Reviews written by Nono
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Baby (Japan Version)
2 people found the following helpful
April 22, 2010 BABY, she's backIt's been almost two years since aiko's last studio album came out, a rare sight from an artist who usually releases albums a year to a year and a half apart. With that said, BABY might be aiko's strongest album yet. While many fans have moved on due to aiko's everlasting sound of music and still rave her earlier albums her strongest, BABY has proved to be aiko's most refined to date. I personally enjoyed her previous studio album, Himitsu, so there was skeptical if she could pull it off again, but she did. The singles that were released off the album prior to its release were among her strongest. KissHug is an epic ballad with an explosive chorus and gorgeous melody, while milk plays around with an exciting pop jazz hybrid sound that is sure to get one bouncing. Nageki no Kiss and Modorenai Ashita are the most similar to aiko's past music, but sound far more refined. The vocals are strong and the melodies are stronger. The latter has become a favourite of mine because it adds a touch of rock in it and is reminiscent of my favourite song from her, Kondo Made ni Wa. While the singles did not lack, the albums tracks proved just as great. The most obvious stand out of the bunch was Yellow, a stunning ballad with a catchy and memorable chorus. Another stunning ballad includes the ending, Tunnel, which was aiko's 2010 CM song. It has a similar structure to that of Nageki no Kiss. While the ballads were strong, it's not to say there were no good upbeat songs. The opener, beat is a charming pop song, while Natsu ga Kaeru is an exciting summer tune. The strongest is without a doubt Ano Ko no Yume, a lighthearted pop/rock song that was used for a drama. It is probably my favourite of the album tracks. Overall, BABY is without my current favourite album of 2010. It features a wide array of sounds, while still maintaining that aiko essence. The singles were strong and the album tracks did not disappoint.
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November 2, 2009 Gigi's Gift
As I have never had a liking for Cantopop, I never really paid attention to Gigi thinking she was just another one of those HK artists who tried to break into the Mandopop industry. Oh, how I was wrong. Gigi has an extensive Mandarin discography extending from 1996. Since digging deeper into her music, I developed a liking for her music, especially her calm ballads that highlight her striking vocals. Gift, although not my favourite of Gigi's albums, is another solid release that emphasizes the talents that she holds.
I will say the first song that struck out to me was track #3, "Missed". This ballad was just so different from the others on the album because it had a slightly sadder feel to it. It helped that Gigi sounded amazing in it. I would say other great songs would be "Gift", "Give Love" and "A Good Walk", all of which are ballads that feature a calmer and less dynamic arrangement, but do their job by showcasing the vocals. I especially enjoy the latter song as it also focuses on the acoustic guitar, which helps the song's melody flow. Although the ballads stuck out, there are a few enjoyable upbeat tracks like "I Am Gigi Leung" and "abcdefGG". The latter is probably the most awkward sounding song on the album because of it's dance beats and synthed over vocals. It's definitely interesting nonetheless.
The only thing I would say this album is lacking is that one amazing ballad Gigi would always put release that you couldn't stop listening to because the melody would just be stuck there (examples would be "Short Hair" or "Magical Season"). Nevertheless, Gigi still managed to release a solid album that focused on her strong point, ballads. Her voice still sounds refreshing and although there isn't that one ballad that I couldn't stop listening to, there are several that I would take out once in a while. Overall, this album might take a while to get into to (as it did for me), but it's worth it in the end.
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The 5th Season (CD+DVD) (Preorder Version)
The 5th Season (CD+DVD) (Preorder Version) DVD Region All
(2)Our Price: US$21.49Related promotions:October 21, 2009 Worth the waitAfter the disappointment I call Ang 5.0, I was worried that Angela would return with an album as weak or weaker than it. Fortunately, my concerns had disappeared when I heard the first single, "White". From then on, I became more and more anxious to hear what this album would sound like and it did not disappoint in the end.
It's truly difficult to find a favourite on this album. Starting with the ever powerful title track, Angela grabs the listener's attention. Her voice really echoes throughout the song. "White" is by far one of Angela's best ballads. It follows up the powerful sound found in the previous track, but highlights Angela's emotional vocals even more. "See the Furthest Place" is one of those ballads that you hear everywhere in Cpop, but has its way of getting into our playlists. It's a slow, but relaxing song. The fourth song, "Lucky Kiss" is a cute, but refreshing pop song. The use of heavy beats and the repetitive phrase -Wo Ai Ni- makes the song get stuck in your head. "Head Swing" is one of my favourite songs on the album. It's an upbeat and overall just plain fun pop/rock song with the music video just emphasizing this. "Occasionally" is a typical sounding Angela ballad and that's exactly why I like it. It starts slow, but progresses and reaches it peak at the last chorus. It really highlights her high notes. "I Want You" is a total turn from the rest of the album. This dark pop song is certainly the coolest sounding on the album and I have to say, Ang sounds wicked in it. Her voice fits it perfectly. "Emily Looking For Love" is a striking difference from the previous song. This cute pop song isn't one of my favourites, but it helps show off Ang's versatility. "Happier Again" is a very funky pop song. It fuses some interesting and awkward sounding synths together. For some reason, the song gives off a Beatles' feel to it. The final song, "I started a joke" is the only English song on the album and is a cover of the 1968 Bee Gee's song of the same name. Ang definitely puts a nice twist to it and her fluency is inevitable.
Overall, this album was surprisingly refreshing. I was not expecting it to turn out so solid, especially after the rushed Ang 5.0. Unfortunately Angela hasn't had much time to promote this album, but it's perfect for fans who have been waiting for so long for something interesting, unique and just plain new. Recommended for all.
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Red Cyndi (New + Best Selection) (CD + Karaoke DVD)
Red Cyndi (New + Best Selection) (CD + Karaoke DVD) DVD Region All
(2)Our Price: US$24.49Related promotions:March 28, 2009 Cyndi's BestCyndi Wang has her share of fans and anti-fans, but sometimes it's because she's misunderstood. I was once an anti-fan as I disliked Cyndi's image, but since buying this best, I must say that I have turned into a fan. This release is filled with numerous fun tracks as well as nice ballads, though I must say that Cyndi's strong points are definitely her upbeat songs. After dishing out 6 studio albums since 2003, it's great to see a full best album that definitely includes most of Cyndi's best songs. It's also great to see 13 music videos added, as it's a great bonus and definitely made me want to buy the album.
It's nice to see new songs added to the album and all three are great. Hihi Byebye is a funky dance/pop track that is reminiscent to a few of Cyndi's more "cuter" songs. It's nice to listen to and extremely catchy. 因為是你 is a ballad that doesn't stray far from Cyndi's usual ballads. With this said, I think it's one of the weaker songs on the best because I prefer Cyndi's upbeat tracks. The last of the new tracks is 水仙, a traditional sounding dance/pop track. This is definitely the strongest of the three as it is the most unique sounding. Of course, this album isn't complete without 13 of Cyndi's biggest hits. I would definitely say that DADADA is the best song on the album because it's very infectious and catchy. Other great tracks include Cyndi's debut single,
灰姑娘的眼淚 and 愛的天靈靈. The former is a more serious dance/pop track, while the latter is bubblegum pop. It's also good to see a few ballads on the album such as 這就是愛, which I consider Cyndi's best ballad.
All in all, if you're a fan, but haven't been able to collect her albums, this is definitely the perfect release for you. Even if you're not a fan, it's a nice cd to buy because I got into her thanks to this. It combines a nice mix of catchy dance/pop songs and ballads. Although Cyndi doesn't have the most amazing voice and her "cute" image might put you off, you might be surprised with what you hear.
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Fall In Love & Songs (Regular Version)
Fall In Love & Songs (Regular Version)
(1)Our Price: US$18.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
March 27, 2009 Fall in Love With FishI wasn't sure how this album was to turn out when I first heard. The pre-releases single, Ido was strikingly amazing and a strong ballad and several great duets, so I knew the album would take on a slightly more relaxing feel to its overall sound and strangely enough, I wasn't too surprise. Fall in Love & Songs is another amazing Fish album. After pumping out hits for years, it's great that her 10th anniversary album is another stunning release.
Many of the songs on here are pretty mainstream friendly. Unlike some of her previous albums where some of of the main promotional tracks were unique sounding ballads, Fall in Love & Songs brings fans a light pop feel, where the emphasis is on the lyrics. The main track is Track 2, a midtempo pop ballad. A cover of the Japanese 2008 hit by singer Aoyama Thelma, Fish changes the song up a bit. Although the melody is similar, the song brings in a cheerier and more uplifting sound. Other great tracks include track 1, a gentle, but sincere ballad. Fish sounds really amazing in it and the melody is really captivating. Track 3 another striking ballad. Although its one of FIsh's more "standard" sounding ballads, the melody is just striking and I really enjoy the use of strings in here. Also, there is track 9, which was released on the limited IDO single. It's probably the most dramatic of the ballads and is definirely one of my favourites. The arrangement is simple, but Fish's vocals do the job.
Overall, this is a great album. I won't say it was as good as j'Adore or my all-time favoutie Swallowtail Butterfly, but it's a solid album with solid tracks. I find this one different from her other albums because it goes for a more relaxing and light sound. It somewhat reflects some of her earlier albums minus the acoustic guitar.
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1 people found the following helpful
March 23, 2009 The most blessed thingTo be honest, when I first listened to this album, I was quite disappointed. Although I knew Rachel was in the latest season of One Million Star, I hadn't watched it and therefore I didn't know what to expect with this album. At first, it was boring and uneventful. The ballads were ok, but somewhat draggy and I disliked the use of her voice in the more upbeat and "cuter" tracks. However, someone recommended me the first track to the album and after watching the music video, I was hooked. After that, the rest of the album was like gold. Rachel has a high pitched, thinner sounding voice, but unlike other popular c-pop artists out there, she knows how to use it. The ballads are thoughtful and great pieces of music, but it's her voice that captures the essence of their spirit. Her penetrating voice is able to gather the strength needed to really give the songs life.
As said previously, the first track is my first, but it's also my favourite. Other sensational tracks include track 5 and 6, both powerful ballads. The latter shows Rachel at her best vocally, while the former is a standard chinese ballad that is touched by her voice. The rest of the cd is filled with strong tracks that range from ballads to light hearted pop tracks. Other favourites on the album include track 2 and track 8. These two tracks show how versatile Rachel is as an artist. Track 2 is a relaxing midtempo pop track that gets you bobbing up and down, while track 8 is a cover of Boyz "Love You Anyway". It captures the true essence of British pop at its best.
Overall, this cd is just remarkable. Whether it hits you right at the start or it takes you some time like it did for me, be sure to try this album out irregardless. It's definitely one of my favourite albums of 2008.
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April 8, 2008 Not bad to say the least
Chen Wei hit Taiwan during the summer of 2007 and "Bu Xiang Rang Ni Ai" received quite a lot of airplay. Chen Wei's debut is quite strong as it seems to be styled with dance songs that are good in clubs. Nevertheless, 2 ballads are also added to bring a mainstream feel.
For the dance songs, the first track is probably the strongest as it uses a pretty wicked Latin sound. The second song incorporates a little more rock, but still includes some dance influence. The fourth is pretty nice as it seems to gear towards the trance style while the sixth track seems to add more pop. The other 2 songs on the first CD are the ballads and probably the weakest part of the album. They are boring and tend to lean to the laid back style. Chen Wei has beautiful, strong vocals and these tracks do little to show that. The album also includes a remix CD which makes some of the tracks on the first CD, much stronger (and I'm not a fan of remixes).
Overall, a strong debut for the singer, though she needs to find some good ballads that suit her voice. I hope she will continue to release.
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Kim Mi Ryoe 1st Single - Meet Myself
Kim Mi Ryoe 1st Single - Meet Myself
(1)Our Price: US$10.99List: US$14.99Save: US$4.00 (27%)Related promotions:February 17, 2008 Not badDon't expect anything incredible from this single. The title track is a fun, upbeat song that works nicely with the singers's voice. However, it doesn't stand out too well and at times, lacks in excitement. The single also includes 2 ballads, one of which is simple, yet boring. The other one however is definitely the highlight of the single. It sounds similar to current ballads released in the Korean industry, but the main high point is Mi Ryoe's vocal power and emotion. Overall, the single goes back and forth and inbetween.
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Sung Yu Bin Vol. 1 - Never Forget You
Sung Yu Bin Vol. 1 - Never Forget You
(1)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Related promotions:February 17, 2008 CalmingSung Yu Bin is a relatively new artist on the music scene. His voice isn't amazing, but he is still able to pull off ballads nicely. Fortunately, that is what the album is made up of. The majority of the album is full of enjoyable ballads that compliment his voice well. However, it is no doubt that it does get somewhat boring as it goes on. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a new ballad singer, look out for this guy.
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BoA - Listen to My Heart
February 17, 2008 Strong AlbumThough BoA was so young at this time, it's no doubt that Listen To My Heart is one of her strongest albums. The majority of the album is full of upbeat dance/pop tracks such as ID;Peace B or Listen To My Heart, which allows BoA to show her best. The ballads on the album were great as well and though there were very few of them, they definitely stood out. The only big problem that I found with the album was the remix, which I felt was horrible at best.
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Hero (Japan Version)
February 11, 2008 Very InterestingHero is probably one of the most interesting songs I've ever heard. It incorporates some spanish styles, while still maintaining a strong pop feel. It's catchy, energizing and somewhat haunting. My Crazy Days seems a little more straightforward pop, though still using some rock to give it some edge. It's also pretty catchy, though not considerably amazing. Spring is a lot better than the last track. It's much slower, but it still maintains a pop sound, more so than the previous 2 tracks. It's a pretty calm, but enjoyable track.Overall, this is probably hiro's strongest single yet.
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Kanojo (Japan Version)
February 11, 2008 EnjoyableAs big of a fan of aiko I am, Kanojo was only ok for me. I would usually be able to find a few album tracks that I would enjoy on her older albums, but one was lacking in that area. aiko's music is great, but everything felt pretty mediocre, except for the single tracks, which were amazing. Overall, an ok album, but for newer people, her older stuff would be better.
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Star (Japan Version)
February 11, 2008 Great singleStar is quite a single. The title track is emotional and one of aiko's most touching ballads to date. Though it shares a resemblance to numerous other songs by her, aiko is still able to make this a standout track. The second track is a pretty light hearted song, which is both catchy and once again shares a resemblance to her previous works. I find that her B-sides tend to lag behind, but this one is definitely one of her best. The last song is once again another highlight. I must say the use of brass instruments definitely propels the song, giving it an extra touch where it's draggy melody lacks. Overall, this is quite an enjoyable single, though it shares resemblances to other aiko singles.
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December 31, 2007 Masterpiece
Seriously, this being one of my first albums that I bought, it was worth all the money. The mix of catchy, aggressive upbeat tracks, and more laidback, midtempo songs, provides a nice switch between the 2. The first track is a powerful upbeat pop track that goes nicely with Stefanie's vocals. The third is a laidback, midtempo track that starts off rather countryish, but ends up being a catchy pop/rock song.
This is definitely one of the best Cpop albums out there and you should definitely get your hands on it if you can.
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My Desired Happiness
December 31, 2007 Not her bestThough I must agree that some of the tracks really do stand out, the album really takes some time before it starts to get into your skin. The title track is definitely a powerhouse song that will immediately get you in the mood and feel of the album, however, many of the other tracks can sometimes be rather lackluster in comparison, until they grow on you.
Sun Yan Zi's vocals are also not as top-notch as some of her later releases, but that is due to this cd being released earlier in her career. All in all, this is an ok album that would benefit fans more. New comers might enjoy recent releases such as Stefanie more.
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Red Rose
Red Rose
(24)Our Price: US$15.99List: US$23.49Save: US$7.50 (32%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:May 9, 2007 Good artist, decent albumElva used to sing a lot more ballads before she turned to a more hip-hop style. This album really shows us how she was back then. I was only attracted to 1 song, which was the first track. I personally thought the rest of the tracks were decent, but nothing amazing (and somewhat forgettable). Elva's voice is very nice however and can sometimes carry these songs on there own. Anyways, the album is decent, but nothing amazing.
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Kyung Sung Hyun vol.1 - Black & White
Kyung Sung Hyun vol.1 - Black & White
(1)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Related promotions:May 9, 2007 Expect differentlyI bought the album because it was cheap and the cover looked cool. The album also said that it'll rock the dance world (or something around that lines). Anyways, don't expect that. The majority of the album is ballads and there is only one upbeat track. The songs aren't bad themselves, but not stellar. The artist's voice isn't what you'd call amazing either. He's very rough and old sounding and also seems to struggle at times. I would not recommend buying this album, unless you want to add to your Kpop collection and the cd is really cheap.
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2 people found the following helpful
May 9, 2007 RIP U;neeRIP to one of the best artists I've ever discovered (sadly, I found out about her on her death). Unlike some of her past releases, this one is only decent at most (her others were great). There are only 4 tracks that I really liked liked. The others were either meh or bleh. The ballads were nice and gentle, but a little power in it could've brought out U;nee's voice to it's full potential. The dance tracks were pretty well done (tracks 3, 4, 9, 11). However, the rest of them were either forgettable or really needed some work.
Buy this album though, especially if you're a fan as this will be the last time you will hear U;nee.
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U;NEE vol.1 - 1st u;nee code
U;NEE vol.1 - 1st u;nee code
(10)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Related promotions:1 people found the following helpful
May 9, 2007 Great dance albumThis album is definitely my favourite of U;nee's. It has some of the best dance tracks that I've ever heard, especially Go, which I found very well produced. However, the album is sadly not all dance and also incorporates other styles. Yes, this gives variety int he album, but those songs also lack in quality that make the dance songs amazing. Some are boring while others just not good. If you're a fan (of u;nee or dance), this is definitely the album for you. However, be warned that some songs might not be your cup of tea.
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Yang Yoon Jung
May 9, 2007 ....Well the album wasn't BAD BAD. But it definitely did lag in places. The majority of the album was boring. The album mostly takes the form of upbeat rock/pop with a few ballads here and there. The lack of catchy melodies makes the majority of the songs uninteresting. There were only a few parts in a few songs that were enjoyable, but that's not a lot. Considering the album only had 9 tracks also weakened it because it didn't give the artist a chance to add more and possibly better tracks (if that was true however). Anyways, I bought this album for cheap, but if you ever find it. I do not recommend it.
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