Asriel – Sequentia November 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Sequentia
2. Kagami no Yami wo Ugachite
3. Sequentia (Off Vocal)
4. Kagami no Yami wo Ugachite (Off Vocal)

1. Sequentia

After their album releases, Asriel returns to release another single in Sequentia, a pretty rockin’ track.  The dark gothic feeling hasn’t been any better than this for the duo and I’m happy for that.  KOKOMI’s vocals for the most part are alright, but she’s still gotten better than earlier this year.  It’s an interesting song altogether so I’m happy with this release.

2. Kagami no Yami wo Ugachite

The B-side is just like the A-side, but with the synths removed and more guitars from Kurose.  The first thing I noticed about the song was that KOKOMI was somewhat singing in a deeper tone, that is until she hit the chorus and her vocals started creating very terrible moments.  It’s very loud and in your face though so it’s not that bad.

 

 

While Asriel doesn’t have that many memorable tunes, I’ll say Sequentia is going in the right direction.  Both songs exhibit very energetic performances from both members and it’s not too low on the quality scale, they problem is that they don’t have a hook IMO which is probably the reason why for me not getting into them fully.  Still it’s alright.

Yui Sakakibara – EVERGREEN November 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Jounetsu no partita
2. Gessei no Kanon
3. Aqua Voice
4. Sakura Philosophy
5. Pink×Otome = Koi
6. Happy Day♪
7. Switch on♪
8. Tsurugi no Mai
9. Unmei no Revolution
10. Netsujou STORY
11. Melody Time
12. Kitto Yume to Yuki de Dekiteiru
13. Katayoku no Icarus

1. Jounetsu no partita

While I’ve said that Yui is an enigma to music, I find myself doing that one again.  The first song of this album, Jounetsu no partita is rather folkish and kind of vocally correct.  It’s got a smooth flowing arrangement and since it’s Yui singing I’m happy that she sounds so good and I’m content.

2. Gessei no Kanon

I’ll eventually get to reviewing this single, but Gessei no Kanon is pretty sweet as well.  For first thing, Yui is actually more deeper in singing here and the arrangement feels like a mix of pop/rock, anime, and a little rock.  There’s just something about it that just works for me.  The chorus is a little shady, but it’s way better than what she’s been releasing recently.

3. Aqua Voice

Making it’s return from Yui’s album, “JOKER”, Aqua Voice wasn’t really that memorable from the album because it was mixed with multitudes of other happy-pop songs.  Here it’s the first song with the whole seiyuu touch and honestly, it’s not really such a good thing to have and I know I’ve said that a bajillion times, but it’s quite true. 

4. Sakura Philosophy

If I remember right, this was featured in a joint single with Ringo Aoba.  Now, Sakura Philosophy features Yui’s seiyuu vocals, but their oddly smooth in the song and not as jarring as previous songs have held.  The music is happy of course and since it’s a anime song, it’s got a certain flair to it.

5. Pink×Otome = Koi

I knew right from the title that this was going to be painfully cute, but at least the song is more electro based than the previous cute pop side.  Her voice is still pretty meh to me, but the song is rather catchy and fills the gap for a good electro song on the album.

6. Happy Day♪

The oldest song off the album, coming from her 3rd album “princess” it’s actually the worst song I’ve came upon the album so far.  This is just hardcore seiyuu-flavored and her vocals are really hard to stand as well.  Even the whole “uber-happy” was getting on my nerves here.  PASS!

7. Switch on♪

Found as the B-side to “Katayoku no Icarus”, Switch on♪ unfortunately follows into the horrible footsteps of the last tracks.  The only thing that really made it stand out was that it wasn’t in the really cheesy pop sound.  It’s a little bit cheesy, but it’s not to the point to where I deem it unlistenable.  Still, the voice has to go.

8. Tsurugi no Mai

I was surprised when Tsurugi no Mai came in with its harder electronica sound and I thought it definitely didn’t fit after the previous two tracks because Yui is channeling her “PHANTASM” vocals here and I loved every moment of the song.  I’m not sure why she has to put her voice through such stress like the previous songs, and then pull this out of her hat and sound amazing.

9. Unmei no Revolution

Then we get into “Gessei no Kanon’s” B-side Unmei no Revolution and just like the single, we get back into the more edgier sound and what an opening Unmei no Revolution has.  I didn’t expect Yui to actually yell hardcore to this.  It’s definitely like her PHANTASM work, but definitely lighter since it’s not all gothic and the like.  Sweet, sweet song.

10. Netsujou STORY

While I don’t think it officially appeared in Yui’s discography, Netsujou STORY like all the previous tracks have been involved with Elements Garden one way or another.  Netsujou STORY goes back to what the beginning of the album was, a little of folk and the rest being anime with the strings and such.  I really liked the epicness of the song and it just felt epic too.

11. Melody Time

I thought Melody Time was going to be a ballad, but it seems to be just a jazzy piano-ladened song.  While I did enjoy this new composition for Yui, her vocals seemed to be leading back into the place where I don’t want it to be.  I guess it’s alright since the music was interesting and kind of chill. 

12. Kitto Yume to Yuki de Dekiteiru

Well, this song definitely reminded me a little bit of both “Melody Time” and “Netsujou STORY”.  It’s slow-paced like the former and has the music progression in the latter.  I’ll admit her vocals have gotten a little better, but not much. 

13. Katayoku no Icarus

Did she save the best for last?  Being the earliest of the A-sides on the album, I really loved the heavy folk sound she incorporated here.  There’s a sense of exploration going through the song and I know I enjoy these kinds of songs…that is until she gets into the chorus where she whips out the meh vocals, but luckily they aren’t too wacky.  It does make for a good final track at least.

Tracks Recommended

• Tsurugi no Mai
• Unmei no Revolution
• Jounetsu no partita
• Netsujou STORY
• Gessei no Kanon

While I’m not sure if this was a best-of or not, EVERGREEN was a whole lot stronger than most of her other album releases this year.  While the album is about all the tracks she’s done for the Elements Garden series.  Though looking at the album, it’s all over the place in arrangements.  Even the vocals were all different and that kind of impressed me and shows she’s got talent in the things she does.  It’s still no “END PROPHECY” but this would probably the next best thing after it.

Mano Erina – Love&Peace = Paradise November 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Love&Peace = Paradise
2. Love&Peace = Paradise feat. Hello Kitty
3. 18sai no Kisetsu
4. Love&Peace = Paradise (Instrumental)

1. Love&Peace = Paradise

While it seems Manoeri has been slowly getting better as a vocalist, it seems that this song is actually vocally strong and doesn’t sound like her previous efforts.  It does have a cute, wintry sound to go along with it and it’s not as bad as her previous songs…those were trainwrecks XD

2. Love&Peace = Paradise feat. Hello Kitty

Oh jeeze, lay on the cheese factor for the obvious huh?  Well, it seems that the song was edited a little bit.  Though only detection that’s really hitting me is that Manoeri isn’t singing along and to be honest, I’d rather have it just be one person.  The harmonization is just almost bad, but the song is just the same as before, so it’s peppy and cute. 

3. 18sai no Kisetsu

The B-side of the single, toned down the level of peppyness and raised the cuteness factor high.  It’s a simple song and I feel myself clapping along with it which is embarassing in itself, but I can’t help but enjoy this song a lot. 

 

 

I have to say, this single is one her best released in her career.  Her vocals are strong and yet still carry the cute quite nicely.  I would pass up the version with Hello Kitty, because it’s not as good as Manoeri’s solo version.  The B-side was cute and simple and that’s what I liked about it.  Shame that the single isn’t going to be represented on her upcoming album, “FRIENDS”.

Best-of Albums, Remix, etc., Jan. to June November 25, 2009

So while it’s close to the end of the year, I thought I’d go through and review the albums that I didn’t do this year, starting chronologically of course

FEBRUARY

Tommy february6 – Strawberry Cream Soda Pop “Daydream”

Well, the first best-of on my site was the simultaneous release of Tomoko’s solo projects.  The first is Tommy February6’s best-of album which featured all the singles “EVERYDAY AT THE BUS STOP” to “♥Lonely in Gorgeous♥”.  After that there’s a hodge-podge of album tracks included which is strange because some of them would have not made it on IMO…where’s “ThE RoSe fraGranCe”?.  Anyways, at the end of the album, there’s a brand spanking new track which is aptly titled “◯Strawberry●Cream◯Soda●Pop◯”.  I honestly wanted more new material since Tf6 has been off the radar for a long time, so I was disappointed in the fact there was one new song.  Still it was a pretty awesome collection and the DVD with all the singles PV’s and the new tracks would make this a good buy.  BTW, why is “T.O.M.M.Y.” even on here?

Tommy Heavenly6 – Gothic Melting Ice Cream’s Darkness “Nightmare”

 

On the other side of Tomoko’s releases this actually wasn’t the final release for Th6 (remember I KILL MY HEART? *shudders*).  Anyway, this best of was dressed just like Strawberrys, y’know singles, then album tracks and then the new track “Unlimited Sky”.  I actually enjoyed this tracklist a lot more since I liked most of them to begin with, but once again more new material would’ve been nice, but at least “PAPERMOON” was released a little before, so we knew she wasn’t dead.

MARCH

AAA – AAA REMIX ~non-stop all singles~

Not soon after they released their 4th studio album, “depArture”, they decided to release this heavy release out to the fans.  Yes, it’s a remix album, but one that’s continuous through all the tracks.  While it does feature 27 tracks…it doesn’t feature all of their singles *how evil, avex*.  It doesn’t include “Climax Jump” or “Izayuke Wakataka Gundan 2007″.  While I mostly don’t enjoy remix albums, I liked the idea of linking all the tracks together.

Mika Nakashima – NO MORE RULES.

After “VOICE” Mika announced something…while we spent the rest of 2008 trying to figure out what the hell she was releasing, NO MORE RULES. turned out to be a compilation of the songs Mika sang for KANEBO (makeup company).  Honestly, since the tracklist is chronological with the exception of albums lone new song, “GAME” it feels more like a best-of.  It’s a pretty good collection of songs, and would make a good album to start with Mika.

Gackt – SLO-PACHINKO GLADIATOR EVOLUTION OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK

Before the mess of releasing a bajillion singles started happening, Gackt quietly released this little ditty between “GHOST” and “Journey through the Decade”.  Now, it seems that this release was just only sold at the places that had the pachinko game.  A good portion of the songs were rearranged to fit the game better but songs like “Jesus” were kept the same.  Also, it features a new song from Gackt called “Kagerou”.  Interesting release, but damn it wasn’t really talked about alot.

Anna Tsuchiya – xxxRemixxxxxxx!!!!!!! SHOW!

Next we have Anna releasing this remix album.  While I didn’t download the album, I know that while it mostly new remixes for the songs that were from “NUDY SHOW!”, they snuck in some old ones too like “BUBBLE TRIP’s”, “Crazy World’s”, and “Virgin Cat’s”.  Besides that, everything else is new stuff. 

BoA – BEST & USA

Coming out a little before BoA’s American debut, BEST & USA was basically meant to promote this album clearly.  Now the first thing to look at was the BEST part of this release.  The tracklist is all over the place, but it does feature all the A-sides from “OUTGROW’s” era to the “Eien” single.  Though it’s missing some secondary A-sides, and since Vivid didn’t have an A-side period, “Sparkling” was put in.  There was also new version of both “Meri Kuri” and “VALENTI” but they ended up both falling flat when compared to its original.  Now the USA is obviously what it is, her debut album, I’ve already reviewed that so I won’t talk about it xD

Sowelu – Sowelu THE BEST 2002-2009

Sowelu’s final release under SONY, her best-of comes in two CDs!  The first of the two has all the songs chronologically placed from her debut single, “across my heart” to “Shiawase no Chikara”.  Not that any of them were really that amazing to begin with (exception being “glisten”).  The second of the disc continues her discography to “Wish”.  Then things start getting wonky when she puts in all the songs she’s covered for the majority of the second before rounding out with her final single, “MATERIAL WORLD” & new song “AINOTE”.  It’s good for the Sowelu fans because it features all the PV’s she’s done up to “MATERIAL WORLD” plus more. 

Koda Kumi – Out Works & Collaborations Best

While this album was supposed to have been released last year, but due to Kuu’s big mouth about amniotic fluids the idea was postponed until after “TRICK” was released.  By the title, it features most if not all the collaborations Kuu did in her career and has the digital single “Get It On”.  It’s a wacky collection of songs and most of them weren’t that good to begin with.  I mean “It’s a small world”….really? 

Koda Kumi – Driving Hit’s

A Kuu remix album too?  Jeeze, girl has been releasing a lot in early 2009.  Now Driving Hit’s I guess has a concept and supposedly would fit for drivers.  The entire album actually has a bunch of new remixes.  There’s only a few old remixes, mostly from the last two eras that came before this.  Strangely enough as well, the first and last tracks weren’t remixed at all.  “Lady Go!” and “Driving” would be song I probably wouldn’t have remixed anyway.

T.M.Revolution – T.M.REVOLUTION SINGLES COLLECTION 96-99 -GENESIS-

While I wouldn’t call it a “total” best-of, this actual box-set collection of Takanori & Daisuke’s first 11 singles.  Basically “Dokusai -monopolize-” to “WILD RUSH”.  Another quiet release, but it does mean 320 capabilities right?

APRIL

miyavi – VICTORY ROAD TO THE KING OF NEO VISUAL ROCK

Before going on hiatus to deal with his new daughter that popped out of melody. vajayjay, miyavi released his best-of album which chronicles through his major label debut to his last single of his last album.  While there’s nothing new here.  Probably one of the meh, best-ofs of the year.

 

 

Here’s the all the bests released in the first half of 2009.  I’ll do the second half when the covers for a few of them appear.  Let me tell ya, it’s a big amount as well LOL

sphere – Kaze wo Atsumete/Brave my heart November 25, 2009

Track Listing

1. Kaze wo Atsumete
2. Brave my heart
3. Kaze wo Atsumete (off vocal)
4. Brave my heart (off vocal)

1. Kaze wo Atsumete

While it’s still no “Future Stream”. Kaze wo Atsumete is definitely poppy for sure.  It seems to run in the cutesy factor heavily like some H!P stuff, but it’s not as tacky as “Super Noisy Nova” was luckily.  About the girls, they try to sound good together, but some of them can’t hit high notes and their vocals can be jarring, but then again 4 seiyuus in a group together is an odd idea in itself. 

2. Brave my heart

Just like how “Dangerous girls” was, Brave my heart sounds like another Buono! song, but there’s still something about it that actually works here.  It’s still pretty typical sounding and sounds a little aged at points.  I think the good thing is that the energy is here and Haruka didn’t yell her out (then again I couldn’t tell where she was the entire time).

 

 

Ending off sphere’s debut era, Kaze wo Atsumete/Brave my heart was definitely a step up after that last single for sure.  The girls didn’t scream as much and the music is a little more interesting.  Though I’m still wanting another euro song like their debut…maybe there’ll be one on the album.

Yui Sakakibara – Komorebi no Sordino November 25, 2009

Track Listing

1. Komorebi no Sordino
2. Hollow ~Akatsuki no Sora ni~
3. Komorebi no Sordino -off vocal-
4. Hollow ~Akatsuki no Sora ni~ -off vocal-

1. Komorebi no Sordino

It seems that Yui is an enigma when it really comes to music.  Komorebi no Sordino is an acoustic-based song, but once again I’m not exactly feeling her in this song since her vocals are really whiny and seiyuu-ish AGAIN!  Honestly though, it sounds like a Nana Kitade song more than anything else.  I’m not sure why but damn, she can do better than this.

2. Hollow ~Akatsuki no Sora ni~

Which is why the B-side is easily the better song.  Her vocals are more together and not shrill as it was.  I really do like pop/rock feel of it and the added synths made it more fun-sounding.  Her vocals do sometimes go into a dangerous zone, but otherwise it’s been the best thing since “Yeeeeel!” so that must mean something.

 

 

While I’m unsure where this her career is going besides her doing all anime songs, Komorebi no Sordino was alright and better than her last single, but I’m still not getting the great vocals in her PHANTASM days (which she’s releasing a new single under that, totes excited).  The A-side had those meh vocals and Hollow too, but the latter at least had an interesting arrangement…

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.

SAWA – Swimming Dancing November 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. Swimming Dancing
2. World-Wide Tea Party
3. Swimming Dancing -RYUKYUDISKO Remix-
4. World-Wide Tea Party -Kentaro Takizawa BIG ROOM Remix-
5. ManyColors -Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix-
6. Stars -Jazzin’park 31 good night Remix-
7. Swimming Dancing -Extended Club Mix- (Limited Edition only)
8. Stars -Jazzin’park 32 good morning Remix- (Limited Edition only)

1. Swimming Dancing

When I read the news that Taku from m-flo was going to produce SAWA’s next single, I thought it was farce and totally out of his way, but then came the covers and I was wondering where he was going to take her.  Honestly, Taku has a thing for making his women scream in their songs with the exception being Rie fu (weird huh?).  Still, I have to say I’m in LOVE with Swimming Dancing.  It’s a great electronica track that fits in with the other Taku songs that were amazingly shown off this year.  The best thing though, is the PV that went with the song.  I’ve never seen SAWA look so serious and yet sexy at the same time.  What an amazing song.

2. World-Wide Tea Party

The lone other track, World-Wide Tea Party starts off with a lone piano before the synths kind of mesh in with it.  SAWA starts off the song pretty nice and it kind of rubs off as a darker song.  When the chorus comes in the song gets more digital and darker and sounds a little like Sowelu’s “MATERIAL WORLD” but, more focused on the piano and less on the synths.  It’s interesting, but it’s not “Swimming Dancing”.

3. Swimming Dancing -RYUKYUDISKO Remix-

The first of the many remixes on this mini-album, is rather experimental for sure.  Instead of the loudness of the original, it seems things have been taken down a level and SAWA’s vocals has definitely been toned down in volume and filtered out as well.  It’s a more naturistic take of the original, and while it feels more like what the cover was expressing, it’s not bad.

4. World-Wide Tea Party -Kentaro Takizawa BIG ROOM Remix-

Unlike the originals darker route, the remix for World-Wide Tea Party feels right and even better than the original take of it.  It’s got an awesome beat going and SAWA’s vocals didn’t seem so out of place.  I have to give props to Kentaro for making such a great remix.

5. ManyColors -Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix-

Hmmm, I’m actually surprised she’d dive back and bring ManyColors back to be remixed.  Now my initial complain for the original was because of her vocals were ear-piercing.  Well, she didn’t resing this at all, but I feel like ManyColors isn’t too bad given the right arrangement and luckily Yukihiro redid the arrangement to not be so jarring.  In other words, good remix.

6. Stars -Jazzin’park 31 good night Remix-

Yep, the other indies lead song, Stars is an amazing song when you look at it.  I mean seriously that was electronica genius from RAM RIDER.  On here, it’s been remixed twice by the same guys and yet they differ from each other quite a lot.  The good night version is a great remix since it represents the night side quite nicely (and even throws a guitar solo)

7. Swimming Dancing -Extended Club Mix-

Yeah, its a club mix, so everyone should know how they start up.  Since it’s not really that much longer than the original, there’s nothing much to really note about the song, but damn Swimming Dancing is one hot song.

8. Stars -Jazzin’park 31 good morning Remix-

On the other side of the coin, the good morning remix of Stars feels like waking up for sure.  Then again, can you see stars when you wake up in the morning?  I really like the energetic latinness of the song and it’s fun and simply easy on the ears. 

 

 

Hands down, this entire single is the best thing she’s released in her career.  Swimming Dancing in nothing short of amazing and ranks up with “Stars” as her best song.  World-Wide Tea Party is rather unusual for both SAWA and Taku….not the usual fare.  Honestly, the single really took off with all of the remixes.  They were so far apart from the original and yet sounded so much better than other remixes.  It’s rather awesome *RECOMMENDED*

GIRL NEXT DOOR – Orion November 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. Orion
2. Toki no Shizuku
3. Drive away (GOGO’s Remix)
4. Orion (Instrumental)

1. Orion

It took GND long enough to finally change their game up.  Unlike all of the previous singles, Orion (how original) is a ballad more than anything, but sadly you can still feel that if they added guitars, it would’ve fallen under another bland GND.  Sadly, that does happen once we get into the 2nd chorus…oh well, so much for getting better at their music.  Though I’ll admit that CHISA sounds better here than she ever did before. 

2. Toki no Shizuku

Then we get into the lone B-side, Toki no Shizuku.  It’s another ballad, but it’s more like “If” because of it’s dangerous length of 7 minutes.  Though right now, I think it’s leagues better than “Orion” becuase I don’t feel that “Daisuke Suzuki” issue that’s been plaguing the group since their debut.  So, right there this is original.  Really pretty song.

3. Drive away (GOGO’s Remix)

Damn, why are we getting another remix of “Drive away”?  I really love the original cut, so any remixes IMO are just secondary to it.  Basically, the remix is a heavier trance version of the song.  Take out the main melody, leave the lyrics and up the energy and you get this song.  After a while, the sheer loudness of the song will take over and just bother you to no end.

 

 

While this is GND’s 4th single of the era, I’m expecting album news pretty soon from them.  Orion is a much lighter view on the winter season unlike the winter songs from “GIRL NEXT DOOR”, but it’s a nice track, but a little too formulaic because of the group itself.  Toki no Shizuku is really pretty and since it lacked the reason why “Orion” was somewhat of a bust, it should’ve easily been the A-side.  The remix, fail!

Diggy-MO’ – Arcadia November 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. Arcadia
2. Drifting Away
3. LOVE KILLS DREAM KILLS

1. Arcadia

I really like the beats and strings that opened up Arcadia.  It definitely has this feel to it, like it has the feeling of like being in a castle.  Now, I’m still trying to get used to his more nasally set of vocals and the times he says ~arcadia~ is pretty disturbing, the song is a whole lot better than his last one for sure.  He struggles with parts of the song, but it’s nice otherwise.

2. Drifting Away

I was pretty scared getting into this song because it sounded so western (i mean like cowboys & such).  We’re back into Diggy rapping himself along the song and IMO is kind of failing hard because it feels that it should’ve been an interlude more than anything else.  It’s very bad, down to being excrutiatingly horrible.  PASS HARDCORE.

3. LOVE KILLS DREAM KILLS

Just like his last single, the 2nd B-side is more electro based and LKDK definitely fills that bill.  Diggy is rapping in a deeper tone and it works with the almsot barren arrangement, though it fills up with extra synths and xylophone.  It’s more than likely the best song I’ve heard from him since adding him to the site so that wins.

 

 

Clearly, Arcadia was a definite step from “ToMiTaMi ToMiTaMo”.  Arcadia & LOVE KILLS DREAM KILLS were definitely better produced and a whole lot more interesting than the stuff on the last single minus “PSYCHE PSYCHE”.  However, it’s biggest blow was the uber terrible Drifting Away…rap and country do not mix, period!