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| Music Moments 6.08 | |
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6.02.2008
7:22 AM | Link |
 My latest music purchases have all been Jpop (surprise!), so here's my quick thoughts on five cool CDs!BoA / The Face: I tend to get so obsessed with Hello! Project artists that I forget about the spectacular BoA, then I see her again and suddenly she's my absolute favorite! Her latest CD is fantastic, filled with beautiful ballads and dance-tastic tracks like Lose Your Mind, and of course I had to get the deluxe version with a DVD of all of the videos (simply breathtaking!) and a second DVD of over an hour of great concert footage, plus a long TV special with lots of interviews and Making Of segments. Kumi Koda / Kingdom: Although I'm not enough of a Ku-chan fan to keep up with all her singles, I'm still devoted enough for full album releases, and just like BoA, this CD came with two DVDs as well! The DVD of videos is great (and includes an interesting genre breakdown menu), and the concert DVD is fantastic. This CD has an incredible production mix (sounds great in my car!) and my favorite track is More, since Kumi's voice can really sink into those bluesy notes. Namie Amuro / 60s70s80s: I had to buy this release after I had already seen the videos, because they're just that good! Each song and video has the style and feel of a particular decade (and samples appropriate songs like Baby Love and What A Feeling), and these are big budget productions that are a blast to watch (especially Rock Steady, with it's hilarious English dialogue and subtitles). Utada Hikaru / Heart Station: I'm always amazed at Hikki-chan's sheer talent and the deep emotion and thought that goes into her songs, and her latest CD is fantastic. The title track is really addictive, and I'm happy that Flavor of Life (from Hana Yori Dango 2) was included (although the non-ballad version isn't so great). I also have to mention that Boku wa Kuma is such a cute tune thats really fun to learn if you're studying Japanese! Morning Musume / Resonant Blue: I'm sure I'm the last fan to express my feelings about this single, but I don't care - I love it! This is the first time I bought both versions of the single to be sure I had all the incarnations of the video, and truthfully, I was totally moved the first time I saw Another Version, thinking about how hard these girls work to make their fans happy (which includes me!). I love songs with this kind of emotion, and even though I hate to see Sayumi pushed to the background, Reina and Ai-chan sound great to me! Labels: boa, cds, jpop, morning musume |
| BoA the Live : 4 of 5 | |
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7.04.2007
8:16 AM | Link |
 I've been terrible about keeping up with Jpop DVDs that I've bought in recent months, but I finally took the time to enjoy BoA's latest concert DVD. This is the first BoA concert that I've watched - I've heard that her past concerts were much more focused on dancing, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching BoA let her backup dancers do all the moves while she focused on her singing, which was truly amazing - definitely one of the best voices in my Jpop library! BoA is accompanied by a huge band with multiple percussionists, backup singers, and everything else, and they are all great, especially the keyboardist, who kicks out some really tasty licks that give these familiar songs a wonderfully different live sound. Speaking of sound, the quality of the recording and camera work is fantastic (much better than the usual H!P release, actually), and the stage and lighting is really nice (though the geek in me couldn't stop thinking that the abstract backdrop looked like a bunch of TIE fighter wings!). BoA makes three wardrobe changes, and even though I wasn't too fond of her hat for the opening numbers, she more than makes up for it with the gorgeous fringe on her second outfit! But above all, the best aspect of the show is BoA's performance itself - seeing her really pour on the emotion in songs like Your Color is a real treat, and I don't think I've ever seen a live song better than her rendition of Moon and Sunrise with solo piano. BoA the Live is an incredible concert with a very mature tone, extremely enjoyable by pure music lovers and enthusiastic Jpop fans alike!
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| BoA Complete Clips 2004-2006 : 5 of 5 | |
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4.22.2007
6:59 AM | Link |
 There's almost nothing better than Jpop music video collections on DVD, and I'm so glad that BoA released this fantastic follow-up to 8 Films & More! This time there are 13 videos to enjoy, and even though I already own half of them from buying her singles, I love having them available on a single disc. The DVD opens with Shine We Are, which I'm pretty sure was the first BoA song I ever heard, because I remember watching the video on a giant TV in a train station during a visit to Japan. BoA looks exceptionally cute in this video (with her perfect dimples), and the dance moves are fun. Double has some interesting dancing on the ceiling effects, followed by Rock With You, where she switches to bad-ass mode and even tries some martial arts action. Quincy is my least favorite video - the floating eyeball robot seems like such a waste of special effects, but Meri Kuri is simply beautiful (and it better be to go with such a heavenly song). I've pretty much commented on all the other videos (from her Outgrow album and later singles), but it's cool to watch them in succession and see how BoA's style matures along with her music. There aren't any additional features on the DVD, but I'm not complaining since 13 videos in a row is definitely a treat!
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| BoA / Made in Twenty : 4 of 5 | |
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2.10.2007
6:53 AM | Link |
 As usual, I have stacks of unreviewed CDs to write about, so let's start with BoA's latest full-length album, celebrating her 20th birthday (I can't believe she is only 20, since her musical ability is so much more mature!). The first track on the CD is Lady Galaxy, and when it started pumping, I was worried that BoA had decided to become Koda Kumi - it's definitely an unconventional start, and sounds even more weird when it's immediately followed by Nanairo No Ashita (Brand New Beat), one of the many previously released singles on this album. Besides the singles, BoA really seems to be experimenting with styles and rhythms, but unfortunately these songs don't let her stretch her amazing voice. My favorite new ballad is Our Love (To My Parents), which shows off her range (including some low notes), even though the song is really screaming for a key change at the end! The bonus DVD that comes with the CD has her recent videos (which I already had), but also a full ten tracks from her upcoming Boa the Live concert DVD! These live performances are incredible, and definitely make me want to buy the whole show. Her band is fantastic, the live arrangements are creative (so different than hearing the same old music recordings again and again for Morning Musume concerts), and her voice is spectacular, especially on Moon & Sunrise, which is one of the best live Jpop performances I've ever seen! Even though the album wasn't as memorable as something like Valenti (which can't be beat), Made in Twenty is still an incredible CD from a truly wonderful voice.
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| BoA / Winter Love : 3 of 5 | |
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12.05.2006
10:21 PM | Link |
 For as long as I've been a BoA fan, I've loved listening to her ballads. I'm sure I've listened to Jewel Song hundreds of times, and the same goes for Everlasting (of course, I've watched the videos for both of these over and over, too). So, it was an easy decision to buy BoA's latest winter-themed single, which came with a DVD. Winter Love is a really pretty song, but I have to put it in third place behind BoA's other ballads. I like the instrumentation, which has just enough bells and other effects to sound like winter, and her singing is fantastic, of course. The video, while not overly impressive, is still beautiful. The whole thing takes place in a kind of igloo with massive ice-block walls and doors, and it really looks cold! Effects have been added so you can see BoA's breath when she sings (I hope they were effects, otherwise it was freezing when they were filming!), and the loose plot has a guy trying to give her gifts or cheer her up who ends up with snow on his face from her refusals (ouch!). BoA looks lovely as usual, and shows some great emotion on the chorus. The end of the video is really cool - BoA blows into the camera to ice up the TV screen. So although it's not spectacular, I'm still glad I got this single while I wait for her new album!
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| 8 Films & More / BoA : 5 of 5 | |
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4.26.2006
10:35 PM | Link |
 After watching the DVD of music videos that came with BoA's latest CD Outgrow over and over, I decided to look around YesAsia to get some more! I was excited to discover this DVD, which is a compilation of eight music videos of BoA's most popular hits, starting way back with her first hit in Japan, ID;Peace B (yep, that's a pretty weird title). She's really young on the early videos, but she can still dance up a storm, and her moves are so athletic and cool! It's fun to watch her hair change length and color over the years, too, including a strawberry blonde color on Amazing Kiss, which is cute but unusual on her. I think my favorite video on the DVD is for Listen to My Heart, which has some great dancing and some humor, since the whole thing has a hair salon theme (dancing with hair dryers and so on)! Of course, I was psyched to see the videos from her Valenti CD, since that's the CD that got me hooked, and they are definitely cool. Jewel Song is my favorite ballad, but unfortunately I think they used a few too many video effects, but it's still beautiful. I think she looks the most elegant and peaceful on Every Heart, by the way. Anyway, enough of my gushing - this DVD is an excellent collection of videos with high production values, and I've watched it many, many times. If you're a BoA fan, you definitely owe it to yourself to buy this DVD!
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| BoA / Outgrow : 5 of 5 | |
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3.11.2006
3:14 PM | Link |
 I think I can officially declare myself a solid BoA fan, since I've been listening to her music for years now, so I was super-psyched to see she released a new full-length Japanese CD (I even pre-ordered it from YesAsia!). I bought the special edition that comes with a DVD containing four terrific music videos, and I have watched it many, many times - I think it's safe to say that she's one of the most beautiful gals on the planet. The CD has an excellent mix of happy pop, emotional pop, and awesome ballads (where her voice really shines) - her music is nothing like the "anime style" pop that's typical of other Japanese music (even though I love that stuff, too!). The stand-out track is Everlasting, which has amazing key changes from the verse to the chorus, and really makes my heart soar. I really like Make a Secret (which I had already bought as a CD single), and Dakishimeru is totally cool - it's really fun to sing, and definitely makes me want to move. All the different types of music give this CD some serious staying power in my car CD player! Of course, I'm really excited to have the music video DVD, too - the video for Everlasting is especially amazing and beautiful, and the dance numbers in the other songs are awesome to watch. The only sad thing about having this CD is that now it will be years before her next full-length CD is released!
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| BoA / Peace B. Remixes : 3 of 5 | |
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11.10.2005
11:03 PM | Link |
 I bought my first BoA CD on one of my earlier Japan trips, and since then I've been a fan and bought several other CDs online. During my last Japan trip, Matt spotted this CD (which was released in 2002) in a bargain bin, so I snatched it up for a cheap price. This is kind of a typical remix CD, with a few of the same songs remixed twice on the same disc. However, these are some really amazing remixes, often giving the song more or less energy, and even making it seem drastically slower in tempo (but I think it's an aural illusion). One of may favorite BoA tracks, Amazing Kiss, is included twice, and both of the versions are great - one has an awesome new guitar riff in the background, and the other includes a gentle keyboard sound that really mellows out the tune. Every Heart, which was originally more of a ballad, seems like a perfect DDR song on this CD, and Share Your Heart sounds kind of tropical with its heavy accent on each second beat. Some of the tracks have additional vocals added, which is generally OK, but sometimes it's just some guy grunting "uh-huh" too many times. I really like the CD, though, and BoA looks so great on the cover (in fact, I took out the cover liner and have it on my fridge)!
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| BoA / Listen to My Heart : 4 of 5 | |
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1.23.2005
2:57 PM | Link |
 It seems like BoA, whom I discovered by almost randomly buying CDs in Japan, doesn't have very many full length albums. This was a 2002 release, but since I enjoyed her more recent CDs so much, I knew would like this one, too. Her music is a little bit different here - much more dance-oriented, I would say, with more use of electronics. Her drum machines are especially cool, though, with some really creative kick phrases! Her voice is wonderful as usual, and she uses a lot more falsetto (very Mariah Carey) in a few songs. The opening track, Listen to My Heart, completely hooked me from the start! There's also an English version of the same song on the CD, but unfortunately the remix on it is pretty boring compared to the Japanese version. My next favorite song is Amazing Kiss, which has a nice melody and is fun to hum along with (since I can't sing all the Japanese). There are more ballads here than on BoA's other CDs, but even though I'm calling them "ballads", they are still pretty busy rhythmically, so they're nothing like the beautiful Jewel Song from Valenti. This CD definitely feels right in the car, and it's a joy to crank it up on the highway - I wish there were more BoA music to buy!
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| BoA / Love & Honesty : 3 of 5 | |
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2.28.2004
5:02 PM | Link |
 I ordered this CD direct from Japan just as it was released, because I completely enjoyed BoA's last album, Valenti. When I first popped this in my car, I was disappointed. The first track sounds kind of "slutty", almost like a Japanese Shania Twain song, so things were off to a bad start. The second track, Shine We Are (love that grammar), was a million times better, thankfully! Now I've listened to the whole CD at least twenty times, and I can say that's definitely a good CD that I can groove to. Of course, I can't really comment on the lyrics, though BoA's voice still sounds great (and I get excited when I can sing a three word phrase with her!). The production is a little tinny - I guess the bass is so low (super hip-hop) that I need to crank it to get a full sound. Overall, I'm enjoying it more and more as it keeps spinning in the car (and the hidden track at the end of the CD may be my favorite cut). I can't complain about the gorgeous photos in the insert, either!
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| Japanese CDs : 4 of 5 | |
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7.04.2003
10:46 PM | Link |
 I had fun buying a few CDs while I was in Japan - I really enjoy J-Pop (the goofier the better, sometimes!), and it's so nice spending time in a music store hearing all kinds of new stuff. I bought a couple of CD singles - one is Candy Cutie by Capsule, which is so bizarre I just had to have it, and another is by Aya Matsura, recommended by Matt, which is pretty funny and jumpy. I also bought two full-length CDs, by Utada Hikaru and BoA. I knew I liked Utada from tracks Matt had sent me on minidisc, but BoA was an impulse buy based on a little video I saw in the Toyota Amlux building. I have to say that BoA is fantastic! She sounds a lot like Britney Spears (in Japanese, of course), but with a lot more talent. There's a good variety of songs, too - I absolutely love Jewel Song, which sounds like a Disney-esque ballad. I just wish I knew what it was about!
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