Reviews written by Josh
-
February 9, 2007 OUTGROWN out of her shell
The first impression out of this album from others were really negative while some finds it average while very little loves them. I personally LOVE this album.
Although I must admit, the movement from the old BoA to a new one was a bit awkward in getting used to from hearing "Make a secret" though I really don't find BoA any different from the rest of the other songs. Songs like "Dakishimeru", "DO THE MOTION" also showed a different BoA and it was cool to see her in a different style in the music videos. "Everlasting" is also a very good song.
The rest of the album tracks aren't half bad as well like "OUTGROW ~Ready butterfly~" has a really high-pitch kinda vocal and wow this song really pumped me up. Has crazy beats and background music with BoA singing in such a rapid pace. Yes, it's different from other BoA's songs but it doesn't mean it's not a cool song.
And I was happy that the song "First Snow" was included in this album, for it was only avaialble in Itues Japan before with the digital single of "Merikuri", packed with other songs that I still don't have and can only get from Itunes...
This album is more jazzy compared to the other ones and more "grown-up". Every album can't be the same so there you have it. She's outgrown the old BoA and showed us what she can do (though later on, she's returned with "Nanairo no Ashita ~brand new beat~")Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
'06 Summer SM town (CD+VCD) (Taiwan Version)
'06 Summer SM town (CD+VCD) (Taiwan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$16.99List: US$23.99Save: US$7.00 (29%)Related promotions:February 9, 2007 Feel that rhythm on your body!Wow! Though I've got this CD awfully late, I must say it certainly has been a while since SMTOWN last released their CD since 2004.
And wow indeed, this CD went beyond my expectations! I must say however, the high-light song "Red Sun", took a little getting used to start loving this song for me= I was not used to the style compared to the older SMTOWN songs. Knowing the new pack of SM artists (from TSQX, Super Junior (they really made SMTOWN bigger than ever!), TSZX, etc), many people found that they are not used to the people. Like how it was before, FTTS, SES, ShinHwa and many other great SM artists left sadly though a few stayed.
Well this is the new generation of SMTOWN and I must say they really showed what they can do on this CD! Knowing their potential from their single/album releases (which were darn good), I somehow did not expect any better SMTOWN from the new set of people but that suprassed my expectation!
The songs I highly recomend: ALL OF THEM.
I don't need to describe from each song 'cause GUH they're all awesome. Very very good for summer. Lyrics are soo nice, too. I brought this CD with me in going to Walt Disney World resort (in Orlando Florida!) during the winter break and I was lucky enough to listen to this in a summer enviroment.
I gotta say though...it's been how many years and BLACK BEAT still does not have an album. But the song they sang for this CD (Shake) will definently satisfy those who are under their wings.
The VCD:
This VCD has the "Red Sun" music video followed by the making of the music video and a looong photo-session video for the album. The music video is really different from the older SMTOWN videos. Well at least they tried something new. It also took a little getting used to with this video. The making of and the photo-session clips over all takes about 55 minutes and unless you know how to read chinese subtitles or understand korean, you're good to go in know what they have to say for laughs otherwise, just watch them 'cause you feel like it.
*Unlike other VCD this has a bit of a poorer quality. Korean releases sadly never get their share of releasing an MV on DVDs. It's kinda "rare" for korean releases to have CD+DVD probably the market scheme is different from Japan and Korea and perhaps, the korean market isn't that interested into releasing music videos.
I'm hoping that in the future, they release an SMTOWN compilation album with all the songs they sang and will be packed with a DVD with the music videos, 'cause VCD just doesn't cut through. But because this CD is based on what countires expect. It's almost 10 years now since SMTOWN first made their album.
So yeah get this CD NOW!
Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Fly To The Sky Best Album - Eternity (Overseas Version)
Fly To The Sky Best Album - Eternity (Overseas Version)
(7)Our Price: US$18.99List: US$26.99Save: US$8.00 (30%)Related promotions:February 9, 2007 Fly beyond with this version!Like all others, I only bought this version because of the bonus VCD! The music videos are a bomb though I'm not used to the older FTTS with the song "Maybe GOD Knows". Sunday (Bora) is in that music video! Ji Yeaon was in the "Good-Bye" music video as well! Some MVs of these can really potray their acting skills and some are just cool to just watch.
FINALLY we got ourselves something in which we can watch their MVs, for they've never released them before AT ALL.
*knowing that VCD quality can be weak, I was really awed by this one! I watched it on my TV and the quality was awesome!! Even watching it on PC was just fine, though the quality does not display as better as the TV. Watching it on an HD may reveal the downside but as of now, with the TV I own, it looks just fine! The only downside is that the audio quality is weaker than the audio CD, which shouldn't be.
The music CD itself is the same as the korean version and as usual, really displays what the 2 of FTTS . What's even better is that importing mp3's from this version is sooo much easier, for the korean version has this nasty copy-protection that'll drive you nuts in importing them to your PC. In terms of piracy, I can understand why the korean version had it though they are forgetting that other fans who don't support privacy will be in crisis as well, though some truly listen to CDs rather then mp3.
So the good:
This version has the bonus VCD so you can watch 9 cool music videos! The quality isn't that bad! Not only is the music CD awesome but for people who import music, this will really serve you smoothly compared to the korean version.
The bad:
Though having the MVs in a not-so-bad quality, I'm still expecting a DVD video collection in the future. The audio quality also lost bass from the original quality.
*people who don't understand chinese may be frustrated with the subtitles though I don't find it distracting personally
Basically if you've never got this CD before, GET THIS version as your first go! Only 2 dollars difference from the original version!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Boa - Key of Heart Special Edition
Boa - Key of Heart Special Edition DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$17.99List: US$25.99Save: US$8.00 (31%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:February 9, 2007 Don't overlook this one!I've always wanted to get this single since it came out but got it late. However, bringing this over with me in Florida was a bomb listening to this song while traveling!
I'm really suprised a few did not like this single - though it didn't sell as well as her previous single 「七色の明日～brand new beat～/Your Color」 in Japan, it still does not prove that this song is still really really good!
With this edition, it really benefits those who were not able to get the first press edition of this single (Japanese Release), for it already has the limited press track (Key Of Heart [English Version]) with the ROAD MOVIE on the DVD.
The English of BoA has really improved though I can still hear some mistakes in the way she pronounces a few words and there are grammar mistakes made in the lyrics. I still gurantee that you'd enjoy it however -I did not really need the booklet to understand what she was saying. That's how much her english has improved!
The 2nd track DOTCH has a bouncy beach tune feeling that'll really get you listening to it!
The only downside to this is probably that they did not include the korean version of the music video. Korean releases often don't get their MVs. You'd either have to get them through overseas version which would include VCDs of the MVs. I was really hoping they added that version though OLYMPUS owns it.
Other than that, this single is REALLY GOOD. How I wished I got this earlier but going to Disney World listening to this was really fun!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
THE GREATEST HITS (Japan Version)
THE GREATEST HITS (Japan Version)
(4)Our Price: US$28.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:August 20, 2006 Great for any sweetbox newbie"sweetbox", for the past ten years, had 2 front women as the lead vocalist and a few other for singles yet this GREATEST HITS album mainly focused on Japan's beloved Jade Villalon, the front women sweetbox today, who's joined in ever since 2000, popular for "For The Lonely", "Life Is Cool", Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Originally Tina Harris' yet now drifts on her own music career).
As a fan, after collecting all her previous albums, it is kinda disappointing to see the tracklisting for Japan's GREATEST HITS album although this album would just do for anyone who's interested in the works of sweetbox in the 10 years (5 years with Jade). I gurantee every song on this album will really touch you either sentimentally or simply something catchy to sing along with.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Summer Vacation In SMTown.com
Summer Vacation In SMTown.com
(50)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Related promotions:July 12, 2006 Dance Dance Summer Dance!It'd truly be a mistake not to buy this for your summer vacatioin. All your favourite korean artists from the '02 has songs compiled on this CD for summer season and will blast you away. I truly regret to not have bought this CD long ago when I knew about them yet never bothered the thought of buying this CD.
The song Summer Vacation will truly get you dancing or at least hyped up with the music. In this song, all the artists (DANA, Blackbeat, Shinhwa, S.E.S., FlytotheSky, BoA, Moon Hee Jun, Kangta...) brought all their ways of singing and styles with this song and truly brings a great combination. At the same time, the CD has nice songs in where other artists brings their own voices in for summer fun and memories.
What more to say? Whether this review helped or not, all I can say is that it met above my satisfactions in listening to this CD.
Gonna have a summer fun with this CD!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
Bookmark & Share