Crystal Kay – VIVID July 18, 2012

Track Listing

1. Forever
2. Be Mine
3. Take It Outside
4. Yo Yo
5. Come Back To Me
6. What We Do
7. Superman
8. Memory Box
9. Haru Arashi
10. Fly High
11. Delicious na Kinyoubi
12. Rising Sun
13. Haru Arashi (Kazuhiko Maeda Remix)
14. Forever (Kazuhiko Maeda Remix)
15. Forever (Max K Remix) (iTunes only)
16. Yo Yo (English Version) (iTunes only)

1. Forever

I love that Kuri opens up with the single she released not even a month prior to the album’s release.  I REALLY love this song for some reason because Kuri sounds so good and the song is just my league of good stuffs.  I definitely think it’s one of the surprising yet amazing A-sides of the year!

2. Be Mine

After hearing the singles, I was wondering what she going to have as the main course for VIVID and it seems starting with Be Mine, it’s similar in styles here.  The track is kind of more 80′s style but I like the atmosphere here and Kuri continues to sound gracious here.  It’s a fun spirited song and kind of have this flirty sound with its lyrics.  Good track overall.

3. Take It Outside

However our next track makes our previous one sound like a mess because Take It Outside is just all-around amazing.  I was surprised she pulled this one out of her hat and I must say.  I just love the dance beats and the hook revolving around ~take it outside, just you and I~ is just incredibly catchy.  Up there alongside “Forever”.

4. Yo Yo

Moving onto Yo Yo, it backs away from using too much synths by giving this party tune.  I really liked it for it’s unusual melody and using more of a minor style for the song (especially that chorus, where it sounds totally different from the verses).  It’s a really cool tune to listen to.

5. Come Back To Me

Our fifth track in and we finally somewhat cooled down from her dance style and enter Come Back To Me which has more of a serious tone to it.  I found it somewhat cool that the beat is heavy still and the strings play an angry way.  It does have a certain Americanized sound that excites me however and overall worked quite nicely.

6. What We Do

Mmph. the basslines in What We Do really spark my fancy here and was the first song that stood out just with that.  I also loved the chilled out feel of the song and the lyrics also really made it seem like it’s a party song.  I can totally imagine hearing this in a rollerskating rink for some reason…ahhh the mind pictures.

7. Superman

Moving onto Kuri’s debut under UNI-J, Superman is definitely a surprise since before that she was releasing such boring songs and this kind of dragged her back up into a better style for her.  I mean it’s still quite R&B but it sounds really pleasant and flows smoothly.  I will say it’s like a hookless “Forever” in arrangement but I liked it despite that.

8. Memory Box

If there was one song that I would say would be my least favorite track, it might be Memory Box because it’s just like her SONY works just on rolled into this song.  Definitely R&B and has a bit of a softer side to it, I didn’t find the song to be really exciting but Kuri’s voice is still very good here.  Just not my cup of tea.

9. Haru Arashi

I don’t know why but I really love Haru Arashi as well!  I mean this song was synthy and clubby and just a really cool and breezy song to listen to.  I did feel like as if it ended a bit too quickly, but this is still a pretty good song and A-side (probably my 2nd favorite after “Forever”).

10. Fly High

Seeing that the album is kind of switching from old tracks and new tracks in the second half of the album is kind of cool.  Fly High is another song that I don’t feel too much of because it kind or reminds me of a bunch of other Kuri songs out there but on this album it sounds good just a bit forgettable for me.  I think it’s a good track to put in between “Haru Arashi” and our next track.

11. Delicious na Kinyoubi

Good lord were all the A-sides just amazing stuff.  The final A-side representing VIVID, Delicious na Kinyoubi is like most of the tracks on the album and a lot like the previous as well which might make me feel a little bit less about it but it’s still a solid track overall even though I still find the synth breakdown to be rather random and unneeded.  Still a good tune.

12. Rising Sun

The last of the tracks before the remixes, Rising Sun has an interesting arrangement behind it.  Kind of following a little with “Come Back To Me” with the emphasizing of the beats but this is a lot more brighter of a song.  After a while it kind of just drags along with not much of  a change to the beat.  I was a little disappointed with this song.

13. Haru Arashi (Kazuhiko Maeda Remix)

So the album comes with two extra remixes, both remixed by Kazuhiko Maeda.  The first of them, Haru Arashi feels more like a stripped down version of the original which is a nice switch to things but it does sound really empty at first until we get into the chorus.  It’s alright but I like the original a bit more since it doesn’t have empty moments like this remix.

14. Forever (Kazuhiko Maeda Remix)

At least it seems the Forever remix seemed to be a bit better than the “Haru Arashi” remix.  I do like that it opens with the ~forever, ever, ever~ hook of the song and then adds a lot more color to it for some reason.  I do like the synthed up arrangement and how it opens into the chorus with less stuff going on.  I’d say it’s a lot better than the previous remix but I love the original a lot more!

15. Forever (Max K Remix)

If you got the album via iTunes, you get two bonus tracks…this first one is ANOTHER Forever remix.  This one is definitely more catered to the club goers out there since it begins like one with the chanting being repeated behind a heavy beat.  I have to say that I really love the arrangement once it comes in and the lyrics are really cool since it seems like the verses, bridge, and chorus are just moved around so it gets this interesting way of how things turned out.  Her voice does seem to be covered by the music but that’s OK since she has times where her voice goes over it…yeah this is a pretty awesome remix!

16. Yo Yo (English Version)

I’m happy to see that Yo Yo get an English version and as an added incentive and such.  I really like the song a bit more and since the song worked with the lyrics.  Thank god Kuri is a native speaker because I’m sure if she released here, I think it’d be a hit.

Tracks Recommended

• Forever
• Take It Outside
• Yo Yo (English Version)
• Haru Arashi
• What We Do

Song of Avoidance

• Rising Sun

Holy crap, I was rather amazed at how much of a difference changing labels will do to your music.  After being disappointed with “Spin The Music” and seeing those best-ofs being released, I was ready for new Kuri and moving from SONY to UNI-J has done great for her musically.  VIVID might not be what this album was (because let’s be honest it was really one true style with a couple of exceptions) but definitely a strong album with a few faults (which were a remix and two other songs) but the rest is so worth it…Definitely working to be one of the bests of 2012 *RECOMMENDED*

Crystal Kay – Forever June 8, 2012

Track Listing

1. Forever
2. Forever (SKY HIGH REMIX)
3. Haru Arashi (BONEBOX REMIX)
4. Forever (Instrumental)

1. Forever

I’m really enjoying Kuri’s recent enjoyment of the synths mixed into her R&B style because it works with her smoky vocals.  I was actually surprised at how progressive the song is and the synths just blossom all over the song.  The background stuff is a bit questionable but I’m it’s a small discrepincy.  I love the amount of English in the song and her repeating certain things is kind of catchy hahaha.  It doesn’t surpass “Haru Arashi” but this is definitely up there and ranks as another great A-side from the awesome Kuri!

2. Forever (SKY HIGH REMIX)

Then I hear the remix for the track and I’m liking Forever even more than I should haha.  I mean they took out they odd background stuff and the arrangement is more of a electro/eurobeat kind of sound which works with the song!  I mean the buzzing sounds and then hearing Kuri under some filters except in other parts is quite something.  It’s a really solid remix of Forever but after a while I’m kind of liking the obscure stuff from the original more hahaha.

3. Haru Arashi (BONEBOX REMIX)

We get another remix but this time it’s for Haru Arashi which I thought I’d enjoy quite a bit and I did at first in the first half since it was more laidback and kind of enjoyed the synths and guitarwork.  After a while it kind of shifts gears and then slams into this dubstep area…which totally killed the song for what its worth.  It’s like a BAD Skrillex move…very jagged and unneeded.  If they had left it off, I think this would’ve been a good remix.

 

 

As the third and final single before her 1st, UNI-J album, “VIVID” drops, Forever leaves us with the hope that this album will be pretty awesome!  Her last couple of albums from SONY were OK but nothing like her earlier days and hopefully the label change will do her good because these singles: “Superman”, “Delicious na Kinyoubi/Haru Arashi” and this one have done nothing but impressed me!  While I do wish there was another track instead of the remixes, Forever wasn’t bad and neither was its remix.  Haru Arashi’s though was a trainwreck and should be avoided at all costs!

Crystal Kay – Delicious na Kinyoubi/Haru Arashi March 2, 2012

Track Listing

1. Delicious na Kinyoubi
2. Haru Arashi
3. Delicious na Kinyoubi (Instrumental)
4. Haru Arashi (Instrumental)

1. Delicious na Kinyoubi

In recent times, I’ve been finding myself really enjoying Kuri’s synth songs like “FLASH” and “Victoria” so it’s great she’s releasing a single that contains this style because I really like Delicious na Kinyoubi.  I am just really liking her voice in this song and the synth breakdown in the middle of the song was unexpected but pretty cool nonetheless. 

2. Haru Arashi

Both A-sides actually impressive?  I must say so because I think I like this song just a bit more than “Delicious na Kinyoubi”.  I think it’s the fact that it’s breezy and yet still has this synthpop/dance style going on it.  Yeah this was something I waited for from her and I approve if she keeps going this way.

 

 

Kuri definitely scored a good single this time around and is stronger of a release than “Superman” was to be fair.  Both songs bring this kind of great atmosphere that Kuri has been trying to have since the “FLASH” mini-album but kind of took her turn back to her R&B roots until she changed labels.  I have to say this release is *RECOMMENDED*.  This era is getting a LOT better now!

Crystal Kay – Superman December 17, 2011

Track Listing

1. Superman
2. Love Road
3. Superman -Piano ver.-
4. Superman (Instrumental)
5. Love Road (Instrumental)

1. Superman

As a sparkly little synthy R&B tune, Superman kind of brings back a somewhat interesting track from Kuri.  It does kind of have the typical beats and stuff but the synths kind of make the song a little easier to take in.  Kuri also sounds pretty nice singing the song and her voice sounds great in the chorus to be honest.  The filtered part is a little unusualy in the song’s context but it’s good otherwise and a solid A-side.

2. Love Road

The B-side on the single is a bit disappointing for me since it’s just a simple R&B ballad with the importance laid upon the piano.  It’s pretty bland all over and just doesn’t really do much for her besides the fact that her voice is much more pleasant here than in “Superman”.  It’s just kind boring and if this is a “love road” then it sure is flat…

3. Superman -Piano ver.-

I’m surprised that she included a transformed Superman as the third song.  It’s quite basic like “Love Road” but at least this sounds rather good and Kuri sounds so much stronger resinging as well!  It just sounds so much personal and powerful this way.  I like this much more than the original take.

 

 

I wouldn’t have guessed that Kuri would jump labels to UNIVERAL JAPAN (then again the multitude of best-ofs she’s released recently should have alluded it to that direction but w/e).  Superman to me is kind of unusually weak of a release especially for an artist at her longevity.  Superman is alright but the piano version is the preferred version for me since her emotions come off a lot stronger there than on the original’s more synthy take but I like em both.  Love Road though was just too plain and white and I forgot how it goes already XD.  It’s just pure B-side material.  Hopefully her next single will be a jump up after this one.

Crystal Kay – Spin The Music December 10, 2010

Track Listing

1. Journey ~Kimi to Futari de~
2. After Love -First Boyfriend- feat. KANAME (CHEMISTRY)
3. Konya wa No.1
4. Kimi ga Ireba
5. Time of Love
6. I pray
7. Goodbye
8. LOVE or GAME
9. Hands up
10. FLASH
11. Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa (Yellow Magic Orchestra feat. Crystal Kay)
12. I’ll be there

1. Journey ~Kimi to Futari de~

Starting with the most recent A-side, Journey I think was maybe a poor choice to have put on in front of “After Love -First Boyfriend-” simply because both are so similar to one another and it kind of is a little blah.  It still is a heavenly R&B track though with good sounding synths and pleasant vocals from Kuri.  I like it still however.

2. After Love -First Boyfriend- feat. KANAME (CHEMISTRY)

Being the first of two A-sides released in the era, After Love feels so old for some reason but it was released last year haha.  After Love -First Boyfriend- does still sound rather adorable from Kuri and she does overload the song so much that KANAME doesn’t really have lines to himself and is subjected to only a few places and the chorus.  Still it’s kind of grew less on me since it’s not very memorable anymore to me.

3. Konya wa No. 1

Moving into new tracks from the album, I’ve liked the direction Kuri has been going since the “FLASH” mini and with Konya wa No. 1, it sounds like she wanted bring attitude in her songs and she did it quite awesomely.  The song has a pretty good guitar riff mixed in with some synth riffs as well and just brought the atmosphere up a few notches.  Good song!

4. Kimi ga Ireba

Then I guess we have to cool down for our next song.  I don’t know it this was right putting this after “Konya wa No. 1″ but whatever.  By the sound of it, it sounds like something wintry and it’s rather fitting of the time of the year.  While I’m still not fully into Kuri ballads since “Motherland”, this is alright for now.

5. Time of Love

Being as the only digital single that’s found on the album and simply because it was a fan favorite, Time of Love has found solace on the album.  I do see why people wanted it on here since it’s pretty and a lot more stronger of a ballad than “Kimi ga Ireba” was and it did a much better job at showcasing Kuri’s vocals.  I love the amount of strings that were put into the song and it just flowed beautifully for me.  Gotta say, I was impressed.

6. I pray

Of the songs from “FLASH”, I really hoped she didn’t pick this one from the bunch because it was the worst from the mini-album to be honest.  On the album it still sounds rather plain and underwhelming, especially after “Time of Love”.  I mean we already have “Journey” on the album did we really need this?  I would’ve rather had “Victoria” on here…

7. Goodbye

Ugh, that guy at the beginning needs to be shot!!!  Anyways, Goodbye goes back to her true style with being a catchy R&B tune and the beat was solid enough to keep me interested unlike the last song.  I do wonder if it’s the antithesis to “Never say goodbye” from her “FLASH” mini….interesting to think eh?

8. LOVE or GAME

I found it so funny that Kuri began the song with someone walking up to a pinball machine and play it until it said ~WINNER~ and then used some of the sounds from the machine to turn into a synthy R&B track that actually sounds catchy and upbeat enough to actually stand out on the album.  I mean the bleep and bloops just kind of rocketed it up skyward and I just was surprised at the arrangement and Kuri throughout. 

9. Hands up

Hmmm, I’m not sure what to really think of Hands up since it’s one of those inner beauty kind of tracks and as much I think those songs are somewhat cheesy, Hands up sounds cool with the repetitive piano line mixed it with pounding beats and flowing synths.  I do notice Kuri has a lot of help in the vocal department, but I don’t mind it since it fueled the experience. 

10. FLASH

I guess it was kind of obvious that the title track from her mini-album would make the cut.  It’s funny though that it’s the most energetic of songs on the album with it’s electro style and smooth vocals to match from Kuri.  While I still prefer “Victoria” to this, this isn’t bad and it’s so easy to fall in love with this song because it’s just heavy and catchy and totally a new style for her.

11. Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa (Yellow Magic Orchestra feat. Crystal Kay)

Being as this song was originally on one of YMO’s releases, it was bolded lol.  Just like the last song, this is a bit of a strange tune to be putting on the album and since this sounds like something from the 70′s, it’s a bit weird to listen to it.  I did find it annoying that it took so long before Kuri started to sing and then at the time, it’s weak and she’s covered by the music a bit.  Meh, not liking this song at all.

12. I’ll be there

Finally, ending the album I’ll be there from the start sounds like a good melancholic tune with the low strings and depressing arrangement.  I do think that the mood does turn into a more hopeful one once Kuri enters the chorus and says ~I’ll be there~.  I think it’s just a good song to close up the album. 

Tracks Recommended

• LOVE or GAME
• FLASH
• Konya wa No. 1
• Time of Love

Song of Avoidance

• Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa (Yellow Magic Orchestra feat. Crystal Kay)

Has it been that long since “Color Change!”?  I guess so because the time off was what Kuri needed before coming into Spin The Music.  I did think she had more in mind with this one since the arrangements were mostly different and yet strong…but it still didn’t save her from some stinkers on the album.  I guess it’s an alright album from Kuri.

Crystal Kay – Journey ~Kimi to Futari de~ November 28, 2010

Track Listing

1. Journey ~Kimi to Futari de~
2. HOLD ON
3. Journey ~Kimi to Futari de~ (instrumental)

1. Journey ~Kimi to Futari de~

Ahhh, I actually like the beginning of Journey quite a bit since it sounds so pretty and majestic with the harp and beats fluorishing around.  Once Kuri comes in though the song sounds a bit more stronger than I thought it would be, but it’s more along the lines of “After Love” than anything off of “FLASH”.  For me this song is alright, but I’ve clearly figured that Kuri doesn’t exactly stray too far from this kind of music, but that’s alright since it’s a steady A-side. 

2. HOLD ON

As for the B-side, I was wondering if this was going to be an original track or a cover, but it’s definitely an original track and I thought it was a bit more stronger than “Journey” for some reason.  It could be the whole package of the darker vibe I get or Kuri’s stronger vocals that made the song stand out better.  Still, it’s one of Kuri’s better B-sides as of late.

Being as the promotional single before “Spin The Music”, Journey is a pretty good single (a bit better than her last one TBH, but not better than the “FLASH” mini-album).  There’s still a feeling of blandness that kind of comes with her music that I can’t shake off, but Journey was alright, but not in the veins of songs from her last era.  HOLD ON actually turned out better than the A-side because of the more interesting arranging style.  Still, I hope “Spin The Music” will be better than “Color Change!”

Crystal Kay – FLASH June 15, 2010

Track Listing

1. intro
2. FLASH
3. Victoria
4. Never say goodbye
5. Happy
6. I pray
7. outro

1. intro

I’m surprised the opening to the mini-album is so dramatic!  I mean it has this almost gothic-like feel to it with the chorale and the amount of overly-expressive strings and blaring brass blowups.  Just kind of out of left field, especially as an opening tune.  Still pretty epic opening if I must say.

2. FLASH

As the promotional track, FLASH bring Kuri to a new side of music and that’s a heavy electronica feel.  I actually kind of like this new sound she’s bringing and it has this cool drive and the new attitude coming from Kuri is pretty fresh and needed.  I don’t know why but it just sounds like Crystal is just starting a new chapter in her career and this song is a great way to kick it off.

2. Victoria

Which brings us into our next track which is just as electronic as the previous song, but more mysterious and sexy.  The arrangement reminds me of like Depeche Mode or someone near that.  I love how the bridge of the song is able to send chills down my back before bringing the kickass back into the chorus.  It’s an awesome tune as well and I like this one a bit more than “FLASH”.

4. Never say goodbye

The closest thing to electropop on this album, Never say goodbye also picks the pace up and also lightens up the mood as well.  The tune is pretty sweet and has good flow, but I don’t thing there was a lasting hook to the song….but the arrangement is just simply amazing for me. 

5. Happy

Then we finally get out of the electronic songs into the slower songs off the mini-album.  I’m surprised Happy is a ballad that’s meant for Michael Jackson…I mean ~I love you Michael~ being the first words said in the song.  I never have heard Kuri sound so strong in a ballad until now and I love it.  Her English is definitely amazing and since its a tribute she really poured her heart out and I can say it’s a great tune.

6. I pray

I pray is definitely the closest thing to what we’ve known prior to this mini-album and while I’m kind of passed her R&B tunes and looking forward for more experimentation.  This is one of those songs that just comes as nostalgic to me and while I think it’s the weakest of the mini, it’s still not that bad. 

7. outro

As fitting the last two songs were, the outro ties that up altogether with a beautiful strings melody.  You here people in the background before some ~oooooo~ kind of just closes the song til it fades out…strange…

 

 

I thought Kuri was going to slump especially with her last single being so dull and such.  She definitely took some rest and with FLASH she came back stronger than ever.  Though the mini was slashed down the middle with electronic and ballads, it’s prolly her best stuff she’s released in a long time.  Definitely worth listening to *RECOMMENDED*

Crystal Kay – After Love -First Boyfriend- feat. KANAME (CHEMISTRY)/Girlfriend feat. BoA July 11, 2009

Track Listing

1. After Love -First Boyfriend- feat. KANAME (CHEMISTRY)
2. Girlfriend feat. BoA
3. Deatta Kiseki
4. After Love -First Boyfriend- (inst)
5. Girlfriend (inst)

1. After Love -First Boyfriend- feat. KANAME (CHEMISTRY)

So here we are with Crystal Kay’s new A-side which features KANAME from the duo group, CHEMISTRY.  Crystal really brings in the cute side with this track with a piano and some sparkiling sounds from, well whatever it is.  KANAME doesn’t really get much of a solo sound going and he’s mostly heard in the chorus which kind of shows where the teeter-totter is leaning.   It’s OK but I was hoping for something more.

2. Girlfriend feat. BoA

So if you follow BoA as well, you should know that they collaborated pretty recently with BoA’s last japanese single.  Unlike “UNIVERSE”, this is more catered to Kuri’s style and even though that’s true, I hear some similarities with BoA’s “Eien”….strange, but cool.  This track though sounds a bit more complex than “UNIVERSE” and that’s mainly why I think this track is a bit of a mess to me.  I mean it just doesn’t have that flair to it…but I’m guessing fans are gonna eat this up…

3. Deatta Kiseki

The only track that features Kuri by herself, Deatta Kiseki sounds quite depressing for sure.  The beginning with the descending minor piano line just screamed sad.  I do like Kuri right about when she enters the chorus, ugh I don’t like what they did to filter her voice like that, just should’ve kept it natural the entire time.  It’s better than I thought it would’ve been, but the extra filters, just doesn’t sound right.

 

 

So the only single to represent Kuri’s best-of album, After Love was alright, but it doesn’t beat out “Namida no Saki ni’s” single by a long shot.  They are nice tracks don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t really feeling the single (probably because I’m not that big of a Crystal Kay fan).  I do like Kuri’s solo track though, that was a nice track, but the other two could’ve had more done to it to make it better.

Crystal Kay – Namida no Saki ni May 25, 2009

Track Listing

1. Namida no Saki ni
2. Girl Move On
3. Dream World (SOIDOG MIX)
4. Namida no Saki ni (SOIDOG MIX)
5. Namida no Saki ni (Instrumental)

1. Namida no Saki ni

I have to say the beginning part of this song is very epic especially by Kuri’s standards.  Now unlike “Shining” this was definitly an upgrade because of its more active sound.  I do hate the way she overslurs ~Winding Road~ because it’s just so slurrish.  Kuri sounds pretty good otherwise and give a nice upbeat song.

2. Girl Move On

Whenever I hear this song I get a nice latin feel to it and I quite like it when mixed with Kuri’s vocals which oddly fit very well with the latino beat going on.  It’s also pretty cool that she says stuff in Spanish as well giving an extra boost on the mysterious lyrics shot through the song.  Definitly a sweeet B-side.

3. Dream World (SOIDOG MIX)

I haven’t heard the original track from her last album, “ALL YOURS”, but if it’s good then this would’ve high-topped it as well because it’s got a nice a thick dance beat and synth that would make anyone happy.  Even though the bridge seems a little too subdued for me, Kuri got this remix right and the English lyrics that I heard were done very nicely and suited the more sexier vibe this song has.  Sweet remix.

4. Namida no Saki ni (SOIDOG MIX)

The same people who did the last remix also helped out for this singles remix.  It doesn’t have the same drive as “Dream World’s” was, so it’s a bit less liked, but I think the best of the remix is the chorus because they filled the more emptier spaces with once again a nice low synth groove which helped, but the verses were just too bare. 

 

 

Kuri’s first single of the “Color Change!” era actually was the best one out of two (the other being “ONE”).  Namida no Saki ni brought out fun and easy dancing on a single, but as a single it was very danceable from the latin flavored Girl Move On, to the SOIDOG remixes, it was a pretty cool single all around. 

Crystal Kay – Shining December 24, 2008

Track Listing

1. Shining
2. Snowflake
3. Happy 045 Xmas
4. No More Blue Christmas’
5. Shining (Jazztronik Remix)

1. Shining

Being the main promotional track, Shining represents winter, but somehow the song doesn’t exactly scream it.  It’s upbeat which is a nice change of pace, but they fact that most of the chorus has Crystal up in the higher register of notes is very distasteful and just annoying to no end.  Still, it isn’t as bad as you think because the dance beats are quite nice and once again the change from a normal ballad song is good.

2. Snowflake

Which is what is problematic here.  Snowflake is a ballad, but is it OMG boring thought.  The ballad formula is used here and really doesn’t help it out.  Crystal nice sounding as she is doesn’t seem to enjoy singing to this song, cuz it doesn’t exactly get interesting.  What a bad track.

3. Happy 045 Xmas

Definitly more spirited in the season than the last two songs, it begins with some jingle bells and then gets this strong R&B beat to it.  It’s nice that some of the song is in English which helps the song out, but what questions me is what the hell does “045″ mean in the first place?  It just kind of random singing it in the chorus. 

4. No More Blue Christmas’

Being a Natalie Cole cover makes the song more interesting because it also sets Crystal fully to sing the track completely in English.  I also agree that this track easily tops all the others on this mini-album.  It isn’t as boring as “Snowflake” and how Crystal shows her emotion is beautiful.  Strings though were pretty too.  Now this is a good Christmas song.

5. Shining (Jazztronik Remix)

I actually wished this version was on “Color Change!” because this had a pretty cool piano melody added in to make it more “jazzy” or more upbeat.  There were also synths present and at first they sounded out of place, they seem to eventually mesh in with the rest of the song. 

 

 

Releasing a winter-themed mini-album to start off the new era was risky and to be honest it didn’t seem too good.  Happy 045 Xmas + the last two tracks were pretty good.  Sadly both minus the remix were already well-known of before the release so that meant the new tracks were pretty poor.  Hopefully her next single will surprise me.