Post by molotov889 on Dec 9, 2005 1:54:25 GMT -5
Lisa-Gratitude[/u]
This album is a great follow-up to Juicy Music. I liked Juicky Music, Lisa's first full album after she split from M-Flo, a little bit more, but this one was still pretty awesome. Lisa showed a lot of different styles on this album just as she did on Juicy Music. Even on the very first track, she starts to meld reggae with pop, and by the end of the album does a tribute to good old Merengue. These tracks where she was exploring styles other than pop are some of the better tracks on this album. One style that I really liked is her ska style on Peace In Love, which is something she explored on Juicy Music, and I'm glad she came back to. The track Eien is a really moving ballad that really reminds me of the style of Mellisa Etheridge, but with Lisa's smoother voice. And, of course, there's the track Switch, featuring Koda Kumi and Heartsdales. I've loved this track since I heard it on the Best of Rhythmzone CD; if you haven't heard it yet, you really should try to get your hands on it. It's not only packed with star-power, but it's an overall great song, with a powerful beat and melody that will have you boppin'. What makes this album even greater is the bonus disc, which is in no way just an afterthought. THe songs on it are awesome, especially the covers. My favorite here had to be the cover of Lucky Star, featuring GTS. She's breathed a new life into some pretty classic songs, even managing to work her reggae into one of them again. Of course, the two original tracks are just as good as any of the tracks on the main album. In all, I've really loved this album, both just for sitting back and enjoying, and also for rockin' out and boppin' when I want to really get into the music.
Mika Nakashima- True[/u]
This is Mika's very first album, and shows just how strong of a start she had. Even on her very first album, she has exceptional control of her voice, and is just able to let out some very beautiful melodies. I felt that this CD and Music were fairly similar in their styles, whereas Love presented sort of a step back into something a little funkier and a little less straight-up pop. Although there are no artists credited as being featured, there a coupel of tracks which feature some background rapping/singin by other performers, which I believe is unique as far as Mika's music goes. One thing that's pretty amazing about Mika is how her music can start off with one sound, and yet, as soon as she joins in, she makes it into her own sound. This definately shows through in this album, especially on songs like One Survive (which is a really fun song to listen to) and Crescent Moon, a track with a hint of a house beat weaving in and out of the background. Some of my favorites on this album were One Survive, Destiny's Lotus, True Eyes, and Crescent Moon. Mika's voice is just so amazing and I believe this album is the best one of hers if you jsut want the raw sound of her voice and not get distracted too much by the instrumentals or the "feel" of the music. You have to enjoy this album for Mika and Mika alone.
Suite Chic- When Pop Hits The Fan[/u]
For those who were wondering, Suite Chic is basically Namie Amuro, but working in collaboration with some pretty big names as far as the producers of the tracks go (think Verbal, Daisuke Imai, Firstklas). This album is then, of course, pretty hip-hop and R&B heavy, but it's not overpowering, really. Remember, that Namie is still a pop singer, so she brings the pop feel to the songs through her vocals. In general, I'd say this album is more like her Style album than Queen of Hip-Pop, and almost felt like it would have been succesful if it were marketed as the follow-up to Style. As I listened to the album, there were a few tracks that seemed to run together, not because of their melodies, but because their rhythms and tempos were a bit similar. But there were enough tracks on this album that were able to mix things up and really keep you interested the whole time. There is no question about one thing with this album, though. Every track is completely danceable, and the chorus for most of the songs will end up getting stuck in your head. Best example of this on this CD is Uh Uh,,,,,, featuring AI. They came up with a great chorus for this track, and weren't afraid to keep using it in the song. And I'm glad they did. It's so catchy that by the end of the song, you'll be singing "how do you like it, baby, shake it fast, shake it slow" and not even realize it. Favorites on this album were Baby Be Mine, Damn Fight, What If, Uh Uh,,,,,, Ain't Yours, and Just Say So.
Suite Chic- When Pop Hits The Lab[/u]
This is the "remix" album version of When Pop Hits The Fan, but really, the production quality, and the approach that seems to have been taken to the songs makes it more than just a side project like most remix albums. Really, this is better thought of as the alternate version of the original. As oppopsed to the hip-hop and R&B rhythms of the first album, this one features versions that are more along the lines of house, drums n' bass, and other more techno sounds. Just like the original album, this one has some big names, too, like Wall5, Ajapai, Kaori, and even Malawai Rocks and GTS. Having said all that, there were only a few tracks that really felt truly "inspired" to me. (When they did feel that way, though, they turned out to be awesome). But some of them could have used a little bit more mixing up from the original versions in my opinion. Also, I kind of felt that this album was missing one style that could have given it a little more variety. I would have been very happy if it had added one or two tracks in a vocal trance style; it would have rounded it out pretty nicely. However, all in all, this album still remains an exellent album with some absolutely stellar tracks. Coincidentally, favorites on this one are What's On Your Mind -Wall5 Remix-, We Got Time -DJ Ajapai Remix-, What If -Ram Jam World Remix-, Uh Uh,,,,,,,-Remix feat. Bigzam and PH-, and Just Say So-Groove That Soul Mix-.
Mika Nakashima- Glamorous Sky[/u]
This is Mika's latest offering, and is a mini album in a rock style, something she hasn't really done too much of before. After hearing this album, I feel her voice really is a natural for this type of music. It's just smoky enough to carry the deeper emotion of the lyrics and melodies of rock music (as opposed to pop), but her absolute control of her vocals and her smoothness makes it absolutely beautiful at the same time. This mini album only has 4 tracks on it (not including the instrumentals), but I believe it's totally worth grabbing this album, as all of the songs are excellent. When I was first listening to this album, I didn't really like the track My Medicine too much, but then as I continued to listen, this track became my favorite. The feel of the song is just awesome, but that's true of all the songs on this album. What really makes this one special is the melody which Mika follows, especially in the chorus of this song, where she carries the tune from some pretty high notes right back to the smoky soud that carries the rest of the song. I was a little put off by the fact that it's completely in English, and English isn't really Mika's strongest ability, but I eventually got over it, and ended up loving the song.
Ram Rider- Portable Disco[/u]
I have been incredibly excited about this album ever since I found out it was being put together. Ram Rider had a song on the Best of Rhythmzone album, called Music, and his unique mixture oof pop, revival, and house beats immediately caught my attention. If I had to compare him to another popular artist, the only one I can come up with is possibly Daft Punk. But even then, that's just to have someone to compare him to. His sound is so amazingly unique that you need to hear it, plain and simple. This album ended up being just amazing as I was hoping it would be, and I feel incredibly satisfied with this album. It's probably one of my proudest purchases to date. Every single track gets you moving, and there's just a completely innocent, childlike sense of fun and carelessness that permeates all of the tracks. It really is addictive and you can easily find yourself getting lost in the music. Another unique characteristic of his tracks is that he really likes to mess with his voice and make into a vox. There are multiple tracks on this album where all of the lyrics are provided by vox, even though, at their heart, these tracks really are all pop. It makes for an interesting combination and helps blur the limits of his genre. This album is definately one you listen to for the experience and the journey that it will take you on. Favorites on here were Bedroom Disco, Sun Ligths Stars, Hello, Sweet Dance, Door, Music, and Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black. That last track is a duet with Midori, and is the only track on the album that goes more towards vocal trance, and really is a pretty song. I was extremely happy this track was included, especially as it shows even more how diverse Ram Rider can be.
This album is a great follow-up to Juicy Music. I liked Juicky Music, Lisa's first full album after she split from M-Flo, a little bit more, but this one was still pretty awesome. Lisa showed a lot of different styles on this album just as she did on Juicy Music. Even on the very first track, she starts to meld reggae with pop, and by the end of the album does a tribute to good old Merengue. These tracks where she was exploring styles other than pop are some of the better tracks on this album. One style that I really liked is her ska style on Peace In Love, which is something she explored on Juicy Music, and I'm glad she came back to. The track Eien is a really moving ballad that really reminds me of the style of Mellisa Etheridge, but with Lisa's smoother voice. And, of course, there's the track Switch, featuring Koda Kumi and Heartsdales. I've loved this track since I heard it on the Best of Rhythmzone CD; if you haven't heard it yet, you really should try to get your hands on it. It's not only packed with star-power, but it's an overall great song, with a powerful beat and melody that will have you boppin'. What makes this album even greater is the bonus disc, which is in no way just an afterthought. THe songs on it are awesome, especially the covers. My favorite here had to be the cover of Lucky Star, featuring GTS. She's breathed a new life into some pretty classic songs, even managing to work her reggae into one of them again. Of course, the two original tracks are just as good as any of the tracks on the main album. In all, I've really loved this album, both just for sitting back and enjoying, and also for rockin' out and boppin' when I want to really get into the music.
Mika Nakashima- True[/u]
This is Mika's very first album, and shows just how strong of a start she had. Even on her very first album, she has exceptional control of her voice, and is just able to let out some very beautiful melodies. I felt that this CD and Music were fairly similar in their styles, whereas Love presented sort of a step back into something a little funkier and a little less straight-up pop. Although there are no artists credited as being featured, there a coupel of tracks which feature some background rapping/singin by other performers, which I believe is unique as far as Mika's music goes. One thing that's pretty amazing about Mika is how her music can start off with one sound, and yet, as soon as she joins in, she makes it into her own sound. This definately shows through in this album, especially on songs like One Survive (which is a really fun song to listen to) and Crescent Moon, a track with a hint of a house beat weaving in and out of the background. Some of my favorites on this album were One Survive, Destiny's Lotus, True Eyes, and Crescent Moon. Mika's voice is just so amazing and I believe this album is the best one of hers if you jsut want the raw sound of her voice and not get distracted too much by the instrumentals or the "feel" of the music. You have to enjoy this album for Mika and Mika alone.
Suite Chic- When Pop Hits The Fan[/u]
For those who were wondering, Suite Chic is basically Namie Amuro, but working in collaboration with some pretty big names as far as the producers of the tracks go (think Verbal, Daisuke Imai, Firstklas). This album is then, of course, pretty hip-hop and R&B heavy, but it's not overpowering, really. Remember, that Namie is still a pop singer, so she brings the pop feel to the songs through her vocals. In general, I'd say this album is more like her Style album than Queen of Hip-Pop, and almost felt like it would have been succesful if it were marketed as the follow-up to Style. As I listened to the album, there were a few tracks that seemed to run together, not because of their melodies, but because their rhythms and tempos were a bit similar. But there were enough tracks on this album that were able to mix things up and really keep you interested the whole time. There is no question about one thing with this album, though. Every track is completely danceable, and the chorus for most of the songs will end up getting stuck in your head. Best example of this on this CD is Uh Uh,,,,,, featuring AI. They came up with a great chorus for this track, and weren't afraid to keep using it in the song. And I'm glad they did. It's so catchy that by the end of the song, you'll be singing "how do you like it, baby, shake it fast, shake it slow" and not even realize it. Favorites on this album were Baby Be Mine, Damn Fight, What If, Uh Uh,,,,,, Ain't Yours, and Just Say So.
Suite Chic- When Pop Hits The Lab[/u]
This is the "remix" album version of When Pop Hits The Fan, but really, the production quality, and the approach that seems to have been taken to the songs makes it more than just a side project like most remix albums. Really, this is better thought of as the alternate version of the original. As oppopsed to the hip-hop and R&B rhythms of the first album, this one features versions that are more along the lines of house, drums n' bass, and other more techno sounds. Just like the original album, this one has some big names, too, like Wall5, Ajapai, Kaori, and even Malawai Rocks and GTS. Having said all that, there were only a few tracks that really felt truly "inspired" to me. (When they did feel that way, though, they turned out to be awesome). But some of them could have used a little bit more mixing up from the original versions in my opinion. Also, I kind of felt that this album was missing one style that could have given it a little more variety. I would have been very happy if it had added one or two tracks in a vocal trance style; it would have rounded it out pretty nicely. However, all in all, this album still remains an exellent album with some absolutely stellar tracks. Coincidentally, favorites on this one are What's On Your Mind -Wall5 Remix-, We Got Time -DJ Ajapai Remix-, What If -Ram Jam World Remix-, Uh Uh,,,,,,,-Remix feat. Bigzam and PH-, and Just Say So-Groove That Soul Mix-.
Mika Nakashima- Glamorous Sky[/u]
This is Mika's latest offering, and is a mini album in a rock style, something she hasn't really done too much of before. After hearing this album, I feel her voice really is a natural for this type of music. It's just smoky enough to carry the deeper emotion of the lyrics and melodies of rock music (as opposed to pop), but her absolute control of her vocals and her smoothness makes it absolutely beautiful at the same time. This mini album only has 4 tracks on it (not including the instrumentals), but I believe it's totally worth grabbing this album, as all of the songs are excellent. When I was first listening to this album, I didn't really like the track My Medicine too much, but then as I continued to listen, this track became my favorite. The feel of the song is just awesome, but that's true of all the songs on this album. What really makes this one special is the melody which Mika follows, especially in the chorus of this song, where she carries the tune from some pretty high notes right back to the smoky soud that carries the rest of the song. I was a little put off by the fact that it's completely in English, and English isn't really Mika's strongest ability, but I eventually got over it, and ended up loving the song.
Ram Rider- Portable Disco[/u]
I have been incredibly excited about this album ever since I found out it was being put together. Ram Rider had a song on the Best of Rhythmzone album, called Music, and his unique mixture oof pop, revival, and house beats immediately caught my attention. If I had to compare him to another popular artist, the only one I can come up with is possibly Daft Punk. But even then, that's just to have someone to compare him to. His sound is so amazingly unique that you need to hear it, plain and simple. This album ended up being just amazing as I was hoping it would be, and I feel incredibly satisfied with this album. It's probably one of my proudest purchases to date. Every single track gets you moving, and there's just a completely innocent, childlike sense of fun and carelessness that permeates all of the tracks. It really is addictive and you can easily find yourself getting lost in the music. Another unique characteristic of his tracks is that he really likes to mess with his voice and make into a vox. There are multiple tracks on this album where all of the lyrics are provided by vox, even though, at their heart, these tracks really are all pop. It makes for an interesting combination and helps blur the limits of his genre. This album is definately one you listen to for the experience and the journey that it will take you on. Favorites on here were Bedroom Disco, Sun Ligths Stars, Hello, Sweet Dance, Door, Music, and Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black. That last track is a duet with Midori, and is the only track on the album that goes more towards vocal trance, and really is a pretty song. I was extremely happy this track was included, especially as it shows even more how diverse Ram Rider can be.
