kumi – Kimi ni Tsutaetakute January 26, 2010

Track Listing

1. Kimi ni Tsutaetakute
2. Dokomademo
3. Kimi ni Tsutaetakute (instrumental)
4. Dokomademo (instrumental)

1. Kimi ni Tsutaetakute

At first I noticed the R&B-ness that is going on that many other artists are utilizing here and kumi is kind of got a good voice going here.  Her voice sounds really soothing and pretty.  It might come off as a little generic sounding (considering she’s on a pretty unknown label), she’s not too bad, but it’s like late 90′s R&B if that helps.

2. Dokomademo

I guess the B-side is a little better since it’s not R&B, but more of the pop sound which is kind of cool.  I think that whoever worked on the song likes a lot of bass in the song and making kumi’s vocals sound meh.  I don’t know why, but this song just came off as cheesy.  I mean it still is better, but not to the point where I’d keep the song.

 

 

kumi’s debut single is kind of screwy with Kimi ni Tsutaetakute being really generic and Dokomademo being cheesy.  I’ve said before that her label isn’t that well-known and sounds weird, but it’s a debut.

Hitomi Shimatani – Otoko Uta II ~20 Seiki Nostalgia~

Track Listing

1. GET BACK IN LOVE
2. Kimi ga Iru Dake de
3. You’re the Only…
4. Choushou
5. Shiroi Kumo no You ni
6. Shounen Jidai
7. Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni
8. I LOVE YOU
9. Missing
10. Konomama Kimi Dake wo Ubai Saritai
11. Junko
12. Omoide ga Ippai
13. Time After Time ~Toki no Hate Made~ (CD Only)

1. GET BACK IN LOVE

Beginning this second cover album off, GET BACK IN LOVE is kind of a relaxing lounge song to listen to.  I mean yes, Hitomi’s vocals are pretty awesome still.  I’m surprised it’s this fitting in such a style like that and I’m liking her cover of this.  I think the best was the interlude before getting louder and more better.  I’m impressed with this song.

2. Kimi ga Iru Dake de

One of the promotional tracks, Kimi ga Iru Dake de is a pure strings/piano ballad and while Hitomi’s ballads show off the best vocals from her, Kimi ga Iru Dake de got it right.  It’s got enouigh to not make me bored and Hitomi’s vocals are just amazing in this song.  It definitely makes up for the borefest in “Nakitai Nara” for sure.  Simple ballad, but definitely a strong track from her.

3. You’re the Only…

While I know Hitomi has been releasing these mid-tempo songs since “Flare”, You’re the Only definitely put me back into a dark place at first because the verses were so meh  I guess it got better than the other tracks because Hitomi’s singing a lot more and I don’t think I’ve heard her radiate so much passion in her songs.  Strong song as well.

4. Choushou

We get into an acoustic tune next with Choushou.  It really does pull the heartstrings for sure, Hitomi just sounds so sincere and beautiful and it’s so I don’t know emotional I guess?  Definitely one of those songs you’d have to hear to really understand.  Amazing tune right here.

5. Shiroi Kumo no You ni

Probably the most energetic song, Shiroi Kumo no You ni has a pretty distinct sound from the rest of the album because it sounds more pop/rock.  Problem is is that her vocals are not as good as in the previous tracks, but I guess it’s passable.  Maybe needs a little more oomph.

6. Shounen Jidai

I love how fireworks opens up our next tune.  Other than that the song oddly just flies right by me without anything really positive or negative to say about it.  It’s a ballad of course, but there’s just something that doesn’t quite make it stand out good enough, but I do love the piano, oboe, and strings together.

7. Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni

Strings open up our next song and annoyingly the strings open the song up on one side of my headphones before opening to both…Once again, I’m feeling rather bored with the song since it plays a little too safe.  Sorry to say, but the song is another pass.

8. I LOVE YOU

Oh boy, this title is so ORIGINAAAAAL.  Why are we getting a string of ballads all of a sudden?  I LOVE YOU is a little more R&B like than the others and it’s not too bad of a song really.  It’s still rather plain against other songs so that’s not a good thing, but Hitomi still is sounding really nice.  I think she could’ve done better but w/e.

9. Missing

Another piano/strings ballad appears and Missing is definitely missing something in the song.  It’s maybe a little too slow for me and doesn’t move forward as it should which is pretty bad IMO.  I guess it’s alright, but still not as good as her previous ballad on the album.

10. Konomama Kimi Dake wo Ubai Saritai

I don’t know why but whenever I listen to this song, it really reminds me of something I’d hear in a Charlie Brown special.  It’s just that smooth and has distant everything throughout.  Song flows nicely throughout and made a way better song than that crazy “Missing”. 

11. Junko

I kind of like the weird instrument opening Junko up.  It’s like a more chiller version of “Shiroi Kumo no You ni” with it’s more acoustic pop sound, but it’s definitely kind of right with her.  Junko though does seem to be in between the various songs off the album, like it’s soft…but it’s catchy…it’s that difficult to really explain.

12. Omoide ga Ippai

I actually remember this track because it’s an anime opening so I’ve already listened to other covers.  I think Hitomi’s cover fits nicely on the album it’s on, but otherwise it just seems more of a “Flare” song than anything else.  Especially with the Mediterranean sound going on, it’s nice.  I’m liking the song, but iono I’m just tired of the album.

13. Time After Time ~Toki no Hate Made~

For an album called “Otoko Uta” it confuses me why there’s an “Onna Uta” track on the album.  Covering the famous Cyndi Lauper tune, Hitomi’s is quite different from the others because she is singing a JPN cut of the song.  Her cover of the song is R&B like Sowelu’s, but a whole lot slower with more piano.  Her cover sounds really pretty since it is Hitomi we’re talking about.

Tracks Recommended

• Choushou
• Time After Time ~Toki no Hate Made~
• Kimi ga Iru Dake de

Song of Avoidance

• Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni

Hitomi’s 2nd cover album was good at first but then it started to slip once we got further in the album.  I mean I’m up for soft pop songs, but this was just torture.  She really needs to step her game up again because this was just evil.  I really need another “Falco”, “Shinku”, and/or “Perseus”.

Tohoshinki – BREAK OUT!

Track Listing

1. BREAK OUT!
2. XIAHTIC (JUNSU from Tohoshinki)
3. BREAK OUT! -New Jack Swing mix- (CD Only)
4. BREAK OUT! (Less Vocal)
5. XIAHTIC (Less Vocal)

1. BREAK OUT!

I was wondering when we were going to get an electro A-side from the group.  We all know they dabbled in that area with a few remixes and “Just The Two Of Us”, but we’ve never dealt with something like this.  I really like the edgy flow of the song and the main members are definitely sounding sexy throughout.  Though seeing the PV where the members aren’t even together, makes me scared.  Still pretty awesome song from the group and is definitely one of the bests in the era.

2. XIAHTIC (JUNSU from Tohoshinki)

So as the main B-side, we get XIAHTIC (pronunciation help would be nice), from JUNSU.  From first glance, the song itself is even more foreboding than “BREAK OUT!” with low synths and violins with JUNSU sounding very sly and sticky in the song.  Then I start to question if it really is just only him because the other boys are playing in the background. 

3. BREAK OUT! -New Jack Swing mix-

For the first time, I’m actually really disappointed in the remix off a single.  It slowed the song down quite a bit and forced it to become a generic R&B song if I ever heard one.  The synths are cool nonetheless, but otherwise, it’s just kind of too bare-boned for a remix and just doesn’t flow nicely.

 

 

I’m guessing since this is the final single before their, BEST SELECTION 2010 best album, BREAK OUT! is definitely the best of the era.  I mean besides the lackluster remix, BREAK OUT! and XIAHTIC are both cool electro songs that really do fit in the times, but with all that’s been going on here recently with THSK, it makes me worry that they’ll call a hiatus or even worse a break up.