Reviews written by Fake J
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December 12, 2005 Laruku's latest album...
I was so blown away by "Smile" that maybe my expectations were set too high. Rather than having catchy choruses and hooks to this CD, the melodies are more drawn out, and more vocal, but maybe less memorable. The live track at the end (US version only, I'm told) sounds different from the actual song. Live rock doesn't do the original studio version justice. "Heaven's Drive" is actually one of Laruku's greatest songs, but in the live track you can barely hear all of the instruments, and Hide sounds like he's yelling (probably just hindered stadium acoustics). My favorite track is probably the first song. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
SMILE (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
SMILE (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
(7)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:October 23, 2005 Their best album yet!!!!It's always weird to see a band outdo themselves- beforehand. I mean, to come out with a breakthrough album, and have slosh follow. Music is marked by progression, good music anyway, and Laruku's "Smile" is their best work yet! This band progresses! My actual first Japanese CD was one of their's, "Ray." My first favorite song was "Snowdrop." I skipped over their singles album, then bought "Real," and loved the songs "Neo Universe," "Bravery," and "Stay Away," but their paces always change too often per album. Not in this one. It of course contains the now super-famous "Ready, Steady, Go!" song from FMA, but then track after track after track are all awesome! I'm too used to a CD opening dramatically, then clunking all the way to the end, but this one just kept me entranced! I was surprised beyond belief. Tracks 4 and 5 are especially ingenious songs. Their catchiness is a lot like a song the Beatles would've made, but my favorite is the single "Hitomi no Jyunin." Excellent, excellent. It's a ballad, and Hide sings with a warmth and soul that seems to encompass all of his talent into one song. It opens with Ken playing a delayed guitar that I never thought was possible. He plays one-note delays so technically that it starts to resemble the sound of a saxaphone. Amazing album... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
GARNET CROW BEST (Japan Version)
GARNET CROW BEST (Japan Version)
(4)Our Price: US$40.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:October 22, 2005 Lookin' good!This band is awesome! I love their music. I know you can't judge a book by its cover but if you could- just look at it! They look great! Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Geofu (Japan Version)
September 26, 2005 Way surprised!I actually bought this one after Sweet Bridge, but going backwards she was still good! I like "Shine" and #4. #4 has a growly-bass to it. These are pop but as always a band is there to perform each song, giving 'em more contemporary value than a song of synth. Very nice, very nice. I like these songs because none of 'em scramble. None of 'em are the ones that change pace a million times throughout and have no distinct chorus. No, these are very thoughtful. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
SINGER FOR SINGER (Japan Version)
SINGER FOR SINGER (Japan Version)
(6)Our Price: US$38.25Usually ships within 30 daysRelated promotions:September 7, 2005 Written by the top minds in Jpop...When waiting for this album, I had no idea each song would be written by another musician! Track 3 is written by Glay, for instance, and the CD goes through different styles, depending on who wrote what for her. She's one heck of an R & B singer! and it doesn't stop there. I loved track 1 which showcases her R & B skill, "Holy Hold Me," which does much the same, but then track 7 which is more of an acoustic-pop song. Very cheery melody. I think that one is my favorite. Actually, I'm pretty torn between these three, and I'm sure most would be who hear this for themselves... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
MISIA Hoshizora no Live -Best of Acoustic Ballade (Japan Version)
MISIA Hoshizora no Live -Best of Acoustic Ballade (Japan Version)
(7)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:September 7, 2005 Very, very, very, very good album...It's actually quite unbelievable. Finally, a live album! There are so few out there, but when you buy this you can finally put that "live" button on your stereo or CD player to good use! Yes, it's live. There's a crowd that knows how to cheer AND just listen, depending on the nature of the song. As usual, the band with her is like technical beyond words. There is one track- 6 I think, where it's just Misia and an acoustic guitarist. Excellent. Misia's vocal talents are, of course, displayed here, but you get the open sound of a concert stadium. My favorite, though, is track #1. It starts with the sound of nature- or a bird chirping, actually, that puts you at ease in a way that has to be seen to be believed. Now I don't know what the studio version sounds like, but this one opens with strings, and I've never heard such a beautiful melody. It'd be worth it just for the opening! This is truely contemporary material... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Withering to death (Japan Version)
Withering to death (Japan Version)
(117)Our Price: US$38.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:September 7, 2005 Definitely a new direction for them...Although the only song I heard prior to this album was "Kageh," which is a very well-written song, I ascertained that their style has changed, assuming that all the other past songs were alike. "Kageh," although coming from this group of a gothic theme was very ungothic sounding, but nonetheless very technical rock. This album immediately rushes you through scream-rock, putting their sound closer to their theme. It's not as fast as heavy metal, nor quite as loud as nu-metal, but imagine heavy, down-tuned guitars to accompany somewhat indistinct melodies. Still, it works. They put in some heavy screaming and yelling that is quite convincing. I didn't know Kyo had it in him! If I'm not mistaken, they are the first in J-rock to try this. It ends up pretty good. Something original is usually what fans are looking for. My favorite track is "Showtime." Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
SIAM SHADE IX A-side Collection (Japan Version)
SIAM SHADE IX A-side Collection (Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$34.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 19, 2005 In retrospect (late review)...I've had this CD for more than a year now, and usually if one or two tracks impress me, I'll just listen to them over and over. Track 1 is probably Siam Shade's best song- ever, but then there's 1/3 junjou na kanjou (#6). Only lately have I listened to the entire album, and it's truly sad that they've disbanded. Daita has to be the fastest, most precise electric guitarist to ever walk this earth. If this group is unknown to you, buy this album to be stunned buy his ability. Tracks 4, 10 and 11 are also their awesome sound. Their music is more Japanesque than usual, for some odd reason. It's eerily true. The other tracks are also awesome, but they are from their 5 album, so I didn't mention them. The echoing delayed guitar just creates a sound that cannot be duplicated. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
LOVE JAM (Japan Version)
March 14, 2005 An honest review...All things considered, it looks like the fans are caught up in a love-hate complex. The first song "Superman" is totally J-Rock- really heavy sound with a trademarkedly Tokyo-ish melody. Her style of singing on it, however, is unique for the song. The rest of 'em are ballads, believe it or not. Actually, there are two more rockers, "Happy Day" and "Pongpong," but these are wacky and fast scramblers, not as deliberate as "Superman." Oddly, the ballads are dynamic enough, however, to keep you coming back! Although this album has a totally pop overtone to it, they were all done with acoustic instruments, although this is never uncommon with J-Pop/Rock. "Daisukidayo" has a very audible upright bass going on. I'm not sure if these were written by writers or Ai herself, but they were written well. They won't have an impact at first, but gradually. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
A BALLADS (Japan Version)
1 people found the following helpful
November 8, 2004 I'm just shocked...I only own the "H" single and the "Rainbow" album, but I'm pretty confident that this ballad collection is one of her best compilations, if not the best. Now I liked "Rainbow," but this album well exceeded my expectations. Sometimes a CD will have one good song here and one good song there, but all of these are good. I only bought it for track #8, thinking that it would be much like the "Rainbow" album, but I found that ballads may actually be the strength of pop, or at least the strength of Ayumi Hamasaki. Surprisingly good... Of course, pop stars usually have a lot of money vested in them, and I know Ayu has the best songwriters in Tokyo writing these. So-called manufactured music has a really powerful impact these days... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Quill (Japan Version - English Subtitles)
October 4, 2004 All "doramas" are gorgeous...I just spent time in Japan last week. One day I just watched doramas all day. It was easy! This one was one of them. I easily remember it because of the puppy. As I was watching it, the kids were looking through a fence, and each had their hands perched on, and so did the puppy! I just thought this was a cute attention to detail, but the puppy is a main character in this dorama, a confidante for the human main character. It's a cute show! Only Nippon... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Terra 2001 (Japan Version)
October 4, 2004 I'll have to agree!!!! (-: (-: (-: (-:
I'll have to say, "Brownie the Cat" (song #3) is just the cutest song, ever. It'll be the soft spot of anyone who listens to music. I shook my head in disbelief as the song kept going. It almost brings tears to your eyes. This group knows how to wield a melody. I actually just got this CD a few hours ago. The first three songs are my favorites... It deserves a 10, if only for "Brownie the Cat!" (Note: The song, though, may not even be about a cat...) Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
October 1, 2004 Good for in-city listening...
You may have read in another review that "MAX is not for everybody." Well, perhaps, but the two CDs differ from each other greatly. CD two is less risky than CD one, and the evolution of this group is apparent. I presume the songs are in chronological order. How exciting can 24 pop songs be? Youll be surprised. There's a remix of a Backstreet Boys song, #6 on disc 2. The only thing they changed is the singing/lyrics. MAX sounds REALLY good singing this song. Maybe the Backstreet Boys copied THEM, because the MAX version sounds better. Tracks 3 and 11 on disc 2 are my favorites as well. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Ocean Waves (Japan Version - English Subtitles)
Ocean Waves (Japan Version - English Subtitles) DVD Region 2
(5)Our Price: US$54.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 5, 2003 Yes!First! I haven't seen this DVD yet, but I saw some pictures on another website and it looks lovely! Remember, this is Studio Ghibli, so it must be good. I'm getting it as soon as I have money, LOL. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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