romantic
November 30, 2008 at 12:13 pm | In Rie fu | Leave a CommentTags: 2008, Rie fu, romantic, single
- romantic
- In The Airplane
- Money Will Love You
romantic is not a song that I would have though that Rie fu would have released. The style is so different to what she’s done before and, while it’s refreshing it’s a bit of a shock. Her vocals are the same as ever (in a good way), it’s the composition of the song that is so unusual. It’s much more intense and constant than I’ve heard from her before and the sound completely envelops you from the first chorus. I’ll admit that my first impression of romantic was rather low, it was a shock to the system that I wasn’t ready for, but after a few listens I can honestly say I like it… I love the gentle outro. It sounds as if that’s how the song originally started and then was tastefully overproduced.
Track Rating; B+/A-
In the Airplane has an odd beginning. I had no idea what to make of it, but then it transitioned into a jazz/blues opening and I suddenly felt that I would enjoy the song much more. The way Rie slips in between English and Japanese is seamless and one of the features of the song that I really enjoy. I feel like more could have been done with the chorus but for the most part I’m pretty satisfied with this song.
Track Rating; B/B+
Money Will Love You is a beautiful soft second b-side that really sets off the two previous song just because it’s so different from them… and is much more in Rie’s usual style. Apart from the title, which I love, I also love the vocals and simplicity of the harmonies which are almost always present but not always very focusable on. Money Will Love You is the perfect final song for the single and my favourite on the single.
Track Rating; A
Single Rating; B+
Golden Tears
November 17, 2008 at 4:15 pm | In BONNIE PINK | 3 CommentsTags: album, BONNIE PINK, Golden Tears, J-Pop, Japanese
- So Wonderful
- Paradiddle-free
- Coast to Coast
- Addiction
- Mirror
- Nichinichisou
- Robotomy
- Monster
- Rise and Shine
- Cotton Candy
- Nocturne
- You Got Me Good
- Believe
(I abuse the quotes here, advanced apologies.)
So Wonderful begins Golden Tears with an ever so slightly disco feel. I love pretty much everything about this song. BONNIE sounds awesome – I’ve always loved her voice, even thtough it threw me for a loop when I found out her age. The verses are actually interesting rather than dull interludes between a striking chorus and the lyrics of said chorus are very catchy indeed. So wonderful/You’re soaking wet/So What?/You’re so wonderful Easy to learn and provides a great hook.
Track Rating; A+
Paradiddle-free is basically a country song with a twist. It’s completely in English and the guitars are what give it that distinctive feel. The twist is in the chorus when she sings Bang, Bang, Bang/ A word, A word, A word as it doesn’t fit with the expected pattern and they’re probably my favourite lines in the whole song. Because of it’s laid-back, casual style it’s not as catchy as So Wonderful, but it’s a great song for it’s own reasons.
Track Rating; A
Coast to Coast is the perfect song to play at the beach or on holiday. I think the mix of Japanese and English is very well measured and I love the overall simplicity. In general it feels like a fun song and it’s impossible not to pick up the chorus; ‘From coast to coast/To north to south/Gotta keep movin’ to see what is going on’. It’s a lot longer than you think it is at just over four minutes but it remains pretty engaging.
Track Rating; B
Addiction is one of my least favourite tracks on the album. Personally, I believe it takes a little too long to really get going. It’s good to listen to if you’re planning on having a calm day and the lyrics of the chorus are great. The song is pretty much oozing a style that only BONNIE wouldn’t bore me with.
Track Rating; B-
Mirror is so simple and plain but I just love it. The whole song’s in English and, though the lyrics are a little weird, they’re very well penned with lines like It feels like faith is vanity/I don’t wanna lose my sanity and Wish you were my mirror/Share the grief/Spare the smile for each other. For the most part the song does rely on the lyrics because generally it’s not a thrilling song. Still love it though.
Track Rating; B
Nichinichisou is one of my favourite songs on the album. The random sounds and computerisations throughout the main melody are kind of happy sounding and I love the pace of the song. Especially the chorus with the recurring lines of I say hello/goodnight to nichinichisou. It’s definitely a memorable track,
Track Rating; A
I heard the remix of Robotomy before I heard the original and I was truly struck by how different the two are. Due to the difference in the two tracks it’s quite amazing how much soul the original has. It also sounds a bit darker and more… defiant during the chorus. I don’t know which I prefer but I do know that both versions of the song are brilliant.
Track Rating; A+
Now for my ultimate favourite track from BONNIE PINK. Monster is entirely in English (weird but good lyrics… but whatever) but what really gets me about the song is how alive it sounds, despite the subject material. The rolling pace and mix of your general instruments and some computer sounds kind of highlight the Jekyll and Hyde theme in the lyrics… or is that me reading too much into it?
Track Rating; A*
Rise and Shine is the most synthed song here and while I like it, I’m not bowled over when I listen to it for the most part. I like the inclusion of the title in the chorus and overall it’s a great listen, I’m just not moved to any extreme emotions.
Track Rating; B-
Cotton Candy is the first true ballad on the album. The opening is really quite powerful and is complimented really well when BONNIE brings it down for the verse. The message that I can pick up from the English lyrics (of which there aren’t many) is pretty nice. I love the feel of the song and because it’s the first actual ballad and the repetition of the title is catchy.
Track Rating; A
Nocturne is a great song but is rather dwarfed by the previous track. My favourite lines here are in between the verse and chorus; the Natsu ga kite One step/Aki ga kite Two steps lines. BONNIE’s voice sounds a little odd to me in the chorus, there’s just a bit about it that I don’t like, but I can’t pinpoint it.
Track Rating; B
You Got Me Good takes us back into the summery sound of songs like Nichinichisou and Coast to Coast, but the bizarre, almost overpowering drums during the majority of the song totally give it it’s own identity. I have absolutely no idea what the song is about, even when looking at the lyrics but I still love the feeling I get when I listen to it.
Track Rating; A+
The last track is Believe and it’s kind of a ballad, inspirational song thing with a really great transition from Japanese into English, but it’s quite hard to define it. The English verse is really quite clever and the lyrics I feel like crying like a girl lost in a gallery/I’d choose to look at your face over Chagall really stick out. I wish this wasn’t the end of the album because I love this song and it always makes me want more.
Track Rating; A+
Overall… Golden Tears is a fabulous album. BONNIE PINK is one of few artists that have a style that I couldn’t listen to from anyone else and I cannot wait for her next release. This is my favourite BONNIE album so far but I am more than willing for some new material to come along and knock this off the top spot.
Overall Rating; A
KtoE’s 1st Birthday
November 12, 2008 at 4:56 pm | In 1 | 1 CommentSo it’s been a year and two days since I thought ‘Eh… I can do that!’
As of Monday Keys to Everything is officially one year old and honestly, I have nothing to do for an anniversary post. I should be getting back to actually updating properly soon, but so many things have gotten in my way.
Hopefully Keys to Everything will live to see another birthday and you lot will continue to visit!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEYS TO EVERYTHING
MISO
November 5, 2008 at 9:25 pm | In M.I.S.O | Leave a Comment
- Malhae Malhae (Say it, say it)
- One Step
- Nan…
- Miso
- Maybe
- Nimgwa Hamkke
Because there’s like no information on them, I can imagine a lot of people don’t know who these newly debuted girls are. (Go here for a download)
Malhae Malhae is nothing really special. The vocals aren’t particularly great and it sounds rather like the Brown Eyed Girls that was never recorded, but then again there is something about it that I like. It’s pretty catchy and the chorus is danceable. I don’t know who’s who but I think that I prefer the girl who sings the prechorus’s voice the most. It’s a good debut song and it deserves some attention as there is definitely a lot of potential in this group.
Track Rating; B
One Step has a rather amusing opening. Make me dance, make me HOT, make me move is quite funny. As for the actual bulk of the song – it’s not bad, just a bit underwhelming. The vocal mostly lacked some energy but I like the random rapper guy! Some of the English lyrics (NOT the opening ^_^) are quite good, but I feel myself rather unmoved by the song.
Track Rating; C+/B-
Nan… is the required ballad and I’m particularly interested in hearing their voices properly, because let’s be honest, the last two tracks didn’t really require much more than the ability to be able to hold a tune for three minutes. There are a couple of blending problems but, vocally, they all have something to them. Not the most impressive but I’ve heard worse (*coughsoheecough*) and I love the solo lines in the chorus. The lead up to the ‘inspirational’ moment was a bit, you know, uninspiring but I think that that was more badly formulated than badly sung. From listening to this I have a favourite voice… now if only I knew who it belonged to.
Track Rating; B
Miso. Title track, group name and my favourite track on the mini-album. It opens with the recurring English lyrics you hear in the chorus. Bad pronounciation but I can live with that. Miso is a reggae-inspired, island-party song with a dash of an orchestral flavour added if you listen closely. Now that I think about it, the energy is a bit flat but it’s soooo catchy. Random appearance of a rapper is back, but it adds to the track so that’s okay. In my opinion this is the best track.
Track Rating; A
Maybe is next and I love the entire opening section. The guys singing are amusing and memorable. This is a bit like they took Miso and got rid of the reggae. It has some really funky synth lines, the female rapper is here again, but she’s not really doing much for the most part. The chorus lacks any real musical support and winds up being a little blah. The adlibs towards the end are nice but you have to LISTEN for them because there’s not much and they are really badly drowned out.
Track Rating; B
Ningwa Hamkke is the final song on the mini-album and that rapper is now basically a fifth member (can someone tell me who she is?). I really like this song, like a lot. It’s got a darker tone to it and the synth is a lot stronger and more prominent. I personally think that, if Malhae Malhae, doesn’t capture enough imaginations, they should promote this. BUT WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THE SHORTEST SONG???!!!
Track Rating; A
Mini-album Rating; B/B+
OUTGROW
November 2, 2008 at 12:30 pm | In 1, BoA | Leave a CommentTags: 2006, album, BoA, Jpop, OUTGROW
- Silent Screamerz
- DO THE MOTION
- Kimi no Tonari de
- OUTGROW ~Ready Butterfly~
- make a secret
- Everlasting
- LONG TIME NO SEE
- cosmic eyes
- Dakishimeru
- Love Is Just What You Can’t See
- Stay My Gold
- soundscape
- With U
- First Snow (Bonus Track)
Silent Screamerz opens OUTGROW with a catchy dance feel. While it’s not exactly groundbreaking it’s a strong and memorable track and for a long while it was one of the only songs I actually listened to from the album. BoA is energetic and forceful on vocals and she really puts a strength into the song. I still really love this song and shall continue to, but I’m not sure if it’s really everyone’s taste.
Track Rating; A
DO THE MOTION sounds very much like a samba song and that I find really dull. There’s no real hook for me to latch onto and I find myself bored for the most part. The chorus is the only particularly strong part in the song and the verses are incurably dull. There’s nothing offensive about it, I am just really not moved by it at all.
Track Rating; C+
Kimi no Tonari de opens with some pretty strong vocals and a really nice orchestral feel. One bone I have to pick with this song is how bare it sounds for the most part. Simplicity is one thing, but this is going a little far. Altogether it’s a nice, unsupposing song but it’s more for the ballad appreciators.
Track Rating; C+
Now this is more my kind of thing. OUTGROW ~Ready Butterfly~ is actually kind of a mess – the music’s all over the place and really dischordant and the vocals are rather weak, but there’s something in that that I like. Unsuprisingly, it wasn’t an immediate affinity on my part, it took a few listen, but I do enjoy the dark, confusing dance feel of the song. Definitely not to everyone’s taste though.
Track Rating; A+
make a secret is another bare track. I like it more than Kimi no Tonari de because, even though they’re not the same genre, make a secret at least tries to be interesting. It has a bit of a funk aura throughout which gives it a point or two and BoA’s vocal and the melody is much more interesting than I thought it would be. But even with all that said it’s still rather boring, and without a doubt it’s too long.
Track Rating; B
Everlasting is a classic. What this song has that KnTd doesn’t is a classical edge, with soaring strings and a much more traditional approach to the song. BoA’s voice is particularly strong during the chorus and I love the orchestral additions. Everlasting is a truly memorable track that deserves to be listened to, no matter your usual listening preferences are.
Track Rating; A*
LONG TIME NO SEE was not promising from the get go and it never really took off. Dull for many, if not all of the reasons mentioned in some of the other songs. I don’t think I’ll be listening to this one much.
Track Rating; C
cosmic eyes is… totally bizarre. It’s half cutesy-pop song, half dance-pop hybrid. It’s a confusing song, but thankfully that makes it interesting. But then again, after LONG TIME NO SEE I get the feeling just about anything would. cosmic eyes sends you round in circles but is memorable and interesting for that, and potentially abrasive.
Track Rating; A?
Dakishimeru is not what you’d expect from the title. It’s not a ballad, it’s an upbeat track and I absolutely love the verses. There’s a palpable attitude to the song and power too and it’s downright catchy. See me have nothing else to say
Track Rating; A*
Love Is What You Just Can’t See is a bizarre title. This is leaning more towards cutesy pop and is again not very thrilling and it pales in comparison to Dakishimeru. Once again, no real features or anything to particularly latch onto… Bored
Track Rating; C+
Stay My Gold is a nonsensical title, therefore a nonsensical lyric. The backing singers are blah and a little annoying, as is the backing music. From the opening you would have thought that this had a lot more potential than they’ve actually indulged. Nothing changes for the entire track.
Track Rating; C
soundscape is probably the final nail in the coffin. I am now officially sleepy. And it’s midday.
Track Rating; C
With U. See the title, think Big Bang, get disapointed. I have finally lost the will to live.
Track Rating; C
First Snow. And then the bonus track… blah too, but it was going to be, because it’s almost immediately compared to Everlasting.
Track Rating; B
Overall… Highly disapointing. There number of memorable track you can count on one hand. This album is only worth it for about four songs, and while these songs are really quite amazing, in my opinion, they could not save OUTGROW from the sheer volume of dead-weight that is on it’s tracklist. So much mid-tempo R’n'B that I actually gave up trying to write about them. I always endeavour to make a decent commentary on each track but this time I just couldn’t find anything to say that wouldn’t be repeating myself.
Overall Rating; C+
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