FLOW – MICROCOSM June 19, 2010

Track Listing

1. -ECHOES-
2. CALLING
3. Sign
4. UNION
5. ATMOSPHERE
6. PLANETARIUM
7. -CORE-
8. FREEDOM
9. ENEMY
10. SOUL RED
11. LUNA
12. TONIGHT
13. AMBIENCE
14. TO-O-KU-E
15. -F.O.E-

1. -ECHOES-

I was amused by how MICROCOSM begins with this outer space-y kind of introduction.  Adding a wide amount of synths and muffled voices and some guitar going on, it built up for the first song on the album. 

2. CALLING

I’ve said about it before but CALLING just has that anime-FLOW-ish sound that they’ve been more famous for throughout their careers and to be honest, it hasn’t really died down for me because CALLING is one of the best songs of the era.  There’s not much otherwise to say, but I do love KOHSHI and KEIGO’s vocals here.  It’s still a pretty good song.

3. Sign

So for their third outing for a Naruto theme, Sign still is one kickass song because well…what Naruto tie-in isn’t amazing for FLOW?  Of course, putting it after “CALLING” is a little meh, but it’s still one of the cooler tracks since getting back into the group.

4. UNION

After getting outta the two A-side released in the era, we bring in the new material from FLOW and kind of like how the theme of the album is going, it’s got a lot interesting stuff going on.  UNION has the first rap lines from the album and although it didn’t really fit the mold that was going on in the song it was ok.  The chorus though was pretty amazing and while the vocals are under some auto-tune, it wasn’t bad and brought out the groups usual try for experimentation. 

5. ATMOSPHERE

For something called ATMOSPHERE, this really didn’t come off as a light track because while the strings opening hit the harder punch of the rest of the song.  I love the fact they incorporated strings here to make it somewhat more epic and powerful.  Might have too much noise going on, but it’s still a good tune.

6. PLANETARIUM

On the flipside of the coin, if “ATMOSPHERE” didn’t become a powerful rock song from FLOW, we would’ve gotten PLANETARIUM which is the band’s first ballad on the album.  I love KOHSHI’s vocals in this song because they are innocent and with the minimal arrangement but with beautiful strings, it was like…wow this is a pretty song.  This really puts the outer space theme right down in your spine.  Im actually impressed by this song ^_^.

7. -CORE-

So we get into our interlude of the album, which is fitting since it kind of bridges the slow and dramatic flow (no pun intended) from “PLANETARIUM” to the more powerful and darkside of “FREEDOM”.  -CORE- has the robotic kind of vibe to it which sounds so creepy before the band comes in with this hard-hitting melody.  Basically, a whole lot of guitars and synths.  Even GOT’S (bassist) has a quick solo before finishing up.

8. FREEDOM

I’m surprised they actually ended up adding the B-side from “CALLING” to this album.  I guess it does make sense being after “-CORE-” and all that.  While I’ve said there’s a good amount of auto-tune present, it’s not bothersome and their stronger melody here helps that problem out, but it seems that without the rapping…it’d just be “ENEMY”.

9. ENEMY

That being said, ENEMY really ups the amp because it’s hard, full of punch, and just way too good for its own good and clearly made “FREEDOM” seem non-existant for me.  Though I’ll admit that KEIGO’s warped vocals are kind of a deal-breaker moreso because this really goes back to “LEATHER FACE” back in their previous era, this song has still got an amazing amount of punch and power.  One of the strongest songs this album has to offer.  Just way too good XD

10. SOUL RED

Going back to some straight-up rock and nothing dark, SOUL RED kind of brings back the punk-ish sound of what they used to be and kind of worked on that especially mixing it up with that almost epic bridge.  The chorus is lighter, but vocally sounds good too.  Might be a little like their summer tunes as of recent with the big amount of bass here and stuff heh.  I kind of liked this one.

11. LUNA

Which brings us to LUNA which is kind a mix of their upbeat songs on the album with the more experimental side as well.  I like the fact the song is trying to be edgy and hearing KOHSHI try out some English was nice.  KEIGO’s more angrier lines give the song more color and having two different moods going on is cool.  I can definitely see myself enjoying this rather bipolar-ish tune!

12. TONIGHT

I actually think TONIGHT would’ve been better placed near songs like “CALLING” and “Sign” simply because this tune has that anime-ish sound like those two did.  Then again that could be the problem here because there’s not too much to remember this song by.  I think there needs to be a lil more differentiation here at least?

13. AMBIENCE

Strings once again appear to open up our next song.  It kind of has the practicing thing going on…I hope someone understands what I’m talking about xD, Anyway, AMBIENCE starts out pretty slow and with the strings playing in the background while the band plays along, this was the little difference I needed because once again it falls under the anime-esque groove, but with the added strings….it actually stands out for me.  Though that guitar solo is questionable lol. 

14. TO-O-KU-E

Our final vocal tune from FLOW definitely made sense and ties up the album in a ribbon.  It really has this atmospheric kind of arrangement that makes so much sense and fits with the album’s theme.  I love how soft the verses and how loud and powerful the chorus is.  Definitely one of the best songs of the album as well!

15. -F.O.E-

Finally, the song that closes the album kind of takes away from the space theme for a more natural sound.  You hear the sounds of birds, acoustic guitar and keyboard.  It’s kind of like the grand finale of coming back down to Earth.  Pleasantly closing the album ^_^

Tracks Recommended

• ENEMY
• TO-O-KU-E
• AMBIENCE
• PLANETARIUM
• LUNA

Song of Avoidance

• TONIGHT

MICROCOSM, means human beings, humanity, society, or the like, viewed as an epitome or miniature of the world or universe.  With this album, for the first time I thought FLOW got it right with having an actually theme that isn’t summery.  Also, I felt that for the first time, the anime-esque tracks weren’t even needed here so they could’ve left out CALLING, Sign, and even TONIGHT and we’d have an almost perfect album.  I gotta say…FLOW is really coming up nicely and I can’t wait to see more!!!!

Ayumi Sakai – Precious

Track Listing

1. ex-lover
2. Home Sweet Home
3. re-set (ALBUM VERSION)
4. Kanashimi wo Itoshisa de
5. Yokogao
6. tears
7. Strike One
8. STRONG BODY
9. You May Dream
10. Fun to the night
11. Arigatou ~I miss you~
12. Koizaki
13. KONAYUKI
14. Precious

1. ex-lover

It isn’t surprising that Ayumi would begin her album with her 5th A-side released.  I find it hilarious that the song is about an ex-lover while her album cover has her in a wedding dress…Kind of a paradoxical situation right?  Since the singles release, I’ve been getting more into this song because while, it has the typical R&B arrangement going, Ayumi’s vocals are sweet and straightforward enough to sound good.  

2. Home Sweet Home

Really?  Only four new songs to be found on the album?  I guess I can’t complain too much.  Home Sweet Home is the first of many WTF moments on this album.  After “ex-lover”, I wasn’t expecting a country-styled tune to be after.  I’m not sure why, but this song is pretty sweet and the fiddle and the banjo really gave this a rather strange touch to the song but somehow Ayumi pulled it off nicely.

3. re-set (ALBUM VERSION)

Coming off her debut single, “Kanashimi wo Itoshisa de”, re-set opens up to be more of a reggae tune than the single version of the song.  However, it still doesn’t feel really exciting for all the changes that were done to it.  I basically feel the exactly the same as I did originally. 

4. Kanashimi wo Itoshisa de

So of course after our island-ish track, we get into Ayumi’s debut song which was a ballad of course.  I’ve always found this song to be a little underwhelming under other ballads she’s released, but this song is special since it was her debut song.  Arrangement-wise, it’s your basic piano/strings ballad, but there’s a guitar solo as well somewhere in the middle of the song.  Yeah from the looks of it you might think I dislike it…I don’t, I just get bored from it hahaha.

5. Yokogao

Fitting to move into the 2nd A-side she released in her era, Yokogao slowly brings the pace back up because it’s one of her latin songs.  Once again, the arrangement seems a little too bare to listen to, but it’s a very pretty latin song nonetheless.  I’m also starting to notice that the album clearly has no direction or flow…but I’m not surprised.

6. tears

Our second of our new tracks, tears kind of reminds me of a slighly more up-tempo version of “Kanashimi wo Itoshisa de” but that’s not saying much because it’s got some synths and a steady beat that kind of sticks out a bit too much like a metronome.  Just kind of boring and stale for me.

7. Strike One

Out of the songs off the album, the next two tracks are a bit of the sore thumb songs here.  I mean these two songs delve into dance and a bit of electronica.  I’m still unsure if the song is with twenty4-7 like it’s A-side sister.  Still, it might not have the strongest arrangement, but at least this one is pretty listenable.

8. STRONG BODY

Which is weird because STRONG BODY’s arrangement sounds familiar to Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” which could be taken as a compliment or a steal depending on what side you take.  The collaboration between Ayumi and twenty4-7 is a bit fitting since they sound good together.  To me these two songs has the most energy in the album, and that’s saying something.

9. You May Dream

Our third new song, You May Dream starts to bridge between the pop/dance from the last two tracks into the pop/rock sound which is an off mixture because it does sound like a summer tune, but there’s so many weird things happening in the arrangements.  I guess you can say it’s a fun-sounding song in a way. 

10. Fun to the night

As “ex-lover”‘s B-side, Fun to the night is like what the title describes it.  It’s kind of like the previous song, but a bit more leaning towards bubblegum pop and while I don’t mind it…it still comes off as a little pale for me.  I just don’t think there’s much to it and the weird-ass conversation acting as the interlude is pretty annoying.  I don’t know….

11. Arigatou ~I miss you~

Then we get into the album’s best track (IMO of course) and it’s the B-side for “KONAYUKI” which was Ayumi’s winter single.  I’m not sure why it’s my favorite even on the album because Arigatou’s mood is like winter + w/e ”ex-lover” had.  I love the harmonizations probably the most in this song since it’s got a heavenly vibe and Ayumi doesn’t sound boring as usual.  Best song!

12. Koizaki

B-side to “Yokogao”, Koizaki still is pretty plain and kind of under the weather when compared to both “ex-lover” and “Arigatou ~I miss you~ since the only thing that’s really nice is Ayumi’s vocals and some of the strings parts, but even then they sound rather familiar.   Pass!

13. KONAYUKI

Jeeze what is up with all these plain and stale R&B arrangements we have cluttered up in the back of the album?  KONAYUKI tried to be something that stands out in her discography…sadly that trophy goes to it’s B-side hahaha.  I don’t know why, but Ayumi’s vocals and singing weren’t that great nor was she putting much effort to at least make it believable.

14. Precious

As the album’s final song, Precious is of course another ballad, but it’s not like the last three songs where it was R&B tinted.  Precious has a bit of piano and she actually sounds a bit better here as well.  I do find it funny that it is the shortest song off the album, but it’s alright…cept the chorus where she pinches her notes a bit too harshly…hmmmm…

Tracks Recommended

• Arigatou ~I miss you~
• STRONG BODY
• You May Dream
• Strike One
• ex-lover

Song of Avoidance

• KONAYUKI

Out of all the debut albums this year so far, I’m least impressed with Ayumi Sakai’s debut.  I mean this girl is all over the place in trying to figure out what style she wants to sing in because it has ZERO flow to it.  Maybe near the end it does start to have something…but otherwise, this album has stale production value and Ayumi is really trying her best…though Arigatou might be her gem here.