O.O

I know I know. I totally forgot about this. Its been ages. But I will try to get this back up. My artists in J-pop has also expanded a lot. So watch out for it!

[SINGLE] Eien/UNIVERSE/Believe in LOVE – BoA

-Track Listing-

1. Eien

2. UNIVERSE (Feat. Crystal Kay & VERBAL)

3.  Believe in LOVE (Feat. BoA ~ Acoustic Version)

4. Best Hit Mega Blend

5. Eien (Instrumental)

6. UNIVERSE (Instrumental)

BoA’s 27th Japanese single released on February 18, 2009. It came at #8 on the Oricon charts selling 15,074 copies. This is BoA’s first triple A-sided single. After the not so likable Eat You Up (though it has grown on me), we have a new single from BoA.

Eien is a R&B ballad. The piano and beats were very good. There are also chimes and claps that make the music more vibrant. BoA’s vocal as always is strong.”Why did you say bye bye, Why did you say bye bye?”, addicting lyrics!

The next a-side is a more upbeat R&B track and my fave out of all the a-sides. UNIVERSE features Crystal Kay and VERBAl from m-flo. The beats in this music along with VERBAL’s rapping and the two R&B queens vocals makes this an awesome track. If you listen to it, we can tell BoA’s English has improved a lot comparing it with Crystal Kay.

Believe in LOVE is the acoustic version of Ravex’s single featuring BoA. This is a track you’d here in lounges where you are taking a sip of your drink and enjoying the song. An enjoyable track even though it’s a little “unBoAish”. 😛

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Rating: A

I was shocked to hear BoA’s English has improved so much! I just hope her Japanese doesn’t get ruined. Overall this single made me happy since her English single Eat You Up was not at all BoA.

[SINGLE] Gunjou no Tani – alan

-Track Listing-

1. Gunjou no Tani

2. Gunjou no Tani (Acoustic Version)

3. Gunjou no Tani (Instrumental)

4. Gunjou no Tani (Acoustic Version ~ Instrumental)

This is alan’s 9th Japanese single released on February 4th, 2009. This single charted at the Oriocn charts at #30 selling 4,207 copies till now.

I have nothing to say bad about Gunjou no Tani at all. This ballad starts out alan’s vocals and boom we hear this amazing guitar music. The chorus has alan’s powerful vocals that I am always wowed by. The music arrangements are simply so well put with the beats and chimes. This track just blew me!

The acoustic version of Gunjou no Tani doesn’t have that strong music like the original as it is an acoustic version instead it starts with the traditional folk music we see in lot of alan’s work. Even though this is more slower, it’s still damn good!

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Rating: A+

After her debut single Ashita e no Sanka, this is another single from this newbie that I simply loved and cannot help but praise this young artists talent.

[ALBUM] Kazeyomi – Maaya Sakamoto

-Track Listing-

1. Vento

2. Triangler

3. Kazemachi Jet ~ Kazeyomi edition

4. Remedy

5. Ame ga Furu

6. Get No Satisfaction!

7. Ao no Ether

8. Shitsuren Cafe

9. SONIC BOOM

10. Peanuts

11. Saigo No Kajitsu

12. Colors

13. Kazamidori

14. Guitar Hiki ni Naritai na

Maaya Sakamoto’s 6th studio album Kazeyomi was released on January 14, 2009 and came #3 in the Oricon charts selling 36,061 copies in it’s first week.

Kazeyomi starts with a wonderful interlude called Vento. The slow piano music all through the track along with Maaya’s voice is good album opener.

Next is Triangler which was used as the opening song for the anime Marcross Frontier. Being the highest selling single from Maaya uptil now, this I still don’t like this track that much. I did not like the beginning of this track as I found Maaya’s high pitched vocals a little too annoying, though the chorus is catchy.

I fell in love with the Kazeyomi’s version of Kazemachi Jet. Kazemachi Jet was used as the second ending for Tsubasa Chronicle and if you’ve watched it, this version begins with the last part of the anime version. It’s like the acoustic version of the original but different at the same time.

Remedy, the next track is a ballad which was used as the second ending for the anime Linebarrels of Iron. This track has a beautiful music and Maaya’s vocals but I feel this track could’ve been a little better.

Another ballad, Ame ga Furu was used as the first ending for Linebarrels of Iron and also one of my favorite tracks from this album. This track is slow but at the chorus it gets upbeat.

We have a really upbeat song next! Get No Satisfaction! The song starts with electric guitar and has heavy drum beats like Triangler.

Ao no Ether is a nice ballad. This a very light ballad which uses only piano as an instrument.

Shitsuren Cafe is a light jazz track, the ones you would find in songs of Mika Nakashima. The track is very fun to listen to.

SONIC BOOM was used for the opening of Tsubasa Chronicle Shunraiki. A new track from Maaya that I liked very much. The chorus and music are very addictive.

Peanuts is very cute track. The way she says the days from Monday to Friday in the chorus very cute. The cute music arrangements makes this track even more cuter! 😀

Saigo no Kajitsu the ending theme for Tsubasa Chronicle TOKYO REVELATIONS is next and it’s a ballad as well. I’ve liked this track for a long time and I still like it. This ballad is a fave from Kazeyomi.

Colors is another ballad which is entirely in English. We know how Maaya’s english is very fluent, saying that this is a wonder ballad. The music arrangements are perfect.

Kazamidori another ballad which starts with those cute piano notes like in Peanuts. The chorus is lovely, overall a nice song to listen.

Guitar Hiki ni Naritai na song ends the album. I like the songs laid back music. The music arrangements are very light and giving us a track that lightens our mood.

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Rating: A-

Releasing a studio album like Kazeyomi probabaly took a long time for the Singer/Seiyuu hence releasing it after a long time. The busy Maaya has took her time and done a great job. She never dissapoints me, I swear.

[SINGLE] love the world – Perfume

-Track Listing-

1. love the world

2. edge

3. love the world (Instrumental)

4. edge (extended mix)

love the world is Perfume’s 8th major single and was released on July 9, 2008. This single came #1 at the Oricon charts selling 80,742 copies in it’s first week. This single was also the first techno pop song to chart at #1 on the Oricon charts.  I started to listen to Perfume after listening Polyrythmn. After that what would a pop freak like me do if i did not start liking them?

love the world starts with electro beats and is very upbeat comparing it to Polyrythmn. The distorted vocals of the three members merges with the beats making this song one of perfume’s best with it’s catchy tune and beats!

The b-side edge is a more dark track comparing it to it’s a-side but of course with more synthetic beats. This track is the type of track you would hear at clubs and I mean the good ones. Even though being the exact opposite of it’s a-side, I consider this song as Perfume’s best as well.

The extended version of edge isn’t that different, it’s just long. It starts with drum beats and is more extended in the middle which would be better for clubs and dancing.

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Rating: A+

Wow, having a #1 hit and making a history in the Oricon charts at the same time, you’ve got to hand it these girls they’re something. I was very happy with love the world and hope they make more great music in the upcoming future.

[PV] Paper Moon & Unlimited Sky – Tommy Heavenly6

Tommy heavenly’s first best album! Unlimited Sky is wicked but sadly just a digital single from what i heard. >.< PAPER MOON and Unlimited Sky are going to be used to promote her best album Gothic Melting Ice cream’s Darkness Nightmare which is going to released on February 25th along with february6’s best album Strawberry Cream Soda Pop Daydream.

Anyways check out the PV and enjoy!

[ALBUM] VOICE – Mika Nakashima

-Track Listing-

1. LIFE

2. Sakura ~Hanagasumi~ (DAISHI DANCE)

3. FOCUS

4. Eien No Uta

5. ORION

6. Anata ga Iru Kara

7. MY GENTLE MAN

8. TRUST YOUR VOICE

9. IT’S TOO LATE

10. I DON’T KNOW

11. SHUT UP

12.conFusiOn

13. FLOWER OF TIME

14. Koe

VOICE is Mika Nakashima’s 5th studio album released on November 26, 2008.This single came #1 at the oricon charts and has sold 320,946 copies.

VOICE opens with LIFE which was the first single from this album. This track is a jazz pop song. This track is very catchy with its beat and music. One of Mika’s best jazz pop tracks in ages.

Instead of the original, they’ve put the Daishi Dance mix of Sakura ~Hanagasumi~ in the album as the next track. I’m glad about that because I found the original one too boring. Even though it was a ballad it was just too slow. The mix has a more upbeat music which sounds better.

The b-side of her single ORION, FOCUS is next which is one of my favorite track and which I’m very much addicted to. The opening of this track is different than the one of the single. While in the single, the music fades in but this one starts with a really good techno beat. The jazz pop music makes this song really addictive.

Eien No Uta her 2nd single from this album is a reggae ballad and to me one of Mika’s best ballads. With reggae music, this song has jazz music as well.

We have another ballad, her last single from this album ORION. As much as I loved the b-side, I loved the a-side as well. The music arrangements in this track is very simple and with Mika’s amazing vocals, this ballad becomes a very good one to listen to.

The next track Anata ga Iru Kara was released as a digitle single. Another ballad I liked a lot. This track begins with Mika’s low pitched voice which I found to be very cute.

We have a new track up next! MY GENTLE MAN is yet another ballad which has even more simpler music arrangement than ORION with just a acoustic guitar. This ballad isn’t bad either.

TRUST YOUR VOICE was another new track I loved. This song reminded me of Love No Cry from her LOVE era even though their not similiar. The chorus of this track is very catchy with Mika going “MY VOICE” and “YOUR VOICE”.

Next track is IT’S TOO LATE which was a b-side in her single LIFE. I’m glad it’s in the album beacause this jazz track is catchy as well.

I DON’T KNOW was a collaboration with Morisanchuu under the name MICA 3 CHU. The entire song is in in English. It’s filled with heavy rock music and a aggressive Mika. I liked her songs as NANA but this one was just too aggressive for my taste. It’s not bad though if you’re heavy rocker and it shows Mika is capable of doing anything.

The b-side of I DON’T KNOW, SHUT UP is also entirely in English and as aggressive as it’s a-side. Mika’s English is not bad except in some part it’s hard to decipher what she’s saying.

Next track is conFusiOn which is the b-side of Sakura ~Hanagasumi~. Since I am such a sucker for pop, I liked it. The beats and Mika’s slightly echoed voice.

FLOWER OF TIME is another new track. A jazz ballad which has a very soft music arrangements. I like this ballad very much as it’s a mid-tempo ballad and it’s lyrics.

VOICE ends with Koe, a ballad which has a very classical music from the piano. The melody of this song gives you a real peace of mind. A very good ending track.

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Rating: A

Overall beside the I DON’T KNOW single, I found all the tracks in VOICE to be utterly amazing. Though I DON’T KNOW proves Mika Nakashima can do almost everything, from jazz to rock. This album also proves that she will be bringing amazing ballads even in the coming future.

[ALBUM] Don’t Forget – Demi Lovato

-Track Listing-

1. La La Land

2. Get Back

3. Trainwreck

4. Party

5. On The Line (Feat. Jonas Brothers)

6. Don’t Forget

7. Gonna Get Caught

8. Two Worlds Collide

9. The Middle

10. Until You’re Mine

11. Believe In Me

After acting in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock, Demi Lovato released her debut album on September 23, 2008. It debuted at #2 on the U.S Billboard selling 89,000 in it’s first week.

The first opening track La La Land is well amazing! Demi has a very powerful voice and the rock music with her vocals makes this track a must listen!

Get Back was the first single from this album and this is even better than the previous track. This track has more heavy rock music with even more powerful vocals.

The next track Trainwreck is a little slow than previous tracks but still filled with rock music and Demi’s powerful voice (can’t help it, she’s got great vocals).

Party according to me is hot! This track is jammed with music that will make you rock! Along with great vocals, Demi’s got amazning writing talent as well.

After all those tracks with heavy rock music we come to the next track which is a ballad featuring the Jonas Brothers. On the Line has a nice music. The chorus has a more aggressive music with Joe and Demi’s vocals. Overall not a bad track.

Don’t Forget is another ballad that does not have that kind of the rock music the previous tracks had beside in the middle of the track where Demi’s vocals gets higher for the chorus.

After two ballads, we get another song packed with heavy music. Gonna Get Caught did not appeal to me that much. I liked the chorus. The music was not all that great unlike her other tracks.

Two Worlds Collide was the next ballad I liked next to Don’t Forget. The song  was written by Demi about her and her best friend as well as actress/singer Selena Gomez. The lyrics are beautiful and the music arrangement are well done.

The next track The Middle has dark lyrics and music. I liked Demi’s high pitched vocals in the chorus and of course again the heavy metal.

We get another ballad, Until You’re Mine is darker than other ballads in this album. This song is not exactly my favorite from this album. I did not find this track to be as strong as the other tracks.

The last track Believe In Me is another ballad and a good way to end the album since the album started with heavy music, ending it with a ballad was a good idea. I loved the lyrics of Believe In Me. The music arrangements are perfect with Demi’s vocals.

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Rating: A-

One thing I liked about Demi Lovato was her powerful vocal chords and her sense of music. You usually don’t hear this type of music with celebrities associated with Disney. Overall Demi’s debut album is packed with amazing music and lyrics.

[MINI-ALBUM] Beautiful Eyes – Taylor Swift

-Track Listing-

1. Beautiful Eyes

2. Should’ve Said No (Alternate Version)

3. Teardrops On My Guitar (Acoustic Version)

4. Picture To Burn (Radio Edit)

5. I’m Only Me When I’m With You

6. I Heart ?

This mini-album was released on July 18, 2008 selling 45,000 copies in it’s first week and coming #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums. It was only exclusive at Wal-Mart stores.

Beautiful Eyes, the first track which is a ballad. The acoustic guitar is used as the main instrument. The music arrangements combination with  Taylor’s vocals are very good making this ballad good to listen to.

The next track was in her debut self-titled album Taylor Swift but the track on this album is an alternate version. Should’ve Said No (Alternate Version) starts out with a different music of the acoustic guitar while the the other version started with the banjo. The music after the chorus also has a different music.

The third track was also in her debut album. Teardrops On My Guitar (Acoustic Version) is as good as the original one. I actually preferred the acoustic one.

Picture To Burn another track that was in her debut album. The radio edit…… well either I missed something but I fond no difference.

I’m Only Me When I’m With You is a track that had electric guitar in the beginning. We start hearing banjo music with the beginning of the chorus. Overall nice track to listen to.

I Heart ? was a track I definitely liked now. I loved the music and the lyrics. Yeah, I’m a sucker for teen pop.

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Rating: A

Well with albums like Taylor Swift and Fearless, I could not be dissatisfied with this one, now could I? And neither would any of you Taylor fans!

[SINGLE] Hitotsu – alan

-Track Listing-

1. Hitotsu

2. Kimi Omou Sora

3. Tokyo Mimei

4. sign

5. Hitotsu (Intrsumental)

6. Kimi Omou Sora (Instrumental)

7. Tokyo Mimei (Instrumental)

This is alan’s 2nd single. It charted #100 on the oricon charts selling 1,486 copies overall.

Hitotsu is a ballad just like her debut single Ashita e no Sanka except in this track we see less of traditional music but still of alan’s various vocal ranges which makes this track a beautiful one. Her vocals aren’t as powerful in this single but more soft and pleasant.

Kimi Omou Sora, one of the b-sides of this track are pleasant to listen as well. This track has more of modern music that her other tracks.

Tokyo Mimei was another b-side of this single that I found very nice to listen to. The music arrangements aren’t traditional but more like the Japanese ballads now but with alan’s vocal, I preferred this song out of all the b-sides.

sign, the last b-side of this single is in her native Tibetan language. This is pretty much of an instrumental with a mixture of modern and traditional music arrangements. This track is not bad at all even if its an instrumental with less of alan’s vocals.

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Rating: A

Seriously for a new comer, alan’s got a huge talent. This single was as good as her debut.