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Music Moments 02.10
2.23.2010 7:02 AM \| Link 0 comments	The Princess and the Frog / Original Soundtrack: I was glad when I found out that Disney's return to hand-drawn animation would be a musical, and even though it would have been nice to hear some new Alan Menken songs, Randy Newman did a surprisingly great job. This was the first CD I bought with my iTunes birthday money from my pal Melinda, and listening to it really makes me want to see the movie again! I love Tiana's voice on Almost There and the fun swinging feel of When We're Human (Louis the gator is great), but my favorite is definitely Ray's love ballad Evangeline, since he completely steals the movie for me! Weezer / Red Album: I'm sure I've listened to Weezer's famous Blue Album a million times, but never considered checking out any of their newer stuff until I heard Pork and Beans on DDR Hottest Part 3 (see, video game marketing really works!). Weezer is quite a bit different on this album, but there are still a few standout tracks that really have their signature sound and attitude, especially Pork and Beans and Dreamin'. They also get musically creative with a couple long tunes (5-6 minutes each), as well as lyrically nostalgic on Heart Songs, which lovingly looks back at cheesy 80s songs as the soundtrack of life for our generation. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters / Original Soundtrack: From the moment I laughed my ass off in the theater during the opening snack bar scene, I knew I had to get this CD someday (even though most of the tunes aren't really my style)! Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife (the crazy "don't talk during the movie" song) makes the whole album worth it, but I also love Master Shake's hilarious Nude Love. There are a few songs with lyrics about characters like Meatwad and Carl, as well as four hidden tracks! mc chris / Part Six: Even though his raunchy lyrics are somewhat out of character for me, I'm totally a fan of mc chris' awesome nerdcore sound, so I finally got around to buying this album (which was actually released in parts as three CDs). mc chris will always be known for Fett's Vette (his amazing rap about Boba Fett and his car payments), so this time he continues the trend with IG-88's 57 Chevy, Zuckuss' Prius, and Dengar's Dumptruck, all of which are packed with detailed Star Wars references. He even has a Harry Potter track this time, as well as a touching love song about breaking up a long distance relationship because he doesn't know when his girlfriend farts (how sweet!). Labels: cds, disney, star wars
Morning Musume singles 41-42 catch-up
2.18.2010 7:08 AM \| Link 0 comments	This week my copy of Morning Musume's 42nd single arrived from CDJapan, and I realized I had hardly mentioned their 41st single yet! While their 38-40th singles were some of their best yet (especially Shouganai Yume Oibito, one of the most emotional Morning Musume songs ever), Kimagure Princess took a while to get used to, mainly because of the bizarre chipmunk effect used on the verses (I have no idea what the reason was behind that!). The melody is still really cool, though, with built-in yells for concert performances, and the lyrics are some of the most risque in Momusu's catalog, especially since the stated "theme" of the song is oshiri (butt!). I really enjoyed the video, not only because the dance was sexy with lots of movements to illustrate the lyrics, but also because the slow-motion close-ups were fantastic (Sayumi and Risa look spectacular)! Momusu B-sides have been getting better lately (sometimes better than the A-side), and Aishite Aishite Ato Ippun is an awesome song, with much more even line distribution among the girls. Their brand new single, Onna ga Medatte Naze Ikenai, is much better than Kimagure Princess in my opinion, rocking a super-energetic feel with real attitude! The instrumentation is interesting, since the drums (which sound more live than usual) basically play fills through the whole song, and the interlude in the middle is a violin solo (pretty creative)! Unfortunately, lots of the girls got snubbed again on lines, including Sayumi (but at least she gets the "Ah!" solos, which she joked about on her blog!). The video is pretty cool with a fashion model theme, including scenes of everyone doing make-up and strutting down the catwalk (although everyone looks great, Risa and Lin Lin are shockingly beautiful!). The B-side Nakidasu Kamo Shirenai Yo has a fantastic R&B sound with dramatic lyrics, and I love hearing Morning Musume doing something outside of their usual style. I'm going to enjoy listening to this CD single in my car for a long time, but of course the upcoming release of their 10th full-length album can't come soon enough for me! Labels: cds, jpop, morning musume
Pucchi Best 10 / CD & DVD : 3 of 5
12.28.2009 8:06 AM \| Link 0 comments	When I first became a fan of Morning Musume and Hello! Project, I was so excited to learn about the Pucchi Best (or Petit Best) releases, which give a great overview of all the major songs from the previous year. The CDs are a great way to hear from your favorite artists as well as discover new ones, and the DVDs are filled with music videos, which I love to watch even if I've already seen them. I thought the Pucchi Best series was so cool that I searched out and bought all the past editions, so of course I'm going to keep buying the new ones as they come out. This year's Pucchi Best 10 CD is kind of unique, because along with the previously release songs, there are also lots of new releases from the shuffle groups (introduced on the Chanpuru wedding album). 2009 was an eventful year for Hello! Project due to the mass graduation of some really big names, so it's nice to have the final H!P releases from Nacchi and Ayaya (I hadn't even seen the video for Nacchi's song, and it was really good), plus Yaguchi Mari's "comeback" song. I don't really care about the super-young groups yet, but the tracks from the major groups are all good ones (especially Rival from Berryz Koubou and My Boy from Buono). Of course, Morning Musume's incredible number one single Shouganai Yume Oibito is my favorite, and I never mind listening to it or watching the video one more time (or 100 more times). If you're looking to discover more Hello! Project music, or just like seeing a retrospective of the H!P year, I definitely recommend the Pucchi Best CDs and DVDs, including this 10th edition! Labels: cds, dvds, jpop, morning musume
Crazy Christmas CDs
12.16.2009 12:10 PM \| Link 0 comments	By this time in December, I'm listening to Christmas music non-stop, and my collection is full of the classics from my childhood (my parents got me hooked on the Ray Conniff Singers) and lots of contemporary stuff, too. But there are a few totally bizarre CDs that I love to listen to, even if they are a little out of character for me! Although I love Christmas with all my heart, for some reason I get the biggest kick out of irreverent, raunchy, dirty, hilarious Christmas parodies and spoofs! I've had Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics for a few years, and I love listening to the South Park characters totally destroy all the carols, especially the songs sung by Mr. Hankey himself. You have to be prepared for a unique experience when you listen to a CD with smiling turd on the cover! My newest CD is Have Yourself a Meaty Little Christmas featuring the characters from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and I have been crying with laughter over this one! I can't decide which track I like more: Master Shake singing the soulful I Sure Hope I Don't Have To Beat Your Ass This Christmas or Meatwad happily singing Santa Left A Booger In My Stocking (with lyrics like "Santa pulled his mitten off and shoved his finger up the booger trough and pulled a gift down his nose chimney")! Maybe I'm a little deranged - I'm sure I look funny singing these in my car with a huge laughing smile on my face! Speaking of Christmas, the wait is finally over, and tomorrow I'll be flying to Christmas Town (which happens to be my parents' house in Oklahoma City). For the next 10 days I won't be writing many WEBmikey posts, but I can't curb my Twitter addiction, so you'll know what's going on (if you want)! Labels: cds, holidays
Music Moments 10.09
10.28.2009 11:09 AM \| Link 0 comments	Morning Musume / All Singles Coupling Collection: I love special CD sets, and this three CD collection of all of Morning Musume's B-sides is fantastic for several reasons! There are lots of songs here that are entirely new to me (since I only have singles starting with Sexy Boy, and sometimes these extra tracks weren't part of their full-length albums), plus many songs that I have enjoyed in concerts but never had on CD until now. I also love having the recent B-sides (many of which are excellent) all together! The limited edition bonus photobook (which is actually hardback and great quality) is filled with cute shots, too! MC Frontalot / Nerdcore Rising: Being an mc chris fan, I'm no stranger to nerdcore (basically hip-hop/rap with geek-inspired lyrics), but until now I hadn't experienced the guy who invented the genre. After watching an excellent documentary about his career, I decided I had to get MC Frontalot's first album, which is hilarious and totally kickin' as well! The production quality is amazing, and while some of the songs are a little out-there, I can listen to this CD over and over and discover new funny references each time. Lee Morgan / The Sidewinder: I was first introduced to the jazz standard The Sidewinder back when I played with Stone Bluff in Tulsa, and recently this song kept popping up on Last.fm, which brought back good memories. I hadn't bought a jazz CD in a while, so I decided I needed this best-selling, must-have jazz classic from 1963. I love listening to these long tunes (some 10 minutes or more) while I'm driving, and they're awesome on my iPhone while I'm walking, too! Sarah Chang / Dvorak Violin Concerto & Piano Quintet: After seeing Sarah Chang play with the Austin Symphony, I wanted to have at least one of her recordings in my collection, so I decided on this CD after listening to some samples. I don't have much Dvorak, but these are wonderful pieces, full of emotion, which Sarah Chang expresses beautifully (I love her extremely controlled high notes!). Metric / Live It Out: I've listened to Metric's Old World Underground album so many times that I figured it was finally time to buy another CD. Live It Out is their next release from 2005, and although it's not quite as good, it still has the same awesome feel with driving guitars and just the right amount of keyboards, as well as interesting and provocative lyrics (Poster of a Girl is pretty shocking!). Labels: cds, jpop, morning musume
Music Moments 8.09
8.30.2009 7:50 AM \| Link 0 comments	Morning Musume / Shouganai Yume Oibito & Nanchatte Renai: The recent singles from Morning Musume (their 39th and 40th releases) are some of their absolute best in my opinion, since the group is leaning toward a new mature sound that lines up with my preference for bittersweet lyrics (though of course I love the cute stuff, too!). Both tracks feature out of the ordinary piano and strings with truly dramatic lyrics (I was amazed when I heard "Tears fall on my hand as I iron your clothes"). Shouganai Yume Oibito hit a weekly #1 spot, and Nanchatte Renai hit a daily #1 (on my dad's birthday!), so both of these songs are really signaling a new popularity for Morning Musume! Keane / Under the Iron Sea: After listening to Keane's Hopes and Fears album about a hundred times, I decided I should move on to Under the Iron Sea, which is somewhat of a departure from their original piano pop sound. This time they use distortion pedals on piano to create almost electric guitar sounds, which are still fantastic (yet sometimes creepy). Their lyrics are beautiful and introspective as always, and I really should devote some time to truly listening and enjoying this album. The Best Of Godzilla 1984-1995 / Original Film Soundtracks: I wasn't planning on getting this CD, which is a follow-up to the 1954-1975 soundtracks album, but after completing my Godzilla movie watching quest I couldn't resist having some of these cheesy themes in my collection. There are plenty of awesome Ikufube tracks to round out the ridiculous guitar solo from Godzilla vs Biollante, and I actually like the over-dramatic fanfare from Godzilla vs Space Godzilla! Cake / B Sides & Rarities: I've been a Cake fan since I lived in Tulsa, and when my pal Jonathan and I saw them in concert here in Austin recently, they mentioned this album that I wasn't aware of, which I promptly bought from their website! It has a totally funky version of the Muppets classic Mahna, Mahna, as well as great covers of Strangers in the Night, but I mostly love the goofy country tracks, such as Buck Owens' Excuse Me, I Think I've Got a Heartache! Morning Musume / Platinum 9 Disc: It's embarrassing that I'm only now mentioning this CD, since I've had it for ages and even had it autographed! Morning Musume's 9th full-length album is a fantastic collection of five previously released singles, along with some incredible new songs. There are several unexpected solo tracks from Sayumi (cute and sexy, of course), Eri, and Aika (surprisingly bright and sweet), as well as awesome ballads and dance tunes. Of course, I've played this CD thousands of times in my car by now! Labels: cds, godzilla, jpop, morning musume
BoA / BoA : 3 of 5 Utada / This Is The One : 4 of 5
5.23.2009 7:53 AM \| Link 2 comments	Two of my favorite Jpop/Kpop superstars coincidentally both decided they should break into the US market this year with English language albums, so of course I had to support these artists by buying them both (it's pretty nice to be able to pay ten bucks rather than the usual $25 or so!). The first is BoA, the beautiful Korean pop singer that I have been listening to since I bought her CD in Japan (she often releases Japanese language albums), with her US debut CD titled BoA (so original). When I first heard the single Eat You Up, I was a little disappointed since the song didn't showcase her great voice, but I had hoped the album would fix that problem. Unfortunately, that's not the case - BoA's producers made the terrible decision that she needs to sound like every other generic American hip-hop artist, so the album is filled with electronic vocal effects. Let me tell you, BoA does not need to sing through an Auto-Tune! Several of the songs are kind of duets with other ethnic singers, and there are no ballads (which I think are BoA's best songs!). I really wish she would have continued her normal music progression into the US, but now she's just going to blend in with the crowd (I think Lose Your Mind would have been a fantastic hit). However, even after saying all of that, I can't make myself dislike this album - for what it is, it's a totally awesome dance-fest that I can listen to over and over. I don't think the true BoA shines through, but the hip-hop BoA can kick it out. The second artist is Utada Hikaru, who is such a superstar in Japan that her debut album is still the number one selling album ever. Utada actually attempted to break into the US market a few years ago with the album Exodus, which was kind of a disaster (even though I still enjoy the CD) with its embarrassing lyrics (Easy Breezy comes to mind), but now she's ready to try it again with This Is The One. Unlike BoA's complete 180 style change, this Utada album is a natural progression of her musical feel, and the results are totally fantastic (maybe not as good as her previous Heart Station, but still wonderful). The melodies show off her voice, the production is lush, and the mood is perfect - listening to Utada in English feels something like Everything But The Girl crossed with Sade. If you look at the translation of some of Utada's Japanese songs, you quickly realize that she is a talented poet (so much deeper than your average Jpop!), and although her English lyrics are a little more shallow, they are still filled with beautiful metaphors that go far beyond BoA's dance floor urgings (though I have to say Dirty Desire is way beneath her!). This Is The One is a solid album that I'll be listening to a lot. I hope both of these artists accomplish what they want with these US releases, although I have to admit it feels a little cooler to buy import CDs directly from Japan! Labels: boa, cds, jpop
Music Moments 4.09
4.09.2009 5:44 PM \| Link 0 comments	Catalina by Air / Landing on the Rock: I'll start off these quick music reviews with a couple completely biased opinions. My pals Dae and Ernesto got together to form a new music project called Catalina by Air, and their first album is now available on iTunes! Dae and Ernesto have been my friends and band mates since the Day Jobs days, and their new music has a wonderfully relaxed 20s-30s jazz feel. There are original songs by both Dae (who sings and plays guitars, as well as most other instruments) and Ernesto (who blows some sweet sax), as well as classic standards that everyone knows. I love their music, and encourage everyone to check it out! Dave Clupper / Letting Go: When in lived in Tulsa, the Cluppers were like a second family to me, and we always had fun making music together. Dave Clupper has continued to become an incredible songwriter, and now he has two albums available on iTunes! His latest is Letting Go, which features both live and studio cuts, and includes many songs that are very dear to me (since I sung them with the Cluppers so many times). Sunset Train will always be the most uplifting and comforting song about leaving this world that I'll ever hear, and the version on this album is wonderful! If you're in the mood for some Tulsa folk music, you'll love Dave Clupper. Morning Musume / Naichau Kamo: It's time to get back to the usual Jpop that I'm always listening to, which of course includes Morning Musume's latest single Naichau Kamo (which is already available on their recent full album, but I'm saving that for another review). When I first heard this song, I wasn't too happy they used a cut-time feel in a sad song, but now I'm totally into it. Everyone (including Sayumi) gets some good lines, and they all look stylish in the video (not everyone enjoys watching Jpop idols cry, but I think it's moving). I'm also super-psyched about the B-side Yowamushi, which is a Risa and Sayumi duet! Risa sounds effortlessly awesome, and Sayumi tries her best not to sound like a hamster (and mostly succeeds). Berryz Koubou / Special Best Vol 1: I haven't mentioned Berryz Koubou much on WEBmikey, but of course I listen to them (since every Morning Musume fan automatically becomes a semi-fan of all Hello! Project groups), and since I'm a sucker for compilations, I really enjoyed this album. I was excited that their recent singles are included (I love Madayade and yes, even Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance), but I can't believe that my absolute favorite Berryz song, Kokuhaku no Funsui Hiroba, is missing! High School Musical 3 / Original Soundtrack: Finally, I had to complete my High School Musical collection with the third soundtrack (which I was able to get for free as an Amazon promotion), and even though I'd rank it last among all three, I still think it's great. I don't really like the longer tracks (like the full Spring Musical, which gets a little boring), but the duets like Right Here, RIght Now and Zac's solo Scream are pretty cool songs! Labels: cds, disney, jpop, morning musume, pals
Morning Musume / Cover You : 4 of 5
12.16.2008 7:46 AM \| Link 0 comments	Normally I would wait until I had some other CDs to review in my usual Music Moments post, but Morning Musume's latest CD is so unique and enjoyable that I thought it deserves a solo review! Cover You is a collection of classic Japanese pop hits by the lyricist Yuu Aku, most famous for writing Pink Lady hits like Pepper Keibu and UFO (both of which are on this CD). I wasn't sure what to expect from an album full of 1970s era music sung by Morning Musume, but I'm totally impressed by the production quality, the awesome Momusu-ized arrangements, and the great variety of styles on this CD! Of course, there's an abundance of Ai-chan's strong singing voice all over the place, but everyone else does an amazing job filling these often cheesy songs with emotion and energy (I always love hearing Sayumi's voice giving it all she's got!). It's really wonderful to listen to a whole CD of practically new material, since only two of these songs were released on the Pepper Keibu single. My favorite tracks are Seishun Jidai, which has some fantastic piano work and sounds just like a tokusatsu theme song to me, and I also love Koi no Dial 6700 with its rock and roll feel. It was fun to recognize many of these songs from watching Japanese music TV shows - I had already heard hits like Watashi no Aoi Tori and Izakaya many times. There's only one track that I keep skipping over, since Koharu's antics make me queasy, but other than that I've really enjoyed hearing this CD over and over in my car! I'm interested in finding out if and how these great songs will be integrated into Morning Musume's future concerts - I really want to see them performed live! Labels: cds, jpop, morning musume
Music Moments 11.08
11.25.2008 6:18 AM \| Link 0 comments	Morning Musume / Pepper Keibu & Romance: It's always exciting when a new Morning Musume single is released, and I had lots of fun watching the excellent music video over and over! This cover of the classic Pink Lady hit is really cool (especially since Sayumi finally gets a line again, plus the super-cute final "Pepper Keibu yo!"), but I was even more impressed with Romance, which has fantastic emotional lyrics and a heart-wrenching melody! I think this is definitely one of their best singles in a while, and I'm really looking forward to their complete album of cover tunes. The Brilliant Green / Complete Single Collection '97-'08: I first heard The Brilliant Green on a mix MD that my pal Matt made for me years ago, which prompted me to listen to some of their recent singles like Stand By Me and Ash Like Snow. After I heard those, I knew I had to get this CD, since their sound is full of great guitars (so unlike the usual synth-heavy Jpop). Nearly every song here is incredible, with amazing chord progressions (Hello Another Way is one of the best!), and I even bought the DVD with all of the music videos, since Tomoko always looks like she just woke up! mc chris / mc chris is dead: I've been an mc chris fan since the Aqua Teen days - even though Hip Hop and Rap are pretty far off my musical radar, Nerdcore is awesome! His latest CD has some of his coolest music yet with some really mind-blowing rhymes, even though they aren't quite as hilarious as his previous work (it seems like he's traded imaginary sexual bravado for singing about pizza and Reese's Pieces!). The title track is pretty incredible, and Hoodie Ninja is also amazing, so this CD definitely gets lots of play time in my car! Ben Folds / Way to Normal: I've been a Ben Folds fan for a long time, so I bought his latest CD without thinking twice. Although overall it's not one of the best, this is still a solid group of great songs - I'm always impressed with Ben's piano prowess and lyrical genius. Some of the tunes use intentional distortion that I find annoying, but most of the songs are really nice, with a good mix of emotion and hilariously clever lyrics. No matter how goofy it is, Bitch Went Nuts is a blast to sing in the car! High School Musical 2 / Original Soundtrack: Since I really enjoyed the first soundtrack album, I decided to get this CD to get ready for High School Musical 3! This second soundtrack isn't quite as good as the first, but it still has some great moments. I thought Bet On It was an awesome performance in the movie, and the energy still comes across on the CD. Unfortunately some of the other songs aren't so exciting (I Don't Dance is a little boring), and I'm always going to skip Sharpay's crazy Hawaiian song, but generally this CD is fun and uplifting as expected, and now I need to get the third soundtrack! Labels: cds, disney, jpop, morning musume
Music Moments 9.08
9.20.2008 8:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	Eisley / Room Noises: A long time ago I downloaded a free iTunes track of Telescope Eyes, a truly fantastic song that I've listened to a million times, so I finally bought the complete CD. Eisley has a really unique sound featuring three female voices that blend incredibly well, and the harmonies are so much fun to sing with. The instrumentation is cool, too, although I wish the guitars were a little heavier at times. Most of their songs have a bit of a melancholy to them, but sometimes that fits my mood exactly! Nami Tamaki / Don't Stay: I really didn't like Nami's last single Gokigendaze, but I decided I had to be a loyal fan and buy her latest album, and I'm glad I did - every other track is better than that goofy song! This CD also came with a great DVD with lots of cool videos, though I still like Nami's dance moves from when she was younger better (and has anyone noticed her adult face isn't as cute anymore?). Brightdown is such a cool track - high emotion and high energy! High King / Cinderella Complex: Of course I'm still buying CDs featuring members of Morning Musume, and Cinderella Complex is definitely a cool song with the voices of Ai-chan and Reina. I really like the pseudo-latin feel to this song - it definitely gets my drummer reflexes going! High School Musical Soundtrack: Being the Disney fan that I am, I eventually had to succumb and buy this CD. I was in the mood for some positive, upbeat music, and High School Musical definitely delivers. The production values are great on this CD, and I love the harmonies - Zac is really a pretty awesome singer (and I can say that even as a guy)! The Best Of Godzilla 1954-1975 Original Film Soundtracks: After watching so many Godzilla movies, I had to urge to hear some theme songs in my iTunes mix, so I discovered this amazing collection of all of the best music on one CD! Along with the Akira Ifukube's fantastic theme, there are plenty of sound effect tracks, and of course the awesome original Mothra song! Labels: cds, disney, godzilla, jpop
Music Moments 6.08
6.02.2008 7:22 AM \| Link 0 comments	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
Music Moments
3.09.2008 7:20 AM \| Link 0 comments	Ready for some quick comments on ancient CDs that everyone else has already reviewed? Great, here we go! Way back at my first A-Kon I was lucky enough to see Dream in concert, so I decided to get their 7th Anniversary Best album, especially since it came with a DVD of all of their videos, which I only recently watched all the way through, loving every minute. I really enjoyed their voices and harmonies, so it's too bad they aren't around anymore. Speaking of not being around, I also bought Biyuden's Single Best 9 Vol 1 Omaktsuki with no idea their demise was right around the corner, mainly because I can't resist greatest hits albums. Rika is so cute and sexy that she's alternately attractive and appalling, but it's just fun to listen to someone sing about hamidasu bubun every now and then! Next up is Matsuura Aya's Double Rainbow album, and I have to say that her transformation to adult contemporary is pretty much complete. She really seems to be playing it safe on this CD, but I can't complain too much since I love sappy ballads, and she really sings some great ones here! Back to older stuff, and sticking with my greatest hits addiction, I got Otsuka Ai's Ai am Best compilation - whenever CDs like this come with a DVD of videos, I almost always buy it! Her videos are all fantastic and lovely, and she really shows a wide range of emotions (when she lets a tear fall it's almost unbearable!). Sure, her voice is unmistakably anime-style, but she can make it sound fantastic, so I was completely impressed! Finally, I departed from Jpop for my fifth CD and got Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown after hearing one of their songs in church, and I've really enjoyed listening to their brand of "philosophy rock". It's definitely a great album when you want to feel defiant and positive at the same time! Labels: cds, jpop
Music Moments
12.19.2007 8:46 AM \| Link 0 comments	It's time for five more mini music reviews, featuring a little Disney, a little Christmas, and some Jpop, of course! I'll start with Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland, which is an amazing soundtrack re-recording that's only available via iTunes. I never realized that Disney made these studio recreations, but the sound quality and arrangements are fantastic compared to the original movie score. I actually prefer Kathryn Beaumont's cute English voice over Darlene Gillespie's, but she did a fine job (I think she was the most talented classic Mouseketeer)! After finishing up every last episode of Sailor Moon recently, I really wanted to have all the cheesy songs in my collection, so I was happy to discover Sailor Moon Super Best, which includes all the themes and other numbers from all seasons of the show. Some of these are actually cool ballads in a retro kind of way, especially if you appreciate the 70's style horns and strings (so different from anime soundtracks today!). But most importantly, I'll always enjoy singing Moonlight Densetsu! Each year I always buy myself a new holiday album, and this year I was persuaded by an iTunes sale to get Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics, featuring all of the South Park characters butchering classic Christmas carols as well as other songs that simply set a new standard for holiday irreverence! This CD is totally hilarious if you have an extremely open-minded sense of humor, and I have to admit that I love singing along with everyone's favorite magical Christmas poo! Now on to Jpop! I had to buy Morning Musume's All Singles Complete collection, even though I already had all of these songs on other albums, just because the concept and packaging was so cool, and it's worth it to me to have all of these songs in order on a nice CD set (which has been playing in my car for weeks now!). The bonus DVD, where each member chooses their favorite concert performance, has some great older footage that I hadn't seen before, but why did so many of them have to pick Do It Now? Maybe they just like holding the microphones upside down for the rap! Finally, I really like Morning Musume's new single Mikan, even though it's a pretty big jump stylistically from their previous two singles, but I guess it's time for a peppy, anime theme-ish song. I definitely enjoy the lyrics and the cool little piano licks, as well as Reina's lines in the final chorus (I thought it was funny when she mentioned them on Five Stars!). The video is lots of fun, too, but I have to say that I'm not a fan of eye reflection effects, and the little squares on their eyeballs make everyone look like robots! Labels: anime, cds, disney, jpop, morning musume
Music Moments
11.19.2007 8:40 PM \| Link 0 comments	One of the reasons I like to write WEBmikey is to keep track of the things I watch, read, and hear, but I always seem to forget to write about CDs (or I get too lazy to really say anything interesting). So, I've decided to adopt the same tactic (or cop-out!) that I use in my Manga Mentions series, which means I'll just briefly mention (and slightly review) the previous five CDs that I've been enjoying. So, here's the first Music Moments post! Just to prove how behind I am listening to things, I'll start with GAM's first album Amai Yuwaku (which was released back in May!). Who knows if GAM has a future, but I'm glad they at least got this CD out the door, because I really like it (although I wish the piano-only version of Melodies from the CD single was included). After watching Linda Linda Linda, I did the obvious thing and bought Blue Hearts' Super Best compilation CD, which is fantastic to listen to when I'm in the right mood. They seem so tame compared to what most people call punk, but I love the emotion that pours out through that scratchy voice. Next, after enjoying several Zone videos, I thought I would try out their E - Complete A Side Singles CD, but even though I liked it, I really wanted to hear more tracks like Secret Base, so most of the tracks were too mellow for me. Sticking with Jpop, of course I bought Morning Musume's Onna ni Sachi Are, and I really like it (both the song and the video). Maybe it's because it's easy to sing or because I like melancholy, yet determined lyrics, but I'm definitely a fan of this single! Finally, since I loved the movie, I had to get the Marie Antoinette Soundtrack, which is a fantastic two-CD set. The first CD contains all of the bouncy hits from the film, while the second has the moody, atmospheric pieces (including some opera and other classical selections). This soundtrack has officially become my rainy day music, and it's also done wonders to calm me down on busy days! Labels: cds, jpop
Nami Tamaki / Graduation Singles : 4 of 5
4.12.2007 9:59 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've been a fan of Nami Tamaki for quite a while, so of course I bought this CD/DVD set months ago when it was first released, but I forgot to write about it! Lately I've been in the mood for high energy "determination" music, so I've been listening to it again in my car and watching some of my favorite videos again, so now it's finally time to say that I really love this CD. It's a pretty amazing thing to release 12 hit singles before you graduate high school, so I think it's definitely appropriate for Nami to release this collection, and I'm thrilled to have each and every one of her great videos on the accompanying DVD, which comes with the limited edition release (but this is the regular edition cover, because it looks cooler!). The DVD also includes her audition when she was only 13 (though she looks more mature), and even though her voice wasn't as trained back then, her confidence and genuine genki-ness are incredible. There are a few songs and videos here that I didn't know before, and one of my new favorites is Heroine, which has a cool driving feel, plus an inspiring video about a young athlete in training. Heart & Soul has a cool video, too, although it's kind of funny to watch her hanging out with a stereotypical American group of kids. Most of Nami's other videos are dancing only, but her moves are so unique that I can watch them over and over. I've really been enjoying the energetic feeling I get from listening to these songs, so I think this CD is going to stay in my car for a few more days at least! Labels: cds, jpop
BoA / Made in Twenty : 4 of 5
2.10.2007 6:53 AM \| Link 0 comments	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. Labels: boa, cds, jpop
Morning Musume Sakura Gumi / Hare Ame Nochi Suki : 3 of 5
12.06.2006 9:40 PM \| Link 0 comments	Since I recently enjoyed checking out the second singles from Morning Musume's subgroups of the past, I decided to take a look at the first singles, too. Sakura Gumi definitely was on the mellow side, since Hare Ame Nochi Suki shares a similar tone with Sakura Mankai (though this first single isn't half as good as that magical second single!). The melody is really nice, and I love the super-high notes at the end of the chorus (which means only the best singers get a shot). The video is totally pink-ified and filled with falling cherry blossom petals (I guess it has to be!), and the minimal dance moves aren't very interesting, but the costumes are kind of cool (as long as you ignore the crazy hairdos that some of them had to endure). This single was released while Natsumi Abe was still in the group, so she looks great during the close-up shots. Yossie looks like an entire different person with much softer features - the difference between then and now is really incredible. My favorite shot in the video is the use of rack focus between three girls standing at different distances, so they come into focus just in time to sing "suki suki suki". The DVD also has a close-up version and a really funny making-of segment, which has lots of goofing around scenes (which are always the best part!). I'll be checking out Otome Gumi's first single soon! Labels: cds, dvds, jpop, morning musume
BoA / Winter Love : 3 of 5
12.05.2006 10:21 PM \| Link 0 comments	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! Labels: boa, cds, jpop
Mastuura Aya / X3 : 5 of 5
11.19.2006 6:29 PM \| Link 0 comments	After falling in love with the video for The Last Night on Mastuura Aya's Single V Clips, I absolutely had to buy the song. Rather than getting the CD single, I decided to just buy the whole CD that includes The Last Night, and I've really enjoyed it - I even think it's better overall than her Best 1 CD! So, now I can listen to The Last Night whenever I want, and it's definitely one of my favorite songs now. I just like sad ballads sometimes, and the lyrics and melody are so beautiful - my heart melts everytime I hear "Fuyu ga hajimaru". The rest of the CD includes several other hits like Good Bye Natsuo and Ne-e? (which means now I've bought that song about four times!), but I was also excited to hear a few other familiar tunes that I knew from seeing them performed on shows like Hello Pro Hour. There's something about the way Ayaya sings Kanousei no Michi that I really like - in fact, her voice is becoming one of my favorites more and more each day. Unfortunately, there's a horrific remix of Yeah! Meccha Holiday that is completely out of place, but I can forget about that blunder by looking at the amazing cover photography, featuring three lovely Aya's in various styles. Even though this is kind of an old CD, it's one of my favorite Jpop purchases in quite a while! Labels: cds, jpop
Nami Tamaki / Specialty : 3 of 5
9.10.2006 8:52 AM \| Link 0 comments	I haven't listened to Nami Tamaki in a while (I missed her last album), but since I enjoyed Greeting so much I decided to get her new album Specialty, especially since it included a special edition DVD. Overall, I really like the CD, but I have to admit that it's hard to take it in all at once - most of the songs have the same feel and tempo (I could really use a ballad in the middle of all this!), but it's definitely true to her anime-theme style (although this album has a little more bite than Greeting). The introduction track is really cool, with it's sudden "electronic takeover", leading into Result, which sets the tone for the whole CD. Nami's voice is pure and always on pitch, even though her melodies often jump large intervals! Almost every track has a cool guitar solo with great harmonies (the solo on New World is my favorite), and most songs are over four minutes, which seems a little long every now and then. The DVD contains live footage from the CD release event (I was hoping for music videos, but it's fun to watch anyway), with Nami singing live to recorded music and groovin' with six dancers on-stage. It's a small crowd, so there's nothing extravagant going on, but it's nice to see that she can hit the notes and steps in a live venue. I'm looking forward to hearing these songs come up randomly on iTunes, but there's not enough variety to listen to this over and over in my car. I'm still a Nami fan, though, and I'm going to check out her new DVD release soon! Labels: cds, jpop
Kumi Koda / 4 Hot Wave : 3 of 5
8.30.2006 9:51 PM \| Link 0 comments	The latest CD single from Kumi Koda is a really great idea - it's a quadruple single (which is pretty amazing considering all the new material she's released recently) that comes with a DVD of all four videos! The videos are loosely tied together, which makes watching all of them together pretty interesting. The CD has the songs in a different order, but I'll mention each in the order they appear on the DVD. Juicy is a pretty cool R&B track (although it reminds me too much of Candy from Best ~Second Session~) with some cool vocal harmonies on the chorus. The video has Kumi and her pals stealing a treasure map from some guys in a bar, after a totally crazy dance (featuring some nasty beer bottle moves). The map appears in the next video for With Your Smile, where Kumi tracks down pieces of an artifact while being chased. The song is really peppy with lots of horn lines, but it isn't very original (since it sounds a lot like Birthday Eve). After she puts the artifact together, she's kind of transported to a beach setting for the I'll Be There video. This is my favorite song of the bunch, since it's an upbeat ballad with a really live recording sound - the drums are especially good, and the acoustic guitar gives it a genuine feel. The video has lots of scenes of Kumi in a swimsuit against some beautiful scenery. The last transition is a little sketchy - Kumi finds a book floating in the water, which appears in the last video for Ningyo-hime. This song has tons of heavy rock guitar, but it's my least favorite - I like to rock, but it doesn't do much for me. The video has Kumi trying to escape from a weird horror-style doctor. Overall, I think the complete package is great - it's a lot of entertainment for a non-album release! Labels: cds, jpop
Morning Musume singles
8.29.2006 9:52 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've been writing a lot about Jpop DVDs lately, but I've barely talked about all the CDs I've bought over the past few months, too (yikes!). So, it's time to start some quick comments on my growing collection, starting with Morning Musume's past two singles, of course (well, I bought both of these on DVD too, so I guess I'm still talking about DVDs). My recent interest in Morning Musume was just beginning when I first saw the video for Sexy Boy ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~, and I was pretty much hooked when Reina fires her finger gun at the camera and winks. As hyper-popish as the song is, I really like it - the minor key and descending melody line are really cool, and the lyrics are actually pretty cool (though for some reason this one is so hard to find a translation for, since even Project Hello doesn't have one!). The DVD is really fun, especially the behind the scenes segment. I pre-ordered the DVD for their 30th single, Ambitious! Yashinteki de Iijan, and I really enjoy it, too. The song took a little while to grow on me, but it definitely has an upbeat, positive feel that I like. The behind the scenes segment isn't very exciting - there's not nearly enough chatting and goofing around that make the Sexy Boy segment so fun. Both of these videos are really simple - pretty much a single set, a semi-complex dance, and plenty of individual close-up shots. But as low budget as they are, they still are well-edited, and I think they showcase the girls' talent really well. As silly as the Jpop industry can sometimes be, I really think it's great entertainment, and I appreciate all the energy (often inspiring to me) that goes into it! Labels: cds, jpop, morning musume
Heartsdales / The Legend : 4 of 5
8.12.2006 6:11 AM \| Link 0 comments	On my last trip to Japan I picked up a Heartsdales CD single (plus DVD) that I really enjoyed, so I've been planning on checking out some of their other material someday. Well, it turns out that the band is calling it quits, but to go out with a bang they released an awesome hits compilation CD that includes a DVD with videos for almost every song on the disc! Heartsdales play hip-hop or rap or whatever you want to call it - Rum does most of the complicated rapping and Jewels does the sweet singing on the choruses (gotta love those stage names!). I'm hypnotized by Japanese rapping, because the mixture of Japanese with English is incredible - they even rhyme words between languages! The videos are pretty cool, full of weird sets and high fashion, such as the opening number So Tell Me, which takes place on a submarine, and Rum has a full-size teddy bear hanging off her belt. Candy Poppin' is accented with amazing retro graphics (I really like that kind of stuff), and Angel Eyes has both motorcycles and cheerleaders, which are quite a combination. Foxy Lady has the most outfits - seeing the cool clothes they get away with wearing is half the fun! I'm definitely impressed with CD/DVD combos like this that are overflowing with songs and videos, so I'm really glad I ordered it (but too bad Heartsdales had to break up to get this CD made). Labels: cds, jpop
Hinoi Team / Super Euro Party : 3 of 5
7.28.2006 8:02 PM \| Link 0 comments	I first heard about Hinoi Team when I downloaded the video of their song Sticky Tricky and Bang (hilarious title!) - it was so funny and peppy that I had to see more! Thankfully the band has had enough releases to put out a kind of greatest hits CD, so that's what I decided to try. Super Euro Party not only has a CD with 15 songs, but also a DVD with 13 videos! Hinoi Team sings super-energetic Eurobeat-style songs, and most of the videos are simply the girls doing Para Para routines. This was my first time to actually watch entire Para Para songs, and I have to say that even though it's goofy, the complex moves can be pretty cool. Each video has the girls decked out in cute outfits and dancing away, often along with Koriki Choshu, who is a Japanese comedian - he's a chunky guy in short shorts who dances along and says funny things during the songs. Yes, it's completely bizarre, but it can be hilarious! He's especially good in Night of Fire, where he's like an angry, fire-breathing monster who the girls battle with magical powers! I really like the band's first video Ike Ike, but I think King Kong is the best, with its tropical setting and dresses made of flowers. The DVD has some bonus material with each band member, doing things like making a scrapbook, cooking and so on. Even though the CD has to be taken in small doses (it's fun to listen to in the car, but you have to be in a hyper mood first!), I still enjoy it. It definitely reminds me of a lot of early DDR music! Labels: cds, jpop
Kumi Koda / Best (Second Session) : 4 of 5
5.23.2006 6:29 PM \| Link 0 comments	I love buying greatest hits compilations to get familiar with an artist, so I thought I would buy this set since I really enjoyed Kumi Koda's CD single of Butterfly. But truthfully, the main reason I had to buy this CD is that it came with two DVDs - the first one contains 12 music videos, and the second is a complete two hour live concert (I'm totally amazed by the entertainment value of this set)! The videos are great - provocative, to be sure, since Kumi seems to like wearing outlandish costumes and make-up, but it's so much fun seeing what she'll wear next. There's a series of videos that involve three guys sitting around telling girl stories, which are then acted out in the song, and it makes a nice progression. The video for Birthday Eve is hilarious, with Kumi baking a cake for her sweetie, but actually he's a masked wrestler, so it doesn't quite work out. The concert is amazing - Kumi is super-comfortable and full of energy (I actually have no idea how she can keep it going), dancing through each number and sounding great. At the end she even cries after being moved by the audience response! The CD is full of hit songs (of course), and there are plenty of them that I've been listening to a lot lately. The bonus track of her singing A Whole New World from Aladdin is interesting (being a Disney freak), but the tempo is so slow! I think this set is fantastic, and I've already ordered the First Session set, which has even more videos. Labels: cds, jpop
BoA / Outgrow : 5 of 5
3.11.2006 3:14 PM \| Link 0 comments	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! Labels: boa, cds, jpop
Learn in Your Car Japanese / Levels 1-3 : 4 of 5
1.31.2006 10:28 PM \| Link 0 comments	Way back when I was first starting to get interested in Japanese, I used to buy a lot of beginner study aids. One of these was the first volume in this series, and now that I've been studying for a few years, I can definitely see that this series of CDs is pretty good, and actually still really helpful now (which is why I'm glad I got Volume 3 for Christmas from my parents!). Each volume contains three CDs, and each CD is divided into several lessons that generally present a single concept (although there's lots of cross-over vocabulary). The English voice (male) will say a sentence, then there is a long pause for you to respond with the Japanese (if you already know it), then the Japanese voice (female) will say the Japanese phrase, pause, and say it again. So, you have three chances to say each phrase, and it's really nice to see if you can say it correctly before the Japanese voice comes in. The lessons definitely increase in difficulty, and the Japanese voice speaks much more quickly on Volume 3! I've actually learned quite a bit by listening to these, especially when the sentence structure corresponds to something I'm learning with my tutor Kazki. The only negative with these is they introduce a few vocabulary words that are rarely used in actual conversation (according to Kazki) - for example, they like to say jidousha for car, rather than the more common kuruma. Each volume also comes with a book of all the phrases on the CDs, which is great for in-depth study. I definitely recommend this inexpensive series for Japanese language enthusiasts! Labels: cds, japanese
Chobits Character Song Collection : 2 of 5
11.19.2005 8:23 PM \| Link 0 comments	This is the third CD of music from one of my favorite anime series, but unfortunately it's the worst. Thankfully I found it really cheap online! The idea is that there are new songs here sung by each of the characters of the show, so there are tracks for Chi, Hideki, and even Sumomo (and though you think it might be cute, her track is the absolute worst!). There are a couple more instrumental tracks that I think were used in the show as background music, but for the most part this is all original material that wasn't heard in the show. I like the ballads the best, but there are a few good upbeat tracks, too. But for the most part, these songs just don't really do much for me, or even bring back memories of the show that I enjoyed so much. It definitely didn't last very long in my car CD player, which is my usual measurement of coolness! Anyway, I wouldn't really recommend it unless you're crazy about Chobits or find a good price like I did. Labels: anime, cds
More J-Pop singles
11.15.2005 10:38 PM \| Link 0 comments	I recently went through my notebook that I kept in Japan, and I decided to order some more CD singles of the songs I enjoyed watching on Matt's cable TV. First, I got Boa's new single Make a Secret, which is a cool song (though pretty different from her other stuff). The CD only has one other song on it, plus instrumental versions of both (which is always the case with Japanese CD singles - they should definitely do this in the US!). Next I got the Kumi Koda single Butterfly, which came with the video on DVD - she's definitely all about "male excitement", so this video includes everything from sexy office clothes dances to soapy car wash antics! Next I got O's single Anata to Naraba, which is just a peaceful and pretty song sung by a cute duet. The extra tracks on the CD are kind of interesting, since they include the regular version, an all instrumental version, then a version with only one girl singing her part, and then a version with the other girl (so you can sing harmony with either one, I guess)! There are three different songs, which means 12 tracks! Finally, I had to get Eien no Natsu by Sasuke, because this video was so great that it made me cry (I wish the video was included, but I'm happy just to hear the song again). I love the acoustic guitar and male vocals (which are too high for me), and the extra songs on this CD are awesome, too (sappy, but cool)! If I only had access to Japanese music videos all the time, I would probably order from YesAsia at least once a month! Labels: cds, jpop
BoA / Peace B. Remixes : 3 of 5
11.10.2005 11:03 PM \| Link 0 comments	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)! Labels: boa, cds, jpop
Halcali / Bacon : 3 of 5
11.01.2005 9:50 PM \| Link 0 comments	Near the end of my last trip to Japan, my pal Matt played me a song called Giri Giri Safuraida (Surfrider) by Halcali. I had never heard of the group, but I was definitely hooked on the song, which combined a cool, singable chorus with awesome rapped verses. So, when we went CD shopping, Matt found this album for me, and I'm really glad I got it! Most of the songs here are really similar in style, and many have a retro feel to them, almost as if the music was sampled from some 60s bands or something. Besides the track Matt played me (which is one of the best), my favorites are Tandemu and Atsukare Summer - that one has some neato horn parts, and the rap is really fast and funny! There are a few so-so tracks, of course, such as Peek-a-Boo, which attempts to put the girl's voices into more of a 30's jazz feel, but it doesn't really work well for me. Sometimes they decide to get away from their usual style, too, especially in Hello, Hello, Alone, which is a wonderful song that doesn't really sound like the same band. I'm definitely happy I got this CD, and I've been listening to it over and over! You can't go wrong with a nice looking fast-food meal on the cover, either. Labels: cds, jpop
Corpse Bride / Original Soundtrack : 3 of 5
10.19.2005 11:22 PM \| Link 0 comments	I was so excited after I saw Corpse Bride in the theater that I went straight to Best Buy to get the soundtrack, and I've listened to it over and over in my car since then. It definitely gets old after several hearings, but it's still fantastic music in all respects. The vocal numbers are really funny, but I wish there were more than four of them. Of course, Remains of the Day is the best, where Bonejangles (sung by Danny Elfman) tells the story of the bride. He definitely sounds like Jack Skellington when he sings, and actually, the more you listen the more you realize that the entire soundtrack is very close to The Nightmare Before Christmas. That's not really a bad thing, but it is interesting that the "funny" numbers are in the same jazzy style as the Oogie Boogie songs. Anyway, I love the haunting melodies that you can think of as Victor's theme and Emily's theme. I was hoping that a full piano version of Victor's piano solo would be included, because it's absolutely wonderful, but unfortunately it gets interrupted just as it did in the movie. The end of the CD includes several extra versions of Ball & Socket Lounge Music, and they are all really cool background tracks with that quirky Elfman spooky/funny feel to them. I think it's time for me to move on to another CD, but I'm going to enjoy hearing these tracks popping up on iTunes. Labels: cds
Suitei Shojo / 17's Heaven : 3 of 5
10.09.2005 4:42 PM \| Link 0 comments	This is another cool Japanese girl band that I saw on Bento Beat Box just before I went to Japan, so I decided I would get their latest CD to check them out. I was hoping that the video I saw (which had a cool spy music feel to it) would be on this CD, but it wasn't, but that's not a big deal. Actually, I was kind of surprised that their music was more mature than I expected for a couple of teenage girls, but that may be because they have done several anime themes that have serious overtones, I suppose. Unfortunately, the first track on the CD is the worst, which was disappointing when I first popped it in my car CD player! It gets much better after that, however, and Chewing Girl is a cute song with a nice feel. Even though the CD only has eight songs, it still takes a while to really let the good stuff out, which happens with the sixth song (I can read the katakana, but I can't make sense of it!), because it brings out some acoustic guitar with an uplifting ballad sound. Then Neverland (I can read that katakana!) is super fast and fun, with a really amazing guitar solo (it may be a keyboard, but it's a neato sound whatever it is!). I think sometime I should check out the girls' earlier album (which was called Sixteen, of course), but I'm glad I bought this one anyway! Labels: cds, jpop
Japanese CD singles
9.24.2005 9:33 PM \| Link 0 comments	I love shopping for music in Japan, because it's somehow fun buying artists that I've barely heard of - everything becomes a surprise! During my latest trip I watched lots of music videos on cable at Matt & Kumiko's apartment, so I decided to buy some of the ones I really enjoyed. The really cool thing is that some CD singles come with a DVD of the music video, which is even better than the song! That's the main reason I bought Heartsdales latest release Hey DJ, because the video is just full of 70s disco fun (complete with roller skates), even though the song is J-Hop rap. I'm actually kind of mesmerized by Japanese rap, because I love trying to decipher it, and it just sounds so cool! I also bought So Wonderful by Bonnie Pink, who is an established artist with tons of CDs. Her CD single also included some other great tracks, definitely in the realm of "mature" J-pop (not so much bubblegum). Finally I picked up a single by Shikao Suga by mistake - I was hoping it was going to be a different song I had heard on TV, but I couldn't read the artists' name because of the kanji! No harm done, though, because I still like the songs I got, since I was in the mood for some moody guitar-strumming guy songs. As a bonus, this single also had a DVD of a video for a song called June, and it's a really fantastic video, with a complete mini heartbreak story. I think I need to order more CD singles from YesAsia, because it's so much fun discovering new Japanese music, and it feels cool to know about the latest hip stuff! Labels: cds, jpop
Nami Tamaki / Greeting : 3 of 5
9.19.2005 5:57 PM \| Link 0 comments	I like to watch Bento Beat Box on Anime Network, even though they only rotate four videos every couple weeks or so. A while back I saw the video for Prayer by Nami Tamaki, and I was really impressed! Actually, it was the dance choreography that really amazed me, since it was so inventive (I've since learned she choreographed it herself!), but the song was also pretty catchy and kept sticking in my head (since I have Anime Network On Demand, I watched it several times!). Anyway, I was prepared to buy an expensive import album, but I discovered that Nami is distributed by Tofu Records in the states, so I could get her full CD for good ol' USA prices. I didn't know until I got the CD that her song was used as one of the themes for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, and indeed, much of her music definitely has that anime edge to it (not much approaches a ballad on this album). The advantage to US distribution of this album is that all of the lyrics are included in Romaji, so I can easily read them and sing along (or try to translate them). Besides many jumpy, drum-track driven tracks, there are some nice "regular" J-pop songs, such as Never Stop My Heart, which has a nice upbeat sound to it. My least favorite track is Shining Star, because of its' disco-ish Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star chorus. Overall though, it's a fun CD, but I think I need to buy a DVD of her videos now! Labels: cds, jpop
A Musical History of Disneyland : 5 of 5
9.10.2005 3:11 PM \| Link 0 comments	One of the best items to released for Disneyland's 50th anniversary, this five CD set is the ultimate collection of theme park music and sounds! It all starts with a beautiful cloth-covered box which opens to hold the CDs, an incredible hard-cover book with 80 pages of color photos and information, plus an actual vinyl 33-RPM record, which is a reproduction of the very first Disneyland album (I was lucky enough to get one of the first limited edition sets, where the album is pressed on gold vinyl!). The CDs are simply fantastic - everything sounds absolutely perfect (so much better than many attraction soundtracks I've downloaded over the years), and there are many tracks that are available here for the first time anywhere! There's everything from the brand new Space Mountain music to classic attractions like the Submarine Voyage and the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. All of the special holiday versions are here, too (I loved listening to the Small World Holiday, especially the mermaids singing Jingle Shells). The accompanying book is really nice, too, and includes great mini-biographies of Disney musicians such as Buddy Baker and the Sherman Brothers (of course). Believe it or not, it also contains some trivia I didn't know - there is a lantern on a hook in Peter Pan's Flight that is all that remains of the original Fantasyland pirate ship! I could go on and on about this CD set. There's absolutely no question that every Disneyland fan must own it! Labels: cds, disney
Chieco Kawabe / Brilliance : 4 of 5
8.10.2005 5:38 PM \| Link 0 comments	I read about this CD in Newtype USA, and I was intrigued since Chieco played Usagi's school pal Naru in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (the live-action series I enjoyed so much). I hardly ever buy a CD without hearing a sample, but I decided to go ahead and order it anyway, since I hadn't ordered from YesAsia in awhile, and she's such a cutie that I couldn't resist. I'm really glad I did, because I love this CD! Her music is really pop, but not so sugary-sweet like a lot of Japanese pop. The stand-out hit track, Be Your Girl, unfortunately is a pretty blatant rip-off of Hilary Duff's So Yesterday, but I still think it's an awesome song. The production and instrumentation is exactly what you would expect for a pop album (it sounds very Radio Disney to me, actually), and Chieco's voice is great - loud when it needs to be, cute and pure (with good pitch, too). Some other favorite tracks are I Can't Wait (with it's funny "bum bum bum" interlude), and Shining, which has some totally bopping dance rhythms. I also love the last track (the title is kanji, so I only know it starts with "Hoshi ni", something about a star), which has beautiful melody and vocals (Chieco sings her own background tracks, too). I'm totally impressed, and her gorgeous face is mesmerizing as a bonus. I don't know what's up with the spelling of her name, since it should be Chieko, but I guess she's just being cool! Labels: cds, jpop
Utada Hikaru / Exodus : 3 of 5
7.30.2005 5:09 PM \| Link 0 comments	I first heard Utada Hikaru on a mix-MD that my pal Matt sent me years ago, and I was impressed by the "maturity" of her music compared to most J-pop (of course, I love immature J-pop, too!). I only recently discovered that she released an all-English album to try to break into the US music scene, and this is it - there's no Japanese anywhere on the CD, and her English speaking style is simply perfect. It's even more amazing that Utada wrote nearly every song, so her English ability is incredible! The first thing that struck me about this CD is that a lot of the songs have a "nasty" side to them, which is fine, but kind of a surprise! Tippy Toe is about an affair and Let Me Give You My Love is all about mixed-race lovin' (with lines like "Get naughtly multilingual" and "Let's turn this room into a melting pot"). I was also amazed at some of the bizzare self-references to being Japanese, like "I showed him how people in the Far East get down", and the bizarre "You're easy breezy and I'm Japaneesy", which is a ridiculous line in an otherwise awesome song. The music itself is great, with tons of cool beats with high production values, and Utada's voice is very versatile, jumping into her high range with ease. This is a CD that I really enjoy listening to, even if as a whole I don't think it's so spectacular, which is a weird thing to say, but I'm glad I have it for my collection anyway! Labels: cds, jpop
Rufus Wainwright / Want One : 4 of 5
7.18.2005 11:38 PM \| Link 0 comments	After becoming totally obsessed with listening to Rufus' album Poses, I knew I had to listen to more of his work. My pal Dana recommended that I get this CD next, and I'm glad I did - it's been playing in my car for several days now, and it's fantastic (but emotionally draining, of course)! I've read a lot about Rufus' songs, and most reviewers try to dig into the lyrics to find references to his relationship with his father (Loudon Wainwright III) and his former self-destructive lifestyle, but I like taking the details of his lyrics and finding moments where my emotions have been the same, and singing along with his haunting melodies is both heart-wrenching and healing. Once again, Rufus (or his producer) pulls out all the stops for a sonically-rich experience, full of orchestral depth and majesty, or just a simple guitar or piano where it works - it's Broadway pop, pure and simple! Starting with a comic lyric set to Ravel's Bolero, the CD hits tons of musical forms (from basic rock to waltz), and just as many extremes of human experience. My favorite track is 11:11, which really speaks to living each moment of life (and has an obvious September 11th reference), and I really like Vibrate (with it's silly lines sung in such serious tones). The closing track, Dinner at Eight, has some truly beautiful lines that can bring tears to your eyes. Almost every track is enjoyable, though the weird time signature of Vicious World is a little distracting. I have to say I enjoyed Poses more (just because there's more love songs), but Want One is a wonderful album that will keep me buying more Rufus CDs. Labels: cds
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith / Original Soundtrack : 4 of 5
7.06.2005 8:59 PM \| Link 0 comments	I'm a big fan of the Star Wars soundtracks, and I hear pieces of them all the time popping up on iTunes, but I haven't bought any of the prequel CDs until now (actually, I've had this CD for months, but I'm just now reviewing it!). The main reason I had to own this CD is that it comes with a bonus DVD (at no extra cost!) filled with clips from all the Star Wars movies set to various sections of all six soundtracks, kind of like music videos. The DVD is really wonderful - each segment is introduced by Ian McDiarmid, and moves through the whole saga from beginning to end. It was really cool to see several clips from Revenge of the Sith before it hit the theaters, too! The actual soundtrack CD is great - I love the opening action music after the main title. The huge set-piece, Battle of the Heroes, isn't quite as good as Duel of the Fates from The Phantom Menace, but it's still majestic, exciting, and full of that feeling of destiny. I love it when Williams brings back familiar themes from the other films, such as quoting Princess Leia's Theme during her birth, and of course the Imperial March at just the right moments. Some of the tracks are quite brooding, orchestrated by strings or deep organ and eerie choir sounds, which is quite a departure from the typical Williams sound, but it definitely works on pieces like Palpatine's Teachings and Padme's Ruminations. Overall, this is a great score to a fantastic film, and writing this makes me want to go see it again! Labels: cds, star wars
Daft Punk / Human After All : 3 of 5
6.24.2005 6:40 PM \| Link 0 comments	The whole concept behind Daft Punk is repetition - once they kick into a groove, it loops over and over while it washes over you, gets you moving, and sinks in until you start to listen for the subtle differences in sound as the song progresses. On their album Discovery, they did this with a disco feel, and I doubt they will ever top it. On Homework, everything was electronic and experimental, and now on their new CD, it seems to be a nice compromise. There are some really awesome stand-out tunes, such as Technologic (used in iPod commercials), and the title track Human After All. Both of these feature fun electronic vocals that are more of an instrument than a form of communication, and I love it! Some other good tracks are Robot Rock and Television Rules the Nation, but there are some experimental failures, too. The Prime Time of Your Life starts out as a great song, but then becomes a white noise festival with an accelerating drum beat that's only interesting the first time. Make Love seems to try to capture the feel of Something About Us from Discovery, but doesn't quite make it. Still, it's awesome to have new Daft Punk to listen to, and the great tunes far outweigh the bad. Labels: cds
The Concretes : 3 of 5
6.03.2005 7:24 AM \| Link 0 comments	My pal Dae is my source of cool music recommendations, so when he mentioned this band, I put their self-titled CD on my wish list right away. I've been listening to it for about a week now, and it's definitely a unique sound - right from the moment the old-school organ comes in on the opening track (appropritely named Say Something New), you know this is going to be a different kind of CD. It's hard to describe their sound, but I would say it's really 60's, both in instrumentation (with things like tambourine, horns, and of course the organ) and in production value (much of it sounds live, especially the drums, which sound like a single mic garage set!). There are plenty of great tunes - Seems Fine is my absolute favorite (since it's the most pop), and Warm Night has an infectious melody (and adds a mandolin to the mix). I think most of the tunes would do better individually on a mix CD than they do as a complete collection, but that hasn't stopped me from listening to it over and over in the car! If you love female vocals (as I do) and an authentic retro sound, you will definitely enjoy The Concretes. Labels: cds
mc chris / Knowing is Half the Hassle & Eating's Not Cheating : 4 of 5
5.30.2005 3:51 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've had Knowing is Half the Hassle (mc chris' second CD) for well over a year, but I forgot to review it, so here's a combined review with his latest CD, which I bought just before seeing his live show here in Austin. Hassle has five tunes on it, with skits thrown inbetween - the songs are great (in fact, some of his best), but I hate the skits - I know they're supposed to be funny, but they're just too violent for me to enjoy. The songs rock, though - Ten Year Old is probably my favorite, since it's just the right tempo for me to rap along (sometimes mc can rap so fast!). Eating's Not Cheating has 14 awesome tracks - by far his longest CD, and the sound quality and music keeps getting better and better. I tend to like slower raps more, but there are some super-fast ones here that are simply amazing to hear. Stop Time is a great song, with great lyrics about mc instilling pride in the geeks of the world, which is funny and cool at the same time. The whole CD is filled with incredible references, everything from Zam Wessel to Friendster. I think some of the songs on Hassle are better, but since there are so many good ones on Eating, I'd say it's his best CD. Really, you should just get them all and mix 'em all together! Labels: cds
The Incredibles / Original Soundtrack : 3 of 5
5.24.2005 8:00 PM \| Link 0 comments	I was so excited about The Incredibles after watching the DVD that I ordered the soundtrack right away, and it's really a great score. The music is so cool because it really feels like it was composed for a 60s spy movie - the full orchestra backing up a more traditional jazz combo (trap set, sax solos, and so on) is a great combination (kind of big band "plus"). I have to say that I love the "main theme" the most by far, and it's best used in the first and last tracks on the CD. The final track over the closing credits is definitely my favorite - it's filled with awesome interwoven themes, and uses the most time signature changes (lots of 5/4, with a 6/8 bridge!). There are a few nice sultry tracks, too (usually when Mirage is on screen). One of the most "incredible" things about the CD is that all of the music was recorded live - it was one gigantic studio session, rather than bringing in the sections or solos individually. So, not only is it 60s style, but it was recorded with a 60s method! If you enjoyed the movie (and how could you not?), you'll love the soundtrack! Labels: cds, disney, pixar
Ben Folds / Songs for Goldfish : 3 of 5
5.22.2005 3:43 PM \| Link 0 comments	I got this new EP for free when I bought Songs for Silverman direct from Ben Folds' website. It's mostly a live album, so I wasn't sure how jazzed I would be about it, but it turned out to be a fantastic little CD! There's material from his new CD as well as his other recent EPs, along with a couple new numbers I hadn't heard before. My absolute favorite is Hiro's Song, which has first-person lyrics about a 51-year old Japanese businessman who runs away with his 22-year old secretary. The phrases are so funny, and I can totally relate to his hilarious emotions! Another fantastic track is Weather Channel Music, where Ben starts totally improvising and singing along with a piano bass line, then the band kicks in with some awesome smooth jazz when Ben tells them, "Kick out some of that Weather Channel shit!" There are a couple of studio tracks, including a mellow Lucinda Williams cover and some funny jingles that Ben did for a Tokyo radio station (in English, but really funny and catchy all the same). Overall, this is a really fun disc for any Ben Folds fan! Labels: cds
Rachael Yamagata / Happenstance : 3 of 5
5.07.2005 1:22 PM \| Link 0 comments	Here's another CD that I was compelled to buy after listening to a free track from the iTunes Music Store for a few weeks. I had downloaded Rachael's awesome song Letter Read, which features great driving bass lines on the piano, cool syncopation, plus a nice minor key verse that switches into a major key chorus, together with her sultry voice. The rest of the CD is very good, but unfortunately, there aren't any other tunes with the same emotion as Letter Read. Rachael is kind of like Nora Jones crossed with Fiona Apple, so there are plenty of piano ballads here - so many that they tip the balance of the CD, making the second half simply too slow (nice for laying on your back on a Sunday afternoon, but terrible for listening to in the car!). There are some fun tunes on the first half, like Be Your Love and Worn Me Down, but neither of them have completely interesting lyrics. The words to Even So are some of the best, but by that point in the CD I'm too busy hoping there will be a more driving tune. If there were just one or two more pumping numbers scattered about, this would be a much better CD. Still, it's nice to own and be introduced to a new cool artist (and the CD cover is pretty darn beautiful, too). Labels: cds
Ben Folds / Songs for Silverman : 4 of 5
5.04.2005 8:08 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've been wishing for a new full-length Ben Folds album for a long time, especially since I enjoyed his recent EPs so much. Finally, Songs for Silverman is here, and it's a fantastic CD. After my first listen I was just a little disappointed, only because there weren't as many really jammin' numbers with funny lyrics, but after hearing it another twenty times or so (and I'm still listening to it!), I realized what a brilliant collection of songs it is. Musically, Ben is really a genius, combining all sorts of time signatures and styles out of left field that keep things interesting for your ear. His band is also wonderful - I love it when they break into a jazz feel (I almost wish Ben would do an entire jazz collection). Lyrically, even though he's not as "angry" (which translates to funny, usually) as he has been in the past, there is still some sheer poetry here. His song to his daughter, Gracie, is really cool, without being too sappy (it seems like every artist writes a song to their kid), but You To Thank has my favorite lyrics, so honestly talking about relationship problems (with truthful words like, "Christmas came around, and everything was going to crap"). Landed is also an amazing song - I like it when Ben does his falsetto voice to stretch the melody line. It sounds to me like Ben is just getting better and better, and this CD is a great addition to his catalog. Labels: cds