Reviews written by Monya
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Garnet Moon/Inori (Japan Version)
Garnet Moon/Inori (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 25, 2008 Fantastic, Cool, Awesome !!!I started to like Hitomi after listening to her newer singles. So I've decided to re-visit her past works to see if she was that good back then. I started with this single and was totally blew away by it. It looks like Hitomi has been producing very very good music all this while.
" Garnet Moon " started well enough with the tantalizing music and fast beat melody, making it sound very much like a dark dance / techno track. The superb music combined with Hitomi's powerful voice gave this song a soul of itself. I was mesmerized throughout the entire song and even felt like dancing to it. Somehow, she seems even better than Nami Tamaki who specializes in dance music. No wonder this song was used as the theme song for the game " Another Century's Episode ".
" Inori " was the total opposite of " Garnet Moon ". Gone were all the electronic and techno music, now replaced by slow orchestral ballads and violin sounds. Hitomi's vocals really shone in this song. It was steady and strong throughout with no signs of strains in her voice. The music sounded so magical and I enjoyed every bit of it.
I have never in my life bought a better single than this. Some might think I am over-reacting but if you give it a try, you will know that my words mean it all. 1 fast dance track and 1 slow soothing ballad pretty much sums up this outstanding single. Once again, good job Hitomi !
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Baby Don't Cry (SINGLE+DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Baby Don't Cry (SINGLE+DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$11.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 25, 2008 Excellent !This is indeed one of my favorite Namie singles up to date. Both songs are tremendously good and really to my liking.
The first track, " Baby Don't Cry " is a mid-tempo ballad which is very catchy and fun to listen to. Namie's voice is so touching and strong that she manages to carry the whole song by herself. It's been awhile since Namie produced such a sweet ballad.
The second track, " Nobody " has the same music as another Namie song " White Light " but the lyrics are different. It is also a mid-tempo song although Namie's voice sounds kinda soft here. Though classified as a b-side track, it is really good and should have a single by itself.
The TV Mix version of both songs don't have much lyrics in them except for the chorus part. I think it was way better than having 2 instrumentals.
Overall, this is a very sweet and good single. It took Namie long enough to come out with such an excellent single but it was well worth the wait ^^Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
ALARM (Japan Version)
May 25, 2008 Simply Funky !" Alarm " is a fast paced song with some very cool beats. The up-tempo music makes it superbly catchy and dancey. Although it does not have much depth and is quite repetitive, the funky music makes up for it. There is also no need for Namie to flaunt her vocals here unlike other songs as it is pretty flat.
" Strobe " has the same up-tempo music as the first song but the chorus sounds better. I could feel the sweetness of Namie's vocals in this song and the lyrics were absolutely sexy. You'll know what I mean if you listen to it ^^
The instrumental version of " Alarm " is equally funky with more electronica and techno taste in it. The same has to be said for the instrumental version of " Strobe ".
Overall, this has to be one of Namie's most funky album. The music is good and the fun is there. A must have for all her fans !!!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Lose Your Mind feat. Yutaka Furukawa from Doping Panda (SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version)
Lose Your Mind feat. Yutaka Furukawa from Doping Panda (SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(7)Our Price: US$22.75Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 22, 2008 Awesome !The first time I listened to " Lose Your Mind ", I didn't really quite liked it. However after a few more tries, it got better and better. It's a fast paced song which makes you wanna dance. The beat and melody of the whole song implies that we should just lose our mind and enjoy BoA's singing. Another point worth mentioning is Yutaka Furukawa's guitar playing. I think it fits perfectly with the theme of this song.
The next song, " Smile Again " is a slow tempo song where BoA shows us her strong vocals. She doesn't sound too forceful during the high pitched parts and manages to stabilize her vocals quite well.
The PV of " Lose Your Mind " shows BoA as a model performing on a catwalk and in the middle, you will see Yutaka Furukawa of DOPING PANDA making a special appearance ^^
Overall, this is a well balanced single with 1 slow and 1 fast track. Another good single from BoA !Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Mahaloha (Japan Version)
May 22, 2008 Nice Summer Feeling !" Mahaloha " is a new try from Yuna because the melody sounds different from her previous songs. The beat is very Hawaiian and it gives you a beach feeling. It wouldn't take long for your mind to slowly wander off to the soft sand and pretend to feel the sea breeze on your face whilst listening to this song. This is also Yuna's first collaboration with Micro from Def Tech and the results are highly positive.
" Shining On " is groovy pop track which managed to catch my attention. Although it's a b-side song, I found it pretty outstanding and catchy. There was even a beautiful jazzy tune in the middle of the song.
The third track is a remix version of " Stuck On You " which sounded pretty cool ! A lot of different musical instruments involved here like the piano, tuba and trumpet. A very nice song to complete this fantastic single.
It seems that Yuna has impressed me again with this single of hers. I urge all Yuna fans to buy this single as it is definitely a good buy !Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Wish (Japan Version)
May 22, 2008 Good 1st ImpressionThis is the first single that I have ever heard from Sowelu. My fren recommended her so I decided to give it a try. On the first listen, I have to say I was pretty impressed by this singer. She has nice and distinct vocals that differentiate herself from Ayu or BoA or Namie.
The first song, " Wish " is a groovy pop track that is very very catchy. I can assure you that you will keep repeating this track without fail. The beat is good, the melody is sweet and Sowelu's vocals fit perfectly to give this whole song a nice blend. I was totally impressed by Sowelu at this moment.
The second song, " Baby I Want You " can be good or bad, depending on individual preference. It's a fast beat track that sounds like some of Namie's songs. The reason I am saying it could go either way is due to the weird beat during the chorus. Somehow it doesn't really fit this song.
The instrumental version of " Wish " is equally good and relaxing to listen to.
As a conclusion, I strongly recommend this single to every single soul out there who wants to give Sowelu a try. You won't be disappointed with it.
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Ai no Uta (Hong Kong Version)
Ai no Uta (Hong Kong Version)
(1)Our Price: US$9.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:May 21, 2008 Lovely .......I can't understand why people say this single is boring and not worth it. To me, it was good. Not exactly superb or wonderful but is was pretty good. The CD cover was beautiful and I thought it really fitted the theme of " Ai no Uta " perfectly.
" Ai no Uta " is a slow but powerful track. Kumi might not have the vocals of Hikki but still she manages to pull this song off. She did not exactly screech during the chorus, but just used a little more strength that's all. I think she did splendid and we should commend her efforts.
The second track, " Come Over " is a more up-tempo song which will get you all warmed up. It's a very catchy song and I couldn't stop listening to it because it sets the mood for a very happy atmosphere.
The instrumental version of both songs are pretty good too.
Now comes the interesting track, the Urban Kiss version of " Ai no Uta ". I have to say, it sounds as good as the original version ! Funny how a change of melody and musical instruments can give you a whole new taste. It gave me a totally new perspective of this song. It will be hard for me to make a choice between the 2 versions.
Overall, this is a really good single by Kumi. It is quite balanced too between a slow and fast track. Do check it out ^^Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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Cherry Girl / Unmei (SINGLE+DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Cherry Girl / Unmei (SINGLE+DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$12.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 21, 2008 Not Up To StandardsI've always been a great fan of Koda Kumi since most of her songs appeal to me. People might beg to differ but all I have to say is that different people have different taste and I love most of her songs. However, this single did not really live up to my expectations.
" Cherry Girl " is an up-tempo song with some rock elements in it. I personally feel that there was nothing to shout about because the beat didn't feel right and the background thumping sound was pretty annoying. The bright side was that Kumi sounded good and steady as always.
Since the first song wasn't that good, I was quite relieved that the second song, " Unmei " sounded good. It was really relaxing listening to the slow melody and Kumi's soothing voice in this track. This song made up for my initial disappointment.
The remix version of " Cherry Girl " sounded better than the original one ! I think the main reason was because they removed the annoying background thumping sound.
Overall, this is not Kumi's best single. However, given the sweet ballad of " Unmei ", it manages to make up for some disappointment. I wouldn't recommend this unless you're a HUGE Kumi fan ^^Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Anataboshi (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)
Anataboshi (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$16.49Related promotions:May 18, 2008 Great Start !Seems like we have a new group here from Hello ! Project .... Well most new groups are inclined and pressured to do their best and have a flying start which will push their stardom sky high.
" Anataboshi " starts with some very charming bag-pipes instruments. And then Milky Way make their much anticipated debut !!! This is a very fast-paced and catchy song that will keep you entertained throughout because you can't even stop to catch your breath ! I must say, this song managed to impress me.
" Sansan GOGO " is another fun song to listen to. It is full of energy from these 3 cute gals who sound so happy when singing. When you're having a bad hair day, why not play this song to brighten things up ? Believe me, it works wonders.
So a great start to this new group is all I have to say. Let's hope they produce more of these happy music in the future.
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Nannimo Iwazuni I Love You (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
Nannimo Iwazuni I Love You (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 18, 2008 Farewell .....It is always to sad to see groups break-up and their members go separate ways. The same can be said for Biyuden who has decided to disband.
The first song, " Nanni mo Iwazu ni I Love You " starts off as a slow song and slowly builds up the pace right till the chorus. The music is pretty catchy but other than that, nothing really special worth mentioning here. In fact, the song became quite boring near the end with all the la la la ..... They should have focused more on the lyrics and singing since this will be their last single together.
The second song, " Omoide wa Kanata " was sung by their lead singer Ishikawa Rika. Apart from the fabulous electric guitar in the middle of the song, it is quite rock flavored. Nothing too outstanding in this song either.
The third song, " Ano Natsu no Yoru " was sung by Miyoshi Erika. This song started off well enough with a slow melody. In fact it was my favorite song in the whole single as it had some pretty decent parts which I liked.
The fourth song, " Saigo no Natsuyasumi " was sung by Okada Yui. Not a bad song although it didn't really meet my expectations. If you're not really picky or choosy, I guess this song could be quite catchy.
Overall I felt that this single could have been improved in so many aspects. Apart from the third track, the rest were only so-so. But still I would like to wish all 3 members of Biyuden the best for their future.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
May 18, 2008 Namie Is Good !
This single from Namie shares some same characteristics with her other singles like " All For You ". The reason is simple : 1 slow ballad and another more up-tempo track creates the perfect balance in these singles. " Wishing On The Same Star " is a slow and touching ballad with meaningful lyrics. The melody might not sound as powerful as that in " All For You " but it creates a more magical atmosphere. As usual, Namie's strong vocals creates a perfect environment. She manages to breeze through the song quite easily, making it enjoyable for the listeners.
" Did U " as I mentioned above is more up-tempo with some dance music. It makes a superb b-side track although I felt that it should have been given more accreditation. The chorus was way cool and I absolutely like the part where Namie said : My life belongs to me ..... I will never forgive you =)
Overall, this single didn't disappoint because it was way too good to be even doubted for a second.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
ALL FOR YOU (Japan Version)
ALL FOR YOU (Japan Version)
(15)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
May 18, 2008 Awesome !Namie Amuro is 1 of my favorite J-Pop singers. Not only does she have good vocals, she can also dance well ! " All For You " is a slow but strong song that caught my attention immediately. Namie gives a very solid song performance here and you will fall in love with her vocals. She manages to hit the right notes at the right moment. Even when she hits the high notes, her voice doesn't seem to quaver. The melody is powerful and beautiful making it even more enjoyable. Although it became quite repetitive near the end, it didn't matter much.
" Butterfly " is more up-tempo and the music is quite catchy. I didn't really enjoy the chrous part though as it wasn't that appealing.
The instrumental version of " All For You " sounds a bit different from the original tempo. It gives you a very calm and subdue feeling after listening to it.
Overall. this single stands out because of the first track. Namie is good with dance and fast music but when it comes to slow ballads, she also makes the cut, quite impressively. A must have single for all Namie fans ^^Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Nakitai Nara (Japan Version)
Nakitai Nara (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 17, 2008 Sweet !What can I say about Hitomi ? She is just absolutely brilliant ! Too good to be even described with words ! I have only heard 2 of her singles thus far and both of them have left deep impressions within me.
The first song in this single " Nakitai Nara " is a very sad and touching song. And the way Hitomi sings it makes you feel like crying. She lets her feelings flow freely into the music right to the listener and what you get is 100% of the song's meaning. She always has a special way of connecting her music to me, allowing me to fully understand every single part of the song, their true meaning behind it. This song definitely deserves 10 stars !
The second track " Kuchizuke Shiyou " is another slow moving song using bag-pipes and piano as the music background. This song doesn't as sad as the first but still it has some element of sadness in it.
Perhaps Hitomi could have included 1 fast track in this single to make it balanced but I guess that would have destroyed the image of this single ^^
What baffles me though is how come this single has remained 1 of Hitomi's lowest selling single. Doesn't really justify.
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I Believe you - Ai no Hana (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)
I Believe you - Ai no Hana (First Press Limited Edition) (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$15.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
May 17, 2008 Not Bad .....It seems that Rina has finally matured into a real singer. " I Believe You ~ Ai no Hana ~ " is a slow and soothing ballad that touches deep into my soul everytime I listen to it. Accompanied with Rina's sweet voice and great background music, this song certainly makes the cut as an all time favourite.
However, Rina needs to improve on her vocals as it sounded a bit shaky at some parts. It would have been an almost perfect song if her voice was a bit more powerful.
" Hey ! " is an up-tempo rockish type of song which I didn't really enjoy at first. But after a few more attempts, it sounded not too bad as the music was pretty cool. But once again, Rina sounded as though she was trying really hard to stretch her voice to the limit.
" Harmony DTS Mix " is a good song which is very dancey and catchy. Inter-D does well here to collaborate with Rina as both of them managed to compliment each other well.
The alternative version of " I Believe You ~ Ai no Hana ~ " sounds equally good. The only difference is that the musical instruments sound more distinct in this version. It's like having a big orchestra.
Overall, this single is pretty good and I would recommend everyone to buy it. That is if you don't mind Rina's somewhat moderate vocals.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Truth - Reira starring Yuna Ito (Japan Version)
Truth - Reira starring Yuna Ito (Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$15.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 15, 2008 Truth is .... Great !Yuna has always been known to deliver her strong vocals in a variety of songs and this single is no exception. " Truth " is a very hard song to be performed because there are certain parts of the song which require you to change your voice almost instantaneously from low pitch to high pitch. The wonderful thing is Yuna doesn't disappoint here and manages to maintain her composure throughout the song. Her vocals are absolute raw power and the message of the song is successfully delivered across to us.
" Take Me Away " sounds very much like a rock song. I think rock doesn't really suit Yuna well but still it's a good try. I mean it doesn't hurt for an artist to change song genres once in awhile. Her strong vocals are also well portrayed in this song.
The remix version for " Endless Story " was pretty good. It's dancey and catchy and I really like it ^^
Overall, this single may not be Yuna's best but if you're looking for a good singer with good vocals, then don't miss this. You won't regret " Truth ".Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Heart Station (Hong Kong Version)
Heart Station (Hong Kong Version)
(2)Our Price: US$16.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:2 people found the following helpful
May 14, 2008 New Style Hikki Wins My HeartFirstly, Ive never been a really huge fan of Hikki. From First Love till Ultra Blue, there were only a few songs that managed to catch my attention like Deep River and Blue . The rest were only so-so. I guess its because Ive been so accustomed and used to songs from Ayumi & BoA ( which are quite different from Utadas style ). After some time, I decided to give this album a try since people do change and maybe Hikki has a new genre of songs that appeal to me. I was pretty surprised when I heard the first track Fight The Blues . This song is like a continuation from her previous album Ultra Blue. I absolutely loved the starting and was soon enjoying myself in this great song. The lyrics were pretty meaningful too especially the part where Hikki says : I HATE TO LOSE. Next up was Heart Station , the absolute perfect song in this album. Again, the melody was somewhat similar to the previous song. But my guess is that Hikkis new style ( dance ) has won me over to her side ! I kept repeating the first 2 tracks that somehow it felt like the other songs were not there. When it was time to move on, I had another pleasant surprise as my confidence in this album grew with Beautiful World . This was another track that made me wanna dance along to it, awesome ! What amazes me for all 3 dance tracks is that her vocals remain strong as ever and unwavering. Flavor Of Life - Ballad Version was not too bad although I prefer the original version which is the last track. This ballad version is much slower and it clearly shows Hikki utilizing her powerful vocals to the max. Stay Gold is another slow song with some electronica taste in it which carries a meaningful message to her darling. Kiss & Cry is a good song if not for the starting part with the old music which keeps appearing somewhere in the middle of the song. Quite wasted actually if not it would have been one of my favorites. Ill skip the interlude before arriving at the song Celebrate . Nothing really special about this song except its pretty catchy. Next up was Prisoner Of Love , a very mid-tempo and catchy song which is another one of my favorite. As I mentioned above, it was this dance style of Utada that truly intrigued me to like this album. Everything went well till the next song, Take 5 . Now heres the weird thing about this song. It's actually pretty good but somehow a big problem occurred right at the end. I was enjoying the song when suddenly it ended abruptly at around 3m43s. How weird can that be ? To make sure my CD was ok, I decided to dl that particular song and try it out. It turned out to be the same ! How weird can that be huh ? Anywayz, the next song Boku wa Kuma was my least favorite as it sounded so childish and so unlike Hikki. Probably wanted to show us the cute side of Hikki. Niji-iro Basu had a very happy and upbeat tone, not a bad song. Finally, the original version of Flavor Of Life wraps up a fantastic Utada Hikaru album. Other than a slight hiccup in track 10 and a very childish track 11, this album has totally changed my perception towards Hikki. She is good and I hope she can continue this style of music ^^
Fight The Blues : 10/10 Heart Station : 10/10
Beautiful World : 9/10 Flavor Of Life ( Ballad Version ) : 9/10 Stay Gold : 9/10 Kiss & Cry : 8/10 Gentle Beast Interlude : 7/10 Celebrate : 7/10 Prisoner Of Love : 10/10 Take 5 : 6/10
Boku wa Kuma : 5/10
Niji-iro Basu : 8/10 Flavor Of Life ( Original Version ) : 10/10
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Shinku / Ai no Uta (Japan Version)
Shinku / Ai no Uta (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 14, 2008 Excellent !I've never felt inclined to watch any of Hitomi's PV's because I just feel that her songs are wonderful enough which gives me a very good impression. " Shinku " is a superb song I have to say. It's a very powerful and up-tempo song that reminds me of Nami Tamaki's songs .... However that is not to say that she is overshadowed and can't be better than Nami. I find " Shinku " very appealing because Hitomi pulls the vocals off nicely and doesn't get too drowned out by the fast music. Since this is my first try on Hitomi's music, I can only say that she sounds good with such songs and it wouldn't hurt to produce more =)
" Ai no Uta " is the total opposite of the previous song. It's a very slow song with some lovely piano melodies. Hitomi shines here as her strong and steady vocals fits into the song perfectly. It's like an angel singing really. That's how good she is.
1 fast track and 1 slow track pretty sums up this wonderful and well balanced single. Forget those PV's and just focus on her singing because this is what Hitomi is all about ^^Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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Precious (Japan Version)
May 14, 2008 Precious Single !" Precious " is a really really good song because Yuna can perform with such versatility that makes it worthwhile to listen. From a slow start to a strong chorus, Yuna can change her voice easily and that's a pleasure to listen. Some pretty high pitch vocals involved too at the end of the chorus makes the song nicer.
" I'm Free " pretty well describes how the song feels. A very up-beat and happy tempo manages to keep me entertained no doubt. The lyrics also contains some positive messages like how to be free from worries and taking it easy on ones self.
" Secrets " wasn't exactly outstanding but it was not too bad. The ballad was good just that it lacked some sparks maybe.
Overall, you should buy this single for " Precious " & " I'm Free " because those 2 songs stand out in this single =)
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Faith (Japan Version)
May 14, 2008 Good Job !" Faith " starts out with a slow and lovely melody before reaching the chorus where things start to heat up. Yuna performs this part with powerful vocals. The song doesn't lose it's original ballad and is pretty good.
" Pureyes " has a more upbeat tempo and sounds more lively in fact. It kinda describes how Yuna feels when she is in love. Pretty good considering it's a b-side track. Yuna as usual sounds sweet here and doesn't disappoint. Funnily I felt that " Pureyes " was better than " Faith " and should have been made a single by itself. The instrumentals are also worth listening if you wanna unwind or relax after a hard day's work ^^Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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Jungle Dance (Japan Version)
Jungle Dance (Japan Version)
(1)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 11, 2008 ~ Jewel Found ~Guess what ? I managed to find a new jewel in the world of J-pop. Yepz, Nana Tanimura is the new rising star here !
" Jungle Dance " as the title suggests gave me a very samba feeling. Like I was somewhere in a Brazilian village partying away with the local folks. If you're looking for something new, this song will suit you. Just when I thought " Jungle Dance " was good, the second song came up.
" Ooh " was even better than the first song ! This song really made up my mind about Nana.She is really good honestly. Her vocals are steady and she even managed to pull off some very very high notes at the middle of " Ooh ". I was worried that her voice might somewhat break but thankfully it didn't. Somehow this slow and magical song really got me warmed up.
The last song " Place Of Love " is another song which has that samba feel, only less. A very up-tempo song here with the right beats for dancing.
I would recommend this single to anybody new to Nana Tanimura. Give her a chance to impress you as she did to me. Normally the instrumentals don't really impress me but the instrumental version of " Ooh " sounded great ! Will be looking forward to her first full-length album ^^
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