Reviews written by Kira
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depart -takako uehara single collection- (ALBUM+DVD)(Japan Version)
depart -takako uehara single collection- (ALBUM+DVD)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$43.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:August 7, 2007 Awesome~!I did the same thing with Uehara Takako as I did with Tamaki Nami, just bought their singles collections with the DVDs.
Anyways, I had only heard Air, Kiss You Jounetsu, and Make-up Shadow before. It was surprising how many other songs I quickly fell in love with. I was only able to find a promotional video of Make-up Shadow and that's really the reason I picked it up.
I would recommend this collection to anyone who likes early 2000 J-pop rather than someone who is completely into the urbanized sound of now. If you've ONLY heard Kiss You Jounetsu, I would advise you that it's a pretty unique song and that the others are not very much like it at all. She's more of a relaxing type artist that you would listen to while working on studying or preparing dinner, but not so boring that you compare her to elevator music.
The videos are quite stunning and it's really amazing to see how stylists are able to change her in a very diverse way over time. Obviously the first few videos are kind of just walking around or standing around singing like many videos were in 2000 - 2001, but they get more interesting as the DVD goes on.
There really isn't a song that I particularely dislike since it is a singles collection this is all her best songs. The song I listen to the least however, is My First Love (strings version), just because the original is much better.
There was a bonus track of Uehara messing around in France and such, trying to speak French and narrating how silly she is among some other things.
I know for sure now that I will be picking up her other albums~!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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Cross Season (Japan Version)
Cross Season (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$15.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
April 4, 2007 Interesting...Okay when I first heard this single I admit I was like ehhhh, NO. I liked the instrumental of Cross Season better than Nami actually SINGING the song, which is sad.
Now I like Cross Season, however something still seems OFF about it, like they did something weird to her voice or the whole track in production and didn't fix it... it seems fuzzy or I don't know. It's hard to explain. Nami sounds a little TOO mellow in my opinion.
i CAN FLY tries to start off as a kind of 'punk-Shania-Twain' song, however it sounds more like it belongs in a musical gone bad... I still just don't like it at all.
The best song is Lost and Found, it's more of an upbeat song and more typical 'anime song' like you're used to hearing from Nami, but not over the top.
I like the more elegant-grown up image of Nami that was going in Sanctuary, the image in her new view is just HORRID, with a pleather skirt, hat, tie, hooker boots, and even garter straps accompanied by a showing pink petticoat, like Nami, PLEASE, HOW IS THIS 'care free'
However, if you're a rabbit Nami-fan you won't listen to a thing I say and buy it anyways...this was her first non-top 20 single... disappointing, but not completely worthless.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
April 4, 2007 Very Unique~!
Cats, a fairly new girl group all have unique and strong voices. Tracks that stick out on this album are: Handsome Boy (01), Baby Cat (03), Darara (Take Your Chance) (06), Tell Me Now (08), and Say (09). The rest are all pretty good, but don't stand out as much, I've never been too big of a fan of slower songs anyways...
Cats is a great girl group if you're over the whole 'School Girl' thing that Wonder Girls has going on...Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
My Girl (SBS TV Series)(US Version)
August 3, 2006 My GirlThis drama is my second favourite after "I'm Sorry, I Love You" It's very entertaining! The music is good within the drama, although I wouldn't recommend listening to it by its self on the OST, it seems boring or even irritating. You probably won't cry your eyes out in EVERY episode, but maybe a few ^_^; Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
4 hot wave (Ningyohime/With your smile/I'll be there/JUICY) (SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version)
4 hot wave (Ningyohime/With your smile/I'll be there/JUICY) (SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(21)Our Price: US$23.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:5 people found the following helpful
July 21, 2006 4 songs.. 1 continuing story.Juicy over all is a typical Kumi song. The video is a little much even for me...She goes into a bar, dances around like a stripper and all she wants is... to steal a treasure map?
With Your Smile is a good song, I liked it better when I got to watch it with the PV though. Kumi continues her treasure hunt and finds 3 pieces to make a triangle and gets chased by people...
I'll Be There is also a good song and Kumi spends most of the video in front of a green screen on a 'beach'. This video lacks in moving the plot of the videos forward until Kumi finds a book in the water at the end titled "Ningyo Hime."
Ningyo Hime is probably my least favourite song. Kumi can't sing rock and there are MANY blatant rip offs in this video. There's really nothing original about it. The SONG even sounds like it belongs to Namie Amuro. There was a couple of moves that she did with her hands that were so OBVIOUSLY from BoA's "Listen to My Heart" video. She wears only sparkles at one point like Britney Spears, and her hair with the odd creepy figures reminds me of Ayu's "Alterna" video.
Over all, this single is okay... none of the songs stand out as really GREAT to me. Even though Koi no Tsubomi only had 1 song, that single is probably better value to me since I love that song. So what, Kumi can release 4 new songs on a single and it's only been proved that by doing so she divided the quality and creativity of her last single into 4 parts and came up with this single. It will only be a distant memory in a short time.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
(miss)understood (CD+DVD) (Overseas Version)
(miss)understood (CD+DVD) (Overseas Version) DVD Region 3
(6)Our Price: US$17.99Related promotions:June 30, 2006 Over all a pretty OKAY album..Okay, first off I really used to be a TOTAL Ayu worshipper. I'd listen to just about ANY crap she released. Ever since Bold & Delicious (01) single I've been a little more decerning.
I bought this album because I really liked the other 3 singles: STEP you(02)/ is this LOVE?(04), fairyland (14)/alterna (06), and HEAVEN (12)/Will (11)
If you really want in depth reviews on the singles go read what ohers have to say.
My friend owned the CD already for some time. When I first heard Ladies Night (03) I didn't really like it that much, but when she showed me the video and I had some kind of association to go with it, I liked the song alot more. Bold & Delicious grows on you even if you thought it was completely annoying before, although it's still not my favourite song.
Mainly I bought the album because I wanted the songs on 1 CD and because I wanted the videos too. Besides the single songs I really enjoyed In The Corner (07) and the progressive track Are You Wake Up? (13) I haven't liked one of those transitional tracks so much since LOVEppears!
I wanted to know this before I bought the album so I will write it in for other customers: THE PHOTOBOOK IS IN FACT THE SIZE OF THE CD CASE! So it's not like you're getting something bulky that will make your package bigger and more likely to be charged customs fees.
Basically the only difference I could see between the Japan version and Overseas version (besides the quality of paper & Chinese lyrics included) is that the Japan version had tabs to hold the lyric booklet in place next to the music disc. It's not a huge difference, but I would have preferred it that way, as those lyric books are ALWAYS getting in the way when I close my CD cases that are dual discs.
Over all it's a good album, not as good as My Story, but still very good (and if you get the CD + DVD you don't have to see that SCARY smile that AYU has on the CD disc only cover.)Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Koi no Tsubomi (Japan Version)
Koi no Tsubomi (Japan Version)
(8)Our Price: US$11.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:3 people found the following helpful
June 30, 2006 Koi no TsubomiI loved this song the first time I heard it!!! I was expecting something different when I read on the internet about people's opinions. They were saying that it was "light and summery" like Come With Me. Well after hearing the song, I'd have to say that while it's "light and summery" it reminds me more of Birthday Eve more than Come With Me.
When I first looked at the single in my hands I was so excited! I looked at the back and thought "WOW THERE'S A BACK COVER? AYU'S SINGLES ARE NEVER LIKE THIS!!!" (I'm a fairly new Kumi fan, this is her first single that I bought. I got into listening to her by purchasing her two best albums with the DVDs)
The weird thing is, it opens upside down and backwards so that the front cover is behind where the CD sits and the booklet/back cover is where the front cover usually sits. (is everyone else's copy like this?)
I've probably listened to this single about 20 times in the past 2 days and I'm still not bored of it! I agree that having a single with one song is a little disappointing, but I also think Kumi deserves a little break after her 12 singles. Also, she's soon releasing a photobook AND a MEGA single with 4 new songs soon! (did you know that? *_*) I love how there's emoticons in the lyrics just like Birthday Eve too. I find myself using such emoticons now
>_< I just love Kumi!!!!!! <3Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Destiny -Taiyo no Hana- / Koimizu -Tears of Love- (Jacket A)(SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version)
Destiny -Taiyo no Hana- / Koimizu -Tears of Love- (Jacket A)(SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(3)Our Price: US$21.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:2 people found the following helpful
May 29, 2006 ALMOST-perfect!!!!Okay, so I gave it a 9. The only words I can use to describe both the song and video of Destiny -Taiyou no Hana- is: absolutely striking and mysteriously elegant! Shimatani is really concentrating on this orchastrated sound and I'm loving it! Things keep disappearing and reappearing in the video and the way she looks at the camera as she walks by gives you chills if the music already doesn't.
Koi Mizu -Tears of Love- is another ballad and the video is SERIOUSLY her standing there with the camera concentrated on her in the same head shot for 4 minutes. It makes me wonder again WHY her talent is being put to waste in Avex while Ayumi Hamasaki continues to spend millions of dollars on videos. Anyways, the song is nice, her voice is well suited for soft songs such as this one.
Anyways, I really love Destiny -Taiyou no Hana-! Maybe even more than Taiyoushin on Heart & Symphony or Camellia from her last single. Shimatani is so artistic now. Looking back on some of her other videos such as Garnet Moon, a miniskirt just doesn't suit her, she should always wear flowing gowns and be just as beautiful as she is in her latest videos! Oh, did I mention that her hair is slightly brown now? It's so lovely!
If you don't order this single, you'll miss out~!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Lexy Vol. 2 - Lexy in Africa
Lexy Vol. 2 - Lexy in Africa
(10)Our Price: US$12.99List: US$18.99Save: US$6.00 (32%)Related promotions:1 people found the following helpful
May 26, 2006 Okay nice voice, but...All of the songs sound like... songs I've heard before and I've never heard Lexy's music before I listened to this album. The beats were stereotypical and although sure, you could dance to many of these songs, that's about all they've got going for them. She IS trying too hard to fit the Hip-hop/Rapper girl since there's so many 'featurings' on this album. It's really nothing special. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
girl-Selfish (Japan Version)
girl-Selfish (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(3)Our Price: US$23.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:April 28, 2006 Excellent!While I agree that most Japanese music is pretty clean, Koda Kumi definitely isn't your bubble gum pop artist, so what were you expecting, honestly? Sex sells, so does Koda Kumi. I wouldn't exactly say that you shouldn't buy this if you're not over 18, but I wouldn't suggest letting 14 year olds watch it either. Basically if you don't like sexy videos don't buy it, end of story.
All of these videos are good, but Shake It reminds me of a 3LW song...Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Best -first things- (2CD+DVD) (Overseas Version)
Best -first things- (2CD+DVD) (Overseas Version) DVD Region 3
(6)Our Price: US$19.99Related promotions:April 14, 2006 Again... Lip Sync?!The lip sync in the videos were terrible. Most of the time it didn't even look like she was singing along to her PVs and it's not like she can use the excuse that she released all of these videos/singles in one year like the Second Session. Anyways, I really liked the fact that if I bought this and the Second Session together that I would get 3 CDs and 3 DVDs all together for a fairly low price. All of the songs are great, but the way they are arranged keeps making me switch from disc 1 to disc 2 to listen to songs that I want to listen to. It surprised my sister that Ku in fact had sang the song Real Emotion. Over all I'm not sorry I purchased this album. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
BEST -second session- (CD+2DVD)(Limited Edition)(Hong Kong Version)
BEST -second session- (CD+2DVD)(Limited Edition)(Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(15)Our Price: US$21.99Related promotions:April 14, 2006 PV Sync, what's that?While I did like all of the songs on this CD minus A Whole New World, sorry but Peabo Bryson's singing just made her voice as well as her English seem TERRIBLE. I never thought that I'd want to criticize Ku for her lack of singing skills before I heard this song. Otherwise her singing is great. Some of the videos didn't even match her lipsync as well. Other than that, Ku is so cute during her concert. The videos were all pretty good and you can understand the 'storyline' of all the guys talking in a bar that continues through the whole DVD even if you don't know a lot of Japanese you can get the point. Over all, I'm glad I got this before the "double deal" came into effect bringing the price of First Things and Second Session down so that you don't get free shipping unless you buy another item... smart, very smart marketing on YesAsia's part. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Heart & Symphony (CD+DVD)(Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
Heart & Symphony (CD+DVD)(Limited Edition)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(3)Our Price: US$38.25Related promotions:1 people found the following helpful
March 22, 2006 GREAT!When I received this album I honestly listened to almost nothing else for about 2 months! I still listen to this CD a lot.
All of the songs on this album are excellent! There were a few that stood out though: all of the great songs from her singles: Falco, Mermaid, Garnet Moon, and Mahiru no Tsuki.
Frame (track 12) was a memorable song, actually writen by Hitomi Shimatani herself. My favourite song from the whole album from a single or not was Taiyoushin (track 10), I could listen to that song all day long and not be bored.
The DVD however was disappointing. It was nearly an hour long and half of the time you were just watching Shimatani sit there in a chair in front of a white background and she keeps brushing her hair out of her face, it was distracting. It would have been much better if there had been PVs instead.
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Haru Machibito / Cemellia (Japan Version)
Haru Machibito / Cemellia (Japan Version)
(5)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:March 22, 2006 Sky High? Wasn't that on her last album?Yes, Sky High was on Heart & Symphony, but it was a good song. I'm glad it's there so that I don't have to switch CDs! I wish she would stop wasting her talent with Avex though, honestly she could do so much better than the 2 videos for these songs, Shimatani in GREEN SCREEN LAND! They were nice, but not believable. I don't understand why Avex likes to promote their top artists to death Read: Ayumi Hamasaki, while Shimatani has a lot of talent and her style is very enjoyable.
I enjoyed this single and I will continue to support Shimatani by buying her albums and singles, you should too!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Itsumo Waratteirare youni (Japan Version)
Itsumo Waratteirare youni (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$33.75Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:February 5, 2006 Uemura not Ayu!I agree that Kana Uemura is no Ayumi Hamasaki. Her sound is definitely more of an easy going one without all the techno/rock quirks that Ayu has going on. Her voice is clear and not squeeky. Mind you, I'm not bashing Hamasaki for her voice, I'm a fan of her too.
I find that Kana Uemura's songs give you an over all good feeling. One of those artists you'd listen to if you are a happy person in general and not looking for something to 'muse' over. What caught my attention to her is Taisetsu na Hito at first, then Koi no Mahou. She's a good artist. I haven't heard the album songs, but I've heard all of her singles so far and I plan to buy this album in the very near future.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
My Boyfriend Is Type B (Hong Kong Version)
My Boyfriend Is Type B (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(4)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
February 1, 2006 LDG + HJH = GREAT!I really enjoyed this movie so much that when I received it in the mail today that I watched it twice! It's worth it to watch it twice just to pick up some things that you might have missed.
I loved this movie because it was quite amusing, but sometimes it got serious too soon after a laugh that it almost made you feel bad. There were also a few scenes where you could tell the camera wasn't steady and it made you dizzy a little.
Also, if you watch this movie on a NON wide screen TV, it will most definitely NOT be widescreen!!! Some things and text will be cut off! The subtitles are almost perfect, I think I noticed a typo once where they forgot a letter and "Is" instead of "was" once or twice, but other than that, it was very well done.
For some reason the DVD box has a space for 2 DVDs, but there is only 1 disc. I'm not sure why that is, just don't ask, I suppose.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
pi enjieru 1 Ｐ ribon masukotsuto komitsukusu 43276 03
February 1, 2006 Lovely!This book has a plain pink cover. The picture you see here on the internet is a book cover, actually! Getting into specifics about the book, it's 17.5cm tall, 11cm wide, and contains chapters 1 - 7 and 2 unchaptered stories.
I haven't had the chance to read it all yet, since my Japanese is still very low elementary. There is furigana so you can still read it even if you don't understand all the kanji. Read with confidence if your Japanese reading comprehension is of a level of being able to understand an episode of anime without subtitles or higher.
P-Enjieru is a cute and funny story so far and I doubt my opinion will change as I continue to read. The characters are all very cute, mostly just childish and fun. It's pretty much magical girl or "Shojo" in genre. The art is beautiful just like the cover. Probably not comparable to Tanemura Arina, but like many comics published in Ribon, a similar style.
I would recomend this book by Maguro Fujita to anyone who would like to read a story that they are unfamiliar with because they already feel confident with familiar character stories well known in the west such as Hamtaro. Also to anyone who like shojo series.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Dakishimeru (Japan Version)
Dakishimeru (Japan Version)
(36)Our Price: US$15.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:January 4, 2006 Is this even BoA?Dakishimeru is an OKAY song, but it does sound like she's trying to hit notes that don't agree with her capacity. I'm not a big fan of her changing style. BoA was better before she got all 'Mature' or whatever.
She thinks changing herself completely will make all of her fans still love her? Not likely, even though they're growing up too it doesn't mean she has to change because we are too.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Rumble In The Bronx (Taiwan Version)
November 30, 2005 You get what you pay for? Yes.As if VCD isn't already bad enough, you couldn't even see the subtitles and the screen was so blurry even if played in a smaller screen on the computer, I would recommend the DVD instead. Rumble in the Bronx is too good of a movie to be presented in such low quality. Just get the DVD, you won't be sorry later. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
fairyland (Japan Version)
August 19, 2005 Ayu takes us to Fairyland!I bought this single mostly because there was more tracks than usual. I really don't like Fairyland as much as Step You or Inspire/Game, but it's still a happy catchy song. For some reason it seems Ayu's singles now are very contrasting, containing a happy song and then a darker, depressed or sad song. Fairyland easily gets stuck in your head, but Alterna is a little harder to catch on to. The remix of Step You was definitely something different in keeping with the Hawaiian theme of Fairyland, but the Fairyland remix lacked a little, it was a little more annoying than actually catchy like the original mix. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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