IMALU – 4751 Nichi Mou Inai Kimi e March 7, 2012

Track Listing

1. 4751 Nichi Mou Inai Kimi e
2. Can’t find
3. 4751 Nichi Mou Inai Kimi e (Inst.)

1. 4751 Nichi Mou Inai Kimi e

Damn, I was hoping that IMALU would not make her 4th A-side be a ballad of sorts since it doesn’t really work for her voice IMO.  It isn’t too bad during the verses because she’s singing quietly with the arrangement but it grows on you but she starts to yell for the chorus and it’s just a bit of a turn off for me.  She had control though which is making this stand out a little more than “Sonna Namae Hoshikun’ai yo”.  Still it’s a step down from “Uh Uh”.

2. Can’t find

Her B-sides though seem to be her stronger points of her music and Can’t find shows that it’s A>B-side which is kind of sucky.  While it’s nothing I’d write home about with the song as it’s just a little tame for her.  There’s seems to be a lack of eneegy here and it makes the song sound like it’s played on a flat line and just doesn’t excite me.  At least IMALU sounds good vocally and stronger than the A-side. 

 

 

Why did it take so obscenely long for IMALU to release her 4th single?  I will say that due to the long time period between this and “Uh Uh” it does seem she’s a little more comfortable as a musician seeing as her voice has gotten better.  However, neither song really took anything by the horns and made is as great as her last single sadly.  At least 4751 Nichi Mou Inai Kimi e is a better ballad.  I hope the album won’t take as long as this single’s release.

IMALU – 1.2.3.4 July 29, 2010

Track Listing

1. 1.2.3.4

1. 1.2.3.4

It’s a little sad that IMALU is somewhat pulling away from her electropop mix into a more pop/rock sound with 1.2.3.4.  For the most part she actually pulled the song off nicely and her vocals are pretty strong and the chorus is a little weird being ~3, 2, 1, 0~  Kind of makes the title of the song kind of wonky doesn’t it?  Maybe the title is a bit wrong, but I still think it’s one of IMALU’s fun rock songs to chant with.

 

 

I really hope IMALU is prepping up for an album next because I’m thinking she straying a bit far from what she began her career like and this pop/rock style should be left to someone else.  Still not that bad of a song and can be quite catchy.

IMALU – LYLA July 9, 2010

Track Listing

1. LYLA

1. LYLA

So, IMALU’s first digital single is actually a cover of a song from Oasis.  I’ll admit I’ve never heard the original to compare it to, but I think IMALU did an alright job.  It’s once again different from what she’s released so far since there’s no sight of synths being involved and the song is totally in English.  She does have accenting issues on some parts of the song but she hasn’t fully screwed up.  It’s an interesting cover nonetheless.

 

 

So I know I’m a little late reviewing this, but I guess I decided to just go ahead and review it.  If IMALU adds this to her debut album, it’s going to be one interesting album since this song sounds totally different from what she’s been doing with her 3 physical singles.  I wonder where she’ll go next with her next digital single “1.2.3.4″

IMALU – Uh Uh April 30, 2010

Track Listing

1. Uh Uh
2. Soak

1. Uh Uh

Ahhh Uh Uh…Even though the title is a little meh, I actually like this song the most of the A-sides she’s released in the era.  It’s different from stuff I’ve heard before and since it’s like pop/rock with synths to make it so enjoyable.  IMALU’s vocals are also quite nice since it doesn’t sound like her nasally style in her last single.  I also love the English lines splattered throughout as well because it’s gives the song a bigger punch.  Definitely loving this song.

2. Soak

I was however surprised at the B-side because of its darker sounding route that almost reminds me of New Wave almost.  It has the 80′s feel to it and IMALU’s lower vocals also surprised me.  As we get into the chorus it kind of reminds me of Tetsuya Komuro’s music.  I really ended up liking the B-side a whole lot more for some reason, hahaha!

 

 

IMALU’s 3rd effort is actually the best single she’s released.  Both songs showed a great deal of effort both on her part and her producers part as well.  Uh Uh is pop fun and Soak is 80′s new wave, it’s your decision, but I do love the single right now!

IMALU – Sonna Namae Hoshi Kun’ai yo March 6, 2010

Track Listing

1. Sonna Namae Hoshi Kun’ai yo
2. SO PERFECT
3. Sonna Namae Hoshi Kun’ai yo (inst.)

1. Sonna Namae Hoshi Kun’ai yo

When compared to her debut single, “Mashed potato”, Sonna Namae is kind of more of a mid-tempo song when piano and synths that kind of remind me of Hikki’s “Flavor Of Life” which is kind of nice in a way.  IMALU’s vocals are a bit more shrill than in her debut as well, but they aren’t amazingly bad, just a little too nasally for a song like this.

2. SO PERFECT

Though I was definitely a fan of this song.  SO PERFECT has a pretty rocking arrangement with an uber catchy clapping rhythm to go along with it.  It might be leaning towards just having a catchy hook to get it by but to be honest it was more interesting than the A-side and IMALU’s vocals aren’t bad so that’s a plus!

 

 

Second single in and she sort of slips on this one.  While she is great at experimenting different genres, she kind of messed up for Sonna Namae simply because her vocals were just yikes on a stick.  SO PERFECT however was what I was looking more towards since it’s new and it’s catchy and her vocals weren’t off.  Hmmm, maybe she’ll pick up on her 3rd single.

IMALU – Mashed potato February 11, 2010

Track Listing

1. Mashed potato
2. S.O.B.

1. Mashed potato

What a very strange title right?  Mashed potato is definitely one of the coolest songs I’ve heard in quite a while.  Yes, talking to a friend of mine, she also agrees that IMALU’s song definitely throws some peppy Ai Otsuka to the mix and I like that comparison.  IMALU has a pretty strong voice to throw around as well and even though she does seem like she’s yelling to get by, it’s not bad.  I also like it because it’s a mix of pop/rock with the current craze of synths.  Not bad of a debut song really.

2. S.O.B.

The B-side to the single, S.O.B. threw me for a bigger loop when I find out that it’s not even close to being a pop/rock tune.  It’s actually more sexier coming from IMALU, more smoother vocals.  I kind of like the direction this song took and with the groovy vocals, it made it sound quite epic.  Could it be that this B-side pwned “Mashed potato” more.

 

 

IMALU’s debut definitely is something to listen to.  I don’t think I’ve fallen so hard for debut in quite a while and Mashed potato really hits the spot.  Though it’s kind of hard to figure what direction she’s going for in her carrer, but whatever it is…I’m all for it right now!