Post by molotov889 on Nov 7, 2005 1:56:22 GMT -5
Well, as is usual, I've waited until I purchased quite a few new CDs to do a mass review of them all. And this time, it really IS en masse. I would have had one more, Lisa's Gratitude, but I'm waiting for my parents to ship it to me still since it got sent to their address instead of mine. Anyway, I should probably jump right into them. Since there are so many, I'll try to keep each one kind of short.
Misia- Mother Father Brother Sister
Yes, hard to believe, but I still had some Misia music to buy. In fact, there are two reviews for her in this post. Anyway, this is her very first album, from all the way back in 1998 (man, I was still in High School!!!). Anyway, Misia's talent really was very evident even all the way back then. If you're used to her voice as of recently, though, some of the songs on this album will surprise you as she sometimes sounds kind of squeaky. But, as always, she's able to pull off any kind of sound with unmatched talent and skill. All in all, though, her style even back then was very heavy on the soul and a little bit of R&B. Really, what this album proves is how she's ALWAYS been one of the best raw talents in Jpop. Favorites on this album were K.I.T, Tell Me, Cry, and Never Gonna Cry!. This last one also has a "hidden track" which turns out to be a shortened version of an EXCELLENT remix on the Remix 2000: Little Tokyo album.
Koda Kumi- Grow Into One...[/u]
Ok, I have to ask, what happened between this album and Feel My Mind. I've grown to like Feel My Mind over time, but this album was immediately much better. If you're not already aware, this album is the one with the Final Fantasy X2 theme song, Real Emotion (the one Yuna sings in the opening). And yes, that song is very awesome. There were a lot of little surprises on this album, like the song One, which was written and is performed with Lisa. It kind of reminds me of The Shwing from Lisa's first album, Juicy Music, but with Koda in it, it has more of a pop song that balances it out pretty well. Even the very first track, teaser, really grabbed me as soon as I heard it the first time. Favorites on this one, which really are hard to pick because there are so many good songs, are Real Emotion, One, Ranhansha, One Night Romance, and S.O.S. (see, I told ya they were hard to pick =P).
Move-Blast My Desire
Ok, granted, I knew about this before I even bought the single, but my biggest gripe about this one is that the original versions of the songs on this single are not different from their album versions at all. Having slightly extended/altered version like on the Come Together single would have made this single a million times better and worth it to me. Having said that, however, I did like the remixes, especially the Blaze Up The Soul Mix by Motsu. It had a really cool feel to it, being a nice balance between original and mix. I also did enjoy the instrumental versions A LOT on this one. There are a lot of little intricacies I didn't notice before because of the vocals, especially on Deep Calm. So, overall, it's a pretty good single, but it could have been made a little better.
Misia- Remix 2000 Little Tokyo[/u]
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Although the list of tracks is kind of short, given that this album is supposed to cover remixes for her first two albums, and the mini-album The Glory Day, they’re all of really high quality. As should be expected given the year this one was released, all of the tracks are centered around a club/house feel. Also, the fact that the second disc is just three tracks shouldn’t be looked down on; all three tracks are 10+ minutes and are quite possibly the best remixes of the set. Especially the remix of Never Gonna Cry!. This one kept me up until 2:30 in the morning one night, while I had it on repeat. I still can’t get enough of that track, it’s just that awesome. Favorites on this one included the remix of Sweet Pain, Melody, and Unforgettable Days (Wasurenai Hibi).
Ryuichi Sakamoto- /05[/u]
Ok, I was surprised by this one after having listened to Chasm. I was expecting another album like that one, being along the lines of experimental/lounge music. Instead, this album is really a collection of piano solos, most of which were featured in Japanese movies. So, I kind of had to take a step back from my preconceptions in reviewing this one. Once I did that, I can see that this album really is great for when I really want to just chill relax. I know TK (from Globe) is regarded as being exceptional in his arrangements and technical skill (and I agree), but I think Sakamoto really should be regarded AT LEAST as highly. Some of the tracks really are expressive, which is awesome, given how they’re really all piano solos. I really don’t have any favorites as I kind of just got lost in the flow of this album.
M-Flo- The Replacement Percussionists[/u]
Eh… I was kind of disappointed with this one, which is sad, as I loved Gran Sonik and Astromantic Charm School so much. I think it’s how the remixes concentrated more on the beat, and less on the melodies and lyrics. Which is a shame, because the songs remixed on this album really were some of M-Flo’s most creative and unique. I’m sure it’s mostly just due to the choice of remixers, though. Still, in spite of my misgivings as to the approach most of them seemed to take to the music, I still had a few tracks I liked a lot. I enjoyed the remixes of Come Back To Me (nice almost vocal trance feel), Ten Below Blazing (pretty danceable, in fact), and Chronopsychology.
Fantastic Plastic Machine- Luxury[/u]
For a club-inspired album, this one had a lot more of an older (60’s-70’s) influence than I was really expecting, but that aspect of it really was refreshing. This whole album really is a bundle of fun. Many of the tracks are almost a tongue-in-cheek presentation of their themes, especially with the bounciness inherent in them. One neat thing about this album are the shorter tracks between the main ones which tie them together, and in some cases were some of the better tracks on the album overall. I guess if I had to describe it in a few words, it’s lounge with a good dose of bop added in. Very enjoyable. Favorites were Electric Lady land, You Must Learn All Night Long, Satellite Beats, and MPF.
Heartsdales- Sugar Shine[/u]
Again, I have to ask, what happened? While I actually do love Superstar, and pretty much have since the first time I listened to it, this one’s a lot better. So much more variety is presented in this album, and I almost feel like the rapping in this one was more creative and original than in Superstar. If you’ve heard any of Heartsdales’ music, and have liked it at all, I would definitely suggest that you get this album, especially before you buy Superstar. Some favorites on it were Candy Pop, Rainy Days, Summer Time Blues, Block Shot Hustlaz, Wet ‘N Wild, and Woman..
Interjection: AH! Getting Tired!! Hehe… Almost done, though.
M-Flo- Dope Space Nine[/u]
Ok, I have to admit, I was worried about this one. With the exception of a few tracks, I really couldn’t identify any songs I was excited about before getting this album, and had trouble envisioning how the songs on Beat Space Nine could even be remixed. (Well, I guess anything can be remixed, but the question was whether it could be remixed well). When I got the album, though, I was pretty pleasantly surprised. Again, not as good as Gran Sonik or Astromantic Charm School, but still pretty good. I was very sad to see the “story” tracks not be included on this album. What happened there? Anyway, most of the tracks are mellower versions of the originals, and are geared more towards hip-hop and similar styles such as reggae than their original counterparts. Pretty much, the songs that I expected to be favorites became that- Shinichi Osawa’s (Mondo Grosso) remix of Tripod baby has a great electronica, almost video game feel, Kevin Blechdom’s version of Taste Your Stuff has really great energy, and the Crazy Ken band-Annex remix of Hey!, while not nearly as good as the original, was still pretty fun to listen to. Surprises were the Clazziquai Project remix of So Exclusive, especially since it has additional vocals by Sowelu, and the Sugiurumn remix of Cozmo-Naughty, another track with great energy and a little bit of a trancey feel, which is a good break for this album.
Nomiya Maki- Party People[/u]
Ok, I was EXTREMELY excited about this one, as I had read that it was an 80’s revival album, and it most certainly is. And not only that, but it is an EXCELLENT album. I was not disappointed with this one in any way, and really do love every single track on this album. Plus, I managed to get a first pressing edition, which comes as a tall book/jacket, in a sleeve. Inside the lyrics fold out, with pictures of Nomiya on the opposite side, and this fold-out booklet holds the CD down. It’s a very creative packaging with lots of great images. If you get this album, try as hard as you can to get this edition. Anyway, this album, is excellent, and has lots of great energy. There are a couple songs where I felt like Nomiya could have been a little stronger with her voice, but then on the track Question Girl, she totally nailed it. Her voice is just as devious and smoky as it needs to be for this song. This album is one of the best ones I’ve bought in a long time. Plus, you might think that having a megamix as the final track is a little questionable, but I find it really awesome to listen to after I hear all the songs individually. Finally, her version of Not Gonna Get Us is 10000000000x’s better than T.A.T.U.’s (who I actually like too).
Misia- Mother Father Brother Sister
Yes, hard to believe, but I still had some Misia music to buy. In fact, there are two reviews for her in this post. Anyway, this is her very first album, from all the way back in 1998 (man, I was still in High School!!!). Anyway, Misia's talent really was very evident even all the way back then. If you're used to her voice as of recently, though, some of the songs on this album will surprise you as she sometimes sounds kind of squeaky. But, as always, she's able to pull off any kind of sound with unmatched talent and skill. All in all, though, her style even back then was very heavy on the soul and a little bit of R&B. Really, what this album proves is how she's ALWAYS been one of the best raw talents in Jpop. Favorites on this album were K.I.T, Tell Me, Cry, and Never Gonna Cry!. This last one also has a "hidden track" which turns out to be a shortened version of an EXCELLENT remix on the Remix 2000: Little Tokyo album.
Koda Kumi- Grow Into One...[/u]
Ok, I have to ask, what happened between this album and Feel My Mind. I've grown to like Feel My Mind over time, but this album was immediately much better. If you're not already aware, this album is the one with the Final Fantasy X2 theme song, Real Emotion (the one Yuna sings in the opening). And yes, that song is very awesome. There were a lot of little surprises on this album, like the song One, which was written and is performed with Lisa. It kind of reminds me of The Shwing from Lisa's first album, Juicy Music, but with Koda in it, it has more of a pop song that balances it out pretty well. Even the very first track, teaser, really grabbed me as soon as I heard it the first time. Favorites on this one, which really are hard to pick because there are so many good songs, are Real Emotion, One, Ranhansha, One Night Romance, and S.O.S. (see, I told ya they were hard to pick =P).
Move-Blast My Desire
Ok, granted, I knew about this before I even bought the single, but my biggest gripe about this one is that the original versions of the songs on this single are not different from their album versions at all. Having slightly extended/altered version like on the Come Together single would have made this single a million times better and worth it to me. Having said that, however, I did like the remixes, especially the Blaze Up The Soul Mix by Motsu. It had a really cool feel to it, being a nice balance between original and mix. I also did enjoy the instrumental versions A LOT on this one. There are a lot of little intricacies I didn't notice before because of the vocals, especially on Deep Calm. So, overall, it's a pretty good single, but it could have been made a little better.
Misia- Remix 2000 Little Tokyo[/u]
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Although the list of tracks is kind of short, given that this album is supposed to cover remixes for her first two albums, and the mini-album The Glory Day, they’re all of really high quality. As should be expected given the year this one was released, all of the tracks are centered around a club/house feel. Also, the fact that the second disc is just three tracks shouldn’t be looked down on; all three tracks are 10+ minutes and are quite possibly the best remixes of the set. Especially the remix of Never Gonna Cry!. This one kept me up until 2:30 in the morning one night, while I had it on repeat. I still can’t get enough of that track, it’s just that awesome. Favorites on this one included the remix of Sweet Pain, Melody, and Unforgettable Days (Wasurenai Hibi).
Ryuichi Sakamoto- /05[/u]
Ok, I was surprised by this one after having listened to Chasm. I was expecting another album like that one, being along the lines of experimental/lounge music. Instead, this album is really a collection of piano solos, most of which were featured in Japanese movies. So, I kind of had to take a step back from my preconceptions in reviewing this one. Once I did that, I can see that this album really is great for when I really want to just chill relax. I know TK (from Globe) is regarded as being exceptional in his arrangements and technical skill (and I agree), but I think Sakamoto really should be regarded AT LEAST as highly. Some of the tracks really are expressive, which is awesome, given how they’re really all piano solos. I really don’t have any favorites as I kind of just got lost in the flow of this album.
M-Flo- The Replacement Percussionists[/u]
Eh… I was kind of disappointed with this one, which is sad, as I loved Gran Sonik and Astromantic Charm School so much. I think it’s how the remixes concentrated more on the beat, and less on the melodies and lyrics. Which is a shame, because the songs remixed on this album really were some of M-Flo’s most creative and unique. I’m sure it’s mostly just due to the choice of remixers, though. Still, in spite of my misgivings as to the approach most of them seemed to take to the music, I still had a few tracks I liked a lot. I enjoyed the remixes of Come Back To Me (nice almost vocal trance feel), Ten Below Blazing (pretty danceable, in fact), and Chronopsychology.
Fantastic Plastic Machine- Luxury[/u]
For a club-inspired album, this one had a lot more of an older (60’s-70’s) influence than I was really expecting, but that aspect of it really was refreshing. This whole album really is a bundle of fun. Many of the tracks are almost a tongue-in-cheek presentation of their themes, especially with the bounciness inherent in them. One neat thing about this album are the shorter tracks between the main ones which tie them together, and in some cases were some of the better tracks on the album overall. I guess if I had to describe it in a few words, it’s lounge with a good dose of bop added in. Very enjoyable. Favorites were Electric Lady land, You Must Learn All Night Long, Satellite Beats, and MPF.
Heartsdales- Sugar Shine[/u]
Again, I have to ask, what happened? While I actually do love Superstar, and pretty much have since the first time I listened to it, this one’s a lot better. So much more variety is presented in this album, and I almost feel like the rapping in this one was more creative and original than in Superstar. If you’ve heard any of Heartsdales’ music, and have liked it at all, I would definitely suggest that you get this album, especially before you buy Superstar. Some favorites on it were Candy Pop, Rainy Days, Summer Time Blues, Block Shot Hustlaz, Wet ‘N Wild, and Woman..
Interjection: AH! Getting Tired!! Hehe… Almost done, though.
M-Flo- Dope Space Nine[/u]
Ok, I have to admit, I was worried about this one. With the exception of a few tracks, I really couldn’t identify any songs I was excited about before getting this album, and had trouble envisioning how the songs on Beat Space Nine could even be remixed. (Well, I guess anything can be remixed, but the question was whether it could be remixed well). When I got the album, though, I was pretty pleasantly surprised. Again, not as good as Gran Sonik or Astromantic Charm School, but still pretty good. I was very sad to see the “story” tracks not be included on this album. What happened there? Anyway, most of the tracks are mellower versions of the originals, and are geared more towards hip-hop and similar styles such as reggae than their original counterparts. Pretty much, the songs that I expected to be favorites became that- Shinichi Osawa’s (Mondo Grosso) remix of Tripod baby has a great electronica, almost video game feel, Kevin Blechdom’s version of Taste Your Stuff has really great energy, and the Crazy Ken band-Annex remix of Hey!, while not nearly as good as the original, was still pretty fun to listen to. Surprises were the Clazziquai Project remix of So Exclusive, especially since it has additional vocals by Sowelu, and the Sugiurumn remix of Cozmo-Naughty, another track with great energy and a little bit of a trancey feel, which is a good break for this album.
Nomiya Maki- Party People[/u]
Ok, I was EXTREMELY excited about this one, as I had read that it was an 80’s revival album, and it most certainly is. And not only that, but it is an EXCELLENT album. I was not disappointed with this one in any way, and really do love every single track on this album. Plus, I managed to get a first pressing edition, which comes as a tall book/jacket, in a sleeve. Inside the lyrics fold out, with pictures of Nomiya on the opposite side, and this fold-out booklet holds the CD down. It’s a very creative packaging with lots of great images. If you get this album, try as hard as you can to get this edition. Anyway, this album, is excellent, and has lots of great energy. There are a couple songs where I felt like Nomiya could have been a little stronger with her voice, but then on the track Question Girl, she totally nailed it. Her voice is just as devious and smoky as it needs to be for this song. This album is one of the best ones I’ve bought in a long time. Plus, you might think that having a megamix as the final track is a little questionable, but I find it really awesome to listen to after I hear all the songs individually. Finally, her version of Not Gonna Get Us is 10000000000x’s better than T.A.T.U.’s (who I actually like too).
