Nami Tamaki – Brightdown October 4, 2008

Track Listing

1. Brightdown
2. Anata Iro no Namida
3. Endless dream
4. Brightdown -Instrumental-

1. Brightdown

For a title like this, you know it was gonna be a great track.  Though the fans knew about the song since it was the opening track for D.Gray-man which is a good anime by the way.  That came out in March and it was just the opening, it wasn’t until August before this single came out which drove fans crazy.  Brightdown is basically a very rock-hard track with furious guitar and some wild vocals from Nami.  She has the essence of a rocker put down pretty well and the song is just amazing.  I was waiting for something hardcore for a while since we haven’t had a dark tune since “Result” from last album.

2. Anata Iro no Namida

What’s even more surprising is that she also finally does another ballad which we haven’t seen a full one since “You” of the Make Progress days.  It starts with a bang and slowly calms down for the verses.  The song is has some pretty sounds and if it was on the album, I wouldn’t have been surprised since it’s not that bad of a ballad (usually they are all pretty well made, however). 

3. Endless dream

So we are back to her roots with this track, which is good and bad.  It’s good because well it made the single varied in sound the whole way through.  The bad thing?  Well since it does goes back to her dance roots, it kind of fails to stand out on its own because it sounds way too similar to tracks like “Double Story” and “Making the Pride” which also weren’t too good of songs either, but I guess another track like it would hurt it right?  I think Nami sounds just a little bored with the song because you can tell she’s not fully in the mood I guess.

 

 

Brightdown was the hardest single to wait for.  Brightdown’s opening was out in March and there’s was a radio rip of Anata Iro no Namida out in April and then we had to wait forever before any news came out.  At least in the process we got news that she was also doing a track for a Luna Sea Memorial Album which she did “STORM” which came out after the release of this single.  Anyway, Brightdown was an awesome rock number and shows that she can do rock easily.  Anata Iro no Namida was a nice change with the ballad formula and really stood out for me.  Endless dream was the single’s downfall but it wasn’t like terrible or anything….Though look how varied the single is, Rock, Ballad, Dance.

Eri Nobuchika – nobuchikaeri October 4, 2008

Track Listing

1. Forest of Dreams
2. Lights
3. SING A SONG
4. Sketch for Summer
5. Kutsu wa Narasou
6. Inner Glow
7. I hear the music in my soul
8. Voice
9. Kodou
10. Desert of Dreams
11. Yume no Kakera
12. Hidamari

1. Forest of Dreams

Almost at a minute long, we start the album with on a quite mystical start.  Though it’s nothing really important to the album it does gradually get loud and leads into the next track.

2. Lights

Her debut single is the first track and is the first we heard of Eri.  The most noticeable thing about her voice is that it’s raspy and very deep for a female singer, especially at her age at the time.  Surprisingly you’d think the song would be a full-on ballad.  Though as time goes by her voice becomes very strong and the music switches to a dance track which is totally beyond me.  I love how at the end of the chorus it warps back to the piano ballad.  The formula works for her since her powerful vocals do make an impact on the song. 

3. SING A SONG

Already this is my favorite track on this entire album hands down.  It’s the one to listen to.  I mean for starters this is the most dance-influenced track, borderlining trance practically.  I mean it starts with some chords playing a rhythm and then beats come in, Eri comes and BAM! it’s dance time kiddies!  What’s better is the length of it.  Perfect clock timing at about past 6:20.  The beat to it is so ever addicting with thumping and such.  Vocally, I think Eri’s voice fits the best with this style and her loud to quiet motion through the chorus was genius.  I think this track is one of her best and luckily it was a sort-of single with “Yume no Kakera”…oh yea…end it better next time…

4. Sketch for Summer

We come to the 3rd single of the era and slows thing after that crazy dance track.  Her voice is airy but I didn’t think of it much.  It kind of reminds me of “Lights’s” verses since it was only backed up by piano until the louder points.  That’s where the song takes a jazzy turn.  I still have problems differentiating it with fellow single “Kodou” however since both are jazz tracks.

5. Kutsu wa Narasou

Kutsu wa Narasou sounded live and recorded live as well.  It shows that it’s natural voicing and she has the vocals of someone who’s been in the business for a long time.  The sad thing though is that this song didn’t really interest me because it was just guitar and some BKGD vocals.  I guess I do like the unplugged sound of it all I’ll give it that.

6. Inner Glow 

Eri’s actually singing in English for this track.  The song has an eerie glow to it which is an interesting sound to use.  Like I can hear harp in the background while Eri is singing out.  She’s not that bad at English in fact which is also very surprising.  Then I hear ~Forest of Dreams~.  It’s definitly a unique track and it sounds very laidback and smooth.  As time goes by I do lose a little interest, but that’s because it’s the 2nd longest track!  Almost at 7 minutes….crazy.

7. I hear the music in my soul

I have no clue why they didn’t put “Album Version” because this is a shorter edit of the track from the “Lights” single.  It’s still very dance-like, but it isn’t as aggressive as “SING A SONG” and fails because it’s terribly repetitive.  Even sadder is that Eri only singles a line in the track, which also puts it down.  I do like that they shortened it though.  It still isn’t the best track though.

8. Voice

Yay!  What I loved about this track was the fact this it was dance but Latin-infused as well.  The begining with the strumming showed us that the song was gonna be an interesting one right from the start.  Eri’s deep vocals also showed some power as well.  After the 1st verse a more profound synth starts up it just OMG is good.  The bridge she starts singing pretty fast.  I think it’s also one of her more memorable tracks off the album.

9. Kodou

Another jazz track, but with the better chorus.  The start has her in a quiet mode of singing which is nice, but it did make her sound vulnerable of sorts.  Another of the piano only tracks at the start, but elevates into something more.  I actually preferred this to “Sketch for Summer” because it does standout to me and being the other jazz track, I thought this was more stylistically closer to the genre than said song.

10. Desert of Dreams

A two minute interlude pops in to seperate “Kodou”.  The music has a dance quality because when the guitar comes in it starts getting into a dance groove by the repeating and such before going into the strings again.  V. Game formula much?

11. Yume no Kakera

Another English track and this time it sounds almost European or Arabian in style.  The way the strings is played really made me think that.  The drums though kind of countered the idea.  Even then, this is the longest track being past 8 minutes.  So the song really does sound pretty with the stringed instrument being the musical voice while Eri isn’t singing.  Though, it’s one of those songs that also gradually get loud and more strongs as time passes.  Though for being the longest, I didn’t lose any interest because Eri was doing some of her best vocals on here.

12. Hidamari

Interesting, I would have prevented this track…I mean after the grand “Yume no Kakera” this just sounds out of place as an album finisher.  Though like “Kutsu wa Narasou” it is an unplugged track which sounds nice, but there was just something not needed by this track.  You can also here fuzz in the background which definitly meant that it was a live production…I would have put this track somewhere else on the album IMO

Tracks Recommended

•  SING A SONG
• Voice
• Inner Glow
• Yume no Kakera
• Kodou

Where has she gone?  I mean after this she released a DVD single for Yume no Kakera with SING A SONG on it.  Then there was the remix album she did and the collaboration with an Orange Range member to make one album as named “Delofamila”  After that she was practically left behind.  This album shows that Japan is actually dumb and not seeing true artists, because trust me Eri is an awesome singer and her comeback is much needed

Maki Goto – How to use SEXY October 4, 2008

Track Listing

1. How to use Loneliness
2. GIVE ME LOVE
3. SOME BOYS! TOUCH
4. City Wind
5. Nee Samishikute
6. Glass no Pumps
7. DAY BREAK
8. Wow Suteki!
9. Secret
10. LIFE

1. How to use Loneliness

Isn’t sexy and loneliness two totally different things?  Well, we start off the album with it’s pseudo-title track.  Interesting the songs sounds a little like what Koda Kumi would do because of the sexy atmosphere.  The song sounds a little flirty and yet keeps the innocence with the piano lines that keep appearing.  Definitly a strong start to the album and Maki sounds great here for her 1st track.

2. GIVE ME LOVE

Put a little more energy and dance and we get this track.  It follows the same sexy pattern and same sense of fun at the same time.  The swooping synth line after the chorus did bother me a little bit as I’m listening to it.  Other than that, this was just another offbeat track.

3. SOME BOYS! TOUCH

This was the song that got me into Maki in the first place.  It oozes sex appeal from every direction, but it really strikes you in the verses ~Yasashiku Touch….Catch….Touch..Catch..Touch~ I mean and how she’s says it is like she really wants it badly.  The chorus has a march like percussion sound which surprised me.  Funny, at how upbeat the song is in the chorus.  I do love the synth here as well!

4. City Wind

Heavy thumps of sounds start up this otherwise soothing pop track from Maki.  The R&B influence is obvious, but how she tackles the song really gave the song some needed boost.  I would have preferred her to have left the thumping out.  The sitar that’s in it was also an interesting addition adding mystery.  Other than that this song is very calm and pretty good.

5. Nee Samishikute

This song is also R&B oriented with that bubbly beat.  Somehow I didn’t connect to this song as I wanted to be.  I found it to be oddly boring and fragging itself the whole track.  I am once again reminded of Koda Kumi’s music with this track which I guess is surprising.  I just kind of wished she didn’t drag the song to boredom though.

6. Glass no Pumps

I knew immediatly knew this would’ve been so similar to a Morning Musume track.  The only thing though, it’s one lady.  As it was her first single of the era.  The thing that made the song as good as her others is that her sexyness was all over the song.  The chorus was also very catchy.  ~GARASU no PAAAMPUUSS~  Yeah, this song is ridiculously catchy.

7. DAY BREAK

Ahhhh, a nice soothing pop track.  Though it’s very jazzy as well and her voice suits this style very well.  Her lower register is like whispering in the verses.  The fantastic music really brought out how versitile Maki can be which is good for her.  I think it’s one of her standout tracks from this album as it so far doesn’t sound like anything else she’s done.

8. Wow Suteki!

I love the entrance with the song.  Sounds some like retro stuff.  The verses sounds pretty funky then she goes up into a medium register and sounds pretty cool.  Then the chorus sounds like another Morning Musume, which isn’t always bad, but you would wanna stray away from it right?  Since, yknow your a solo artist trying to make a name in the world…I still enjoy the song with it’s classic feel and touch.

9. Secret

After all them fun songs, she needs at least one ballad right?  Sounds of water dripping and some R&B stuff introduces into this simplistic ballad.  Though once again, I’m feeling the boredom of the song.  Musically, I know that they are trying to prevent that with some timpani rolls and some other random moments.  At the end of it all, it just didn’t capture my attention. 

10. LIFE

Dissonant strings open this last song up and this one actually caught my attention.  Maki sounds very mature in the song and sounds like Hitomi Shimatani practically.  A full orchestra is actually backing the music for Maki and it’s one of her better ballads from this album.  Beautiful song overall and a great album finisher as well.

Tracks Recommended

•  SOME BOYS! TOUCH
• LIFE
• DAY BREAK
• Wow Suteki!
• Glass no Pumps

This is actually Maki’s 4th and final Hello!Project album.  To be honest, I haven’t heard her earlier albums, but this is very good for an album from them.  Since, y’know, I’m used to all the Morning Musume stuff.  There’s a lot of style she tried out for this album and they mostly pretty well done minus a few boring ones.  Since then she’s now signed to AVEX and I can’t wait to see what’s in store from her.

Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission Original Soundtrack October 4, 2008

Track Listing

1. real Emotion (FFX-2 Mix)
2. 1000 Words (FFX-2 Mix)
3. Seal of the Wind ~The Three Trails~
4. Last Mission No.1
5. Last Mission No.2
6. Last Mission No.3
7. Creature Creation
8. Flash Over
9. 1000 Words (Orchestra Version)
10. Kimi he

1. real Emotion (FFX-2 Mix)

This would be the version that the Americas would hear.  Sung by Jade Villalon from Sweetbox.  This is also the shorter version.  Lyrically it makes more sense then Kumi’s English version, and it sounds more sexed up which I’m pretty sure pleased a lot of fans of the game.  I do love both English versions though.

2. 1000 Words (FFX-2 Mix)

Though, this is where Jade shined the most.  I mean her voice is calm and beautiful, leaving the song in a more comfortable side of things.  Jade’s version is way better than Kumi’s version because there’s o language barrier and the lyrics flow more smoothly.  I must say this is Jade’s most powerful ballad.  Great song!

3. Seal of the Wind ~The Three Trails~

A piano line starts off before we het into this soft track.  There’s something about the song though that really captured me.  It might’ve been the interesting strings or synths that were used.  Like it gradually gets more louder and profound the longer time passes then goes back into this graceful line.  Why this wasn’t in the game before the International version beats me.

4. Last Mission No.1

It sounds vey jazzy which is pretty surprising.  Like it’s full of interesting emotions like sneakiness and fun and yet, somehow it combines to make things seem serious too.  All the random lines and bits really did make the song.  I mean it might come off as messy, but to me it just made the song for me.

5. Last Mission No.2

Why is this sounding just like the previous?  I mean it’s the same premise just this time with an awesome saxophone solo.  Which always takes the cake.  I guess you can say the explosions of sound also lighten up the song, but IMO it’s just a more brassier “Last Mission No.1″

6. Last Mission No.3

The final LM track is actually a darker synth song which surprised me a lot.  Like there’s some pretty anxious drum playing and a simple yet effective synth line.  Somehow though, I found this to be a little on the repetitive side since it loops quickly.  So it really didn’t have a lasting effect on me personally.

7. Creature Creation

It sounds primarily familiar to Timber’s theme from FFVIII.  No idea why, but the basic sounds just sound like a watered down version.  Though it is for the enemy creation area, the song sounds pretty simple and doesn’t totally destroy the song itself.  In that regard, it also loops pretty quickly…It’s ok…

8. Flash Over

I don’t knowwhere it was used but the synth driven track is awesome.  Like it has a pretty good beat and the in and out synth really drive the track good.  Then it quiets and a some interesting instruments play a line before the loop back into the synth line.  I think this was a boss theme, if it was that’s awesome!

9. 1000 Words (Orchestra Version)

Like she couldn’t get any stronger, Jade does for with the orchestrated version.  Which in my opinion was definitly cool.  Luckily I’m getting tired of listening to all of these different versions of this ballad.  Seriously, I know it’s friggin awesome and all but I think there’s like how many versions?  8 versions, Yeah, that’s too much.

10. Kimi he

Yes, Kimi he is the only new vocal track and it’s by Yuna’s seiyuu, Aoki Mayuko which to be honest sounds pretty.  The song’s music is yes, “Yuna’s Ballad”.  The song is obviously a ballad, if you haven’t noticed.  Aoki sounds pretty good singing to it, though having a chorus like that sounded weird, but in the end it was a pretty good song.

Tracks Recommended

1.  Flash Over
2. real Emotion (FFX-2 Mix)
3. Seal of the Wind ~The Three Trails~
4. 1000 Words (FFX-2 Mix)

To be honest, there wasn’t anything too special about this release really.  I mean yea, the English versions of real Emotion & 1000 Words were on it but it was also on Sweetbox’s release of “Adagio”.  then came Kimi he, which was released on a pseudo-single…Rest of the songs weren’t anything fancy.  I’d stick with the original soundtrack of the game.