall the 1st half was short and kinda bleh to me.

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – RUN☆RUN☆RUN September 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. RUN☆RUN☆RUN
2. Hopelessness
3. RUN☆RUN☆RUN (Instrumental)

1. RUN☆RUN☆RUN

It really surprised me when the went all pop/rock for this track.  It definitly doesn’t stand up to the two previous single for sure.  I mean no offense to Maaki or anything but her singing really bored me as with everything that Yuusuke was doing as well.  This song just really didn’t cut it for me.

2. Hopelessness

Another boring startup but when Maaki starts singing the song goes into a better direction and sounds like a pretty good dark song.  All of sudden Yuusuke starts his screamo stuff and it sounded pretty awesome.  The chorus though is once again a little on the boring side, but I guess after all that it comes out all right.

 

 

HandMC’s 3rd single was pretty disappointing.   I mean the title track was a major borefest while the B-side took over but even then that song still doesn’t compete with “PRIDE” and “OVER”.  Failed single

Ami Suzuki – HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM September 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM
2. Rain of Tears
3. Winter Buzz
4. HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM (TV Mix)

1. HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM

I liked the whole intro before the hip-hop shit started to happen.  Luckily it is a winter song obviously by the jingle bells.  Though her vocals seem out of place and a little strange a lot of the times.  Violin is also added in the music but then when she gets into the chorus it just is a bit slower and very off.  Hmmmm, maybe I should just stick to the album version.

2. Rain of Tears

A preview of it was on “OUR DAYS” so I’m not surprised to hear the full version.  The song is definitly urban styled and it really isn’t that bad actually.  Piano plays a bouncy line wtih the music.  Ami once again is warping her notes in odd ways.  Though it’s another B-side that gets shafted not being on the album…that sucks.

3. Winter Buzz

I still love that beginning from this song.  There’s a lot more interest in this song than the other too.  Then again there’s some BKGD vocalists as well which sound strange.  They whisper for the bridge and there’s this little kiddy voice that irked me a bit.  Other than that, this was a strong enough B-side in my book and it was on “Infinity Eighteen Vol.1″

 

 

Ok, so this holiday single was pretty much a bust in my book.  Each song was tried well but came out just wrong and failly.  Winter Buzz was the only I really like off here.  The other two were bad because Ami tried for a more hip-hop idea which came out strange in the end.

dream – Dear… September 23, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Pieces Of A Dream
2. Believe in you
3. FREE AS THE WIND
4. Movin’ on
5. Start me up
6. reality
7. access to love
8. sincerely
9. Private wars
10. send a little love
11. My will
12. ‘Cattleya’
13. NIGHT OF FIRE
14. brave
15. Kimi to Ita Sora
16. w・h・y
17. Heart on Wave

1. Pieces Of A Dream

Just a music box starts up before going all majestic and orchestrated.  Something though tellsme that the album would sound like it but doesn’t…So it’s just a small lil intro.

2. Believe in you

I still think it was a dumb decision to make this a single on the same day the album comes out.  Anyway, this song is a little more slower than some of the other high octane euro tracks found on the album.  Though vocally it’s pretty good, so I enjoyed some of the song.

3. FREE AS THE WIND

Our first new track out of 5 sounds pretty cool and the guitar sounds cool.  Though it’s got some pretty interesting tidbits and such.  Somehow I get lost in the music which is pretty good  and the ad-libbing was quite cool.  It might not be as fast-paced as some other tracks, but it’s sound and how it flowed totally won me over.

4. Movin’ On

Then we start with their debut track which still sounds very same-ish to ever other eurobeat song.  Though I really liked the chorus.  Other than that I really didn’t find anything special about this song.  I will praise the girls interest in the song. 

5. Start me up

I really liked the beginning of this track being all slow and strong but then…the bland eurobeat reappears and takes over.  I’m still enjoying the softer vocals but somehow the church bells was an interesting addition.  Another w/e track.

6. reality

Strong start but there were some odd chords.  I thought this song actually sounded more like a day after tomorrow song.  It just had that formula and sounded very similar.  It does stand out a bit from the other tracks just with how much synth and guitar were used.  Once again, I find myself getting bored with the tune.

7. access to love

Where’s our next new track?  Anyway I actually liked access to love.  The song doesn’t sound so eurobeat which is a good thing at this point.  The chorus did sound awkward at first but eventually it isn’t much of anything to note of.  Though, I really enjoyed the rest of the song.

8. sincerely

FINALLY, our next new track.  Sounds totally different being a ballad with mainly keyboard and acoustic guitar.  I thought it showed off the girls vocals pretty well and made a fine track.  However, I despise the act of trying to add eurobeat in the song, it definitly didn’t make the song better at all.  Terrible idea for an actual good song.

9. Private wars

Either this or “NIGHT OF FIRE” is their best eurobeat song off this album.  I mean it just was aggressive and full of synths.  The ladies sound pretty rad also.  So you know, I love this track and how fitting it was.  Definitly not bland against the other songs.

10. send a little love

It’s nice to see this track even after “Private wars”.  The lower synths made this song standout and even being a B-side it still stands better than a good portion of these songs.  I kind of thought the chorus was odd, but the music and everything made up for it.  Definitly another track I really liked.

11. My will

dream is mostly well-known in the Western world for this track as an ending theme for Inuyasha.  Starts off quiet with some acoustic guitar like “sincerely” and it also leads into the dance beats.  As usual once they come in the song gets bland and doesn’t really get better for me.  Maybe they should have kept it a ballad.

12. ‘Cattleya’

I know that this is one of their more popular songs because the perform it practically in every tour they have.  Oddly this song has terrible vocals at the beginning.  The song just has very bad vocals here definitly listining to the chorus.  The music sounds a bit more less eurobeat and more of something else.  Like TF6’s sound.  Worst of the new tracks.

13. NIGHT OF FIRE

This is the song that introduced me to dream and to be honest, I still really like it even though it’s a remake.  This has some of the fastest synths on it and has a fast-paced feeling to it.  Plus, cmon with a title like that, you know this song screams awesomeness.  The best track off the album.

14. brave

What?  Are they going to trick me by saying that it’s a ballad?  Actually it is.  It’s not that bad either this is the closest to a ballad you will get because it still has a eurobeat feeling to it, but it’s really only in the chorus.  I enjoyed the piano lines and how the girls sounded together.  I wish there was more to it though.

15. Kimi to Ita Sora

Our last new song comes as no surprise to what this whole album has been sounding like.  If you really wanna know what it sounds like, I’d say it’s a slower version of Nami Tamaki’s “Prayer”.  It has a wintry feeling but still has some loud guitars and the ever-so-useful eurobeat sound x.x  It didn’t really help that it was after “brave”.  Another song I’d pass up.

16. w・h・y

Probably the darkest song but it’s just as relentless as “NIGHT OF FIRE” with some very fast synth usage that can be as fast.  I found this to be more better than a lot of tracks and to see it placed back here was odd.  I so loved the chorus though.  Very cool track.

17. Heart on Wave

Maybe, it’s just me but I liked how they decided to put this song as the final track.  Somehow though I was just bored with this track.  I still have wonders about why there was disc scratching right before the chorus, it just threw the song off.  I still do like the verses and piano lines though.

Tracks Recommended

• NIGHT OF FIRE
• w・h・y
• FREE AS THE WIND
• access to love
• send a little love

Sadly, their debut album was so eurobeat it just kind of destroyed me care into listening to the album and the fact that there was only 5 new songs and a introduction really killed it as well.  Even then the new songs were not even that good while the singles took over.  I’m sorry but pass this album up unless you really enjoy eurobeat.

Utada – EXODUS September 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. Opening
2. Devil Inside
3. Exodus ‘04
4. The Workout
5. Easy Breezy
6. Tippy Toe
7. Hotel Lobby
8. Animato
9. Crossover Interlude
10. Kremlin Dusk
11. You Make Me Want to Be a Man
12. Wonder ‘Bout
13. Let Me Give You My Love
14. About Me
15. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Bloodshy & Avant Mix) (UK Bonus Track)
16. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Junior Jack Mix) (UK Bonus Track)

1. Opening

Ethereal sounds open up the album and I wouldn’t know what’s to come by this track.  As it is something different.  Hikki does sing some lyrics about how switching genres between her JPN stuff to our American stuff.  Pretty nifty opening.

2. Devil Inside

What a little evil track this is.  It’s got so much synth found here that it beats out a lot of other tracks.  The thumping of the drum and the synth lines create a very dark take on this song.  Hikki is singing about how she should not be taken as a good girl and tells us that y’know I can be bad as well and she does in a kickass way.  She’s definitly taken a new route on this album and its OMG great.

3. Exodus ‘04

I love how her japanese culture mixes with our R&B.  Just like “Opening” states, this also about changing from one thing to another thing, or as in this case her musical stance.  I really like how this song flows but her voice is a little thin on the higher notes.  Another thing I really enjoyed wasthe biblical reference in Exodus.  Though the ‘04 is a little outdated but yea XD. 

4. The Workout

Talk about getting kinky on the dancefloor.  It’s got some clapping beats and a shuffling beat.  Though I can’t believe how sexed up this track can get.  I mean yes, the setting is supposed to be in the club, but most of the lyrics come out pretty peculiar ~I was talking to a born-again Christian, so what’s it like to start all over?  He said “Amen, I feel like I’ve been, rediscovering the tomb of Tutenkhamin.~ Maybe it’s just me but that lyric really stood out to as odd.  All the pushing and pulling is a little funky too, but I’m addicted to this song.  Another nice part was when she’s like ~I’m Back~ before goin into the chorus again.  That was a nice small addition.

5. Easy Breezy

Probably the poppiest track on the album is this break-up song.  Also being the 1st single as well.  This track is famous for that line, ~You’re easy breezy and I’m Japanesey~.  Other than that this is fun track and Hikki said it herself that this song wasn’t supposed to be taken that seriously.  So, I find the humor in it.  Also this song is the only place to hear actual Japanese like Sayonara and Konnichiwa.  I just love the ad-libbing at the end.  ~She’s got a new microphone~ WTF hahaha.

6. Tippy Toe

Something wicked this way comes and it’s this song.  I just didn’t like how she was shooting those lyrics in her higher voice.  The idea of the song is that adultery is a damn good thing.  Though as freaky the lyrics gets the music gets just as annoying as well.  It’s so naughty hahaha.  Funny that they put a rainstick in it also, that was freaky.  Some of those lyrics are smartly written though like ~Worry infiltrates my mind till I kill it, I fill it instead with improper visions of you~.

7. Hotel Lobby

I’ve never heard anything like this.  I mean it sounds so different from ANYTHING I’ve heard EVER!  Hikki sings about prostitution this time and makes so much sense what she’s actually talking about.  The music is definitly the high point being so synth and yet manages not to bland.  I love the chorus the most because it just flowed seamlessly through.  ~She’s unprotected~….Hikki are you saying she might die?  OMG how mean of you.  Oh yea she took the bridge’s melody and uses it on the later track “Kiss & Cry” which is a nice homage to this super song.

8. Animato

She’s taken a more march style with Animato which I don’t exactly know what that means.  It’s definitly a striking song that’s definitly close to her.  I think she wrote this as she was in the hospital which does make sense because she’s trying to put out that she’s Hikki hear me roar y’know.  Though she mentions Freddie Mercury from Queen, Elvis Presley, and Led Zeppelin who are all huge in the past for past things.  Though times have changed and stuff, Hikki will still pay tribute which is a nice thing to do.  Musically it doesn’t really change from a march though the end adds more synths to add a more graceful element.  Niiice.

9. Crossover Interlude

So let’s take “Opening” rearrange it to make it more club happy and add a clapping beat.  Not that it’s bad or anything it’s just totally devoid of the ethereal sounds that took over at the start of the album.  Little more shorter here too.

10. Kremlin Dusk

The most underappreciated track off the album, This has to be the most dramatic song off the album mentioning Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” in a poetic way….It sounds like it’s a ballad but c’mon who are you kidding yourself?  The drummer is pretty well known in the states because he’s in a band called The Mars Volta and I must say I like their music as well.  As we pass the 2nd verse he gets more important as the song leaves the ballad side.  Her ad-libbing here is thin but is oh wow in the bridge too but BAM! the second chorus shoots out and she’s yelling and it’s awesome.  I love the fury and anger written through her.  Though I think the yelling part is talking about her career in the states ~Born in a world in opposite attraction is it or is it a natural deflection?~ Some pretty tight lyrics. Then it calms down to end the track on a quiet note.

11. You Make Me Want to Be a Man

Definitly memorable from the PV.  This song beats out “Devil Inside” with its many synth sound and very dark atmosphere.  Also has a huge Asian influence to it at the beginning and the repeated synth line.  Her voice to me sounds odd maybe filtered?  Though she has her natural in her as well so don’t worry.  The song is about Hikki trying to understand her husband who also directed the PV, Kiriya.  So that’s why she’s comtemplating at how she wants to understand him with the chorus and lyrics.  The low synth was an awesome drive for the song but y’now what…it doesn’t hold a candle to the version she sang at “UTADA UNITED 2006″ now that rendition was fucking awesome.

12. Wonder ‘Bout

Hey, we’re back with R&B and this time I kinda was like huh?  Song is a bit too repetitive and maybe sounds a little bland.  Though i do like the beat and synths used.  Everything just sounded the same for me and it was one of the tracks I was disappointed in like “Tippy Toe”. This though was not filler though so I thought that was good.

13. Let Me Give You My Love

Now this was definitly a step up.  The music was very fluid and Hikki being herself being all flirty and slutty at the same time lulz.  Definilty a song to hear in the clubs with it’s addictive beat and lyrics this was also one of my favorites from the album.  Though why do I think this song is very sexual, oh well I love it either way.

14. About Me

Something that just sounded off the wall was to have an acoustic track to finish the main album.  She sounded half for me like once again she sounds thin hitting the high notes and some of are hung out so it’s kinda bad.  Though I do love how there’s R&B beats put into the chorus so it would prevent boredom.  I love how she does the ~Up and Down~ area.  Definitly a smart song to end the album.

15. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Bloodshy & Avant Mix)

After the final track we have remixes of the final single of the era.  1st is the remix by Bloodshy and Avant who are mostly famous for their works with Britney Spears so I had some expectations.  Though what I got was an odd track.  I didn’t connect with this song much though they did the bridge justice.  Morphing some synths to overlap Hikki’s ad-libbing which was.  The acoustic guitar just seems outta place here.  Nice try.

16. You Make Me Want to Be a Man (Junior Jack Mix)

Last remix is more dance friendly and sounded like some Daft Punk music which isn’t that bad actually.  It takes a while to start up the main song but once it does it sounds really good and better than the other remix.  Though it’s a longer remix as well over 6 minutes.  But I loved the whole dance coverage and it really works as a song to hear in a club.  The verses so worked right here and they played both verses together as one which was interesting.

Tracks Recommended

• Hotel Lobby
• Let Me Give You My Love
• Kremlin Dusk
• About Me
• You Make Me Want to Be a Man

Hikki’s 2nd American album was definitly experimental.  There were only a few R&B tracks found here but they were definitly better than the ones found on her JPN albums.  Everything else ranged from dance to pop to even techno and some rock as well.  This album showed that she can take over America if she wanted to since she wrote the lyrics as well to this album.  It was like a nice thing to see in an artist.  It was also my 1st physical album to have so I thank this album alot.  Oh yea one thing that makes this album fail?  There’s no “Simple and Clean” I mean if she put that on here this album would have probably sold so much!