Reviews written by Andrew Martinez
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PORTABLE DISCO (Japan Version)
PORTABLE DISCO (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$28.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
December 9, 2005 Simply AmazingI have been incredibly excited about this album ever since I found out it was being put together. Ram Rider had a song on the Best of Rhythmzone album, called Music, and his unique mixture oof pop, revival, and house beats immediately caught my attention. If I had to compare him to another popular artist, the only one I can come up with is possibly Daft Punk. But even then, that's just to have someone to compare him to. His sound is so amazingly unique that you need to hear it, plain and simple. This album ended up being just amazing as I was hoping it would be, and I feel incredibly satisfied with this album. It's probably one of my proudest purchases to date. Every single track gets you moving, and there's just a completely innocent, childlike sense of fun and carelessness that permeates all of the tracks. It really is addictive and you can easily find yourself getting lost in the music. Another unique characteristic of his tracks is that he really likes to mess with his voice and make into a vox. There are multiple tracks on this album where all of the lyrics are provided by vox, even though, at their heart, these tracks really are all pop. It makes for an interesting combination and helps blur the limits of his genre. This album is definately one you listen to for the experience and the journey that it will take you on. Favorites on here were Bedroom Disco, Sun Ligths Stars, Hello, Sweet Dance, Door, Music, and Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black. That last track is a duet with Midori, and is the only track on the album that goes more towards vocal trance, and really is a pretty song. I was extremely happy this track was included, especially as it shows even more how diverse Ram Rider can be. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
GLAMOROUS SKY - NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA (Japan Version)
GLAMOROUS SKY - NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA (Japan Version)
(4)Our Price: US$21.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:December 9, 2005 A fresh sound that perfectly fitsThis is Mika's latest offering, and is a mini album in a rock style, something she hasn't really done too much of before. After hearing this album, I feel her voice really is a natural for this type of music. It's just smoky enough to carry the deeper emotion of the lyrics and melodies of rock music (as opposed to pop), but her absolute control of her vocals and her smoothness makes it absolutely beautiful at the same time. This mini album only has 4 tracks on it (not including the instrumentals), but I believe it's totally worth grabbing this album, as all of the songs are excellent. When I was first listening to this album, I didn't really like the track My Medicine too much, but then as I continued to listen, this track became my favorite. The feel of the song is just awesome, but that's true of all the songs on this album. What really makes this one special is the melody which Mika follows, especially in the chorus of this song, where she carries the tune from some pretty high notes right back to the smoky soud that carries the rest of the song. I was a little put off by the fact that it's completely in English, and English isn't really Mika's strongest ability, but I eventually got over it, and ended up loving the song. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
WHEN POP HITS THE LAB (Japan Version)
WHEN POP HITS THE LAB (Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$29.75Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:December 9, 2005 More than just another remix albumThis is the "remix" album version of When Pop Hits The Fan, but really, the production quality, and the approach that seems to have been taken to the songs makes it more than just a side project like most remix albums. Really, this is better thought of as the alternate version of the original. As oppopsed to the hip-hop and R&B rhythms of the first album, this one features versions that are more along the lines of house, drums n' bass, and other more techno sounds. Just like the original album, this one has some big names, too, like Wall5, Ajapai, Kaori, and even Malawai Rocks and GTS. Having said all that, there were only a few tracks that really felt truly "inspired" to me. (When they did feel that way, though, they turned out to be awesome). But some of them could have used a little bit more mixing up from the original versions in my opinion. Also, I kind of felt that this album was missing one style that could have given it a little more variety. I would have been very happy if it had added one or two tracks in a vocal trance style; it would have rounded it out pretty nicely. However, all in all, this album still remains an exellent album with some absolutely stellar tracks. Coincidentally, favorites on this one are What's On Your Mind -Wall5 Remix-, We Got Time -DJ Ajapai Remix-, What If -Ram Jam World Remix-, Uh Uh,,,,,,,-Remix feat. Bigzam and PH-, and Just Say So-Groove That Soul Mix-.
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WHEN POP HITS THE FAN (Japan Version)
WHEN POP HITS THE FAN (Japan Version)
(13)Our Price: US$37.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:December 9, 2005 Great Music To Get You MovingFor those who were wondering, Suite Chic is basically Namie Amuro, but working in collaboration with some pretty big names as far as the producers of the tracks go (think Verbal, Daisuke Imai, Firstklas). This album is then, of course, pretty hip-hop and R&B heavy, but it's not overpowering, really. Remember, that Namie is still a pop singer, so she brings the pop feel to the songs through her vocals. In general, I'd say this album is more like her Style album than Queen of Hip-Pop, and almost felt like it would have been succesful if it were marketed as the follow-up to Style. As I listened to the album, there were a few tracks that seemed to run together, not because of their melodies, but because their rhythms and tempos were a bit similar. But there were enough tracks on this album that were able to mix things up and really keep you interested the whole time. There is no question about one thing with this album, though. Every track is completely danceable, and the chorus for most of the songs will end up getting stuck in your head. Best example of this on this CD is Uh Uh,,,,,, featuring AI. They came up with a great chorus for this track, and weren't afraid to keep using it in the song. And I'm glad they did. It's so catchy that by the end of the song, you'll be singing "how do you like it, baby, shake it fast, shake it slow" and not even realize it. Favorites on this album were Baby Be Mine, Damn Fight, What If, Uh Uh,,,,,, Ain't Yours, and Just Say So. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
True (Japan Version)
1 people found the following helpful
December 9, 2005 Highly Enjoyable, Pure VocalsThis is Mika's very first album, and shows just how strong of a start she had. Even on her very first album, she has exceptional control of her voice, and is just able to let out some very beautiful melodies. I felt that this CD and Music were fairly similar in their styles, whereas Love presented sort of a step back into something a little funkier and a little less straight-up pop. Although there are no artists credited as being featured, there a coupel of tracks which feature some background rapping/singin by other performers, which I believe is unique as far as Mika's music goes. One thing that's pretty amazing about Mika is how her music can start off with one sound, and yet, as soon as she joins in, she makes it into her own sound. This definately shows through in this album, especially on songs like One Survive (which is a really fun song to listen to) and Crescent Moon, a track with a hint of a house beat weaving in and out of the background. Some of my favorites on this album were One Survive, Destiny's Lotus, True Eyes, and Crescent Moon. Mika's voice is just so amazing and I believe this album is the best one of hers if you jsut want the raw sound of her voice and not get distracted too much by the instrumentals or the "feel" of the music. You have to enjoy this album for Mika and Mika alone. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
GRATITUDE (CD + bonus CD)(Japan Version)
GRATITUDE (CD + bonus CD)(Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$36.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:December 9, 2005 A Great Fololow-UpThis album is a great follow-up to Juicy Music. I liked Juicky Music, Lisa's first full album after she split from M-Flo, a little bit more, but this one was still pretty awesome. Lisa showed a lot of different styles on this album just as she did on Juicy Music. Even on the very first track, she starts to meld reggae with pop, and by the end of the album does a tribute to good old Merengue. These tracks where she was exploring styles other than pop are some of the better tracks on this album. One style that I really liked is her ska style on Peace In Love, which is something she explored on Juicy Music, and I'm glad she came back to. The track Eien is a really moving ballad that really reminds me of the style of Mellisa Etheridge, but with Lisa's smoother voice. And, of course, there's the track Switch, featuring Koda Kumi and Heartsdales. I've loved this track since I heard it on the Best of Rhythmzone CD; if you haven't heard it yet, you really should try to get your hands on it. It's not only packed with star-power, but it's an overall great song, with a powerful beat and melody that will have you boppin'. What makes this album even greater is the bonus disc, which is in no way just an afterthought. The songs on it are awesome, especially the covers. My favorite here had to be the cover of Lucky Star, featuring GTS. She's breathed a new life into some pretty classic songs, even managing to work her reggae into one of them again. Of course, the two original tracks are just as good as any of the tracks on the main album. In all, I've really loved this album, both just for sitting back and enjoying, and also for rockin' out and boppin' when I want to really get into the music. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
PARTY PEOPLE (Japan Version)
PARTY PEOPLE (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$32.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 One of 2005's BEST!!!!Ok, I was EXTREMELY excited about this one, as I had read that it was an 80s revival album, and it most certainly is. And not only that, but it is an EXCELLENT album. I was not disappointed with this one in any way, and really do love every single track on this album. Plus, I managed to get a first pressing edition, which comes as a tall book/jacket, in a sleeve. Inside the lyrics fold out, with pictures of Nomiya on the opposite side, and this fold-out booklet holds the CD down. Its a very creative packaging with lots of great images. If you get this album, try as hard as you can to get this edition. Anyway, this album, is excellent, and has lots of great energy. There are a couple songs where I felt like Nomiya could have been a little stronger with her voice, but then on the track Question Girl, she totally nailed it. Her voice is just as devious and smoky as it needs to be for this song. This album is one of the best ones Ive bought in a long time. Plus, you might think that having a megamix as the final track is a little questionable, but I find it really awesome to listen to after I hear all the songs individually. Finally, her version of Not Gonna Get Us is 10000000000xs better than T.A.T.U.s (who I actually like too). Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
DOPE SPACE NINE (Japan Version)
DOPE SPACE NINE (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$33.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
November 7, 2005 Some hits... some missesOk, I have to admit, I was worried about this one. With the exception of a few tracks, I really couldnt identify any songs I was excited about before getting this album, and had trouble envisioning how the songs on Beat Space Nine could even be remixed. (Well, I guess anything can be remixed, but the question was whether it could be remixed well). When I got the album, though, I was pretty pleasantly surprised. Again, not as good as Gran Sonik or Astromantic Charm School, but still pretty good. I was very sad to see the story tracks not be included on this album. What happened there? Anyway, most of the tracks are mellower versions of the originals, and are geared more towards hip-hop and similar styles such as reggae than their original counterparts. Pretty much, the songs that I expected to be favorites became that- Shinichi Osawas (Mondo Grosso) remix of Tripod baby has a great electronica, almost video game feel, Kevin Blechdoms version of Taste Your Stuff has really great energy, and the Crazy Ken band-Annex remix of Hey!, while not nearly as good as the original, was still pretty fun to listen to. Surprises were the Clazziquai Project remix of So Exclusive, especially since it has additional vocals by Sowelu, and the Sugiurumn remix of Cozmo-Naughty, another track with great energy and a little bit of a trancey feel, which is a good break for this album. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
SUGAR SHINE (Japan Version)
SUGAR SHINE (Japan Version)
(5)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 Heartsdales' BestAgain, I have to ask, what happened? While I actually do love Superstar, and pretty much have since the first time I listened to it, this ones a lot better. So much more variety is presented in this album, and I almost feel like the rapping in this one was more creative and original than in Superstar. If youve heard any of Heartsdales music, and have liked it at all, I would definitely suggest that you get this album, especially before you buy Superstar. Some favorites on it were Candy Pop, Rainy Days, Summer Time Blues, Block Shot Hustlaz, Wet N Wild, and Woman.. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Fantastic Plastic Machine - Luxury (Korean Version)
Fantastic Plastic Machine - Luxury (Korean Version)
(1)Our Price: US$15.99List: US$22.99Save: US$7.00 (30%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 Lots od fun with this oneFor a club-inspired album, this one had a lot more of an older (60s-70s) influence than I was really expecting, but that aspect of it really was refreshing. This whole album really is a bundle of fun. Many of the tracks are almost a tongue-in-cheek presentation of their themes, especially with the bounciness inherent in them. One neat thing about this album are the shorter tracks between the main ones which tie them together, and in some cases were some of the better tracks on the album overall. I guess if I had to describe it in a few words, its lounge with a good dose of bop added in. Very enjoyable. Favorites were Electric Lady land, You Must Learn All Night Long, Satellite Beats, and MPF.
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The Replacement Percussionists
The Replacement Percussionists
(8)Our Price: US$25.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 Not entirely impressedEh I was kind of disappointed with this one, which is sad, as I loved Gran Sonik and Astromantic Charm School so much. I think its how the remixes concentrated more on the beat, and less on the melodies and lyrics. Which is a shame, because the songs remixed on this album really were some of M-Flos most creative and unique. Im sure its mostly just due to the choice of remixers, though. Still, in spite of my misgivings as to the approach most of them seemed to take to the music, I still had a few tracks I liked a lot. I enjoyed the remixes of Come Back To Me (nice almost vocal trance feel), Ten Below Blazing (pretty danceable, in fact), and Chronopsychology. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
/05 (Japan Version)
November 7, 2005 Take the time to enjoy itOk, I was surprised by this one after having listened to Chasm. I was expecting another album like that one, being along the lines of experimental/lounge music. Instead, this album is really a collection of piano solos, most of which were featured in Japanese movies. So, I kind of had to take a step back from my preconceptions in reviewing this one. Once I did that, I can see that this album really is great for when I really want to just chill relax. I know TK (from Globe) is regarded as being exceptional in his arrangements and technical skill (and I agree), but I think Sakamoto really should be regarded AT LEAST as highly. Some of the tracks really are expressive, which is awesome, given how theyre really all piano solos. I really dont have any favorites as I kind of just got lost in the flow of this album. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Remix 2000 Little Tokyo
Remix 2000 Little Tokyo
(2)Our Price: US$34.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 DO NOT miss out on this one!Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Although the list of tracks is kind of short, given that this album is supposed to cover remixes for her first two albums, and the mini-album The Glory Day, theyre all of really high quality. As should be expected given the year this one was released, all of the tracks are centered around a club/house feel. Also, the fact that the second disc is just three tracks shouldnt be looked down on; all three tracks are 10+ minutes and are quite possibly the best remixes of the set. Especially the remix of Never Gonna Cry!. This one kept me up until 2:30 in the morning one night, while I had it on repeat. I still cant get enough of that track, its just that awesome. Favorites on this one included the remix of Sweet Pain, Melody, and Unforgettable Days (Wasurenai Hibi). Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Blast My Desire (Japan Version)
Blast My Desire (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$18.75Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 Very Good... I Just Wanted MoreOk, granted, I knew about this before I even bought the single, but my biggest gripe about this one is that the original versions of the songs on this single are not different from their album versions at all. Having slightly extended/altered version like on the Come Together single would have made this single a million times better and worth it to me. Having said that, however, I did like the remixes, especially the Blaze Up The Soul Mix by Motsu. It had a really cool feel to it, being a nice balance between original and mix. I also did enjoy the instrumental versions A LOT on this one. There are a lot of little intricacies I didn't notice before because of the vocals, especially on Deep Calm. So, overall, it's a pretty good single, but it could have been made a little better. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
grow into one (Japan Version)
grow into one (Japan Version)
(32)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
November 7, 2005 KK at her bestOk, I have to ask, what happened between this album and Feel My Mind. I've grown to like Feel My Mind over time, but this album was immediately much better. If you're not already aware, this album is the one with the Final Fantasy X2 theme song, Real Emotion (the one Yuna sings in the opening). And yes, that song is very awesome. There were a lot of little surprises on this album, like the song One, which was written and is performed with Lisa. It kind of reminds me of The Shwing from Lisa's first album, Juicy Music, but with Koda in it, it has more of a pop song that balances it out pretty well. Even the very first track, teaser, really grabbed me as soon as I heard it the first time. Favorites on this one, which really are hard to pick because there are so many good songs, are Real Emotion, One, Ranhansha, One Night Romance, and S.O.S. (see, I told ya they were hard to pick =P). Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Mother Father Brother Sister (Japan Version)
Mother Father Brother Sister (Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$35.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 7, 2005 Misia... great as alwaysYes, hard to believe, but I still had some Misia music to buy. In fact, there are two reviews for her in this post. Anyway, this is her very first album, from all the way back in 1998 (man, I was still in High School!!!). Anyway, Misia's talent really was very evident even all the way back then. If you're used to her voice as of recently, though, some of the songs on this album will surprise you as she sometimes sounds kind of squeaky. But, as always, she's able to pull off any kind of sound with unmatched talent and skill. All in all, though, her style even back then was very heavy on the soul and a little bit of R&B. Really, what this album proves is how she's ALWAYS been one of the best raw talents in Jpop. Favorites on this album were K.I.T, Tell Me, Cry, and Never Gonna Cry!. This last one also has a "hidden track" which turns out to be a shortened version of an EXCELLENT remix on the Remix 2000: Little Tokyo album. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
BEAT SPACE NINE (Japan Version)
BEAT SPACE NINE (Japan Version)
(8)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
August 30, 2005 M-Flo Still GreatI had to listen to this one a few times to get used to it. But that's mostly because I was expecting another Astromantic, in terms of style and level of excitement. As far as quality, this album is just as good as Astromantic. If you like R&B, rap, soul, and/or jazz, you will love this album, just as you would any other M-Flo album. Again, a lot of the tracks on this one are very, very original, they're just slightly more on the soul and jazz side than Astromantic was. Plus, Yoshika and Emlyi are featured in a lot of the songs on this album, so there's a little less variety than before. However, the last song on the album features Lisa, signifying a possible reuniting of the original M-Flo. Very exciting. This album really is a great album for some truly heartfelt moments as well as if you just want to lsoe yourself in some smooth melodies. Plus, the occasional splash of 80's influence makes it just a little more special to me. Favorites were Taste Your Stuff, A.D.D.P., Float 'N Flow, Hey!, and Tripod Baby. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
CHASM (Japan Version)
August 27, 2005 Sound means so much more on this albumThis really is the chill/lounge album I've been waiting for and hoping it would be. (Well, except for Coro... I have to say, this song is one that will leave you wondering what qualifies as music. Basically, Sakamoto managed to take a lot of random noise (as in bad signals, etc) and put it to a beat, constructing a song out of it. There's definately a lot of experimental work on here, and lots of music based on a concept more than trying to put lyrics to instruments. This is certainly one album that is a journey. And it's a journey that will leave you thinking about many things, both related and not related to music itself. I would reccomend this CD really only to someone who is comfortable with this type of music due to the way it challenges conventional ideas of music. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
DELTA ONE (Japan Version)
August 27, 2005 Rather nice start after a long breakSo, Joseph's given his view of this one over on the "August will be one sweet month" thread, now it's my turn :D. And I have to say... WOW... Two-Mix is now a lot more than I ever knew them to be before. Their songs are just as catchy as ever, but they've seemed to have gotten a new life breathed into them. It's very exciting music to listen to. And as always, it's a very unique sound that you'll get when you listen to Two-Mix. Just gotta love Vision.V for its great rhythm and guitar work. And Kibou No Shizuku is like classic Two-Mix in my opinion, full of great dance beats and hightrance instrumentals, mixed with just the right amount of pop melody. But, in my opinion, Splash steals the show- it's very easy to get into this fast-paced song. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
UC YMO - Ultimate Collection of Yellow Magic Orchestra (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
UC YMO - Ultimate Collection of Yellow Magic Orchestra (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$36.75Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:August 27, 2005 A nice bundle of surprisesOK, first surprise with this 2-album set: All of the tracks except for one are from 1978 to 1983. But I don't really know any of the band's biography, so maybe that's as should be expected. From the get-go, though, this collection is just non-stop electronica fun. I really don't know how to describe it other than that. I can kind of see some inspiration either for or from Tetsuya Komuro in this music, and given the release dates of the tracks, it's an interesting look into the development of Japanese music. If you like video game music, especially classic video game music, you will LOVE this collection. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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