Feb 26, 2011
Kobukuro - Blue Bird - Fly away....please
"Blue Bird" has proven to essentially be just as ugly as the Yuzu album. Blugh. The title track is so sweet it seems to drip with molasses, but lacks any kind of feeling or emotion (like Korean music!). (I hate Korean music.) It also uses cheap production tricks that make it seems even more flat: the "meaningful closing echo," the "repeat the same music with different words" string....Yuck. The instrumental isn't any better - it sounds like the ending theme to a late-90s drama. Then there's "Kimi he no Shudaika," which has this combination of harp, strings, and electric guitar that sounds like it belongs in an 80's Fourth of July celebration. The song itself isn't too bad, but when those guitars come in I just want to listen to anything else - even "Blue Bird" is better than those guitars! Even Yuzu is better than those guitars! "Love Letter" is the only thing on the single that's passable: it has an interesting combination of slightly scratchy audio, acoustic, and whistling that is pretty chill. Unless you're listening to "Love Letter," PASS, PASS, PASS.
Last day for survey
Last day to respond to the survey!
I know....I got it out late this week.
I know....I was very bad last week about writing the reviews. (Though I'm getting them done now - did you see how many I got done last night?)
But I've only gotten 2 responses. Let me know what you want to hear about!
I know....I got it out late this week.
I know....I was very bad last week about writing the reviews. (Though I'm getting them done now - did you see how many I got done last night?)
But I've only gotten 2 responses. Let me know what you want to hear about!
Feb 25, 2011
YUZU - 2-NI- - I love my readers
Do you guys know how much I love you?
I don't think you do.
Let me tell you just how much I love you in the only terms that truly express the depth of that love:
I LISTENED TO THIS WHOLE SHITTY ALBUM FOR YOU. FOR YOU.
This album is flat. It's ugly. The guys sing like crap and I think there's literally at least one place on each song where they or the music is off-key. They have a tendency to use stringed instruments in a way that makes them sound like cheezy-ass "Chinese" music from a B-movie. In "Daikan-yama Refrain" they mix this gross "Chinese" sound with a country vibe. GROSS. Even when their music isn't ill-matched or off-key, it's just uninteresting. They take every boring "Japanese music" trick and use it, without doing anything new. It's like all of AKB48 was suddenly changed into two middle-aged men. Or like the members of Arashi grew up and kept singing their music without realizing that at least 75% of their appeal is sex appeal.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to Jaylee from Gaijin Kanpai, and I told him that the reason I think I like Japanese music more than Western music is that it's simply better: it's better constructed, has better production, and seems more thought-out.
This album takes all the compliments I gave Japanese music and burns them with acid.
I wanted to stop listening after track five, when I realized that it really was never going to hit it's stride. But I kept listening. For you. So you could get a complete review.
I love you guys. Don't you ever doubt it!
I don't think you do.
Let me tell you just how much I love you in the only terms that truly express the depth of that love:
I LISTENED TO THIS WHOLE SHITTY ALBUM FOR YOU. FOR YOU.
This album is flat. It's ugly. The guys sing like crap and I think there's literally at least one place on each song where they or the music is off-key. They have a tendency to use stringed instruments in a way that makes them sound like cheezy-ass "Chinese" music from a B-movie. In "Daikan-yama Refrain" they mix this gross "Chinese" sound with a country vibe. GROSS. Even when their music isn't ill-matched or off-key, it's just uninteresting. They take every boring "Japanese music" trick and use it, without doing anything new. It's like all of AKB48 was suddenly changed into two middle-aged men. Or like the members of Arashi grew up and kept singing their music without realizing that at least 75% of their appeal is sex appeal.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to Jaylee from Gaijin Kanpai, and I told him that the reason I think I like Japanese music more than Western music is that it's simply better: it's better constructed, has better production, and seems more thought-out.
This album takes all the compliments I gave Japanese music and burns them with acid.
I wanted to stop listening after track five, when I realized that it really was never going to hit it's stride. But I kept listening. For you. So you could get a complete review.
I love you guys. Don't you ever doubt it!
Rie Fu - For You - Hey, thanks!
It's funny - I never thought I'd find a single by Rie Fu where I like the B-sides better than the A-side. Although "For You" is a perfectly serviceable song, it's nothing that I want to listen to over and over - it's slightly saccharine, and...folky, perhaps? I have trouble pinning down what about it bothers me, but I don't like it when it gets stuck in my head. "Come on Come" and "One-Bite," though, are both lovely; just what I expect from Rie Fu. "Come on Come on" is easy-going and upbeat, very chill and easy to listen to; it sounds like hot sun and cool grass. "One-Bite" has a sadder vibe, and reminds me a lot of those country songs from my childhood. (Again? I know, right?) Don't let the "country" assessment throw you off, though - it's beautiful. And in all three tracks, Rie's voice is lovely as always. The "For You" instrumental is alright, but nothing special - not something I'm happy to have on the album. Overall, if I were you I'd go for the B-sides.
Aqua Timez - Carpe Diem - Needs a little more "carpe"
I was happy with this album. The sound Aqua Timez has is something like Yellowcard, especially when the get the real live violin in on the action. The songs are catchy, they move you, and they're upbeat. I really liked "Memento Mori," which had a much harder rock sound and better bass than everything else on the album, but all the songs are pretty good. The band does seem to suffer a bit for having a very high opinion of their own music: often I thought that songs went on longer than they needed to, like the band just wanted you to realized how goddamn awesome their songs are. Eh. My other problem was that I found the music on this album rather typical. The music is good...I just feel like I've heard similar things before. The addition of the violin is novel, but the music itself doesn't strike me as being all that unique.
Feb 23, 2011
Survey results!
Okay, so I've been gone several days. I suck. :p
Anyway, here are reviews for the week! Which I promise you'll be seeing soon!
Aqua Timez - "Carpe Diem"
Rie Fu - "For You"
Yuzu - "2 -NI-"
Kobukuro - "Blue Bird"
AKB48 - "Sakura no Ki ni Narou" (Type A)
DEEP - "LOVE STORY"
hitomi - "Umarete Kurete Arigatou / Smile World"
MAY'S - "Cruising"
You'll notice that's eight days rather than seven. It's because one of last week's albums crapped out, so I replaced it with Aqua Timez. You're welcome.)
I'm amazed at the response to the survey! I got five answers back, which is 4-5 more than I was expecting! Let's do it again!
Anyway, here are reviews for the week! Which I promise you'll be seeing soon!
Aqua Timez - "Carpe Diem"
Rie Fu - "For You"
Yuzu - "2 -NI-"
Kobukuro - "Blue Bird"
AKB48 - "Sakura no Ki ni Narou" (Type A)
DEEP - "LOVE STORY"
hitomi - "Umarete Kurete Arigatou / Smile World"
MAY'S - "Cruising"
You'll notice that's eight days rather than seven. It's because one of last week's albums crapped out, so I replaced it with Aqua Timez. You're welcome.)
I'm amazed at the response to the survey! I got five answers back, which is 4-5 more than I was expecting! Let's do it again!
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.
Feb 18, 2011
Kalafina - Magia - More of the Delicious Same
I'm happy to say that "Magia" is a great single, in no small part due to the fact that it's just the same style and feeling as "Red Moon." The title track is intense and somewhat tribal, with a myriad of instruments including electric guitar and violin, as well as perfect strong vocals. This is a song that doesn't mess around: I was shocked to find that Kalafina chose not to complete the musical phrase at the beginning of the hook, as well as at the end - a very sophisticated way of maintaining tension. "snow falling" is also very thoughtfully constructed, with careful placement of barely ringing chimes to underline the wintery, cold feeling of the song. Naturally, the "Magia" instrumental is very solid, and just as good on it's own as with lyrics. Beautiful. Well done, Kalafina.
androp - door - Straight into my heart
As much as I don't like "Kiss Me," that's how much I do like "door." I've never heard anything by androp before (except when I reviewed their "Mirror Dance" PV), and I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Music throughout the album is alternative rock, with fun and upbeat tracks at the beginning of the album fading to soft chill songs at the end. Each song is slightly unique, and the band doesn't shy away from trying different techniques: from the echo effects in "Alpha" to the tempo changes in "Amanojaku" to the lyrics pauses in "Puppet" to the loose sound of "Youth"... I could literally name something different and ear-catching about each song, but none of them comes off as if it's trying to be avant-garde, none of them are pretentious, none of them goes over the top with it's quest to be different from the other songs, and all of them are very easy and fun to listen to. I loved it all (except maybe that weird switch into ballad style in the middle of "Puppet" - what was that about?) and my one complaint is that it's too short. At only 8 tracks it's almost too short to be a real grown-up album. Still, the tracks mesh together well and take you smoothly from one set of feelings to another. If more rock albums could do this, I wouldn't need to tell you which ones to listen to. Definitely give "door" a try.
HAPPINESS - Kiss Me - In a fake, high school play way
I'll just come out and say it: I'm not impressed with "Kiss Me." The music is flat and boring on both tracks, and it doesn't bring anything new or fresh to the table. The performance is just as flat as the music - I don't know that these girls have any real feelings about being kissed at all. The best thing about the single is how short it is: if it had been longer than two tracks, I'm sure I'd be in a coma. There's some great dancing in the PV, but that's all that this single has going for it. A total shame.
Space Shower TV Music Video Awards Review
I watched all 5 crazy hours of music videos nominated for the Space Shower TV MVAs, then wrote reviews on this! Read about my crazy endeavor on Gaijin Kanpai!
Feb 15, 2011
Triple Feature Tuesday - AZU, Monkey Majik, Yaida Hitomi
AZU - Broken Heart
This is a lovely single, if nothing spectacular. AZU's vocals are pretty and sweet, and the music can stand up to repeated listens. (I listened to this single every day for a week and a half straight, and I'm still excited when I hear "Broken Heart" start up. If that's not a test, I don't know what is... and you have unreasonably high standards.) My favorite track is "Tsuyoku Tsuyoku," which has a great balance between the heavier bass and lighter synth elements. Other than the instrumentals (none of which should have been added - they drag the single down), all the tracks are good, but "Ring M&M" is probably the least spectacular. Although it's well performed, it's just a very basic pop song without a lot to recommend it. Still, if you like pop, you could do worse than take a listen.
Monkey Majik - westview
There is a single perfect word for this album: laid-back. (Yes, hyphenated words count as a single word.) Although it struggles a little at the beginning to find its footing, starting around "Yume no Sekai" the album just chills right out and every track is good. When you listen to "westview" you can tell that Monkey Majik was on vacation on some tiny Grecian island in the sun when they recorded it. Not all the tracks are as laid back as the others - "Disco Girl," for example, kicks up the energy a bit - but 90% of the tracks are acoustic-lead and have a John Mayer-eqsue easiness about them. My favorite is probably "Everything is going to be alright," which combines the chill with a little extra upbeat energy. This is music to listen to as you drive down a long highway along the beach, or through a long stretch of corn and wheat fields running golden to the horizon. I thoroughly approve.
Yaida Hitomi - Simple is Best
Yaida Hitomi gives us some rock with her chill. "Simple is Best" is a good, simple rock song with easy elements that would probably be boring if she didn't put so much of herself into the performance. It's high-energy, has high re-listen value, and doesn't take itself too seriously or try to make itself more intense than it needs to be. "Wakannai," on the other hand, is a quiet, warm song. The feeling it gives me reminds me of the country albums that my dad played when we went on long roadtrips to my grandma's house when I was a kid. Maybe Trisha Yearwood's self-titled album (yeah, from 1991!). I haven't heard the album in years, so I have no idea if they're musically similar, but when I listen to "Wakannai," I feel like I should be curled up in the back seat of the van, a big fluffy blanket all around me, my brothers and sister asleep a few inches away, while I stare out at the grass and road and signs and sky flashing past my window and listen to a quiet and sincere country ballad.
Oh, you don't like country?
Well you can shut your face.
Except your ears. Open them to listen to "Wakannai." It's good for you.
This is a lovely single, if nothing spectacular. AZU's vocals are pretty and sweet, and the music can stand up to repeated listens. (I listened to this single every day for a week and a half straight, and I'm still excited when I hear "Broken Heart" start up. If that's not a test, I don't know what is... and you have unreasonably high standards.) My favorite track is "Tsuyoku Tsuyoku," which has a great balance between the heavier bass and lighter synth elements. Other than the instrumentals (none of which should have been added - they drag the single down), all the tracks are good, but "Ring M&M" is probably the least spectacular. Although it's well performed, it's just a very basic pop song without a lot to recommend it. Still, if you like pop, you could do worse than take a listen.
Monkey Majik - westview
There is a single perfect word for this album: laid-back. (Yes, hyphenated words count as a single word.) Although it struggles a little at the beginning to find its footing, starting around "Yume no Sekai" the album just chills right out and every track is good. When you listen to "westview" you can tell that Monkey Majik was on vacation on some tiny Grecian island in the sun when they recorded it. Not all the tracks are as laid back as the others - "Disco Girl," for example, kicks up the energy a bit - but 90% of the tracks are acoustic-lead and have a John Mayer-eqsue easiness about them. My favorite is probably "Everything is going to be alright," which combines the chill with a little extra upbeat energy. This is music to listen to as you drive down a long highway along the beach, or through a long stretch of corn and wheat fields running golden to the horizon. I thoroughly approve.
Yaida Hitomi - Simple is Best
Yaida Hitomi gives us some rock with her chill. "Simple is Best" is a good, simple rock song with easy elements that would probably be boring if she didn't put so much of herself into the performance. It's high-energy, has high re-listen value, and doesn't take itself too seriously or try to make itself more intense than it needs to be. "Wakannai," on the other hand, is a quiet, warm song. The feeling it gives me reminds me of the country albums that my dad played when we went on long roadtrips to my grandma's house when I was a kid. Maybe Trisha Yearwood's self-titled album (yeah, from 1991!). I haven't heard the album in years, so I have no idea if they're musically similar, but when I listen to "Wakannai," I feel like I should be curled up in the back seat of the van, a big fluffy blanket all around me, my brothers and sister asleep a few inches away, while I stare out at the grass and road and signs and sky flashing past my window and listen to a quiet and sincere country ballad.
Oh, you don't like country?
Well you can shut your face.
Except your ears. Open them to listen to "Wakannai." It's good for you.
Feb 14, 2011
RADWIMPS - Kyoushinsho - A heart attack for Valentine's Day
After the rush of intensity that RADWIMPS delivered with "DADA," I was ready and waiting to have my mind blown. I mean, just just look at this PV! Okay, you don't have you. You already know how I feel about it, after all. But seriously. I told Facebook that RADWIMPS might be my new favorite band. GLAY has been my favorite band for 10 years. THESE GUYS ARE A BIG DEAL.
And "Kyoushinshou" delivers. Kind of.
I wanted to have my brain freaking explode when I listened to this single, and it didn't. Instead, when I first listened to it, I was disappointed. The title song plods along, like it's just trying to get done already. "Jegemu" at least makes some interesting use of instrumentation by pulling in what sounds like glasses of water filled at different levels and hit with a spoon. But even it was chill and laid back, not full of the manic energy that's spilling out of "DADA" at flash flood speed.
But as I listened to the single more and more - and I haven't reached the point yet where I don't like listening to it - I realized that it's just as crazy, but in it's own way. Rather than beating you over the head with a guitar until your brain is pink-grey goo staining the floor, "Kyoushinshou" and "Jegemu" are about the quieter build-up of tension; if "DADA" is a bullet in the brain, "Kyoushinshou" is a heart attack, painfully catching up on you through years of self-abuse until you can't deny or escape it any longer. Although I'd still argue that "Kyoushinshou" isn't as well-constructed as "Jegemu," both are great additions to the discography.
Come here, RADWIMPS.
Will you be my heart-attacking Valentine?
And "Kyoushinshou" delivers. Kind of.
I wanted to have my brain freaking explode when I listened to this single, and it didn't. Instead, when I first listened to it, I was disappointed. The title song plods along, like it's just trying to get done already. "Jegemu" at least makes some interesting use of instrumentation by pulling in what sounds like glasses of water filled at different levels and hit with a spoon. But even it was chill and laid back, not full of the manic energy that's spilling out of "DADA" at flash flood speed.
But as I listened to the single more and more - and I haven't reached the point yet where I don't like listening to it - I realized that it's just as crazy, but in it's own way. Rather than beating you over the head with a guitar until your brain is pink-grey goo staining the floor, "Kyoushinshou" and "Jegemu" are about the quieter build-up of tension; if "DADA" is a bullet in the brain, "Kyoushinshou" is a heart attack, painfully catching up on you through years of self-abuse until you can't deny or escape it any longer. Although I'd still argue that "Kyoushinshou" isn't as well-constructed as "Jegemu," both are great additions to the discography.
Come here, RADWIMPS.
Will you be my heart-attacking Valentine?
Feb 13, 2011
PUFFY - "Happy Birthday" makes me sad because it makes me happy
OMG, you guys: WHY CAN'T THIS SINGLE JUST SUCK?
I have a (possibly unreasonable?) searing hate for PUFFY. It's not complicatedbut it is incredibly shallow: Ami from PUFFY is married to Teru from GLAY. But before they were married, Ami was the woman that Teru cheated on his first wife with.
Yup, Ami's a homewrecker.
(I blame Teru just as much. What a bastard! But he certainly can sing...)
Also, I found "Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi" unbearably annoying.
What a dumb couple of reasons to hate a band, right? I hate these girls! I wasn't looking forward to forcing myself to sit through this single, because I was certain that it would induce life-threatening projectile vomiting.
But it's good! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The only way I can save face is by saying that their music isn't quite my style - it's more classic rock than I like, and slightly too cute for me, but damn it, I can't deny that it's good. My favorite song is the live track "Gingakei Drive." I usually hate live tracks, but this one doesn't have the same problems with background noise that most live tracks do, and it's a really creative use of multiple genres.
Sum up: I hate PUFFY even more now - for making music that I like. D:
I have a (possibly unreasonable?) searing hate for PUFFY. It's not complicated
Yup, Ami's a homewrecker.
(I blame Teru just as much. What a bastard! But he certainly can sing...)
Also, I found "Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi" unbearably annoying.
But it's good! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The only way I can save face is by saying that their music isn't quite my style - it's more classic rock than I like, and slightly too cute for me, but damn it, I can't deny that it's good. My favorite song is the live track "Gingakei Drive." I usually hate live tracks, but this one doesn't have the same problems with background noise that most live tracks do, and it's a really creative use of multiple genres.
Sum up: I hate PUFFY even more now - for making music that I like. D:
Feb 12, 2011
Chihara Minori - <insert witty word play on "defection">
What a fun single! All three songs are fast and snythy, with sort of an anime-opening feeling. The tracks go from more dance-inspired to more rock-inspired as the single progresses, but each song is just fun as hell to listen to. My one complaint is that the vocals can occasionally verge on being shrill, but this doesn't happen often and isn't all that bad even when it does happen. Although it isn't high art and it doesn't push the genre in any way, it's a blast to listen to; this is just what I'd want to play while I was driving down the freeway at...a totally legal speed, because breaking the law isn't cool!
*ahem*
*"The More Your Know* logo*
>
*ahem*
*"The More Your Know* logo*
Feb 11, 2011
Choose the reviews!
Although I'm the one writing the reviews, you guys are the ones reading them. Shouldn't you be able to choose what's reviewed? Choose what you'd like me to review during the week of 2/20 - 2/26 in the survey below!
I'll review the 4 most popular singles and 3 most popular albums; or, if it turns out that I don't get that many responses, I'll pick my own. Happy hunting!
UPDATE: The survey is closed. Thanks for voting!
I'll review the 4 most popular singles and 3 most popular albums; or, if it turns out that I don't get that many responses, I'll pick my own. Happy hunting!
UPDATE: The survey is closed. Thanks for voting!
SCANDAL - Pride that lasts for one track
I was excited when I heard "PRIDE." Although I don't know if you can ever call SCANDAL true-to-form rock, there's no denying that some of their songs really do rock, in addition to kicking ass. For that kind of pop-rock-alternative thing SCANDAL has going, "PRIDE" is absolutely solid. The vocals are great, the music is varied and well-performed, and musically it's a fun song to listen to. But this single suffers from classic A-side/B-side syndrome. As good as "PRIDE" is, that's how boring the remaining tracks are. "CUTE!" has a very poppy, AKB48-type feeling that I found grating, and the music doesn't feel fully developed. It's like they just rushed it through production because they needed more music on the single. "Emotions" is the same way, the "rock" version of "CUTE!" It's promising at the beginning, building tension little by little, but when the hook finally appears the song deflates under the pressure and the rest of the song is flat. Only the "PRIDE" instrumental makes a good B-side, displaying just how much is going on in the background with that song. I'm sad to be disappointed by this single, but that's all I can feel about it.
Feb 10, 2011
Yusuke - Anou...This Album Totally Isn't My Style, Kedo
For all the nervousness of its title, "Anou, Yume Motemasu Kedo" is a very confident album. Most of the music is hop pop, but a significant proportion is some kind of Caribbean-flavored style (soca? reggae?) that's somewhat reminiscent of "Who Let the Dogs Out?" So... Totally not my style. Sorry Yusuke. Despite it not being up my personal alley, the album is solid. It's upbeat, bright, and the production is good. I tended to like the hop pop tracks more than the Caribbean, and there were quite a lot that I liked. "Ate no Nai Tegami" is my favorite, and I also really liked "Hito" and "Senjou no Ongaku Dan." Some tracks that are a bit flat - "Lion" doesn't do much to make itself interesting - but overall it's a good album. If you like hop pop or Caribbean you'll probably love this album. If someone turned this album on I'd happily bob my head as it played. But there's not going to be a day when I think to myself, "Man, I really want to listen to 'Anou, Yume Motemasu Kedo!'"
Feb 9, 2011
JASMINE - My One...And Only
You guys, I love "ONE." This is a great song. The more I hear it, the more I love it. It's bassy, strong, bold, perfectly performed, gorgeously produced, and the lyrics are even good. Add to this incredible song the beautifully constructed PV - easily one of my very favorites of the year, and likely to become one of my favorite of all time - and... Well, I mean, god-DYAM. Listen to it. Listen to it now! Here: I'll pause the review so you can listen/watch/be impressed.
So now that you see what I mean, I have a question:
How?! How did this incredible song become the A-side to such an otherwise lame single? There's the Mighty Crown remix of "dear my friend" - it's a decent song, and the remix imbues it with a ska sort of vibe that's pretty "different" - and "DREAMIN'" is a good song, though I dislike the choice to include a live version rather than a studio version. Both are just mediocre songs that neither drag down nor pull up the single. But the "ONE" acoustic live version is a sin against the song. Let's not mince words. It would be better if this version of the song had never been born. I like the concept - a capella plus bongo. Ooh! Artsy! But instead of being avant-garde, it's bad in a "hipsters drinking cigarette-tasting coffee" way. The backup singers make Jasmine sound off-key half the time and force her off-key the other half. The drums doesn't suit the feeling of the song and are flatly performed, playing the same rhythm over and over with little variation that would contribute to a better performance. It's like the studio version somehow died and Jasmine tried to resurrect it from the far side of the Black Gate, foolishly thinking that Equivalent Trade and strong alchemy powers would be enough. Well guess what, Jasmine? IT'S NOT ENOUGH. Now you've turned the song into a freaking homunculus. Good going.
Sum up: this album would be so worth it...if the studio version of "ONE" was the only track. As it is, just don't look at those other tracks and maybe you'll be able to get away alive.
So now that you see what I mean, I have a question:
How?! How did this incredible song become the A-side to such an otherwise lame single? There's the Mighty Crown remix of "dear my friend" - it's a decent song, and the remix imbues it with a ska sort of vibe that's pretty "different" - and "DREAMIN'" is a good song, though I dislike the choice to include a live version rather than a studio version. Both are just mediocre songs that neither drag down nor pull up the single. But the "ONE" acoustic live version is a sin against the song. Let's not mince words. It would be better if this version of the song had never been born. I like the concept - a capella plus bongo. Ooh! Artsy! But instead of being avant-garde, it's bad in a "hipsters drinking cigarette-tasting coffee" way. The backup singers make Jasmine sound off-key half the time and force her off-key the other half. The drums doesn't suit the feeling of the song and are flatly performed, playing the same rhythm over and over with little variation that would contribute to a better performance. It's like the studio version somehow died and Jasmine tried to resurrect it from the far side of the Black Gate, foolishly thinking that Equivalent Trade and strong alchemy powers would be enough. Well guess what, Jasmine? IT'S NOT ENOUGH. Now you've turned the song into a freaking homunculus. Good going.
Sum up: this album would be so worth it...if the studio version of "ONE" was the only track. As it is, just don't look at those other tracks and maybe you'll be able to get away alive.
Monkey Majik Interview on GK!
Blaise and tax from Monkey Majik talk about the band's new album, "westview," in this interview with Excite, brilliantly translated by your humble blogger. Check it out over at Gaijin Kanpai!
Feb 8, 2011
Day 31 - Kaggra, Koda Kumi
Happy One Full Month! Although there have been some bumps in the road, I've made it for 31 full days! If I can make it this far, I can do anything!
So maybe now I should stop labeling the day?
Yeah. I probably should.
Sadly, I was supposed to review three different CDs today, and I couldn't get my hands on one: KAT-TUN's "Ultimate Wheels." I've seen the PV and I'll say that I (surprisingly) like the song itself, but I can't very well review the single on the merits of just one song. Sorry! Here's the PV though, for your consideration and enjoyment:
Kaggra - Hyakkikenran
"Hyakkikenran" is a perfectly serviceable rock album, but nothing all that special. My biggest problem with it is that it's just light - light on rock flavor, light on visual flavor, light on Asian flavor, light on strength. The music is fine, but there's nothing that stirs me up or makes me want to dance or move or even pay attention to it. Need background music for a party? Assuming your friends like rock, "Hyakkikenran" is perfect. It would provide background noise that sounds good and might get the occasional head bob, but won't interfere with conversation. And it sure as hell won't inspire people to suddenly start dancing in your living room - no spilled drinks or coffee table-related injuries! Woot! But if you want something to listen to because you want to, I don't know, listen to some good music... Well, "Hyakkikenran" just doesn't fit that bill. Sorry.
Koda Kumi - POP DIVA
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but when "POP DIVA" came on, I instantly got excited. Darn it! I didn't want to like this single, didn't want to like anything by Koda Kumi. Kumi, after all, is known for being nothing if not uber-classy. Here, check out some of her lyrics:
Yup. These aren't lyrics from anything on "POP DIVA," but they do show why I don't want to like any of Kumi's music. (I like sex as much as the next girl, but these lyrics are kinda gross. I mean, "Hot spray?" *shudder*) But damn it, "POP DIVA" is good! It's catchy, strong, well-constructed/mixed/produced, and Kumi's vocals are right on. The PV goes places that I never expected from a mainstream Japanese female artist. Even the instrumental is good - repetitive, but perfect for dancing to. Thankfully for my conscience, "BLACK CANDY" isn't nearly as good, and neither is it's instrumental - they're both classic B-sides that won't see the light of day again until a best-of anniversary album comes out. Whew! If I'd liked an entire Kumi single, I'd have had to question where my life was headed.
So maybe now I should stop labeling the day?
Yeah. I probably should.
Sadly, I was supposed to review three different CDs today, and I couldn't get my hands on one: KAT-TUN's "Ultimate Wheels." I've seen the PV and I'll say that I (surprisingly) like the song itself, but I can't very well review the single on the merits of just one song. Sorry! Here's the PV though, for your consideration and enjoyment:
Kaggra - Hyakkikenran
"Hyakkikenran" is a perfectly serviceable rock album, but nothing all that special. My biggest problem with it is that it's just light - light on rock flavor, light on visual flavor, light on Asian flavor, light on strength. The music is fine, but there's nothing that stirs me up or makes me want to dance or move or even pay attention to it. Need background music for a party? Assuming your friends like rock, "Hyakkikenran" is perfect. It would provide background noise that sounds good and might get the occasional head bob, but won't interfere with conversation. And it sure as hell won't inspire people to suddenly start dancing in your living room - no spilled drinks or coffee table-related injuries! Woot! But if you want something to listen to because you want to, I don't know, listen to some good music... Well, "Hyakkikenran" just doesn't fit that bill. Sorry.
Koda Kumi - POP DIVA
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but when "POP DIVA" came on, I instantly got excited. Darn it! I didn't want to like this single, didn't want to like anything by Koda Kumi. Kumi, after all, is known for being nothing if not uber-classy. Here, check out some of her lyrics:
"Throw everything away and be free / I want your hot spray"
"So baby take me, lick me with your tongue
Do it real well, make me say (Yes! Yes! Yes!)
Deeper and then deeper still
It’s S E X, come on"
"I want another climax
One more time, one more time
Let’s do it again and again, all night
We don’t need time out
So do, do, do me all night until the morning comes"
Yup. These aren't lyrics from anything on "POP DIVA," but they do show why I don't want to like any of Kumi's music. (I like sex as much as the next girl, but these lyrics are kinda gross. I mean, "Hot spray?" *shudder*) But damn it, "POP DIVA" is good! It's catchy, strong, well-constructed/mixed/produced, and Kumi's vocals are right on. The PV goes places that I never expected from a mainstream Japanese female artist. Even the instrumental is good - repetitive, but perfect for dancing to. Thankfully for my conscience, "BLACK CANDY" isn't nearly as good, and neither is it's instrumental - they're both classic B-sides that won't see the light of day again until a best-of anniversary album comes out. Whew! If I'd liked an entire Kumi single, I'd have had to question where my life was headed.
Feb 7, 2011
Day 30 - YU-A - 2GIRLS
This album was more artistic than I thought at first, then not as artistic as I thought at second. But YU-A's "2GIRLS" is still a delightful pop album that's fun and easy to listen to. This isn't an album to shake the genre to it's core, or even to push it anywhere close to it's boundaries. To be honest, most of the album is pretty basic and followed well-known paths through the pop universe. But for that, it's well-executed. The vocals are consistently good, and I'm a fan of the uptempo songs in a minor key. More than anything, though, I liked the duality of the CD. Although it's not drawn along perfectly clear lines (as I'd like), the album is roughly split into two types of songs: sad and lonely, and hard and angry. It seems that YU-A took the concept of "two girls" to heart, as it really feels like she's expressing two separate but equally valid parts of herself, dedicating about half the album to each. I preferred songs on the second half of the album - specifically "CHANGE," "I believe in myself," and "Fighting Girl" - but the entire album is a simple, tasty musical treat. Definitely worth a listen, especially if you like pop.
Feb 6, 2011
Day 29 - Sakanaction, STRAIGHTENER, UPLIFT SPICE, JYJ
Catching up! Woo!
Sakanaction - kikUUiki
I love this album. There's so much going on with it; so many different pieces and parts all working together, rock with synth, pushing the boundaries of the genre. I know it sounds cheezy, but it's true: "kikUUiki" is unique the way that Noanowa's "Magical Circus" is unique. It's not the kind of music you're likely to run into on a regular basis, and that's both a good thing (because it's so refreshing) and a bad thing (because all the music in the world made you feel this way). Sakanaction knows how to keep up the tension in their music while also keeping up the groove. These songs demand that you move to them, and won't take "no" for an answer. Both the vocal tracks and the instrumentals are well-composed: the music doesn't need lyrics to make it interesting, and the vocals don't need the music to be strong. I got into Sakanaction with the "Aruku Around" PV, so I'm naturally biased toward ite, but all the tracks on this album are so good that I could pick any of them as my favorite.
STRAIGHTENER - CREATURES
I was really excited to hear this album, but also a little afraid. I loved "STOUT" so much that I wanted to hear "Creatures" to affirm that I love Straightener, but was afraid that it could never live up to "STOUT." And "Creatures" is definitely different from "STOUT," but there are similarities, too. What I liked about "STOUT" is still there in "Creatures" - strong and creative use of the bass, awesome drumming, strong vocals, solid guitar, amazing energy and tension in the music - but where "STOUT" is a breathless run with only a stop or two, "Creatures" is more slow-paced and even tempered. "STOUT" is an album to listen to while you're driving down the road as fast as you can to parts unknown; "Creatures" is an album to listen to when it's cold and cloudy outside and warm and still inside and all you want is a good book, good soup, and good music. All my anxiety about Straightener is gone after listening to "Creatures;" they're just as good as I had hoped.
UPLIFT SPICE - Memento
Considering how well I liked the rest of Loki's list, I was sure I would like "Memento." And I do! But I would actually say that it's my least favorite of his top 5. UPLIFT SPICE rocks - there's no question of that - but their music lacks the depth that I'm looking for. Maybe they don't quite have the right interplay between instruments, or maybe they don't have strong enough drumming, or maybe they don't have strong enough guitar or bass, but something makes the music sound a little flat and hollow. As a result, none of their tracks in particular stuck with me. I still think they have great replay value, and I still like them - it's so nice to have good girl rockt! - but they're just not as good as 9mm Parabellum Bullet or Straightener or Noanowa or Kalafina. Also, Loki's assessment about the singer's voice is 100% dead on: her voice is really too high. Although I got used to it over the course of the album, it was certainly a shock when I first heard it. She seemed screechy, but I realized later that it's only because I'm not used to hearing a soprano singing rock at the top of her range. Alto would suit the sound a little better, but I guess UPLIFT SPICE has to work with what they've got.
JYJ - The...
Meh. Just meh. I was hoping for a lot more out of this single, since it's the JYJ, the Korean hip hop gods that descended to we mere mortals from the fangirl Nirvana that is the legendary Tohoshinki. But the songs were boring! Just typical, run of the mill, could-have-been-done-by-some-guy-in-his-basement boring. I think I've shown that, although hip hop isn't my favorite genre, I can give it a fair shake. I like Kuroki Meisa. I like JASMINE. But "The..." is just blah. There are only two tracks worth anything in my opinion: "Get Ready (Caramel Pod Remix)" and "Get Ready (THANKSGIVING LIVE IN DOME ver.)." Even they aren't great, but they do rise above the monotony and are probably worth a second listen. Of course, the regular version of "Get Ready" is just as boring and unaccountable as the other three tracks, so I have to say I'm not too impressed with JYJ as of yet. Sorry fangirls - no converts here.
Sakanaction - kikUUiki
I love this album. There's so much going on with it; so many different pieces and parts all working together, rock with synth, pushing the boundaries of the genre. I know it sounds cheezy, but it's true: "kikUUiki" is unique the way that Noanowa's "Magical Circus" is unique. It's not the kind of music you're likely to run into on a regular basis, and that's both a good thing (because it's so refreshing) and a bad thing (because all the music in the world made you feel this way). Sakanaction knows how to keep up the tension in their music while also keeping up the groove. These songs demand that you move to them, and won't take "no" for an answer. Both the vocal tracks and the instrumentals are well-composed: the music doesn't need lyrics to make it interesting, and the vocals don't need the music to be strong. I got into Sakanaction with the "Aruku Around" PV, so I'm naturally biased toward ite, but all the tracks on this album are so good that I could pick any of them as my favorite.
STRAIGHTENER - CREATURES
I was really excited to hear this album, but also a little afraid. I loved "STOUT" so much that I wanted to hear "Creatures" to affirm that I love Straightener, but was afraid that it could never live up to "STOUT." And "Creatures" is definitely different from "STOUT," but there are similarities, too. What I liked about "STOUT" is still there in "Creatures" - strong and creative use of the bass, awesome drumming, strong vocals, solid guitar, amazing energy and tension in the music - but where "STOUT" is a breathless run with only a stop or two, "Creatures" is more slow-paced and even tempered. "STOUT" is an album to listen to while you're driving down the road as fast as you can to parts unknown; "Creatures" is an album to listen to when it's cold and cloudy outside and warm and still inside and all you want is a good book, good soup, and good music. All my anxiety about Straightener is gone after listening to "Creatures;" they're just as good as I had hoped.
UPLIFT SPICE - Memento
Considering how well I liked the rest of Loki's list, I was sure I would like "Memento." And I do! But I would actually say that it's my least favorite of his top 5. UPLIFT SPICE rocks - there's no question of that - but their music lacks the depth that I'm looking for. Maybe they don't quite have the right interplay between instruments, or maybe they don't have strong enough drumming, or maybe they don't have strong enough guitar or bass, but something makes the music sound a little flat and hollow. As a result, none of their tracks in particular stuck with me. I still think they have great replay value, and I still like them - it's so nice to have good girl rockt! - but they're just not as good as 9mm Parabellum Bullet or Straightener or Noanowa or Kalafina. Also, Loki's assessment about the singer's voice is 100% dead on: her voice is really too high. Although I got used to it over the course of the album, it was certainly a shock when I first heard it. She seemed screechy, but I realized later that it's only because I'm not used to hearing a soprano singing rock at the top of her range. Alto would suit the sound a little better, but I guess UPLIFT SPICE has to work with what they've got.
JYJ - The...
Meh. Just meh. I was hoping for a lot more out of this single, since it's the JYJ, the Korean hip hop gods that descended to we mere mortals from the fangirl Nirvana that is the legendary Tohoshinki. But the songs were boring! Just typical, run of the mill, could-have-been-done-by-some-guy-in-his-basement boring. I think I've shown that, although hip hop isn't my favorite genre, I can give it a fair shake. I like Kuroki Meisa. I like JASMINE. But "The..." is just blah. There are only two tracks worth anything in my opinion: "Get Ready (Caramel Pod Remix)" and "Get Ready (THANKSGIVING LIVE IN DOME ver.)." Even they aren't great, but they do rise above the monotony and are probably worth a second listen. Of course, the regular version of "Get Ready" is just as boring and unaccountable as the other three tracks, so I have to say I'm not too impressed with JYJ as of yet. Sorry fangirls - no converts here.
Feb 5, 2011
Day 28 - Meisa, 9mm, Chiaki
Trying to catch up! For your reading pleasure I have reviewed Kuroki Meisa's album "Magazine," 9mm Parabellum Bullet's album "Revolutionary," Chiaki Kuriyama's single "Cold Finger Girl," and Sakanaction's album "kikUUiki." Let's do this!
Kuroki Meisa - Magazine
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I've talked about Kuroki Meisa before, and the one thing about her that I just can't handle are the repetitive choruses. Sure, they don't ruin the song. Not quite. But I just don't want to run around for the rest of the day with an urge to scream "SAY ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE!" at strangers. But in "Magazine" Meisa moves away from her tendency to go over the top with annoyingly catchy choruses, and instead strikes the perfect balance with them. You can listen to these songs, get to know the chorus in about two seconds and sing along, then the song obligingly drifts out of your memory so that you have room for rational thought. Outside the choruses, the music is good: dancey and electronic. She loses her way for a few tracks starting at "SHOCK -unmei-" where the music suddenly becomes disjointed and hard to listen to, but by the time you get to "LOVEHOLIC" it's back on it's way up. I liked a lot of the songs, but I think "CELEBRATE" was probably my favorite. Definitely good for a listen.
9mm Parabellum Bullet - Revolutionary
I love how hard the rock on this album is. I've noticed that it can be hard to find J-rock that's just rock without being too poppy or too emo or too visual. Not that I dislike those genres! Love them. But sometimes, just like I said in my Straightener review you just want no frills rock. "Revolutionary" delivers. Although I don't like it quite as well as I liked "STOUT" (the Straightener album), it's great. The music is fun to listen to, energetic, and keeps up interest through cool background sounds (twisting metal in "Cold Edge"), carefully constructed and deconstructed intensity ("3031"); and effects ("Black Market Blues"). No two songs sound alike - which is a plus over "STOUT" - but I didn't find the bass as strong. Strong bass is my cherry on top, and your song can be great without it, just not awesome. There was great work on the drums and guitar, though, which help close the gap for me. I'll definitely be looking up more 9mm Parabellum Bullet.
CHiAKi KURiYAMA - Cold Finger Girl
Oh my god, you guys, I want to like this single so much. The music is great! There's good work on guitar, drums, and bass, and I like Chiaki's slightly scratchy voice. Jaylee on GK said that she sounds kind of like Shiina Ringo and I totally agree. The music has that quirkiness that makes Ringo's music so much fun to listen to and which is so hard to achieve. Of course, Jaylee gives the caveat that she sounds like Ringo if Ringo didn't know how to control her voice. ... Yeah. Sadly, some poor artistic choices just freaking ruin it. "Cold Finger Girl" itself starts out really well - it's a "groovy" song in that it grooves and makes me want to dance - but on the second verse she brings in a man to sing with her and his voice competes with hers in a very unflattering way. He's leveled louder than she is so that it's like a duet, but their voices are too close in range to make it work. Then, after the hook, she brings in some scratchy, off-tune whistling. Uh.... No. The instrumental is better than the vocal track until the whistling, which is somehow even worse in that track. The "Level E" opening version is the best version of the song: no whistling, and the man's voice is leveled way down, making it so much better, but because it's a show opening it's shorter, which is a fail in itself. "Getsumen Nanchakuriku" is good, though, so that's something. Good try, Chiaki. Just, next time, do me a favor and don't ruin your perfectly good song.
Kuroki Meisa - Magazine
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I've talked about Kuroki Meisa before, and the one thing about her that I just can't handle are the repetitive choruses. Sure, they don't ruin the song. Not quite. But I just don't want to run around for the rest of the day with an urge to scream "SAY ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE!" at strangers. But in "Magazine" Meisa moves away from her tendency to go over the top with annoyingly catchy choruses, and instead strikes the perfect balance with them. You can listen to these songs, get to know the chorus in about two seconds and sing along, then the song obligingly drifts out of your memory so that you have room for rational thought. Outside the choruses, the music is good: dancey and electronic. She loses her way for a few tracks starting at "SHOCK -unmei-" where the music suddenly becomes disjointed and hard to listen to, but by the time you get to "LOVEHOLIC" it's back on it's way up. I liked a lot of the songs, but I think "CELEBRATE" was probably my favorite. Definitely good for a listen.
9mm Parabellum Bullet - Revolutionary
I love how hard the rock on this album is. I've noticed that it can be hard to find J-rock that's just rock without being too poppy or too emo or too visual. Not that I dislike those genres! Love them. But sometimes, just like I said in my Straightener review you just want no frills rock. "Revolutionary" delivers. Although I don't like it quite as well as I liked "STOUT" (the Straightener album), it's great. The music is fun to listen to, energetic, and keeps up interest through cool background sounds (twisting metal in "Cold Edge"), carefully constructed and deconstructed intensity ("3031"); and effects ("Black Market Blues"). No two songs sound alike - which is a plus over "STOUT" - but I didn't find the bass as strong. Strong bass is my cherry on top, and your song can be great without it, just not awesome. There was great work on the drums and guitar, though, which help close the gap for me. I'll definitely be looking up more 9mm Parabellum Bullet.
CHiAKi KURiYAMA - Cold Finger Girl
Oh my god, you guys, I want to like this single so much. The music is great! There's good work on guitar, drums, and bass, and I like Chiaki's slightly scratchy voice. Jaylee on GK said that she sounds kind of like Shiina Ringo and I totally agree. The music has that quirkiness that makes Ringo's music so much fun to listen to and which is so hard to achieve. Of course, Jaylee gives the caveat that she sounds like Ringo if Ringo didn't know how to control her voice. ... Yeah. Sadly, some poor artistic choices just freaking ruin it. "Cold Finger Girl" itself starts out really well - it's a "groovy" song in that it grooves and makes me want to dance - but on the second verse she brings in a man to sing with her and his voice competes with hers in a very unflattering way. He's leveled louder than she is so that it's like a duet, but their voices are too close in range to make it work. Then, after the hook, she brings in some scratchy, off-tune whistling. Uh.... No. The instrumental is better than the vocal track until the whistling, which is somehow even worse in that track. The "Level E" opening version is the best version of the song: no whistling, and the man's voice is leveled way down, making it so much better, but because it's a show opening it's shorter, which is a fail in itself. "Getsumen Nanchakuriku" is good, though, so that's something. Good try, Chiaki. Just, next time, do me a favor and don't ruin your perfectly good song.
Feb 4, 2011
Day 27 - Kalafina - Red Moon
Lord almighty, did I miss three days in a row??? Life!!!! *shakes fist at the heavens*
The only way I can describe this album is "epic." No, not in the internet parlance way that just means "awesome, dude!" but in the classical way that means "heroic; majestic; impressively great." The styles and instrumentation completely change between songs, from Midnight Syndicate meets Trans-Siberian Orchestra title track "Red Moon," to the Spanish-flavored "Hikari no Senritsu," to the electronic "fantasia," to the "Arabian Nights" feel of "Yami no Uta"... You guys, I don't think I've heard this many kinds of styles since Bennie K's "The World," and on "Red Moon" they're frankly more solidly performed. And instrumentation! Instruments are heard include but certainly are not limited to real strings, tubular bells, xylophone, flute, piano, and more Indian instruments than I could competently name. Add the great variety and well-composed music to the strong vocal performance, and you have an amazing album. Much like many of the albums that I've been impressed by on this blog, I doubt that this is everyone's cup of tea. But you'd have to be crazy not to recognize that this is great music. My only complaint is that it's pretty hard to groove to. But, on the other hand, great to dance to! Love, love, love.
The only way I can describe this album is "epic." No, not in the internet parlance way that just means "awesome, dude!" but in the classical way that means "heroic; majestic; impressively great." The styles and instrumentation completely change between songs, from Midnight Syndicate meets Trans-Siberian Orchestra title track "Red Moon," to the Spanish-flavored "Hikari no Senritsu," to the electronic "fantasia," to the "Arabian Nights" feel of "Yami no Uta"... You guys, I don't think I've heard this many kinds of styles since Bennie K's "The World," and on "Red Moon" they're frankly more solidly performed. And instrumentation! Instruments are heard include but certainly are not limited to real strings, tubular bells, xylophone, flute, piano, and more Indian instruments than I could competently name. Add the great variety and well-composed music to the strong vocal performance, and you have an amazing album. Much like many of the albums that I've been impressed by on this blog, I doubt that this is everyone's cup of tea. But you'd have to be crazy not to recognize that this is great music. My only complaint is that it's pretty hard to groove to. But, on the other hand, great to dance to! Love, love, love.
Interview with flumpool on GK!
Yes, yes, yes. Days and days of fail. I'm working on it!
In the mean time, read my translation of Excite's interview with flumpool on GK!
In the mean time, read my translation of Excite's interview with flumpool on GK!
Feb 1, 2011
Interview with Kuroki Meisa on GK!
Hey, in may fail despair, I almost forgot that I have an interview translation up on GK! It's Kuroki Meisa on her new album "Magazine" (which I will probably review tomorrow). Check it out!
Day 24 - Fail Day 2
If it just wasn't a triple feature....
Today killed me. Work, house, baby, husband... It started bad and ended not-so-bad, but now I'm tired and don't have the energy for the music. :( Here's the deal: I'll do double features for the next few nights, as long as I can have this one night off. See, I've already updated the calendar! Okay?
Deal?
Deal.
See you tomorrow.
Today killed me. Work, house, baby, husband... It started bad and ended not-so-bad, but now I'm tired and don't have the energy for the music. :( Here's the deal: I'll do double features for the next few nights, as long as I can have this one night off. See, I've already updated the calendar! Okay?
Deal?
Deal.
See you tomorrow.
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