Posts (page 2)
As you can tell by the last entry I've decided to change the format of my reviews. I decided to blend Lost Wing and Vitamin drop and you can see the results in my latest review.
For colorful version you can see the crossposted version.
It's a rather fun format I think : ) I like not having to link all the seperate song reviews together. hehe.
Sitting down to review this album I find myself lost for words. But I will try my best to convey my thoughts on this album, even though this album really is just so hard to talk about. I just want to put the title then in the main body put "it's awesome" and leave it at that!! I am... is the first time that Ayu would compose her own music, under the name CREA as well as write all the lyrics. It was her 4th Studio ablum released on 01.01.2002.
The album opens with the title track, I am... . the song is slow relying on the interesting overlaying of many sounds and electronic effects. I love how the song changes, builds up and down and incorporates so many different sounds. A steady beat goes throughout the song, and for the chorus the song suddenly becomes a loud rock affair with Ayumi belting out the powerful lyrics "listen closely I'll keep screaming until you understand". The song has a raw and bitter feeling: it is packed with alot of emotion and power. It's brilliant.
Even though the album has only just begun, a short interlude opening run fits in neatly between I am... and the next track connected. It's short and sweet- building perfectly to Connected. Connected is a short but powerful club number. It's by Ferry Corsten so you know it's gotta be good. It's a dark futuristic sounding trance number, with a heavy beat and stunning encorporation of Ayu's vocals. I love the short sentences, which somehow manage to convery so much in so few words. As I said, it's Ferry Corsten- who really knows how to make excellent trance songs.
The album takes a turn for the worse with UNITE!- a rock number with the familiar Ayu touch (piano, electronic sounds etc etc). Technically, the song is awesome and packed with emotion and power. The instrumentation is just awesome. For me, I find it dull. I don't even know why, but there's nothing about this song that truly grabs my attention.
Moving onto evolution, a classic Ayu song. It starts with that familiar tune, an ethereal piano with Ayu's voice floating ontop. Immediatly the song grabs your attention. Then it builds up to be a faster, darker rock song. It' got such a sense of urgency to it. The song sometimes has a pop feel to it, sometimes it's more a rock song. Throughout it all are some pretty unique sounds and an underlying edge to it. In short: it's pretty awesome.
The album goes back to the "meh" tracks with Naturally. Like UNITE! I think it's more due to personal taste. The song has a bit of a rock feel to it, and I really like all the effects in the song. The instrumentation is really good. It's a very strong, catchy track. I find it pretty boring though.
Then it's the powerful rock song NEVER EVER. Childish twinkling sounds and synth start the song, before Ayu's vocals come in giving a very bittersweet feeling to the song- it's very sad in a way. Then the chorus kicks in and it's full blown rock, gone are Ayu's reserved vocals and she's belting it out "If you had one wish- what would you wish for?". Still that rather sorrowful feeling and that constant childish sound in the background- a beautiful contrast. The song has very sweet feeling to it in a way contrasting to the otherwise bitter atmosphere. However overall the song is incredibly powerful with amazing lyrics, isntrumentation and just so much emotion. One of Ayu's best.
still alone was one of my first Ayu songs, and though it's very beautiful I don't like how drawn out the chorus is. The instrumentation is very pretty, got that same childish sound going on that NEVER EVER had. The song has a very sad sort of feeling to it, and I really like parts of it. But the chorus just makes it feel boring and dragged out.
Daybreak follows, and it's rather uplifting starting with that kind synth before breaking out into the upbeat sunny instrumentation. Still got that darker, rockier edge to it. Ayu gives a wonderful vocal performance throughout too. But the highlight of this song for me is the chorus. I just love the feeling of the chorus, and how both instrumentation and Ayu's vocals blend so perfectly. The song has such a great feeling to it. I love how it varies, how the texture changes and all the diffferent dynamics. I just find it so beautiful- it's very upbeat compared to the slow, forlorn still alone too.
A short interlude ties Daybreak and M together. Taskinlude doesn't present anything new Ayu-interludes wise with slight dance beat to it, a bit an ethereal feeling. You get the point by now.
Another Ayu great- M is next. Personally I have very mixed feelings on the song. Yep, it's a signature Ayu song and one of her most well hand. On one hand it's really pretty. On the other it's pretty OTT, standard OTT ballad sorta thing like Voyage is. The song has the whole piano string thing going on, the quiet verse slowly building up to louder stronger chorus. It's pretty awesome but not a song that I really like.
The solo version of a song is born follows and it's very very very long but somehow there's something pretty hypnotizing about it, it's slow but soothing with wonderful relaxing instrumentation and sweet, sincere vocals from Ayu. It's a very pretty song.
Then it's the first of the Inuyasha tracks and one of my favourite Ayu songs- the beautiful Dearest. This song is so familiar now I don't even know how to describe it. I'd say the instrumentation is very beautiful and Ayu gives such a lovely sincere vocal performance. I love her "ahs": especially at the end. The lyrics totally stand out too- and make the song into a romantic and hopeful love song. It's incredible. The song has such a great feeling to it. It's just so pretty!!
no more words follows. I remember watching the Inuyasha movie and I wasn't really wanting to cry much at the ending, then this song came and it just created such an atmosphere that I couldn't help but shed a couple of tears. This is simply one of the most beautiful songs. I adore the orchestral instrumentation, tinged with a traditional Japanese feeling to it. Ayu gives a gorgeous vocal performance, and I love the rythmns of the words- creates very interesting sound. The lyrics I will always remember- "If this world were split into winners and losers, I'd rather be a loser." It's a deep and complex song really. Either way it's absolutly stunning. Definitly sounds like a movie ending though, it's long with that dramatic feeling and a blend of sorrow and hope leaning more towards hope and moving forwards etc etc.
Then the album ends terribly with a horrible rendetion of Endless Sorrow and the even worse Flower Garden. Pity.
The album incorporates many different sounds, genres and is laced
through with some pretty experimental stuff. Hamasaki Ayumi really
presented something very unique, something extremly interesting with
this album. Sometimes I find it's not the best album to listen to for
listening sake, but I find technically it's amazing. One of Ayu's most unique and interesting works to date. Some personal favourites found on this album too : ) I must also say wow- it's amazing she can write lyrics and music this incredibly powerful. Reminds me of why I love her so much- because she is so incredibly talented to play such a big part in her music!!
They are suddenly re-uniting?! That almost feels too good to be true!! Ah...I used to be a fan like over a year ago. I think I first heard them right when I was just getting into Jpop!!
I guess alot of people are gonna be extremly happy about this though. Even I can't help but feel excited about what they are gonna release.
Wait. Next spring? That's way too long to wait...
Isn't this so amazingly beautiful? Their voices really compliment each other. I also watched a duet between kuroyume and L'arc and ciel- from around 91/92...before I was born most likely! o_o It was pretty awesome but definitly made one think "should have been there"- not quite as great recorded if you know what I mean.
It's weird to think I'm only fangirling over Kiyoharu now, yet he was around when I was but a kid. Actually in 99, the year we moved to the UK, I think SADS came over to the UK for a tour!! But obviously only 7/8 years later I would discover the band- and know about the tour.
Sometimes these things are pretty wierd. Some people have been fans of musicians since they started, seen them when they were teens and now as adults, can go on about how they have changed since back then. Some people know alot of about older generations of music. Most haven't though have they? Very few perhaps would be better wording. For me- thinking about it properly, even after 2 years I'm still a Jpop/Jrock newbie. I don't even listen to the majority of bands and singers around now, nor do I really have that much knowledge about it. I guess because I listen to Jpop/Jrock, Cpop/C-rock and Krock/Kpop I cannot really devote my all to one!!
What i'm getting at is I think it would definitly be interesting if more people shared music from Japan from older era. All I've heard of (not neccesarily heard their songs) are Pink Lady, X Japan, D'erlanger (I think that's it), BUCK TICK, Kuroyume and Koshi Inaba (who I think was around in the 90's or earlier- not entirely sure. I've only heard a song by him! [edit] turns out he's vocalist of B'z. [/edit])
Plus a few more who have been going for 20 years or more- like BUCK TICK and some others I cannot recall!
Need more 80's Jrock!! XD And what about the 70's? Or 60's? I mean I don't even know what was going on in Japan at that time... let alone the music.
but yeah. You get my point （^_^） I might start googling this soon- see what I can find. :D
And wow. I originally planned to share the performance, and just mention the l'arc and the whole 92 thing. Somehow it morphed into these strange musings!
I found a kiyoharu livejournal community!! It's great to read about him, and see news!! Kiyoharu is sadly unpopular : ( Don't hear much about him. Glad to find a community with up to date info!! I kinda stopped listening to Kiyoharu for a while but I've gone back into fangirl mode now XD
Well news is that he will be releasing two new albums september 9th!! Both contain 8 tracks, which will be accoustic versions of his songs, SADS and kuroyume. Limited editions come with DVDs though content has been unconfirmed.
I also really want Kiyoharu clips which is a collection of his PVs.
And I was gonna buy some Nell albums.
Stupid music industry. There's always too many things to buy!! And it's too expensive. I'm a jobless 16 yr old- I survive on my allowance. I just spent a tonne of money buying clothes too.
Hm...decisions decisions... I'm definitly being tempted quite alot. Definitly very very tempted here.
Finished all their albums~
Tears Library
UNDERGROUND BLUE
Me and Your Borderline
the sum
I prefer not to do singles : )
So I started reviewing LAST ALLIANCE and then put off their latest album, the sum being slightly disappointed after hearing it (I didn't download before I bought it- just pre-ordered it. I love LAST ALLIANCE this much :D ). This is LAST ALLIANCE's 4th album released in June 25th. This album has alot of new material and for some reason ALWAYS ON MY HEART didn't make it o_0 Which is bad as that makes another single I'll have to buy caus' I kinda like the song!! Alot of people complain about lack of new material on albums, but I like it when there's all the A-sides and B-sides- means less money I spend!! Anyway, the album does include each single from "Signal004" through "Drag On," the track "Katahiza no Yogore" from "Always in My Heart," and more for 12 songs total.
The album opens with the fast and gritty Change by 1. As you can expect from LAST ALLIANCE there's good intrumentation, and vocals. The song has some very interesting rythmns to it too and I like all the different variation that goes on in the song. A good opening.
Next is Proud of Scar. The opening with just the guitar really sets the pace, fast and frantic before breaking out into the full instrumentation to be a very dark and gritty number. The chorus is realy wierd how he uses his voice, and he pronounces "proud of scar" a little wierd but overall it's pretty cool. The song has a really good feeling to it, and of course it's technically brilliant.
Then it's Mujuuryoku ONEWAY SHUTTLE. This has a very quirky opening with some very interesting rythmns throughout the song. Halfway through the song that instrumentation totally changes too, which is very startling almost like a new song, before it goes back to the norm- this is quite an interesting effect. The has a much more upbeat feeling compared to Change by 1 and Proud of Scar but not without a bit of en edge. I love the verses where the vocalist takes on that really good tone adding a good feeling to the song. I love the use of the voice distortion too, and how they overlay two vocal parts at times. The backing vocals are slightly annoying, but not out of place. This is a fast and upbeat song with a bit of an edge to it. Really fantastic techinically and brilliant to listen to.
Track 4 is Sabaku to Gensou, a very dark and moody song. The opening is quiet before it builds up becoming very angry and loud. I love the dark feel to the song. There's a fantastic instrumentantal near the end too, and the bridge that follows where the vocalist is smothered is pretty cool. The bridge I don't like how loud his breathing is, sounds like he's gasping desperatly for breath but I guess that's what makes the atmosphere in a way. Good thing it's short with that ending because it would definitly become boring if longer and withpout that much needed variation.
Katahiza no Yogore follows, starting with some really quiet and atmosphereic instrumental quickly, franticly building up to be very loud and strong with that angry edge to it. The guitar part is so damn awesome- I love how the one guitar sounds so delictate compared to the rest of the song- and the song is so in your face after such a peaceful opening- really grabs your attention and holds it. The vocalist sounds so angry too. I love how much he puts into it, his ad-libbing at the end is pretty cool to. Ah...this song has so much attitude to it. Really awesome. Loud, angry and fast with a slight softer edge to it- like the reverse of so many of their songs which have a sort of angrier edge but are really soft.
Then comes PERFECT GAME. A pretty upbeat song with a rather rebelious feel to it. Despite being technically brilliant, can't help but feel the song really drags on at times.
Yureta Byoushin is next. the song opens with quiet guitar and vocals only. The song has a pretty messy, but in a good way, opening before it all comes together and the song really begins. It's still got that odd disjointed feeling to it, gives it an interesting feeling. A pretty sweet and relaxing song. Got such a beautiful, laid-back feeling to it and I love all the different dynamics to it. The song is very soft with a much sadder feel compared to alot of the songs presented so far. I love this side of LAST ALLIANCE though. Their songs like these are always very emotional and with a very subtle power to them.
Track 8 is Lonesome World- a laid-back meloncholic song. Nothing new presented nor for me to say but still very nice. Gotta love the title ; )
Drag On follows. I love the use of the voice distortion on the verses, and how the vocalist is kind smothered by the loud instrumental- before the instrumentation drops and his voice becomes stronger and clearer. The voice and the instrumentation really blend well- both strong and loud in their own right. A fast and meloncholic song with a bit of an angrier edge. The song has a really great feel to it. Awesomenes :)
Next up is WORLD IS MINE, another fast and edgy song. Got a really cool instrumental. I hate it when they shout "world is mine" though. The rest of the song is kinda cool but those loud shouty vocals let the whole thing down.
the album is nearly over with Ameagari ni Graffiti. This opens with such a beautiful guitar part, really gentle. The song builds up to incoporate the rest of the instruments, and it's still quite soft and laid-back. The song has very pretty instrumenation, some very interesting rythmns and I also love the vocals. Both come together for a wonderful laid-back meloncholic number with a bittersweet feeling to it. A very pretty song with alot of emotion in it.
Lastly it's Gunjou Kurage, a very gentle guitar part and soft vocals start the song, slowly building up to be a bit of a fast and grittier number. The song has a great hopeful feeling, appropriate to end the album.
So my thoughts. This will be long : D I pre-ordered the album and the packagaing is absolutly gorgeous.
Like Epik High pieces part one- all cardboard and fold out. I love the cg art. Rather
nice. I was disappointed ALWAYS IN MY HEART wasn't on here though. Furthermore, Tears Library and Me and your borderline both had a very sad feeling
to them, very soft. Compared to Underground blue which had a very angry
sound to it. the sum has the same angry sound that Underground blue
did. Which sorta bad because I prefer their softer, some may say slightly more powerful and emotional stuff but
nvm. The album started loud and angry, toning down at points for more meloncholic numbers at points. I think technically it's brilliant as always though some of the songs were more the sort you put on and relax to, they don't really hold the attention well enough to be able to listen to them on their own. I don't like how some of the songs seem to follow the same formula, just tweaked a bit and presenting new emotions etc. I really don't like how on this album a few of the songs seem to sound the same so it gets a little boring. There wasn't really stand out numbers, like on Me and your borderline there were Akai Hana and Gray end- just for example. There were some great songs though, like oneway shuttle. Also, I do like the use of silence and dynamics on the album. Alot of the tracks had really quiet or silent moments, often halfway through the song- creating an interesting effect. And some of the songs had other interesting effects like odd synth I think, and a bit of voice distortion. As I said technically it's fantastic stuf and it's not bad to listen to (apart from WORLD IS MINE) but compare it to some of their more powerful albums like Tears library and Me and your bordelrine and it pales. Slightly dissapointing personally, but still a pretty good album. It pains me to have to rate a LAST ALLIANCE album so low, but really....this album was pretty boring at points : (
I have gone into bad mood with school looming ahead, and I find myself listening to Nell quite a bit. Their music is the kind you can put on loud and immerse yourself in, and it's kinda relaxing and almost comforting to listen to. You can lose yourself in the feelings and the mood of the songs. But at the same time you can put it on in the background and just let it play whilst you do something else.
Their music is pretty soft rock, but their songs have a great mood/feel to them and their work is simply beautiful. Seeing so wiki.ppn is down I'll take some info from Kome which sums them up well: Nell, a Korean band named after a movie starring Jodie Foster and discovered by Seo Taiji, is a pop/rock band with a very original and mesmerizing style. Their sometimes almost dreamlike music and the vocalist's unique, skilled vocals are filled with emotion that is sure to win over the heart of anyone who appreciates beautiful music.
Once again I cannot be asked to write full reviews (I'm so lazy. Hehe) but I will talk about a few favourite song that you should definitly check out!! I'm gonna ramble because I really really love these songs so I really want to right alot!! :D
Firstly one time best seller, the remake found on their remake album let's take a walk. The song that really got me into Nell. It's a beautiful song, a very soft and hypnotizing song, with a dreamlike quality to it. The song has mellow, sad atmosphere. Feelings of regret, of losing something important. It's increbily powerful. There's so many feelings in this song. There's just so many layers, so many feelings... so many sounds all in this one 6 minutes long song.
The instrumentation is really stunning, I don't know how to describe it but it's a blend of soft rock and like synth, or a keyboard. It's really beautiful. And the vocalist has a gorgoues voice. His voice is just...so unique. The song is slow, but with many subtle variations. Also fantastic use of repetetion. The way they overlay the vocal parts at one point is just so ethereal and so beautiful. I love the ending where the lines "is this the end?" are repeated. Ah...and when he sings falsetto. The vocalist has the most beautiful falsetto!! Also that backing talking thingy is pretty amazing. One listen and you're pretty much hooked on the song. It's incredible song... there's just so much to it. It's beautiful and I could honestly talk about it forever (because there are just so many parts to this song that are awesome).
I''ll stop rambling on about One time best seller though and move onto Promise me. A very relaxing and hopeful soft rock number. It's another great song. The song focuses alot on the wonderful instrumentation, with only a few verses and long instrmental parts. I love the chorus which is basically just the vocalist repeating "promise me" over the gorgeous instrumentation. Somehow it creates the most amazing feeling. It's almost like it doesn't need words. Once again I love the use of synth (though I think it's a keyboard). It all comes together to create such a full and uplifting atmosphere. This song is all kinds of awesome. Pretty short but very sweet. Got such a great feeling to it.
Next is Tokyo!! This one took a couple of listens to grow on me. It was only last night when I was listening on my mp3 player. I kinda lay there really absorbing the lyrics and the mood of the song and I realised just how amazing it was. Not to mention so catchy! Alot of Nells work subtely work their way into your brain~ XD The highlight of the song are the mature and realistic lyrics- reflecting on life and love in a rather bittersweet manner- "II think i'm losing weight again/ I think i'm losing taste again/I think i broke my heart again/Will you stay with me?".
Listening you can imagine the bright lights and conrete jungle that is any large city, like Tokyo. Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world, so I can imagine why they would choose Tokyo. Tokyo at night with the neon lights, people rushing home or going out. People still up and out or stuck in the office. The sort of faceless city where you can lose yourself in your life, convince yourself you're happy, but really you're empty. It's not real. What's real are what you feel but even then... The song kinda makes me go down this strange route of thought! Listen to the lyrics though. They can really be interpreted in alot of ways. They kinda make you think.
Back to the song. The song almost has a dance beat to it, that sort of feeling. The keyboard gives it a feeling like something of the 80's but to great effect. The song has this constant beat, sounding almost like it's in a distance. The verses are soft and mellow, and the chorus comes suddenly and it's loud- in your face. The vocalist uses his brilliant falsetto for a great effect. This is really awesome song. It's pretty strange, but at the same I really like the feeling and the lyrics are pretty amazing. They make you think. And hey- no engrish!! An amazing, very mature and beautiful song. I love how it varies throughout and all the different dynamics to it.
So there you have it! I won't make this any longer than it should- though there are still a few songs that I could mention. Nell are awesome though. I'm slowly working through their discoggraphy and their are few songs I truly hate. A band I really really need to save up to buy their albums!! I'll hopefully have some money next month though..They are all kinds of awesome. A very unique band with an incredible sound.
When I can be fucked, I may try and review their discography. Maybe. Sometimes heir songs are pretty indescirbable. I'll have to think.. : )
Ps. No images. Wiki.ppn is down. Googling gets porn stars.
I wasn't planning to write anything about this group, then I re-listened to 不對也要愛(want love even it's wrong) for the first time in a few months and realised- wow I really love that song. Oh yeah, cherry boom are AWESOME. To be honest though I've never given them a proper listen- although I probably should.
Let's see. Cherry Boom are what you may class as Chinese indie pop rock. Their music is definitly got a prominent rock sound. Sometimes it's a little alternate too. Their lyrics, what I've read, are rather dark and often a little twisted.
Formed in 2003, Cherry Boom is a Taiwanese rock band, that consists of Zha Zha (vocalist), Xiao Qian (bassist), Gua (guitarist) and Da Tian (drummer). They started off as four students of Fu-Jen Catholic University, a university also previously attended by Jolin Tsai and F.I.R. band vocalist Faye. Signed on by Universal Music in 2006, the quartet released their first album, Dear Prince that same year. They are now a talented group (of females) that compose their own songs and play their own instruments - with two highly success albums under their belt.
So there you have it.
I won't post a proper review of any of their albums just yet. Perhaps I never will.
I will talk about 不對也要愛(want love even if it's wrong) because it is a beautiful song that is very special to me. 不對也要愛 is the only song of theirs that I put on repeat and by now, even after so long of not listening to it, it is still very familiar to me. I can recognize it by those first few guitar chords. Then again, the song is pretty unique and I don't think I've ever heard something else like it. It's the one song of theirs I keep listening too the first time I discovered their music- atleast a year ago. It's very meloncholic, starting with simple accoustic guitar parts overlapping and soft vocals from Zha Zha. The song builds up for an amazing chorus, loud and filled with alot of emotion. I love how she prolongs certain notes, how she pronounces it and the lyrics give a very interesting sound. The song continues to build up, becoming more complex louder and stronger. Still that same feeling of meloncholy, of longing almost. The song has a wonderful feeling. It's calming and relaxing, yet there's something bittersweet about it. There's that darker edge I mentioned earlier. The vocalist has a stunning voice, her voice has an interesting tone and she really adds alot of emotion to the song. The instrumentation is not to be ignored- it is soft and meloncholic and absolutly perfect. There is a fantastic instrumental part midway too. Both vocals and instrumentals work together well and come together for a beautiful soft rock song that perhaps can be classed as a ballad.
Listening to this song for the first time in a while I fall in love with it again and I cannot help but feel It's about time I give Cherry Boom a proper listen : )
Thing is sometimes their music is a little odd- and not something you want to play with your parents around!!
Intl wota says I should cover Ayu albums in order. I cannot help think "good point". Usually I do like to do things in order but for some reason Ayu is being done rather randomly. Sorry! I should but for some reason I didn't. I will make a post where I list all reviews in the order... and I will definitly end in Guilty before going on to mirrocle world.
yes.
I do usually do things in wonderful orders. LAST ALLIANCE is in order (although I haven't gotten round to reviewing the sum), Onitsuka Chihiro is in order, Changin' my life will be in order...
With Ayu...
Maybe I forgot??
(it probably is also do with the fact that I will probably miss Song for xx due to terrible vocals and the album having only too good songs, and My Story which also only has a few good songs and isn't one I particulary enjoy. I'm also having a hard time writing the I am review. I started it but I honestly don't know what to say with that album... haha. I will review it soon though...)
Ps. Check out Olivia's new song!! Can't wait till her new mini album!!!
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J-rock music reviews Updated: Oct 19, 2009
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