Ayumi Hamasaki – Endless sorrow June 24, 2010

Track Listing

1. Endless sorrow
2. vogue “Kirari Natsu Ayu Mix”
3. Endless sorrow “Natural Green Dub Mix”
4. Endless sorrow “nicely nice skyblue remix”
5. NEVER EVER “Dub’s Uncategorized Mix 001”
6. Endless sorrow “Ram’s Advance Mix”
7. Endless sorrow “Brent Mini’s gothic mix”
8. Endless sorrow “Liquid Heart Mix”
9. Endless sorrow “Juicy Ariyama Mix”
10. Endless sorrow -Instrumental-

1. Endless sorrow

I’m surprised Ayu is keeping with this rockish mood for the era because Endless sorrow is definitely another grand song from Ayu.  It’s also a song that sounds relatively sad and vocally one of Ayu’s strongest songs and I quite like that.  Especially with the high notes she hits in the bridge.  I think it might be her most powerful song yet…then again “M” is a hard song to pass.  Love Endless sorrow

2. vogue “Kirari Natsu Ayu Mix”

While it has been a while since we’ve seen a vogue remix.  Anyhow, this remix gives vogue a rather sweet R&B style and it has harp, and acoustic guitar and of course those ever so needed beats.  It’s pretty and the various sounds of nature do help the song sound so light and cute.  Not a bad remix.

3. Endless sorrow “Natural Green Dub Mix”

I thought by her last single “NEVER EVER” that there wasn’t going to be a worse remix…but here we are with this rather icky remix for Endless sorrow.  It sounds like it’s in a factory and the spacey synths really just don’t do anything for me and sounds like it’s purposely dragging.  Very bad remix.

4. Endless sorrow “nicely nice skyblue remix”

At least the next remixes remedies that trainwreck by sounding upbeat and easy to dance to.  I thought it was kind of cool that they made Endless sorrow this way and for the most part it came out nicely.  Though I didn’t like when they messed with Ayu’s vibrato…that was bad.  Otherwise, it’s a good remix with an upbeat nature hiding sad lyrics lol.

5. NEVER EVER “Dub’s Uncategorized Mix 001”

I don’t think there’ll be an exactly good remix for NEVER EVER and it showed through the last single and with this remix.  The vocals just do not match the remix’s space-ish theme.  Even with Ayu’s vocals being filtered didn’t help at all.  Pass this remix.

6. Endless sorrow “Ram’s Advance Mix”

One of the worst remixes on the single, Ram’s Advance was just filler because it really didn’t feature much of the song and when it did, it was just only bits and pieces which made it that more annoying.  I was like…is this over yet?  and saw the almost 8 minute time and I was like done with it.

7. Endless sorrow “Brent Mini’s gothic mix”

Wow, I actually kind of liked the dark glow for our next remix of the A-side.  It’s dark and Ayu’s voice fits nicely in the song, although it’s covered up by the arrangement a lot of the time.  That is until the chorus where she gets loud and her vocals are filtered once again.  Not too bad of a remix.

8. Endless sorrow “Liquid Heart Mix”

So this remix has a rather nice summer feel going for it and for the most part I really liked that but once again hated that Ayu was being easily overpowered by the music.  Not much really happens since the song doesn’t fully go anywhere, but at least it’s nice and slow.

9. Endless sorrow “Juicy Ariyama Mix”

Kind of starting a little like the original, this remix goes up being a club mix and I don’t mind it here much because it’s faster and has a pretty sound going.  It’s like some of her older remixes but actually done right. 

 

 

I liked Endless sorrow as the main song because it’s one of Ayu’s most powerful songs…but all the remixes felt rather weak to me.  Maybe she needs better remixers like right now…or just drop them now x.x

Ayumi Hamasaki – NEVER EVER

Track Listing

1. NEVER EVER
2. NEVER EVER “Yuta’s prayer mix”
3. SEASONS “H-H remix”
4. NEVER EVER “PROJECT O.T MIX”
5. NEVER EVER “Laugh & Peace MIX”
6. NEVER EVER “Empty Pot Shuttlecock wood”
7. evolution “Ayu Can Hear U Mix”
8. NEVER EVER “nicely nice hot stab remix”
9. NEVER EVER “tears of aquarius mix”
10. NEVER EVER (Instrumental)

1. NEVER EVER

As the 3rd A-side of the era, it seems NEVER EVER continues this rather different sounding Ayu which clearly is getting better to listen to because unlike “evolution” and “M” this is a pretty weird ballad.  The arrangement in the verses are creepy and has this orgel-ish thing going before the chorus where she totally kicks ass and brings out guitars and all this rock.  That being said, the song is one of those bipolar mood songs haha.  I love the guitar solos and such, but it just seems like two worlds just forced together to make a song.  I can see the power of the song, it’s just hard to fathom going through them in this sort of fashion.

2. NEVER EVER “Yuta’s prayer mix”

Of the opening for our first remix of NEVER EVER, I do like the weird clap and blooping from the start.  At least when the synths start coming in it takes the song as a happier light and giving it a positive arrangement was a smart idea.  Sadly there’s not a lot going on still and feels rather empty for a remix.  At least the piano was a nice touch?

3. SEASONS “H-H remix”

Has there really bad an excrutiatingly bad remix of SEASONS yet?  I found it funny there kept repeating this ~Are, are, are you ready for the brawl~ line, but that was pretty annoying after a while.  Luckily Ayu came in to replace him with the chorus of SEASONS.  The remix is a eurobeat remix so it’s going to be pretty heavy and catchy.  Interesting remix.

4. NEVER EVER “PROJECT O.T MIX”

Eh, I never was a fan for this remix since it just feels oddly strange period.  I mean why is there harp in the remix with these strange “exploding sounds” to try to make it cooler.  I don’t think it works with NEVER EVER at all. especially with that chorus that sounded way off with the music.

5. NEVER EVER “Laugh & Peace MIX”

I’m starting to notice that L&P are starting to replace HAL with a remix on each single and I’m getting a bit more annoyed with these remixes.  At least for the most part they do it right, though this one was pretty boring and just went nowhere for the most part, but at least the chorus sounded nice.  Still, I just didn’t care for this remix at all.

6. NEVER EVER “Empty Pot Shuttlecock wood”

What is up with these funky remix titles?  Just like the last one, this remix is trying to be laidback and in the process came off as way too laidback and boring once again.  At least they added an echo effect to her voice to try to make it more out there, but the arrangement was just pulling down the song.  Maybe the low strings/synths were nice but I was already falling asleep by that time.

7. evolution “Ayu Can Hear U Mix”

What is up with the synthed up voice?  That caught me off guard and asked for a giggle.  I do like the opening for it where this beep happens with more synths building on each other somewhat.  It’s a pretty freaky opening, but when Ayu comes in with her lines the song gets better and it’s an easy remix and doesn’t move all over the place.

8. NEVER EVER “nicely nice hot stab remix”

It also seems we’ll be getting remixes from nicely nice a whole lot too.  For their take of NEVER EVER, it’s a bit like their previous ones that sounded pretty good.  Almost a classy synth remix, it takes NEVER EVER and really gives a sweet dose of fancy class 80’s-ish synthpop.  It’s not the best nicely nice remix, but tis good.

9. NEVER EVER “tears of aquarius mix”

Rounding out the single, the tears of aquarius mix of NEVER EVER is actually quite ethereal for a remix (like a few others previous).  However, the R&B beat wasn’t needed here IMO and kind of made the song sound rather awkward.  To be honest it was awkward listening to this remix.

 

 

I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t a fan of the single.  I’m not sure why I don’t like NEVER EVER, even the remixes for SEASONS and evolution aren’t as good as previous ones.  At least the remixes for the A-side were at least better than the remixes of the last single…but still not that great.

Ayumi Hamasaki – evolution

Track Listing

1. evolution
2. evolution “Dub’s Floor Remix Transport 004”
3. evolution “DJ REMO-CON REMIX”
4. End of the World “Laugh & Peace MIX”
5. evolution “BOOM・BASS・Ayumix”
6. evolution “Oriental Hot SPA”
7. SURREAL “nicely nice electron’00 remix”
8. evolution “Huge terrestrial birth mix”
9. evolution “LAW IS Q mix”
10. evolution (Instrumental)

1. evolution

“M” might’ve been the song that brought the faithful fans to really see her…but evolution brought the majority of the fans that didn’t wholly pay attention to her and it showed quite immensely.  evolution is Ayu’s bread and butter song and I can agree this song is just epic.  I thought from the start it was going to be M pt. 2, but the song switched moods all-around from a sweet and slow opening to a rockin’ song.  It also brought out Ayu’s quick tongue style of singing because how many of us can really sing that chorus fully?  Thought so.  Yes, evolution was also my first Ayu song so that being said it has a special place for me.  Amazing song and still is performed today…albeit quite badly XD

2. evolution “Dub’s Floor Remix Transport 004”

I’ll be honest and say I didn’t enjoy the remix because for the most part it was just playing the same rhythm and sounds that really got old quick.  It’s good for those of you that rave but for me there’s just too much repeating…cept the verses Ayu had in the mix.

3. evolution “DJ REMO-CON MIX”

It’s sad that the first two remixes on the single were just way too damn long as well with this being the longer of the two.  I do know of REMO-CON’s remixes and this one is more or less what I’ve heard already, but I do love that he actually used the slow opening before building to his trance style.  Sadly, the beat doesn’t really fit with Ayu’s singing and caused a bit of a riff.  Too long to get it started IMO.

4. End of the World “Laugh & Peace MIX”

Wow, what a freaky startup this remix has.  To be honest, I can barely remember how “End of the World” goes which is probably bad on my part hahah.  Still, this is a pretty futuristc remix and has a lot of quirky stuff going on.  It’s a hard remix to describe, but I thought it was pretty cool to hear and it works with the song as well…though Ayu sounds like she’s just wailing a lot hah.

5. evolution “BOOM・BASS・Ayumix”

Trying to go far a bit of a hip-hop sound Ayu?  The next remix for evolution feels like a chilled out version…but unfortunately the remix doesn’t go anywhere and just lays low while Ayu sings her little heart out XD.  It’s just not the memorable for me.

6. evolution “Oriental Hot SPA”

Quite an unusual title for a remix isn’t it?  However…this song lacks power or interest for that matter.  It just seems to lowkey and too weird for me to finish listening because it’s lacking so much…Probably one of the worst remixes she has IMO.

7. SURREAL “nicely nice electron’00 remix”

SURREAL’s remix on the single is way funny and it kind of reminds me of “Sexy little things” but a bit more futuristic because of the strange synths and bounce factor that had pulled me into the song.  SURREAL sounds actually a whole lot better sounding like this than its original state hahaha and that’s a lot for me to say, I know.

8. evolution “Huge terrestrial birth mix”

I’m wondering why the remixes this time are just having fun making Ayu sound so damn quiet…Also the arrangements have been getting more stale and has less effort put into them.  I’m starting to get disappointed with the remixer!

9. evolution “LAW IS Q mix”

Finally ending the single is another long evolution remix.  It once again applies the la-la-la opening which like I said is good to use for sure.  It kind of overuses it though to get to the vocal parts and once again find myself wondering why the beat is louder than poor Ayu.  It’s still got a good trance feel though so I’ll give it that.

 

 

evolution is such a powerhouse of song that there’s no reason why it should be at the top of her best songs.  Ok, it is overrated a little bit but can you blame her for this?  Anyways, besides the amazing original…the remixes for the most part sucked this time around and made evolution a poor remixed song to choose.  At least the remixes for End of the World and SURREAL were pretty epic.  Weird single huh?

Ayumi Hamasaki – M

Track Listing

1. M
2. M “Dub’s Hard Pop Remix”
3. SEASONS “Yuta’s weather report mix”
4. M “nicely nice winter parade remix”
5. Far away “Laugh & Peace MIX”
6. M “REWIRED MIX”
7. M “SMOKERS MIX”
8. M “RANK-M Mix”
9. M “NEUROTIC EYE’S Mix”
10. M -Instrumental-

1. M

Starting off this pretty long era…M is definitely one of Ayu’s songs that’s always going to be remembered.  It’s a rather sweet ballad and the first of many strong and epic ballads she’ll release.  I love Ayu’s vocals in the song because it’s so soft and pretty and isn’t as hardcore as it is today.  Add in the pretty strings in the verses before the song opens up with more instruments.  I think the chorus is the best thing though because it’s strong and vocally powerful.  One of the bests.

2. M “Dub’s Hard Pop Remix”

Then sadly, we’re continuing on this idea of putting way too many remixes on a single.  Now of course majority are remixes of M and the first one isn’t much to really pay attention.  The “honk honk” of the song gets pretty annoying very quickly too which is a shame because even when the main song comes in, it still sucks. PASS!

3. SEASONS “Yuta’s weather report mix”

Ok, besides that odd opening, the remix for SEASONS actually is one of the nicer remixes on the single since it doesn’t do too much that’s out of bounds besides the various cut up parts which is a bit unnecessary.  At least when the main song comes in, it actually feels quite classy and sounds light and fluffy. 

4. M “nicely nice winter parade remix”

Which sort of ties in our next remix for M.  I actually thought the this tune was amazingly cute because it does sound like wintry but in a cute way.  Ayu’s vocals for the song is pretty fitting as well because of how light everything is and almost giddy.  Sometimes she is rather too quiet under the arrangement…but I do love this remix a lot.

5. Far away “Laugh & Peace MIX”

I’m not sure how to really describe the remix for Far away but I do like the synthy energy it has.  It also fits nicely with Ayu’s vocals which is a plus in any remix that goes on.  Another one of those actual good ones hahahah.

6. M “REWIRED MIX”

Then the rest of the single are just remixes of the main A-side.  Starting with the first one, I love the clapping rhythm that goes on because it puts the beat in our head instantly.  Though it sucks that nothing of the song besides the opening of the chorus is featured until 3 minutes in when the actual chorus does start.  I was definitely expecting something good from the remix and I kind of didn’t.

7. M “SMOKERS MIX”

At least the next remix fixes things somewhat because it’s a rather calm remix.  I do like how they actually used the song mostly and the rather chill atmosphere is super sweet.  I also noticed that Ayu’s vocals have an added echo effect which gives it more of a ethereal touch and I kind of liked it.

8. M “RANK-M MIX”

Wow, I was surprised they’d throw a long remix near the end of the single…Even then it’s another one of those club-type remixes where the song just has a ridiculously long introduction.  I am kind of getting tired of hearing the whole ~maria~ deal.  By the time the song actually starts I’m already on the verge of pressing next.  Though it works better with the song going…just way too much space to get to it.

9. M “NEUROTIC EYE’S Mix”

I love these kind of remixes that sounds ambient and almost psy-tranceish and with this one, whoever remixed it did a great job at catching it with M because they also used a good portion of the song as well.  Very smooth remix and one of the best ones on the single.

 

 

Beginning the all-amazing “I am…” era, M is what solidified her as Japan’s biggest artist.  I love how M sounds a bit like some of the stuff in her last era, “Duty”, but made it 10x better.  As for the remixes, most of them were actually pretty good remixes even the ones for Far away and SEASONS. 

Maika – Oshiete yo ~miseducation~

Track Listing

1. Oshiete yo ~miseducation~
2. better day

1. Oshiete yo ~miseducation~

After “never cry” which was a pretty serious song, Oshiete yo lightens up the mood.  The song has a pretty fun vibe going on and I love the fact there’s a whole lot of brass to mix in with Maika’s guitar playing.  Now Maika’s vocals are still a bit rough to listen to, but she’s got a good smoky voice that with more time she can sound amazing with it.  Then again she sounds a whole lot better than her previous A-side.

2. better day

The B-side takes a rather depressing tone for better day.  I love the change of sound because of the song is mostly a piano track with some background stuff going on.  Maika’s vocals are a bit more stable, but sometimes she can squeak up.  After a while the drums and guitar come in and take over, but still sounds so good as a hopeful B-side.  I liked this much better to be honest.

 

 

While next week is the release of Maika’s album, “Possible”.  Oshiete ya ~miseducation~ to me is a great single from her.  I do like upbeat nature of the A-side quite a bit and that PV for it is pretty lulzy as well.  better day though was pretty damn good for a B-side since it’s a hopeful and yet sad song and I love those.  Sweet single!

RIZE – EXPERIENCE

Track Listing

1. JESUS AND MARIA
2. ME
3. EXPERIENCE
4. LAUGH IT OUT
5. Get the Mic
6. GOTANDA
7. XL
8. MUPPET
9. YUZURIHA
10. MIDDLE FLOWER
11. ZERO

1. JESUS AND MARIA

Starting the album, JESUS AND MARIA sounds like it’s a pretty raw song.  I mean we’re down with loud drums and JESSE yelling a lot in this song which is different but it seems they’re following what they did on their last single.  It just seems that things seem to be darker than past albums released.  It’s not a bad album opening, but seems to not have that RIZE spark.

2. ME

Now this is the RIZE I’m used to which is a lighter rock sound and a mix with their darker side.  More importantly is that JESSE sounds melodic to the song and isn’t entirely screaming his heart out.  It isn’t exactly an amazing song because the arrangement is a little plain, but the harder moments though were pretty cool from the band.  Not too bad.

3. EXPERIENCE

Getting into the title track of the album, EXPERIENCE really goes back into that whole raw sound that the band has been sounding like here recently and while it’s mainly a JESSE and Kaneko (drummer) tune, EXPERIENCE has a lot of rapping going on here which would be alright if the song had more things going on.  At least that’s fixed once they get into the chorus…but that becomes a bit messier.  I don’t know but I’m not fully into the song.

4. LAUGH IT OUT

At least we have the 2nd single released on the album and sort of fixes things up.  A collaborative effort between RIZE with Hayato Ichihara, LAUGH IT OUT is one of the better songs off the album since it’s somewhat a fun song to listen to.  It does actually happen that Hayato does have more lines that I initially thought and I was surprised because his vocals are harder to point out between him and JESSE’s.  Besides the crazy screaming part, this song is pretty awesome.

5. Get the Mic

I kind of laughed when I saw this was the only track that wasn’t in all caps.  First time in the album is the first use of vocal filters…but that’s shortlived and then JESSE and the rest of the band is just speeding through this song and just is crazy hard.  Though JESSE yelling ~get the mic, get , get the mic!~ and more lulzy ~run fucker, run motherfucker~  I was just blown away and laughin at the sheer amount of seriousness.  I’ll give props for doing this.  One of the rather uhm, catchier songs.

6. GOTANDA

Which quickly leads into the interlude of the album more or less.  GOTANDA is just a hard and full of energy from the entire band and I was majorly impressed with Kenken (bassist) because he was just super fast on those notes.  I didn’t even understand A WORD JESSE was saying so that flew by my head.  It did its job.

7. XL

Another short song, XL is my favorite of the new songs because it mixes the impressive rapping skills from JESSE and has a rather strong chorus as well.  The repetition of the title makes it more easier to handle, but it just seems so short by the time it ends…and it could’ve ranked up there with the best of the album. 

8. MUPPET

~there’s a hole in the muppet~  What?  I’m not sure but I think the guitar riff for this song is pretty nifty and the mood reminds me of one of their older tracks “Kami”.  JESSE of course is taking rapping during the verses and the chorus is really the line in the beginning.  Before I forget, JESSE’s English is perfect and has no true accent to it which makes it more clear for me.  Not bad of a song…but “XL” still is better.

9. YUZURIHA

Usually for one of the songs on each album, there’s always a much slower and more emotional song and that’s the case with YUZURIHA.  It’s not exactly a ballad, but it’s a chilled out rock tune and more sentimental for JESSE and for me that’s where he shines the best because like “Live or Die”, it’s so stripped and cool to hear.  It’s definitely one of the better songs on the album.

10. MIDDLE FLOWER

I guess it was fitting that they’d throw a song like this after a slow song.  MIDDLE FLOWER has gritty guitars and JESSE’s more mysterious and more angsty than usual.  As the song is entirely in English it’s not bad but there’s something missing that makes it sound whole for some reason. 

11. ZERO

Ahhh, the song that began the era, ZERO actually does sound right from the band and with the crazy hooks and interesting take…I think it’s one of the better J-rock songs…JESSE’s rapping feels energetic and the band is loud and actually sounding good.  I’ll say…it’s a good song!

Tracks Recommended

• ZERO
• XL
• YUZURIHA
• LAUGH IT OUT
• Get the Mic

Song of Avoidance

• EXPERIENCE

While I haven’t gotten to listen to their last album “K.O.”, EXPERIENCE to me feels like it was just thrown together quickly and not much effort was put into the songs.  I mean I’ve heard “ALTERNA” (which was the album before “K.O.”) and I had more fun listening to that album than with this one.  It just seems they want to go for a rather harder sound and not that I don’t mind, but it’s not me.  At least the songs on this album were so much cleaner and better than those B-sides from “LAUGH IT OUT”…