misono / Me – Itsumademo…Teddy Bear/Koitsuri Girl Ai Girl ~Fishing Boy~ November 29, 2012

Track Listing

1. Itsumademo…Teddy Bear
2. Koitsuri Girl Ai Girl ~Fishing Boy~
3. Second season Girl FRIEND ~Onna Tomodachi? Imouto Teki Sonzai? Tada no Osananajimi? Renai Taishou? Tomodachi Ijou? Koibito Miman? 2 Banme Demo Nai? Suki Demo Kirai Demo Nai? Tsugou no Ii Onna Domari?~
4. Itsumademo…Teddy Bear (Instrumental)
5. Koitsuri Girl Ai Girl ~Fishing Boy~ (Instrumental)
6. Second season Girl FRIEND ~Onna Tomodachi? Imouto Teki Sonzai? Tada no Osananajimi? Renai Taishou? Tomodachi Ijou? Koibito Miman? 2 Banme Demo Nai? Suki Demo Kirai Demo Nai? Tsugou no Ii Onna Domari?~ (Instrumental)

1. Itsumademo…Teddy Bear

The single starts with the misono track and it’s kind of strange in comparison to a lot of her singles because this song is kind of like “Pochi” in the way that it’s a bit more cuter.  Actually compared to most of her singles after her second album, this dropback is rather sudden and out of nowhere for her since I assumed it was going to be edgy and rockin’.  What we got though isn’t too bad and I kind of like misono’s voice even though she’s shouting most of the time.  Not bad at all ^_^

2. Koitsuri Girl Ai Girl ~Fishing Boy~

Moving onto the first Me track, Koitsuri Girl Ai Girl is more along the lines of what I was expecting here which is punk rock for the most part.  Her voice is pretty shrill, but she’s always come off as that way in her energetic songs.  Surprise though, this song isn’t bad either but it feels like it belonged on “never+land” because it’s cute and genki just rolled into one.

3. Second season Girl FRIEND ~Onna Tomodachi? Imouto Teki Sonzai? Tada no Osananajimi? Renai Taishou? Tomodachi Ijou? Koibito Miman? 2 Banme Demo Nai? Suki Demo Kirai Demo Nai? Tsugou no Ii Onna Domari?~

Jesus fuckin christ misono, why is the title this LONG?  As the other Me song on the single, I was curious to what we would end up because the title is crazy ass long.  Oddly enough, it is the best song off the single because everything is toned down and misono gives her best vocal performance alongside such a nice arrangement.  It’s just really surprising that Second season Girl FRIEND ended up being the best off the single (and normal).

 

 

As the third single in this bipolar mess between misono and Me, this single was a bit strange all over.  Itsumademo…Teddy Bear is sugary cute from it’s tie-in and misono hasn’t really done anything like that since basically “Pochi”….”Lum no Love Song” doesn’t count.  Koitsuri Girl Ai Girl is a bit more of what we’ve been getting with the last couple of singles which is OK but this one isn’t as memorable like stuff from the previous two singles.  Though it really saved itself with Second season Girl FRIEND which was a bit more serious and a lot stronger of a setting for misono…but next time, don’t name you’re song the way it is….

misono / Me – Maialino!/”…。” no Tsuzuki ~Eien Nante Nai… Itsuka Owari ga Aru Keredo~ February 25, 2012

Track Listing

1. Maialino!
2. “…。” no Tsuzuki ~Eien Nante Nai… Itsuka Owari ga Aru Keredo~
3. Maialino! (Instrumental)
4. “…。” no Tsuzuki ~Eien Nante Nai… Itsuka Owari ga Aru Keredo~ (Instrumental)

1. Maialino!

Starting the single off is misono’s track and it kind of starts off like her quiet ballads with the pretty unimpressive vocals and whiny tone to throw it off.  After the lengthy intro, it opens up with a more rockin’ atmosphere!  I also took notice to the 7:15 time limit of the song and I thought that was pretty ridiculous.  The aggressive and speedy parts were the best but when it cuts to the slower areas, misono’s vocals really hit speed bumps and she gets all shrilly.  Take out those parts and take out the background vocals and we could’ve had a pretty good song…but otherwise some parts had bad vocals and it was too long for me.

2. “…。” no Tsuzuki ~Eien Nante Nai… Itsuka Owari ga Aru Keredo~

So the uber long and strange titled song is a Me song (as in it’s misono’s younger version of herself…though younger self = day after tomorrow misono? w/e).  Anyways the song (pronounced Period no Tsuzuki) is actually the ballad of the single!  While I’m not sure her singing is any better here than in “Maialino!” but she’s singing with gusto which is interesting to hear that in her voice.  Still the chorus is probably the weakest since the melody is slow-paced and misono is still kind screaming those parts out.  Even though it’s almost at 6 minutes, I liked this a little more than the other A-side.

 

 

As the final single for her Me era (I think…the album was cancelled but it could’ve just been pushed back), I found myself not enjoying Maialino!/Period no Tsuzuki as i did with the last single.  Even though this is the first song ~misono~ put out since her third album, Maialino! was just ick on a stick for me.  I mean besides the rock parts, the song was a big bust and her vocals nosedived into dangerously bad there.  Period no Tsuzuki was a step up but doesn’t come close to “Ho・n・to・u・so ” for the most part…curious about this Me album now…

Me – Ho・n・to・u・so/Su・ki・ra・i November 28, 2011

Track Listing

1. Ho・n・to・u・so
2. Su・ki・ra・i
3. Tanabata☆Jita ButterFly♪ feat. misono
4. with you ~ME ver.~ (Limited only)
5. “Kimi to Watashi no Uta” ~ME ver.~ (CD only)

1. Ho・n・to・u・so

So here we are with the leading A-side in Ho・n・to・u・so and I’m surprised misono would actually keep up her style but no worries because I’m happy she got another Tales of…tie-in through it.  To me, it’s still got a pretty great arrangement that sort of reminds me of some of the stuff from misono’s second album.  Beyond the kickass rock arrangement, misono’s vocals are quite feral and loud (which isn’t surprising since she sings like that in most of her rock songs).  Pretty awesome for the first A-side.

2. Su・ki・ra・i

The other A-side is oddly enough the rock ballad, Su・ki・ra・i.  She’s been trying to get better at them in the “Me” era, but she slumped for this one which harkens back her poor ones.  Her voice just doesn’t work for the song which is unfortunate.  The good thing is the wintry feel of the arrangement and the chorus but that’s about it really.  I just wish she didn’t sound so wail-y.

3. Tanabata☆Jita ButterFly♪ feat. misono

I’m confused on that title…how is it a featuring misono song…double personality issues?  Unlike the previous two tracks, Tanabata☆Jita ButterFly♪ is quite the oddball song (even for misono!).  It’s still rockin’ but it’s like cutesy rock which is unusual in the way that misono is basically sounding more cuter than normal.  To me, it’s really not her style anymore and this just came off as awkward LOL.

4. with you ~ME ver.~

At first I couldn’t remember where I’ve seen this track before, but it turns out it’s a new version of BACK-ON’s song when she was the featured artist.  This time around it’s just misono singing the song but with the same arrangement.  I loved the original of course with BACK-ON being one of the reasons why but without them it’s a little unusual.  Still misono still kicks ass in the song and that’s always good.

5. “Kimi to Watashi no Uta” ~ME ver.~

Closing the single off is the 3rd version of “Kimi to Watashi no Uta” (which was an album track off of “Sei -say-”).  While I’m on that, this new ME version doesn’t sound ANY different from the album version of the song.  Maybe she resung it and the acoustic guitar is a bit louder…but it’s the same and left me wondering why that exists!  Kind of useless.

 

 

I’m curious to why she’s going under this Me moniker because it doesn’t sound different to misono’s songs so it just kind of to me seems rather stupid of an idea and she should just go back to her name (though there’s another Me single in the works).  Ho・n・to・u・so/Su・ki・ra・i sounds like misono fodder which might be good or bad.  I loved the first A-side but disliked the other.  Tanabata☆Jita ButterFly♪ while unique was just too icky for misono to handle and needs to stray away from cute songs.  with you was pretty good but I prefer the original and “Kimi to Watashi no Uta” was just not needed here period…it doesn’t sound any different from the original.  Hope the next single comes off better!

misono – Me July 2, 2010

Track Listing

1. Tales… ~Me Ver.~
2. Kyuukon ~Yaruki, Genki, Sono Ki no Nekko~
3. “…Suki×××”
4. Usotsuki Tane
5. 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella
6. Joker
7. Tenbin ~Tsuyogari na Watashi × Yowagari na Kimi~
8. 11 eleven or end=START
9. Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~
10. Watashi Iro
11. ?cm ~misono to Ninin Sankyaku! Partner Ver.~
12. music letter ~Me Ver.~
13. Kazoku no Hi
14. “Me” ~Me Ver.~
15. Last Time ~Romejuli~
16. Last Time ~Romejuli~ (Daishi Ver.) (Fanclub Edition only)

1. Tales… ~Me Ver.~

I’m surprised that misono’s album begins with the lone song that was found on her quote on quote “best-of” album.  Now the album version of the song made it so much better by not being a dat reject song.  There’s a lot harder hitting guitars while retaining that sound which is basically positive and amplified sound.  Actually turned out to enjoy it quite a bit.

2. Kyuukon ~Yaruki, Genki, Sono Ki no Nekko~

As part of the 2nd single released in the era, Kyuukon was the first of the fun rock songs she released and it’s still one of the better songs off the album.  Yes, misono’s vocals are quite whiny of course, but what rock song isn’t she?  If there’s anything to worry about, it’s the chorus because while it’s catchy as hell…it’s her worst part in her vocals.

3. “…Suki×××”

Which leads us to her final single released in this long era, I definitely thought she hit it right with this song.  While it might not be as powerful than let’s say “Zasetsu Chiten” or “Ninin Sankyaku”, “…Suki×××” isn’t vocally as demanding and the chorus is pretty powerful in itself.   I was happy to see that this made the album.

4. Usotsuki Tane

On an album that has only 3 brand new tracks, that really tells you something doesn’t it?  Anyway, Usotsuki Tane tries to mix her fun side with gritty rock sounds and sometimes it works, but her voice leaves a lot to be complimented about.  The verses were pretty good, but when that chorus opens up her vocals kind of just wanes a bit.  Not my kind of song.

5. 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella

Thank god for an album version of the other A-side on her last single.  While the single gave us a little taste of this song it’s its bare piano version, this one definitely proves to be one of her better ballads she’s released in a long time.  It starts off like the piano version, but the change happens quite abruptly once the chorus begins and I love the power behind that.  It’s definitely risen to become a favorite.

6. Joker

The second of the new tracks, Joker is the strangest song and yet coolest song she’s done in quite a while.  I never thought misono under that strange vocal filter would actually sound pretty cool.  To me, the song has a strange Halloween sound and it just sounds so different in an amazing way.  It’s probably the best song she’s done IMO, but I think fans of her will prolly shoot this down quite quickly. 

7. Tenbin ~Tsuyogari na Watashi × Yowagari na Kimi~

After such a good track, we hit rock bottom so damn fast.  Coming from her collaboration single, “It’s all Love!” with her sister Kuu, Tenbin was probably THE WORST idea to have added to the album.  The problem with this song is that it’s purely acoustic and with misono wailing like a dead cat for a lot of it.  I know she’s trying to be emotional, but why are we (the listeners) suffering because of it…it’s just not right.

8a. 11 eleven

I guess depending on random of the CD’s you either get 11 eleven or “end=START” but not both (and this goes for all editions of the album, yes even the Fanclub edition).  On one hand 11 eleven is the more weirder of the two because this was released in 2003 as the techno version with Cyber X.  Then came its rock rearrangement on “Pochi”  in 2007.  That also said 11 eleven is a song released in her sophomore era…like “Hot Time” before it, it’s a song that is an era too late XD.  I’ll be honest, I’m not too fond of the rock style for this song, but it’s worth a listen, but I rather it stay a trance tune more than anything else.

8b. end=START

Which bring us to our 4th single of the era.  end=START is probably her edgiest song released in the era and I loved every second of it because of the hard guitar riffs and stronger vocals from misono herself.  It kind of ranks up there with “…Suki×××” on how strong of an A-side it was and for the most part, it was great!  Also one of the few PVs I can actually remember this entire era too, so that’s another plus.

9. Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~

Even though the flow breaks quite strongly (especially if it’s after “end=START”, Shuuten began misono’s trek through where her ballads start getting better and less wailish and less acoustic because I actually think it sounds pretty epic in a way.  Maybe a little bit like an anime ending, but still pretty to listen to.  Yes, I’ll admit “end=START/Shuuten” was the best the era had to offer.

10. Watashi Iro

I’m surprised misono chose to include Watashi Iro over Bokura Style since mostly everyone chose the latter as the better song even though they shared the same melodic arrangement.  Not too keen on the song still even though it’s a mid-tempo tune.  There’s just something missing from this song that “Bokura Style” had.

11. ?cm ~misono to Ninin Sankyaku! Partner Ver.~

Uh oh was the first thing I thought of when I saw the tag for the 2nd A-side of the second single released.  I’m so terrified with how misono treated ?cm on the album because it seems she picked a lot of random people to sing the song like some karaoke track.  At least it’s a whole lot more interesting than what she did with “Kimi no Watashi no Uta” and “music letter” on her last single…my god are these people tonedeaf?

12. music letter ~Me Ver.~

Speaking of music letter, (a B-side off her first single of the era) I’m happy that they cut off a minute of the song off because it was just too long off the single for me.  Take out the part where she starts talking and crying and you’re left with what was there minus the crying and vocally stressing parts.  Not that the part where she sniffles was kind of emotionally a plus for the song, but misono and emotions mixed with singing is a lethal injection to my ears.  So here she might’ve resang it to not crack.  Still a boring song though xD

13. Kazoku no Hi

WOW, it’s been a long time since I’ve really gave a listen to Kazoku no Hi.  I liked the acoustic opening for the song, but that’s shortlived because it gets into a pop/rockish tune.  I’ve actually grown to enjoy the song as it is since it fits really nicely on the album and is one of the stronger songs off the album.  I’m surprised how a song can do that to you over time especially since this entire era has been a rollercoaster.

14. “Me” ~Me Ver.~

So we can put “Me” on the album, but no “Lum no Love Song”?  Anyways, the new version of the A-side on her 5th single released didn’t fully sound any different from the single version because it has the same vocal issues and same acoustic arrangement.  Actually the difference is subtle, but there’s an addition of background vocals…not that much of an importance, but I guess it’s nice anyway.

15. Last Time ~Romejuli~

So, if you thought misono and acoustic guitars wasn’t abrasive enough…damn woman goes and makes the last track off the album an acappella track.  I really dislike the idea of just listening to misono singing with nothing backing her up because it sounds awkward and she pulls out some awkward vocal tricks on us.  I’m hoping there’s a reason there’s another version of it.

Tracks Recommended

• Joker
• end=START
• Kazoku no Hi
• 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella
• Shuuten ~Kimi no Ude no Naka~

Song of Avoidance

• Tenbin ~Tsuyogari na Watashi × Yowagari na Kimi~

God, this era was way too long and that paid a price when looking at this tracklist which has many bad songs that it could’ve in place with better A-sides (“Lum no Love Song” and “Bokura Style”, hell even “It’s all Love!” would’ve been a treat.)  I guess when you only have 3 new tracks things go downhill, add in the fact she did two cover albums to stretch this era out even longer was worse.  I’ll say it, “~Sei ~say~” was a much more easier album to get through than this one.

misono – “…Suki×××”/0-ji Mae no Tsunderella May 13, 2010

Track Listing

1. “…Suki×××”
2. 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella ~Piano Ver.~
3. “Kimi to Watashi no Uta” ~misono to Ninin Sankyaku! Partner Ver.~
4. music letter ~misono to Ninin Sankyaku! Partner Ver.~
5. “…Suki×××” (Instrumental)
6. 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella ~Piano Ver.~ (Instrumental)

1. “…Suki×××”

Why has misono been getting so much better in this era?  Since “end=START”, almost all the songs she’s released since has been at great quality and I think this tune really brought misono’s game up right and it’s kind of epic in a way.  Though the thing I’m happy to see is the return of an actual hook to the song where as I had problems finsing them in previous A-sides.  I love this song quite a bit, great song!

2. 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella ~Piano Ver.~

As the secondary A-side of the single, I’ve said many a times before that misono is mostly a miss with her ballads because her vocals are not made for these types of songs.  While it’s great that it’s not an acoustic ballad and more of an actual piano ballad, this was surprisingly nice even though I still stay on the fact that she just can’t pull these songs off. 

3. “Kimi to Watashi no Uta” ~misono to Ninin Sankyaku! Partner ver.~

So the fanclub version of the single includes “new versions” of two old songs.  The first coming from her sophomore album and to be honest, I didn’t really see the need for this song to reappear.  All it is is just the same but with a male vocalist singing along side misono.  Basically, it’s the same song with the same problems…The new supporting vocals don’t exactly help the cause either.

4. music letter ~misono to Ninin Sankyaku! Partner Ver.~

The same can be applied here as well.  music letter, (originally B-side on “Kazoku no Hi/Aburazemi”) nothing really changed except the new backup vocals being added in.  I thought the was disappointing since this song was actually pretty good on the single but way too long. 

 

 

Basically since this is the final single in this very long era, this single was actually another good and steady single from misono.  “…Suki×××” is a great rock tune and continues to put misono in her comfort zone and while 0-ji Mae no Tsunderella might be a little eh since it’s a ballad, it’s still better than past ballads…maybe except “Me”.  As for the fanclub songs, you might as well just pass them up since they didn’t make the songs any better!

misono – misono Cover ALBUM 2 February 5, 2010

Track Listing

1. TOMORROW
2. misono ga Koibito ni Utatte Hoshii! Ulfuls Medley
3. Amagigoe
4. Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo
5. misono no Seishun Song! Medley
6. Zurui Onna
7. Aa Mujou
8. Ki no Kikanai Cake de Tanjoubi
9. Momen no Handkercheif

1. TOMORROW

No this is not the same TOMORROW from the last “misono Cover ALBUM”.  This time, misono decided to cover one of the bigger songs from the ANNIE musical/movie/w/e.  Of course, if you know misono she changed it so it fits her style and even changed it to a JPN cover of it.  I’m not sure if I remember enough of the original to make a full judgement of it, but misono’s is different.  Like I know misono is capable of making great songs, but it seemed that she let herself go in this song and she was wailing through the loud parts and not in a good way.  Maybe she was trying to be as dramatic as the original, but just didn’t work with me.

2. misono ga Koibito ni Utatte Hoshii! Ulfuls Medley

• Samurai Soul
• Eenen
• Banzai ~Suki de Yokatta~

So just like the previous cover album, misono included two medleys but instead of them being anime covers, misono decided to get down and dirty with specific groups.  The first is a medley of Ulfuls songs (to be honest, I’ve never heard of them).  I love how she just energizes through Samurai Soul like it was one of her songs because she sounds like she’s having fun being edgy.  I just love her flying through the chorus like it’s nothing and just sounds amazing.  Though, some of those lines she goes through are weird to me, but it could’ve been like that in the original.  Eenen to me is rather repetitive because misono says ~eenen~ like everywhere like it’s the only word she knows.  I do like the arrangement and it’s punk and pop at the same time but everytime I start straying into the music I get pulled back by misono repeating ~eenen~ again.  At least she calms her jets for Banzai ~Suki de Yokatta~.  It is the slowest song of the three, but it also has the most control and doesn’t piss me off to no end.  misono sounds good here and since it’s the final song, I think she saved the best for last.  Overall, not a bad medley, but I think she could’ve chose something better than “Eenen”…

3. Amagigoe

I really like the fierceness of Amagigoe because we’re seeing misono is a much harder light, kind of like “Zasetsu Chiten” hard but even better because misono is singing between a sexy way to a more rocking chick.  If this is the enka song she covered then she really pulled the strings for this one.  I just think she really pulled it off.  Amazing song!

4. Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo

Now on the flipside of the coin, Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo goes back to the more poppier sounds from her debut era and that’s not a bad thing either because this is kind of catchy.  There’s just something that sounds nice about it and sounds quite retro.  There’s something different in the sound of misono vocals, like some kind of filter, but I like it. 

5. misono no Seishun Song! Medley

• motto
• Music Fighter
• Jesus! Jesus!
• Lovely Baby
• motto

The other medley featured on the cover album is a collection of JUDY AND MARY songs.  At least I know this band because of TAKUYA and YUKI.  This medley begins with motto and it’s an energetic little tune because there’s just a lot of misono and instruments abound.  It’s not as long because we get into Music Fighter pretty quickly and I love the wacky piano lines that fill in the song even though most of the time misono is ad-libbing before coming in with a surf-like muffled sound, then I notice this was actually Jesus! Jesus!.  I was surprised they didn’t give that last track a longer time.  Lovely Baby though is pretty sweet because it’s energetic, awesome, and has great riffs through it.  Even better is that misono is just as relentless.  I think it couldn’t get better than this part of the medley.  Ending off this medley, we actually go straight back to motto which isn’t necessary a bad thing, but I love the transition into it because it forces Lovely Baby to slow itself down.  I don’t mind it ending it the way did, but I would’ve just ended with the last track.  THOUGH, she ends the medley by saying ~meh, MEH~ it’s like wow I <3 you misono!

6. Zurui Onna

When I saw misono actually covering a Sharam Q song I was floored because of the fact that this is a song that H!P’s Tsunku was involved in.  I think misono wanted to channel a little bit of Tsunku because her vocals are somewhat deeper and trying to convey some kind of sexyness to it, but doing that, it seems kind of strange.  It’s alright for right now, but I think this song should’ve been left alone.

7. Aa Mujou

I was thinking that Aa Mujou would be pretty awesome because it’s different from the other songs.  First off the tune opens up with some synths and then gets into a darker, but still somewhat upbeat arrangement with misono being filtered through the verses.  I like misono better when there’s no filter because she’s actually singing well in the song.  It’s kind of reminescent of some of the “Sei ~say~” stuff, but better here. 

8. Ki no Kikanai Cake de Tanjoubi

OMG, what it is misono doing in the opening? XD  Guessing from the title, it’s supposed to be a wacky song and by how giddy it sounds, I’ve found myself enjoying this.  It’s a bit short though barely passing 3 minutes, but it feels like it goes by even faster.  I think it’s alright, but nothing I’d really listen to alot.

9. Momen no Handkercheif

The final song off the cover album, Momen no Handkercheif is the probably the most calmest song here, with a little more than just acoustics going on, it’s kind of nice.  I mean it’s not like just acoustic like “Tenbin” or even “Last Song”, but it’s kind of more fuller like “Me”.  It definitely gave this album a nice finish.  Though I do laugh when the song picks up speed towards the end and then ends on a quiet note.  Strange, but really cool.

 

 

To me, misono’s 2nd cover album pwns the first one quite nicely.  It shows that she can fly around different genres and make them her own and sound just as she did back in the dat days.  While, she still does have times where her vocals go everywhere on the map, she didn’t do too bad here and I liked this alot. 

misono – Watashi Iro/Bokura Style November 25, 2009

Track Listing

1. Watashi Iro
2. Bokura Style
3. Gerende ga Tokeruhodo Koishitai
4. Watashi Iro (Instrumental)
5. Bokura Style (Instrumental)
6. Gerende ga Tokeruhodo Koishitai (Instrumental)

1. Watashi Iro

While her last single “Lum no Love Song” was exciting and fun, Watashi Iro tones things down this time around.  She returned to the softer songs like “Kazoku no Hi”, but this song is a whole lot stronger, but misono is screaming for a good portion (chorus).  It’s not as memorable as her past singles, but this is pretty cool and at least misono is stable at releasing good songs now.

2. Bokura Style

Why is avex whoring their artists to release two tracks with the same melody?  It’s just weird and it doesn’t work like with Ayu’s and AAA’s.  misono’s though upped the energy to make up for the first A-side.  Since, Bokura Style was the song that was promoted for the single, it’s definitely energetic, but misono is still yelling her heart out.  While I can say that it’s better than “Watashi Iro”, it’s not as good as when her sis did it with “Yume no Uta/Futari de…”.

3. Gerende ga Tokeruhodo Koishitai

I guess to celebrate the winter season, she brings this track on for the ride.  It might not be though…  The song definitely sounds like a more chilled out version of “GIZAGIZA Life” from her sophomore album.  Also, it seems she’s taking it safely across without letting her vocals shatter the song into a million pieces.  It’s not too bad, but it’s definitely a little safe.

 

 

Wow, misono is becoming the release whore this year (after Yui Sakakibara).  Though I really thought she was going somewhere after “Lum no Love Song/”Me” this just feels a little too safe and not enough action.  Add in that the single had the whole “same melody/different lyrics & arrangement” bit going on, it just fails to make a whole identity in itself, but at least the music is better than it was earlier in the year and late last year.

misono – misono Cover ALBUM September 23, 2009

Track Listing

1. misono to Utaou! Animedley I
2. Playback part2
3. Dou ni mo Tomaranai
4. Love Is Over
5. misono to Utaou! Animedley II
6. TOMORROW
7. Complicated
8. DEAR FRIENDS
9. gradually

1. misono to Utaou! Animedley I

• Urusei Yatsura no THEME ~Lum no Love Song
• CAT’S EYE
• Wai Wai World
• Candy Candy
• Attack NO. 1
• Hajimete no Chuu

I’m not surprised that the album starts off with the single representing it.  I’m also fascinated that it sounds a bit different than the single cut because there’s not a hard-driving sound to it.  Lum no Love Song is still a great song even when there’s less going on in it.  CAT’S EYE comes in soon after and takes over with a slower rhythm.  I do like the rhythm, but quickly leaves that song for Wai Wai World which is sickingly cute and sounds like a funny ass song.  Though it seems so random when it enters Candy Candy.  It is cute as well, but with a stronger acoustic sound I thought that was pretty nice and one of the better songs in the medley.  Attack NO. 1 is the slowest song in the medley that even borderlines a ballad and then gets stronger in the chorus and many different things happen with misono and it’s one of the strong songs here.  Ending off the first medley is Hajimete no Chuu which starts off with misono singing and fingers snapping.  I thought it was 0.o and didn’t make sense until that familiar tune came in and took her to the ending.  Overall, this was better than that “Rock Project Medley”.

2. Playback part2

Covering a Momoe Yamaguchi song was an interesting choice for misono since their vocals are so different from each other.  The sound of it sounds rather live like some of her tracks off her sophomore album.  I actually like how there’s some echoing which fits with the song and misono sang the song pretty well.  I like her deeper vocals alot!

3. Dou ni mo Tomaranai

The shortest tune off the album, we get a cover of “this” song which has been covered by Morning Musume last year.  misono’s version of the song sounds rather like the original from Linda Yamamoto and she did a pretty good job controlling herself….except when she does that grunt at the end of the chorus.   Way too forced and awkward and way too short…Oh well.

4. Love Is Over

Another acoustically driven track?  I sense a potential failure here.  Anyways, it’s nice that the guitar isn’t the only instrument here and once again I find myself enjoying her vocals a lot more (even moreso than “Mi”)  I know her emotional driven singing doesn’t sit well with her fans, but I got to say what I’m hearing in this cover was just greatness waiting to happen.  Awesome song.

5. misono to Utaou! Animedley II

• Touch
• Tonchinkanchin Ikkyu-san
• Unbalance na Kiss wo Shite
• Anpanman no March
• Delicate ni Sukishite
• Omoide ga Ippai

Like the first medley we get another set of memorable anime tunes starting with Touch.  Unlike the first medley, we start with an edgier cover of it and misono makes Touch sound really great, especially when she says the title….it’s so catchy.  It oddly moves into the uber cutesy version of Tonchinkanchin Ikkyu-san.  I have to say the transition was good, but once it got into the main melody, it’s so cute and wrong of misono to even step close.  Can I say Pokemon-like?  The next song I did remember from Yu Yu Hakusho, Unbalance na Kiss wo Shite pops up next and brings back the rock back in and she sounded great doing this cover and should’ve released this as the single and not “Lum no Love Song”.  Then messes up again with transitioning into Anpanman no March.  Why would you go back and forth with cute and rock?  Now while it’s style is a march, misono doesn’t sound right doing this song and failed for me.  Delicate ni Sukishite was also another song I’ve heard artists like Shoko and Momoi cover and while Shoko’s pwns, misono’s piano ladened cover was nice and at least didn’t mess up.  Sounding like an ending theme, Omoide ga Ippai rounds out the medley slowly, but it did showcase her squeaky vocals and that I didn’t like much.  At least it ended it nicely right?

6. TOMORROW

What the hell is TOMORROW doing on this album?  Well it’s bolded because it was previously released on her 4th single, “Lovely♥Cat’s Eye” and let me tell you, it’s awkward seeing this on here.  Given, it does fit because it’s a cover of a Mayo Okamoto tune.  You’ll also tell misono’s vocals sound younger and less controlled.  For me it’s nostalgia in her career and it’s a rather good cover given the time this was released.

7. Complicated

Ew, why oh why did they had to put this track on here.  It sticks out like a sore thumb like AAA’s “Minna Star!”.  It is the lone English track on here and while it’s a Avril Lavigne cover it doesn’t save the fact this was just one more respect point lost for the Koda family.  While misono doesn’t have the worse Engrish, she does sound rather horrible singing in English.  I’m sorry but it is the worst tune here.  She should’ve stuck her 11 eleven cover from her “Pochi” single instead.

8. DEAR FRIENDS

Another ballad comes in this album and it’s DEAR FRIENDS.  Sadly, it’s another song that just ruins the mood for me.  misono is singing so badly at the start and that’s because of the shrill vocals the are in it.  The song picks up a little bit, but it doesn’t help misono with her failing assault.  Ok, this might be the worst song.

9. gradually

Huh, she’s covering a day after tomorrow track….her old band?  It sucks they took out the strings of the original and replaced it with acoustic guitar.  I’ll admit she sounds a bit exact like when it was sung then.  Though I do hear improvements, but I do miss that dat sound….or what we like to call it today the (GIRL NEXT DOOR sound).  I still think it’s an alright song.

 

 

misono finally releases something that’s worthwhile.  Even though “Sei ~say~” was a good album, misono Cover ALBUM is just as strong and it’s just cover songs.  I did feel the fire starting to dim after TOMORROW, but everything before it is surprisingly good even for her.  Now it’s time for that 3rd studio album misono GET ON IT!

misono – Urusei Yatsura no Theme ~Lum no Love Song~/”Me”

Track Listing

1. Urusei Yatsura no Theme ~Lum no Love Song~
2. “Me”
3. Urusei Yatsura no Theme ~Lum no Love Song~ (Instrumental)
4. “Me” (Instrumental)

1. Urusei Yatsura no Theme ~Lum no Love Song~

I’m finally happy to see misono get back to good stuff.  While it is a cover song that’s been covered by Nana Kitade, Shoko Nakagawa, and Momoi Haruko, misono’s version is just right and with her rockish sound, I think it rather worked.  The problem is that it’s 3 minutes and it seems to go by so damn fast.  Then again we get to here the ~suki yo~ line which is my favorite part.  For a cover, she’s done awesomely.

2. “Me”

The B-side is a misono original and once again an acoustic track.  Now if you’ve read my previous reviews of her acoustic songs, they aren’t good at all.  It really shows the worst of her vocals as they are whiny and abrasive to the ears.  “Me” though breaks that monotomy of fail with an actual nice sounding acoustic ballad.  Sometimes she does go into a cute pitch that throws the song off, besides that, it’s her best acoustic track right now.

 

 

I’m not entirely sure where this single fits…meaning if it’s in the 3rd album era or the “misono Cover ALBUM” era.  I know Lum no Love Song is in the first medley off the album so that could be it, then again with “Me” on the single it could be both maybe.  Anyways, this is so far my favorite single of the era because they showed both sides of misono without the shrieking vocals we have gotten with the last few singles.

misono – Tales with misono-BEST June 10, 2009

Track Listing

1. Starry Heavens
2. Soshite Boku ni Dekiru Koto
3. VS
4. Lovely♥Cat’s Eye
5. Ninin Sankyaku
6. Tales… (bonus track)

1. Starry Heavens

We begin this mini-album with a dat track which kind of beats the purpose of a “just-only misono” song.  I continue to not find anything that’s really special about this song, but I guess since it is the bands most well-known track, I can’t argue with that.  misono does sound pretty good overall and I quite like the fact that she isn’t screaming her head off.

2. Soshite Boku ni Dekiru Koto

Oddly enough this was my first song that I ever heard from day after tomorrow and misono, so I’ve easily fell in love with it.  Why it wasn’t an A-side surprises me (which by the way this was a B-side from “lost angel).  Now this is a pretty sweet track borderlining epic because misono is just right for the song and I love the guitar riffs in the verses and the after chorus.  I have to say one of my favorite songs from them.

3. VS

Then we leave dat for misono’s solo songs and VS is up first.  Everyone states that there hasn’t been anything quite that good in misono’s career since this song, which is actually false because there’s others.  VS was a pretty nice debut overall and she sang it with pretty good vocals compared to “end=START” which I’ll agree her vocals are not as good as they are here.  I really like this track and its accompanying PV.

3. Lovely♥Cat’s Eye

Whee, the cat song comes up next and I really don’t see how this track got a tie-in through the Tales series.  Like “VS”, this track has some very exciting moments and I love the chorus to death since it’s all loud and all the various cat moments made the song even better.  I do hear some guys voice in the background during the 2nd bridge…I never heard that…well whichever, this song is still good.

5. Ninin Sankyaku

The only song to actually have Tales in the PV, Ninin Sankyaku was a breath of fresh air in the second era because this was just damn good and I was happy to hear something epic.  I really love the after-chorus where she’s backed away from the microphone, that was just too cool misono!  Still, this track was just a great song to represent the games and it shows.

6. Tales…

OH!, here as a bonus is a new track from misono…Though as I listen along to the song it actually screams day after tomorrow especially comparing the arrangement against “Ninin Sankyaku”  Actually, looking at it, it might be an unused song from the group because misono does sound a bit younger and the song sounds a little aged.  The song though sounds like a mix of the mehness of “Starry Heavens” and guitar moments of “Soshite Boku ni Dekiru Koto”.  That’s not good thing either, since the track is pretty boring still.  Oh well, but I really do think it’s an unreleased dat track.

 

 

misono’s first best-of doesn’t exactly scream NEED TO BUY, but it’s a good collection of songs from the Tales series.  I do think misono’s solo stuff outshines the dat stuff and that shows that misono is doing better sounding off as a solo artist rather than being in a group….(imagine if misono was still in dat, it’d be like GND).  The new track was different, but y’know give credit where it’s due….it’s a dat track xD