Ami Suzuki – Little Crystal December 24, 2008

Track Listing

1. Crystal
2. To be free
3. Place
4. Carry out
5. Crystal (Instrumental)
6. To be free (Instrumental)
7. Place (Instrumental)
8. Carry out (Instrumental)

1. Crystal

I was pleasantly surprised at the use of castanets as the song opens up into this kind of mid-tempo pop track.  What was nice was that it almost represented Christmas perfectly.  There were jingle bells all around and the happy aura the song gave off made it the nicest sounding Christmas track we has in a while.

2. To be free

To be free has a pretty cool sound to it, What’s strange is that after the mystical sound goes away and the main music comes in, you feel as if you heard it somewhere before.  Well, the producers for this track is HAL who is mainly known for the many works with Ayumi Hamasaki.  I was kind of bothered at how much it did sound like one, but it isn’t entirely bad.  Ami sounds great and with the music fitted pretty nicely.  BTW it also got a PV to go along with the single.

3. Place

Place was definitly fitting to the single, but it was just not anything special as the two previous tracks were.  It just seemed to be another “Negaigoto” but even less memorable.  I mean you have the guitar, piano, and drums and that’s basically it.  Definitly B-side material.

4. Carry out

We finish off this quadruple A-side single with Carry out which is so much better than “Place”.  It seems to be a more watered-down version of “Crystal” though and that’s a reason this song isn’t memorable either.  I have no idea why the 2nd half of the single has to be terrible.  Seriously, you need to be a little better constructing the ballads. 

 

 

Ugh, what a poor single.  No wonder why it was a failure on Oricon.  Not only was it a Quad A-side single, it was winter themed as well.  Crystal and To be free do make it on “CONNETTA” which were the two best tracks, but the other two tracks should be left forgotten because to be honest, those were bad ballads.  I think her SONY days had way better ballads. 

Ami Suzuki – Happiness is… December 11, 2008

Track Listing

1. Happiness is…
2. Happiness is… (Instrumental)

1. Happiness is…

I wasn’t too surprised to know that this track wasn’t like any of the previous tracks, but I was shocked at how much this song sounded like her SONY stuff.  Like it’s pop and there’s synths and it sounds a little wintry-like, but that’s next single “Little Crystal’s” job.  It’s quite the dropoff for fans of her “AROUND THE WORLD” stuff, but I actually quite liked it.  Ami seems to sound more mature, but it’s better and a lot more cleaner than some of her SONY songs. 

 

 

I know it’ll never make an album because this was a special release to commemerate the 25th anniversary of “Peanuts” hence Snoopy on the CD.  It’s quite nice to hear an actual pop track from her again, so I liked it. 

Ami Suzuki – AROUND THE WORLD December 11, 2008

Track Listing

1. AROUND THE WORLD
2. Times -Dub’s Pop radio edit remix-
3. AROUND THE WORLD (instrumental)
4. Times -Dub’s Pop radio edit remix- (instrumental)

1. AROUND THE WORLD

Finishing off the era is this, trance track.  I mean there’s actually more substance and changes unlike “Delightful”.  Ami is evidently using her deeper tones, but when she gets into the bridge, it sounds kind of flat and seems like she’s yelling perhaps.  I think the best part happens closer to the middle where she yells ~AROUND THE WORLD~ and then shoots lyrics pretty fast and then ends the song the same way she begins it.

2. Times -Dub’s Pop radio edit remix-

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a remix to a B-side and to be honest I have no idea what to think of it.  It seems like the song was dumbed down because the main melody seems to be killed off.  Ami singing along doesn’t exactly help it any.  I also noticed the song’s pitch was a little higher and didn’t change Ami’s vocals so because of this the song ended up sounding a little awkward. 

 

 

Alright, once again we get a single that came out on the same day as the album.  AROUND THE WORLD was basically seriously useless.  ATW is already on the album as well as the original version of “Times”.  The remix just didn’t work for me here.  Why, oh why avex would you do this again?  Stupid marketing plans if you ask me.

 

Ami Suzuki – Negaigoto November 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Negaigoto
2. Times
3. Negaigoto -Electronic Remix-
4. Negaigoto -Dub’s The Wish Was Fulfilled Remix-
5. Negaigoto -instrumental-
6. Times -instrumental-

1. Negaigoto

After two trance A-sides, Negaigoto comes in pretty surprisingly as a ballad.  Another great thing is that there is guitar that is present as well, which helped it from being like “Kagami”.  Actually, I don’t think she’s had many good ballads up until now which finally made Ami found her niche in ballads.  There was a little controversy with the PV for this song because of how close it looked like to Ayumi Hamasaki’s “alterna” PV.  Though both had similar videos the meaning of the songs were totally different topics.  Ami’s was pretty much on her career while Ayu was bashing the music industry.  Still a beautiful ballad finally.

2. Times

We can’t have a single without something exciting right?  Well, Times is pretty aggressive and is more focused on the hard guitars but keeping that trance style intact.  Ami sings pretty quickly through most of the song, but the chorus is strong for her.  I mean they could’ve done this to “Delightful” and it would’ve been better, but still then, this track beats it out for sure. 

3. Negaigoto -Electronic Remix-

I guess someone wanted to do a remix on a ballad…those usually don’t work out because of the drastic changes made to the song.  There’s low synths throughout the song which makes the song sound very interesting.  Now, the major thing I heard was the added echo effect on her voice.  I can actually see this being on “DOLCE” because of the synth happy stuff, oh and there’s strings here as well.  Pretty good remix.

4. Negaigoto -Dub’s The Wish Was Fulfilled Remix-

Sadly, the next remix was pretty bad.  It’s kind of sounded really stupid against the 1st remix.  I think they slowed her vocals for this one and the quick beats didn’t help it out.  After a while the synths come in and even though they sounded good.  Ami kind of got covered by them.  So much for being consistant right?

 

 

Ami’s 3rd avex single was a surprise to many, mainly because the fans were expecting a trance-like track.  After all that I thought Negaigoto and Times easily complimented each other one being a heartfelt ballad and one being another trance track, it’s was a perfect duo.  The first remix was really good and definitly made it seem original while the 2nd was a little bleh, but this single is one of my favorites.

Ami Suzuki – Supreme Show November 11, 2008

Track Listing

1. TEN
2. can’t stop the DISCO
3. climb up to the top
4. SUPER MUSIC MAKER (SA’08/S/A mix)
5. Mysterious
6. change my life
7. LOVE MAIL
8. A token of love
9. TRUE
10. flower
11. ONE

1. TEN

Such a happy synth arrangement opens up the album.  It’s a little strange to hear Ami in a higher register this time. but you got to admit that the music is quite nice and refreshing because it doesn’t sound like anything Nakata has done yet.  It does seem kong of like its dragging itself along just a little bit, but it’s a nice opening to the album nonetheless.

2. can’t stop the DISCO

Our last single’s tracklist pops up next starting with the pretty eclectic club tune.  Now this is what I am used to from her.  Using her deeper vocals under the vocoder always works with me because c’mon it’s just that damn sexy.  I do agree that the transitioning from bridge to chorus is a little off, but it adds to the fun of the song.  Great A-side

2. climb up the the top

After the initial listens through the single.  climb up to the top is still one of those songs that rely on the music instead of the lyrics, because the song is entirely in English which is a first for Ami.  The yelling does get in the way of the song sometimes, but it isn’t deadly.  I still get the giggles when it goes into the happier synth part near the end.

4. SUPER MUSIC MAKER (SA’08S/A mix)

I actually enjoy this mix than the original because it wasn’t all chaotic and such.  I still feel bad that “FREE FREE” didn’t get the same treatment and feeks like it’s the odd track out.  Anyway the summery club feeling is added to the song as well as new lyrics and basically a new sound.  I was definitly pleased by this track. 

5. Mysterious

After that single, we get our next new track and it has to be the sexiest song off the album.  Not only does the title really show whats the music like Ami sounds pretty damn cold and mysterious.  I like how her voice mixes with the vocoder but isn’t connected.  I wonder if she’s purposely dropping her pitch in the chorus, but it’s freaky and cool.  This could have been an A-side! 

6. change my life

Kind of a bumpy start until the music and Ami start singing.  Even though the beat doesn’t really follow Ami right, she makes the best of it and sings away.  Then she actually gets livelier once the second verse comes up and then all of the synths start to cover her up a little bit.  It sounds very 80’s-ish to me but then again it’s Nakata we’re talkin about. BTW it’s the shortest track on the album, which is good for me.

7. LOVE MAIL

LOVE MAIL seems to do this better.  Even though she is back on the higher register, it’s nice to know that Ami wrote the lyrics which is great to hear.  The synths aren’t overbearing her and are pretty catchy as with Ami’s vocals.  What takes the cake though was after the chorus where there’s this high synth playing against Ami and was just awesome. 

8. A token of love

Awesome that “LOVE MAIL” leads straight into A token of love and it’s another favorite of mine.  Now, I don’t see why many people don’t like it but I think it’s got some awesome sounds.  It could be that pounding start that made me love it entirely.  Even though it’s somewhat a love song, that could be questionable, but after hearing it from the “ONE” single, this song has to be one of Nakata’s masterpieces. 

9. TRUE

Once again it’s led perfectly into the fantasy-like tune TRUE.  The heavy dance beats continue as well and it’s another track that could be one my favorites.  Even though the chorus isn’t too exciting in my perspective the music is just great and is a nice song overall. 

10. flower

We end the new tracks with flower which is a J-tek ballad of course.  From the previews, this was my least favorite and sadly, it still is pretty low, “change my life” is the one that’s my least favorite.  flower’s slow tempo just kind of seemed to drag the song and Ami is going everywhere in the vocals which isn’t always good.  I like the twinkling of the synth after the chorus, it’s kind of cute.

11. ONE

TEN to ONE stretched between 11 tracks?  Does someone not know how to count or does the remixed “SUPER MUSIC MAKER” not count?  Either way we end the album with what started the era up.  ONE is epic and is the best album finisher she’s had.  I still love the song to death with it’s twinkly synths that reminence from “FREE FREE” and the fun chorus.  You can’t end an album like this and I love it!!!

Tracks Recommended

•  ONE
• Mysterious
• can’t stop the DISCO
• A token of love
• LOVE MAIL

I’m surprised that the single over shine the new tracks.  I mean it seems that the singles were produced more conveniently and were something special.  A good portion of the album to me seemed a little too familiar with Nakata’s other works which can be a bad thing luckily a few new tracks did stand out.  Most notably “Mysterious” which could have been easy A-side material.  Oh yea no FREE FREE = failure XD

Ami Suzuki – Eventful November 1, 2008

Track Listing

1. Eventful
2. Kagami
3. HOPEFUL ~M.O.R. Remix~
4. Eventful ~83key Daybreak Remix~
5. Eventful ~Dub’s full of drama Remix~
6. Eventful (Instrumental)
7. Kagami (Instrumental)

1. Eventful

Eventful is definitly a better track than “Delightful” since it doesn’t come off as tacky and obvious.  There’s definitly some fast rhythms coming from the synths and having Ami singing at such power means that the song is totally awesome.  Though whoever wrote the lyrics doesn’t fully have a grasp at English ~It’s so deep night~?  I mean confusing.  The instrumental at the end though is like fantastically good!!!

2. Kagami

I’m not surprised that this single had a ballad B-side.  Just like “About You…” from the last single, it doesn’t stand out though there is some synth usage and has better organization, but I still feel that the song was lacking.  I guess it did it’s job, and I’m quite happy that it didn’t make the album.

3. HOPEFUL ~M.O.R. Remix~

Originally planned for its single release, it was shelved and put on this single.  Unlike the original and it’s main remix, this one kind of sounds off for some reason.  Like there’s some lyrics missing and then it becomes a eurodance track for some reason.  When she comes with the chorus the sounds just blares and it bothers me just a little bit. 

4. Eventful ~83key Daybreak Remix~

For some reason this one is just as blah as the previous remix.  It’s more focused on the beats rather than the vocals.  Sometimes it covers her vocals and that’s not such a good thing.  Another thing is that the beat gets quite repetitive.  Wished there was more to it.

5. Eventful ~Dub’s full of drama Remix~

I’m not sure why this had to be after the first remix but this one works so much better.  It still is pretty beat-forward, but like there’s piano in it this time and added to the synth, it’s pretty cool.  One of her best remixes out.

 

 

Eventful was a much better single than “Delightful” because the A-side sounded totally different at the time of release and even though the B-side isn’t much to write home about, it’s quite a good track.  The remixes were mostly the downsides except the last one which was great. 

Ami Suzuki – Delightful October 15, 2008

Track Listing

1. Delightful
2. About You…
3. HOPEFUL ~OVERHEAD CHAMPION MIX~
4. Delightful ~Dub’s Re-start Mix~
5. Delightful ~REMO-CON MIX~ (CD Only)
6. Delightful ~G.C.D. Remix~ (CD+Photobook & Illustration Only)
7. Delightful (Instrumental)
8. About You…(Instrumental)

1. Delightful

Was I surprised or what to see Ami doing trance for her comeback?  Yes, I was since the closest thing she’s ever done to trance was “all night long” back from her debut album so it was great that she came back in a big way.  Now the track isn’t anything brand new to the J-pop world but with Ami’s deeper vocals catchy lyrics and overall fun, I think it did her justice.  The trance-like state that the song was in was maybe a little tacked on, but c’mon trance is always fun.

2. About You…

Yeah, I wish I could say the same for the first B-side.  Obviously it’s more of a pop song and it might come as a surprise to many because it’s the only soft track on the single.  It show how mature her voice has gotten since the last single and to be honest I was surprised she sang so much better.  Sadly, the song didn’t stick out for me and in the end, I found this to be the forgettable song in the era.

3. HOPEFUL ~OVERHEAD CHAMPION MIX~

HOPEFUL was originally supposed to be her debut track but it was shafted for “Delightful”.  As you noticed this is a remix and the original has not been seen on a single nor the “AROUND THE WORLD” album.  I’ve heard the original and the two do seem similar, but I liked this version more.  I think this was more trance than “Delightful”. I wasn’t repetitive in sound, for one thing and Ami sounds so much better.  I still love the interlude the most ^_^.

4. Delightful ~Dub’s Re-start Mix~

I think I was surprised to see a lot of remixes.  This one was kind of weird, but it kind of fit in an odd way.  The chorus though was so strange because the vocals weren’t sounding engrishly. Then the 2nd verse starts up so soon and the synth there was awesome.  I mean I actually like this remix.

5. Delightful ~REMO-CON MIX~

What can you say?  I think this remix was the longest, but my favorite of the bunch because of the high octane synths that cover this remix.  I know of REMO from his works with Ayumi Hamasaki, so I was surprised he’d actually do this.  Still, it doesn’t cover the original much, so I guess it did it’s job.

6. Delightful ~G.C.D. Mix~

So I’m thinkin it’s a little bit more on the subdued side of remixes, but still very danceable, I also enjoyed the fact that it differentiated itself from the previous.  Though, it is a remix and it doesn’t seem to have the spark that the original had.  I still have to give props for being quite interesting. 

 

 

Ami’s first single as an AVEX artist is definitly strong.  I had doubts when I saw that “Delightful” would be it instead of “HOPEFUL” and I still think they did a bad choice doing that, but Delightful brought her back into the light. As for the tracks, I’m happy they left out About You… because it just wasn’t really good material.  Though I’m happy that 3 tracks actually made it…wait 3?  yes….3.  Other than Delightful and HOPEFUL making it on to “AROUND THE WORLD”, the G.C.D. remix actually goes to be on her remix album “AmiX World”

Ami Suzuki – FOREVER LOVE October 3, 2008

Track Listing

1. FOREVER LOVE
2. CHAIN LOVE
3. FOREVER LOVE (Back Track)
4. CHAIN LOVE (Back Track)

1. FOREVER LOVE

FOREVER LOVE is an interesting 2nd indies A-side because it actually is surprisingly good.  I mean it was a better feel-good track that I didn’t expect her to come out with.  The song is also in the vein of her early works, but this one combined with the synths that’ll eventually take over her music which is a nice bridge to her AVEX debut.  Ami doesn’t sound bad but she’s yelling in the chorus but overall the song is a nice, upbeat pop track.

2. CHAIN LOVE

I thought this would have been a ballad like “Cinderella Story” of last single.  It’s in fact the opposite and is little more aggressive than “FOREVER LOVE”.  I actually prefer this track because she sounds more lively and the music was more suited to her.  Then again I did have a chuckle when she says the title like ~Chin Love~…Weird right?  A better pop track overall.

 

 

So, her last indies single actually was an awesome single and surprisingly took 21 on the Oricon charts and No.1 on the independent charts which is fantastic for Ami.  Sadly this would be the last A-side in a while that’ll contain such a nice pop flavor.  Since, the upcoming single’s are mostly trance.

Ami Suzuki – Tsuyoi Kizuna October 2, 2008

Track Listing

1. Tsuyoi Kizuna
2. Cinderella Story
3. Tsuyoi Kizuna (Back Track)
4. Cinderella Story (Back Track)

1. Tsuyoi Kizuna

At least we’re going back to the idol days for her first independent single.  It’s definitly something really smooth and nice.  So I’m glad she was going back to her sound before the IE series.  The song carries a pop sound with some strings backing it up as well.  Ami doesn’t sound strained like before and sounds like she found her medium in her vocals.  I actually enjoyed this track a lot.

2. Cinderella Story

Yep, you guessed it.  It’s a ballad and Ami is in her lower register, sadly she doesn’t sound completely comfortable though.  It isn’t until the chorus where she comes up into the higher chorus, but it’s a little loud.  Then she whispers ~Love You~ before returning the verse a 2nd time.  Not the best ballad in her collection if you ask me though.

 

 

Ami’s 1st indies single was alright.  Nothing too spectacular, but it does beat out the last few SONY singles she did.  Tsuyoi Kizuna retains the pop idol in her and it came out pretty well for an A-side.  Cinderella Story though was an awkward ballad.  They could have done a little better with the production, but what could you do?

Ami Suzuki – Reality/Dancin’ in Hip-Hop October 1, 2008

Track Listing

1. Reality
2. Dancin’ in Hip-Hop
3. Dancin’ in Hip-Hop -Club Mix-
4. Reality -Instrumental-
5. Reality -Acappella

1. Reality

We start her final single with this dark and mysterious track.  Though it still is R&B written all over it, but I do love how the song worked for her.  She doesn’t sound terrible which is so good for me.  The beat is pretty groovy and the synth is pretty much filling in the spaces.  Then the area after the chorus grants us an acoustic guitar and then an explosive section with Ami pretty much expressing herself, sadly I like when she did it the 2nd time because it just seemed to be more together.  Great track, I wish to hear this live though.

2. Dancin in’ Hip-Hop

Then we had to have this song T.T   It’s amanzingly bad.  I mean the song is Hip-Hop to the worst way.  Though I think Ami collaborated with Imfamous Syndicate again, which wouldn’t surprise me at all.  Unlike the better songs that they collaborated, it just seem to American and bland.  Ami is repeating so much and the music isn’t anything good.  Piano line is nice, but that’s all going for it. 

3. Dancin’ in Hip-Hop -Club Mix-

Why does this exactly start up like what Dancin’ in Hip-Hop was sounding like?  After a while it gains a club beat but it still as so damn annoying as the last track.  Though I do like all the synths being featured which made the song not as bad, but in the end it still is a remix for a terrible song.

4. Reality -Acappella-

Take “Reality’s” music out and we’re left with this.  Though I can’t tell if she actually resang it or not, but I’m thinking the latter for one reason.  It’s because the BKGD vocals are still there.  When we begin she starts the song’s first line and then we get this awkward silence before she continues.  I rather have the music…After the chorus there’s that awkward silence like, there’s supposed to be the synth line, but it isn’t.   It’s the only acappella track in her collection, which is pretty special for her.

 

 

Her final SONY single was not what youd call good.  I mean Reality was THE only great track.  Dancin’ in Hip-Hop was a terrible A-side and probably her worst in her SONY career.  The remix and acappella tracks were a step up, but they really weren’t anything special and failed on both spectrums.  Reality though wow, it’s her finest example of great vocals.