Reviews written by ~vanessa.anne~
-
Komatsu Miho 8 - a piece of cake (Japan Version)
Komatsu Miho 8 - a piece of cake (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:5 people found the following helpful
May 9, 2006 She makes it seem like "a piece of cake" to sing sWOW. Score another huge hit for Miho Komatsu! She makes every CD better and better, and I don't know how. True talent, I suppose. I never noticed it before, so I can't comment on previous albums (although I fell in love with this singer when I first bought her 6th CD "Hanano")...but she produced THIS release on her own. Amazing. She just makes singing and creating wonderful albums seem so easy and natural. I love her song selections and her talent. A few songs with English portions have some grammar or pronounciation problems, but not horribly. And there is a great mix of different types of songs...acoustic, pop, rock, ballads, up-tempo...but all done in her trademark style. Basically, this is a stellar release that I would recommend to everyone. I like the slightly synthesized sound to her vocals for something different (although she does remind me A LOT of Sayaka...which is OK, because I love them both...). She will probably release a cheaper over-seas version...but why wait? This is too good to not own NOW! Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Kaze, Hikaru (Japan Version)
Kaze, Hikaru (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:5 people found the following helpful
May 9, 2006 WOW...OK, I admit I hesitated to buy this release because I honestly didn't like "Momentum". I felt on that CD she was trying too hard to be a rock singer and her voice was trying to sing too low and too harsh. It was a bit of a mess. NOT with this release! The songs are FAR more mellow and her voice is a naturally serene soprano. This is who she truly appears to be. The songs are catchy and yet not over-done. In fact, most are acoustic in nature and very pleasant. I loved them all and each has their own charm. Since there is a HUGE value of 16 tracks on this, I will not rate or evaluate each and every one. But there are definitely some stand-out tracks on here. I highly recommend this. It's just good music. Especially if you like the sounds of American singers Jewel, Anna Nalick, Vanessa Carlton... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Jun Shibata Music Film Collection "Shibazuke" 2 (Japan Version)
Jun Shibata Music Film Collection "Shibazuke" 2 (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$34.75Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:5 people found the following helpful
May 9, 2006 What all music video releases should strive to be.THIS is perfection. In every aspect: the singing, the music, the videos, the packaging...you name it. Even the price is not bad. There is even a video selection menu (which is important to me, and I've noticed, not many DVDs seem to have them...) to let you go straight to any of the 6 gems on this DVD...or you can grab a glass of wine and just watch all 6 in absolute bliss. I've always loved this singer's voice...it's rich, but soft...mellow, but meaningful. She's a rare and true singing talent. I LOVED all 6 videos, but did have favorites. #1: extremely lovely views (mostly bridges) with vibrant colors that compliment the relaxing song. It's almost like taking a tour and at the same time getting to enjoy the voice of an angel. I rank this video an over-all 9/10. #2: amazingly creative footage, stunning music...great song with powerful and majestic vocals...catchy refrain and sung perfectly. I rank this video an over-all 10/10. #3: lovely piano, mellow and entertaining water features throughout, but this is not my favorite song. I rank this video an over-all 7/10. #4: outstanding colors, serene footage...even though it is the least imaginative video, I found the song to be poignant and touching. I rank this video an over-all 8/10. #5: totally beautiful scenery with powerful images and moving vocals. I rank this video an over-all 10/10. #6: a peaceful and angelic golden evening glow adds warmth to a dreamy and magical song and footage. This is the only track with some really weak vocal moments though. I rank this video an over-all 7/10. Still, even with some 7/10...this is a 10/10 purchase when everything is taken together as a whole. I would highly HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who enjoys the pristine sounds of Jun. It would be perfect to have playing in the background of a low-key dinner party or wine/cheese gathering. Not only is it unique and sure to be noticed, it's calm enough to not detract from other things. Really, no one could go wrong with this. I only wish there were more songs on it! I hated to see it end... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
-
Mei Kurokawa First Promotion Clips Collection - Mayfair (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
Mei Kurokawa First Promotion Clips Collection - Mayfair (Normal Edition)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$44.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:5 people found the following helpful
May 9, 2006 Dollar for Dollar (or Yen for Yen)...This is NOT a purchase to make lightly. The price is extraordinarily high for only 5 songs...and one of them is instrumental only. I only paid this much for this item because I wanted to HEAR the artist, and I cannot find anything other than her single "Namida no Umi" anywhere. Her voice is all I'd hoped...a high, clear soprano with real vitality. But the clips are just awful. I would not in good conscience be able to recommend this to ANYONE...especially at the price. The first video is pretty much her just standing around singing and progresses through what appear to be scenes from a movie she was in. The second is one I really liked: both the music and video footage are lovely. The song has some great guitar and the overall beat is catchy. The scenery is lovely and vibrant with colors. The third video is not good at all. Musically, it sounds a lot like a church hymn complete with a choir on the chorus and the footage is merely the singer standing in the dark in front of a carosel of too-bright gold lights. The fourth video is the second I liked. This mid-tempo catchy song is the best part, because she's still basically just standing. There are some nice floral special effects on this one though, and they make it an imaginative and youthful video. The fifth video is the instrumental song. LOVELY piano, but is beyong boring visually. She appears to be in some type of school uniform and just playing piano. Not at all what I had hoped. My suggestion to her fans is this: WAIT for her to release an audio CD. Not only will it be cheaper, but should have more than 4-5 songs on it. And until her videos are more stimulating and/or creative, I would just pass them by. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
5 people found the following helpful
April 30, 2006 Astonishingly WonderfulI had never heard of this artist before, but took a chance on her because I really like some other artists on the HIM label. WOW. This CD is spectacular! Not only is it packaged nicely with wonderful photos and lyric booklet...but her voice... Aki has such a pure, crystal voice that is so full of expression, you cannot help but fall in love with it. The songs themselves were mostly written and/or composed by Aki and they are fabulous! Mostly ballads, but not boring at all. Each is unique and yet flows with the rest to produce a cohesive and solidly lovely CD. My favorite tracks are 3 (excellent opening quitar that leads into almost a rock refrain), 4 (pretty much the sole up-tempo song on the CD...), 7 (a stunning piano ballad), and 10 (which showcases fabulous acoustic quitar and pristine vocals). The only tracks that weren't my favorite were 1 (a bit on the R&B side) and 8 (a bit on the extremely classical side). The rest were still very nice. I hope people will try this release. It will come as a pleasant surprise! Try Aki. That's really what I wanted to say. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
5 people found the following helpful
April 18, 2006 Always Joey...It seems that no matter many times Joey Yung "re-invents" herself either visually or musically...she is always: Joey. An extremely talented and engaging young lady who can almost do it all! This CD is no exception. My only dislike has nothing to do with the MUSIC and everything to do with the packaging. True...it's interesting and unique, but it isn't very practical. I confess I do LOVE that the song titles are written in both English and Chinese...making it nice for those of us who do not speak the language (but enjoy HEARING it). And I must say this too: thank GOD there are no "interludes" on this release. I really prefer all music without the interruption of the numerous interludes on both "Give Love a Break" and "Bi-Heart". Hopefully, Joey will stick to all music...at least, that is my preference. As to her vocals...they remain top-notch for me on this CD. If anything, her voice is stronger and more confident than ever! Songs I LOVED: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10. Songs I thought were OK, but lacking a special "something": 1, 5, and 8. Song that I found just weird (it sounded like theme park music one would hear at Busch Gardens...) and did NOT like at all was track 3. Overall, I think this contains some typical Joey-esque ballads as well as some new twists. I would have LOVED a DVD along with this, but Joey seems to consistantly release compilation music video DVDs, so I can wait for that, I suppose. Honestly, this is a nice release from Joey and I don't think it's TOO different to totally change her fan base...just different enough in some places to show some experimentation and interesting surprises. Not necessarily a bad thing, in my thoughts! Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Without You (Limited Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
5 people found the following helpful
April 18, 2006 Don't be WITHOUT "Without You"...This was an extremely pleasant surprise for me, as I wasn't "wowed" by Karen's former music releases. But this is really excellent. The music is lush...which goes perfectly with Karen's rich and powerful voice. The only track I didn't find exceptionally pleasing was the first (it's a bit on the hip-hop side of pop...). This CD contains some stunning ballads and really showcases Karen's vocals while maintaining a cohesive release of superb music! As for the covers someone else mentioned...I (and loads of people I know...) have indeed heard of all three singers and own their CDs too. Karen does in fact give credit to these original artists in the credit listings on this CD. She credits track 4 to Jem as "24", track 5 to Rachel Yamagata as "Be Your Love" and track 6 to Maria Mena as "Just a Little Bit". I think that is about as fair as it is possible for her to be, really. Lots of people cover songs, and credit was given. Actually, even though I do own the CDs all these covers came from by the various English artists...I personally prefer Karen's version(s). But, that's just me. I find this whole CD to be absolutely delightful and think it would please almost anyone! Truly, it's a wonderful music experience from Karen Mok and one that should be heard...especially if anyone had doubts about her in the past as a singer. This CD totally shows what Karen can do vocally, and the music is masterfully performed. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Jasmine Leong - Silk Road - Path to Love MV/Karaoke (DVD)
Jasmine Leong - Silk Road - Path to Love MV/Karaoke (DVD) DVD Region All
(2)Our Price: US$20.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:7 people found the following helpful
April 7, 2006 Spectacular DVD...I am so extremely pleased with this DVD! Unlike so many other DVDs that make you watch the karaoke lyrics on the screen...this DVD gives the viewer the option to watch all 10 music videos as karaoke OR music videos ONLY. For someone like me who only wants the music videos...this is perfect. Why don't more singers provide this option in their DVDs? For example, I love Penny Tai and both of her DVDs, but there is simply no way to watch only the music videos without the huge lyrics lighting up as she sings. Anyway, this is gorgeous...typically beautiful Jasmine songs and excellent filming. The colors in the very first video are breath-taking and just visually stunning. I also like that there is NO COMMENTARY. On the DVD version (only 5 songs) that came in her CD release, each music video is started with commentary. It's very distracting and totally disrupts the flow of the music and videos. I was dissapointed with THAT DVD and wish I had simply waited for this full-length (all 10 tracks) to be released. This one is all music and all videos. If you love Jasmine...you must own this. There is nothing about it with which one can complain! I love it, and I know I will watch it/play it often because it's such superb quality. And again, it's WONDERFUL to have the ability to choose karaoke version or music video only version. PLEASE: more singers...do that! Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
ROSE ALBUM (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
ROSE ALBUM (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:5 people found the following helpful
April 1, 2006 Depends on your perspective...#1...I adore Rie Fu. #2...I rate this a solid 10-out-10 stars. With those disclaimers, I will begin with my criticisms: While I find Rie Fu refreshing in the Japanese music market and her English flawless (with a few grammar problems...), I honestly think she went a bit too far with the English content on this release. Part of what made her a stand-out in both Japan and America was her seamless blend of Japanese and English songs and even languages within songs. But now that this new CD is basically 90% English, she's still unique in the Japanese market, but no longer in the American market. She sounds great, but her style is basically that of many other well-known English singers like Lisa Loeb, Alanis Morrisette, the Sundays, the Cranberries and Vanessa Carlton. I am sad that part of what made her special seems to be lacking from this release. BUT: on to the praise. I find her vocals to be MUCH stronger on this CD and she seems to really be involved in her music more (writting most of the songs herself). I enjoy the style, but then I also enjoy the singers listed above too. Here's my break-down assessment of content: Track 1...50% English and truly an excellent and amazing way to begin the CD. A favorite. Track 2...100% English and my least favorite because there are some strange arrangements on this song and odd beats. Track 3...100% English and more odd beats with a melody that never seems to catch up to any pattern or flow. Track 4...75% English and it's OK with a lot of strings and a melodic sound. Track 5...100% English and yet, my favorite of the entire release. It's excellence completely and has a phenomenal rythmn and tone. Track 6...90% English and it's nice in that it is extremely catchy. Reminds me most of any track of Lisa Loeb's style. Track 7...100% English and great in it's lush and awesome musical arrangement. Totally catchy and memorable. Track 8...90% English and nicely hypnotic. Reminds me of earlier works by the Cranberries. Track 9...100% English but great as a major rock track with some of the most powerful vocals yet. This song totally reminds me of Vanessa Carlton's heavier tracks. Track 10...95% English and nice with lots of ecclectic piano. Track 11...50% English and I vote it most uniquely Rie Fu with awesome drums and meticulous guitar work. Track 12...90% English and it's nice in it's melody and almost trance-like ethereal sound that reminds me of some of the Sunday's earlier works and tunes. Track 13...100% Japanese FINALLY. Yet oddly, this song is a bit dull and boring. It is relatively lifeless after the passions of the rest of the disk. All in all, I still adore Rie Fu and will no doubt play this CD quite often. But my advice to her would be to keep the ratio of Japanese-to-English closer to 50%. This CD, unfortunately for American listeners isn't much different from what we hear on the radio every day. Even my husband says he thinks this CD sounds like a mellower Alanis Morrisette vocal with Lisa Loeb-style lyrics. And all the piano and guitar is extremely similiar to both Vanessa Carlton and the Sundays. It's still a wonderful CD and I recommend it to everyone. But, expect a mostly English release and if you are an American, don't look for that distinctive Rie Fu blend of Japanese with English that her debut CD contained. Hopefully, her next CD will contain more Japanese... In the meantime, she's a brilliant songwriter and a talented lady. I think she just needs to pick a course (singing in Japanese, English or both) and stick with it, rather than changing so drastically. Her charm for me (other than the fact that I do greatly adore her music...) was the blending. This almost all English release to me is more of my usual style...and I can buy that here in the United States. Still, for Rie Fu fans...you will love her less-than-typical lyrics and her lovely voice. She's a talent regardless. And I am not bashing her for the English content...if that is what she wants to do, great. But it would be nice to know what to expect. And with Rie Fu, I think she has proven that can be anybody's guess. I wish her the best and continue to be a fan. Still, as my title says: your ultimate enjoyment of this CD will depend on your perspective. If you don't generally listen to this type of music you will be blown away. If you are a fan of Vanessa Carlton, Anna Nalick, Lisa Loeb or Sara Groves...well, honestly, this is more of the same. A nice addition to any collection though. Just put it in the "English" section and enjoy her delights! Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Yanzi Live Concert in Hong Kong 2005 (2DVD)
Yanzi Live Concert in Hong Kong 2005 (2DVD) DVD Region All
(2)Our Price: US$25.49Related promotions:5 people found the following helpful
March 14, 2006 FABULOUS...I am a HUGE Stefanie fan, but I'm not such a fan of live or concert DVDs. So, for me...this purchase was primarily to acquire the DVD of her 15 music videos. And I was blown away. What a delightful collection from her through all her career! I think the song on the music video DVD that really amazed me most was her version (cover) of "Silent All These Years". I think she actually sang it better than the original artist (Tori Amos...who I also enjoy). She hit higher notes at the end of the song that REALLY show an unparalled talent. I was totally intriqued with her song from her "...To Be Continued" CD. The fusion of Chinese pop, and Indian traditional music was marvelous and I don't know that anyone else could have made that song work OR made the video so fascinating. The only less-than-ideal video for me was "The Moment". It wasn't very entertaining and Stefanie looked FAR too thin in the video...maybe it was what she was wearing or the stark background, I don't know. I enjoy the SONG of "The Moment", but I always skip the video. Still, I wish more artists would release compilations of their videos that are NOT always karaoke (the big lyrics on the screen are distracting to those of us who are watching for music video content and not to sing karaoke...I prefer the small subtitles on the music videos instead). I personally think this collection is a treasure and a must-have for any Stefanie fan. Even if you have some of her VCDs from earlier CD editions...this is perfect because all the best are in one place: one long 15-video compilation. The concert was nice and enjoyable...Stefanie is always a pleaser. But it's the videos that will have you delighted with the purchase. Oh, and I have to agree a little with the other reviewer who mentioned varying quality of this item. On my American (Emerson brand) DVD player after about 2 songs the words were not matching up with her mouth. It was very distracting to watch her mouth move and then hear the words a few seconds later. BUT...once I invested in the GEIC brand DVD player (available here at YesAsia for a wonderful price) and played the DVD in that player, I no longer experienced the time-lag in her DVD. So, maybe there is just some difference in players and it's not necessarily anything lacking in the production of the actual DVD. Overall, I would say if you love Stefanie Sun...this is a MUST BUY for your collection. And the price is right. So why wait? Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Aurora (CD+DVD) (Taiwan Special Version)
Aurora (CD+DVD) (Taiwan Special Version) DVD Region All
(11)Our Price: US$15.99Related promotions:3 people found the following helpful
March 14, 2006 It really will grow on you...I admit it took me awhile to write a review about this CD+DVD. For some reason, this release didn't really please me until after I had played it more often. I think it's for the simple reason that I just neglected the item after I bought it and then only began frequently playing the DVD recently (which incidently...I prefer the DVD to the CD) and viewing it reminded me how nice Angela's voice really is. And other than the awful rapping on the last track (at least I think it is awful...I just don't care for rap...) of the CD, this release is wonderful. It's mature and the melodies are lovely. I'm not sure which songs are my favorites, but I am coming to like "Mama Mama" more and more because it's so catchy. I think Angela is lovely in her videos and unlike some artists who just tack on a DVD to have it there...Angela seems to put a lot of thought and effort into her videos. I hope one day she releases an all-video collection, because they really are stunning and also powerful at communicating the emotions contained in each song. On this DVD, I think Angela definitely picked 5 of her best songs on the CD (and I am glad the rap track is not on it). So, I'm sorry to see this version of "Aurora" is out-of-stock at the moment here at the website. It's really something I think most people would enjoy. I also recommend playing it more than I did initially, because I think I missed out. Now that I have found how much I do like "Aurora"...Angela has already released another CD! Oh well, better late than never. And this particular release of Angela will never go out of style. It's not trendy, yet it's got style. Very timeless and well-done. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
jewel -The Best Video Collection- (Japan Version)
jewel -The Best Video Collection- (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(2)Our Price: US$47.25Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:2 people found the following helpful
March 14, 2006 Not quite what I expected...First: I am a HUGE Kokia fan. Second: I think she is immensely talented. However, after making those statements, I admit this DVD was a bit of a dissapointment for me. For one thing, my favorite Kokia CD is "Uta ga Chikara" and this DVD features only 2 songs from that release while focusing more on her earlier works. For another thing, I found several of the videos to be B-O-R-I-N-G (for example, the ~since 1976~ video) and/or very childishly done (for example, the So Much Love For You video). And while the new single Dandelion shows the immense power in Kokia's vocals (it's mostly accapella)...the video itself is a yawner. It's just Kokia standing basically still with one background artist shaking music-makers or hitting a drum. Very lifeless and not up to the potential of the song. I really did like Time To Say Goodbye, and it shows Kokia is not only an amazing singer, but a gifted pianist also. Half of the time she is singing and playing with her eyes closed and still hitting the right notes with her voice and her hands. THAT is ABILITY and admirable. Anyway, for a true fan like me this is a must-have...but for someone looking for artistic videos and vibrant footage, well, I don't think this is it. I really do wish there more songs on the DVD...especially maybe ~a brand new season~ and Give and Take from "Uta ga Chikara". Hopefully, Kokia will get more inventive with her next videos and really show more personality and diversity in her filming. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Dolls (Japan Version)
Dolls (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(2)Our Price: US$33.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:2 people found the following helpful
March 14, 2006 Beatufilly done...Sayaka is lovely, her voice is lovely and her videos are lovely. I have to AGREE with one other reviewer who feels the price is a bit high for only 5 "true" videos, but in the same breath, I have to DISAGREE that there are no "behind the scenes". There are in fact "behind the scenes" footage for every single song featured. And actually, that is worse to me than the price. I enjoy watching the videos in one session without having them broken up with photo shoots and dialogue. Also, a downside is that during all the "behind the scenes" footage, the related song is playing (lyrics and all) in the background. So, then when the "real" video plays, you end up hearing the same song twice back-to-back. It gets a little annoying. I would have preferred Sayaka to put all her videos into one clump and all the "extra" footage at the end into one clump...then I could watch the videos and turn it off before it got to all the extraneous footage. Oh, I do think if Sayaka was only going to put 5 of her fabulous songs onto this video DVD...she did an excellent job of choosing songs. These are the most diverse and in my opinion, the best songs on her corresponding CD "Doll". All in all, this is a very vibrant DVD and the videos are just gorgeous and NEVER boring. There is also a main menu, which is nice so you can go directly to whichever song you want (but you still have to either watch or fast-forward through the "behind the scenes" footage for each video) as opposed to having to fast-forward through the entire CD to get to a song further down the playlist. I recommend this, but as I mentioned...it's a bit much with the doubling of the songs. I think if Sayaka wanted to feature extra footage before each video, maybe she should have made the background music instrumental so that viewers don't hear the song as it plays over her photo shoots and dialogue...then again in the actual video. Still...if you are a Sayaka fan like I am...this is an excellent addition to any collection. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Words Of Wind
3 people found the following helpful
March 14, 2006 Lovely...I noticed when I went to purchase the newest release by this artist that my review for this CD was not posted here. I don't really know why... Anyway, this is a great singer and her voice is divine. Her style is sweet, but not overly so. She doesn't have a very powerful voice, but it is controlled and quite pleasant. I'm delighted she has a new CD coming out (even though the new one only has 8 songs and two Kala versions= 10) because I think she's under-rated and unknown, which is a shame. If you like the soft sounds of Vicki Zhao, Tanya Chua, or Melody Chiang...you will most likely like this artist as well. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
4 people found the following helpful
March 10, 2006 WOW!What a wonderful collection. Every song on here is fabulous and definitely 12 of their best from the years 2001-2006. The video clarity is amazing and the colors are stunning. Each video is distinctive and yet, when watched for the whole duration (about an hour)...form a cohesive sense of who Core of Soul is. I must add that one PLUS not mentioned here at the website is that this DVD of superb videos is NOT Region 2. It is actually an all-region NTSC DVD. So, for those North American fans of this fantastic band...do NOT let the region code prevent you from buying this. It does play perfectly on a standard American Region 1/all DVD player. The only MINUS of this DVD is that there is no main menu. Once the DVD is inserted, it begins playing the videos immediately. So, if you wish to hear a song that is near the end of the track list...you cannot simply select that song and push play. You must fast-forward through all the other songs. But that is minor compared with the quality of filming and superior song choices that were made for this collection. I highly recommend this to ANY Core of Soul fan or even any J-Rock fan, for that matter. It's a wonderful item. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Realize (ALBUM+DVD)(Japan Version)
Realize (ALBUM+DVD)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$24.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:3 people found the following helpful
March 7, 2006 REALIZE...you must own this...WOW. I'm not sure if this singer is someone who has branched off onto a solo career from a former band, or just a debut singer...but she is phenomenal! And you can't beat the price. I've seen singles with only 2 or 3 tracks and a DVD with 1 video sell for this cost. But this CD is packed with 8 SOLID rock songs and the DVD has far more content than is described here at the website. It contains 1 filmed video, 3 live stage performances, a television promo spot/interview with the artist and a photo gallery. True, the album may not be "full-length"...but on many so-called "full-length" CDs there are songs that are simple filler material and often get skipped at playback anyway. Not so on THIS release. All 8 tracks are perfectly played and perfectly sung. Each is an independent gem that taken as a whole forms a cohesive and well-thought-out CD. I love the rich, powerful rock feel of the music and the talented lush, pristine vocals of the singer. Even the lyric booklet contains stunning photos of the artist. If you like U-Ka Saegusa, Okui Masami, Core of Soul or Kotoko...you will find this an absolute delight. It's something different and very unique. I can hope we will see more by this artist in the future! She has amazing ability. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
from me to you (Japan Version)
from me to you (Japan Version)
(6)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:10 people found the following helpful
February 28, 2006 Phenomenal...I bought this CD based on some reviews here of her singles which described Yui as almost a Japanese Michele Branch. And while I am FAR from dissapointed with this purchase based on that comparision, she reminds me more of a contemporary Japanese singer Ai Takaoka (although Yui's voice is a bit higher). I love the slight rock edge to her mostly acoustic songs...and I also love her versatile vocals. There is not one note on this CD that I would change in any way. It's absolutely perfect...and it has 13 full-length tracks to enjoy instead of a more usual 10 track release. I'd say if you enjoy a change from the mundane, give Yui a go. She's a fabulous singer and very earthy in style. If you like Nakanomori Band, Ai Takaoka or even Yunna...you really should invest in Yui. This is a masterpiece of song selection and amazing vocals. It's almost even hard for me to describe this release, because merely saying she is acoustic-style guitar rock doesn't do the other subtleties of her music justice. Just buy it and see for yourself... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
5 people found the following helpful
February 28, 2006 Really, really nice...This is not only a lovely lady, but a lovely lady with a unique style and infectiously sweet (but talented) voice. While I think I do like her newer "I'm Xiao Xiao" a bit better (I went back and purchased this item based on my admiration for the other item)...this is still an excellent choice for those who like a Lisa Loeb type of sound. Mostly an acoustic feel with lots of piano and an undefinable quality about her song intrepretations make this a sincerely cohesive release (with the exception of track #2 which begins with some man kind of grunting in the background and a slight switch in musical flavour to a trendier sound...). I haven't watched the VCD yet, and confess prematurely I am a bit disssapointed that the only track (#2 on the audio CD) I dislike is on the VCD twice. So, for me, that reduces the number of MVs from 5 to 3 or 4. But this is still a great release. It's very ethereal without being boring. And like American singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb (to whom I would compare Xiao Xiao)...she has a knack for interestingly unusual lyrics and a change from the expected both musically and lyrically. I'd say give Xiao Xiao a go. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
7 people found the following helpful
February 28, 2006 The "Gold Standard" for 2006...I have to admit, I've never been a real fan of A-Mei because of her past trends in music to be mostly electronica-dance or R&B flavour. Yet, despite the style itself not being to my liking...I've admired her voice through the years. So, when I read here that this CD was a more acoustic, simple style...I had to buy it. And by doing so I received the best of both worlds: A-Mei's powerful and versatile voice with mostly acoustic guitar and drum-driven music. This is almost nothing of the A-Mei gone before. A grittier image in her photos reveals her transformation. With the exceptions of track #6 which is very much typical A-Mei electronica-dance flavour and track #7 which is again very much typical A-Mei R&B feeling...the rest of the CD is seamless and uniformly refined in a whole new style unto itself. Most tracks are simply done musically, but the ability in A-Mei's voice and her heart-felt interpretation of each song makes them rich and lush in a wonderfully approachable way. My favorite tracks are #1 (because it shows a totally new side of A-Mei and sets the tone of a beautifully meaningful CD) and #4 (because it is the first catchy, up-tempo track on this release that shows A-Mei can do fast songs without having to turn them into electronica-dance or R&B in nature...just basic, pure, refreshing pop). I'm sure A-Mei included tracks #6 and #7 to appease her old fans...but old or new fans will appreciate this down-to-earth and more earthy A-Mei. I usually like to offer comparisions in a review...but with A-Mei there simply IS no comparision: Old style or new style, she remains, as always the top-notch A-MEI CHANG. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Tian Zhen - 38.5 Degrees (CD+DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Tian Zhen - 38.5 Degrees (CD+DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(3)Our Price: US$14.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:3 people found the following helpful
February 15, 2006 Something very, very...This CD is hard to describe. It's very dark...almost gothic in feeling. Her sound is like nothing I have heard ever. Not exactly something I will play frequently, but I give her a 10 anyway because she is immensely talented and has one seriously powerful voice. The videos are interesting and a little disturbing to those of us who do not speak the language...we have to guess what is being depicted. And there is a lot of blood and abuse in the videos...some veiled sexuality too (in cartoon format) with a woman removing her thong underwear before pulling the man into bed. Again, I'm not very certain what she is trying to say...but, it is definitely off the beaten path of mainstream Chinese pop or even Chinese rock music. I couldn't even try to compare her to anyone because she is just so much herself. Still, being different is not all bad...she stands out, that's for sure. And she is very gifted vocally and is also attractive. Just know that if you buy this, you will be getting something incredibly distinctive in nature. Absolutely not standard style or material. She sets herself apart and it works for her, even if it isn't my normal listening type. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
Bookmark & Share