Reviews written by some guy
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i / flancy (Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
October 28, 2002 Still going strongAfter listening to this album a couple of times, I've noticed that the greatest weakness of this i/flancy is that the tracks do not flow as smoothly like in Yaiko's first two albums. The most awkward part of the album is when it went from a track that was fast and energetic (ANDANTE) to something slow and happy (Ring My Bell). It does this again in niji no DRIVE (track 5) to Change your mind. Compared the flow from Buzzstyle to Look Back Again and Not Still Over in Candlize or B'coz I Love You to Your Kiss and then My Sweet Darlin' in daiya-monde, i/flancy just can't compete. Another problem with this album is that Yaiko's new songs don't really grab your attention; you'll hear the song, but it's not as distracting as any of her older ones, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your preference; who didn't feel like jumping around and saying, "Go look back again" or "darlin, darlin" every time Yaiko said it?
So why am I still giving this a high score? Well, the first reason is that all of her new songs still sound good, even though they're not well-placed in the album. You'll freak out (if not laugh, maybe do both) the first time you hear Creamed Potatoes, appreciate the fact that Yaiko can make a very good five-minute song in i can fly, and feel a sense of tranquility (and then accidentally pass out) from listening to i really want to understand you. Then there's Ring My Bell and ANDANTE for those who didn't want to pick up the single versions...
And, since this limited version has a pretty good CD-Extra (+1 point to rating), I "flancy" this one more than the non-limited version.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
August 4, 2002 Normal version is not an option
It's been almost two years ever since I heard a fast-paced rock song from Hitomi Yaida, and this is pretty darn good. Andante is reminiscent of either a random intro to an anime title or some stage in a space-shooter (you know, those video games where you pilot a ship that explodes instantly to a tiny glowing bullet, but can annihilate almost anything it encounters). Hitomi Yaida's version of Fast Car is nice (and if you listened to Tracy Chapman's original, it makes sense); however, since this song was taken from someone else, it's not ging to receive a perfect score from me.
However, what bounces it back up is the fact that this is the limited edition. There's a few goodies in here that makes getting this version of the single worth it. The most obvious is the pictures on the album jacket: one picture becomes two overlapping ones when the jacket is viewed outside of the jewel case. Then there's data in the CD itself that requires you to go online to see more goodies, but it'd spoil the fun if I told you. Just get this single already if it's not sold out.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
February 26, 2002 A nice addition for Yaiko fans
This CD contains most of the work Hitomi Yaida did in Europe, which isn't much. Two of her songs, My Sweet Darlin' and I Like, (called Maybe I Like in Europe), are redone entirely in English, although I can't guarantee that every Yaiko fan will like these versions (I found the Japanese versions of these songs to be better). However, this is a plus for those who like her music but don't understand Japanese. The UK Completion also has live recorded audio from Yaida's London tour. In this tour, Yaiko sings slightly different versions of her original songs with the group Twisted Beans (Diamond Head is MIA, but this doesn't mean these songs sound any worse with this group; in fact, it's actually refreshing). The only problem with this CD are the remixes, since I can't imagine anyone making remixes, especially dance mixes, of Yaiko's music, but at least the track order is structured so all of the good stuff is in the middle of the album and the remixes at the beginning and end. Overall, I thourougly enjoyed this CD, but I wouldn't recommend it to those who haven't heard any of Yaida's songs before. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
I''m here saying nothing (Japan Ver.)
I''m here saying nothing (Japan Ver.)
(3)Our Price: US$16.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:February 25, 2002 One of Yaida's best singlesI'm Here Saying Nothing was one of the songs that caught my interest into Hitomi Yaida. However, this song was re-recorded in Candlize with a more acoustic feel (which is good in its own right), so I had to get this single in order to listen to the original version (which also sounds good). Life's Like a Love Song sounds the same as it does in the album, so there's nothing to woo about over here, unless you haven't heard it before. However... There are two versions of this single: the intial pressing and the ones after the inital pressing. I don't know how many there are left, but if you get one of the intial pressing copies, you're in for an extra treat- the third track of this single, which is the live recording of My Sweet Darlin,' comes with live concert footage taken from the same place where Yaida performed it. The quality of the footage is not as great as the CD Extra found in Ayumi Hamasaki's Loveppears, but it's still something. But this addition is something you can live without because this single is that good. It shows us that Hitomi Yaida has more talent than just regurgitating more of what's found in daiya-monde. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
5th Anniversary Little Voice Tour 2001 (Overseas Version)
5th Anniversary Little Voice Tour 2001 (Overseas Version) DVD Region All
(2)Our Price: US$19.99Related promotions:February 5, 2002 Amazing what one person can do to a crowd...Chihiro Yonekura sure can liven an audience, and it can be seen by watching the audience's complete immersion with the songs that Chihiro sings to them- she even did a song for Love Hina, called Winter Wish, which is also performed in this concert. Although the concert hall is small, it's for the better: You can see that the crowd gets really reeved up when she sings WILL or Arashino Nakade Kagayaite; a good majority of them saying 'HEY!' with the beat of the song, a synchronized, hearty,'OH YEAH!' whenever she ques them in inu akai furisubi. I won't spoil any more for you because the concert's that fun to watch and listen to (my brother made a few sarcastic remarks about the audience's immersion to Chihiro's music). If you ever heard the original music from the Gundam 08th MS Team, Monkore Naito (Mon Colle Knights in the US), or the Love Hina Christmas Special's opening music and liked it any of them, this is a must have. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Distance (Japan version)
Distance (Japan version)
(184)Our Price: US$31.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:July 26, 2001 ImpressiveThis album is really good, actually, far superior than Ayumi Hamasaki's latest songs she's been releasing lately, especially when she can sing in English very well. My only gripes are that Utada has a tendency to repeat herself which drives me up a wall, (eg- can you keep a secret?) and that I paid almost forty dollars for my copy at another store. After finding out it costs only this much over at Yesasia, I am now kicking myself repeatedly for my purchasing habits. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
May 30, 2001 Not bad, not good either.
First of all, forget the remixes found in this single. The first thing I always listen to is the original version of the song. If I don't like it, then the rest of the single goes to waste. I have listened to the mp3 version of this song, and the vocals actually sounds correct, but since Ayumi's pushing herself to release single after single without a break in between, her songs will never reach their full quality because it lacks one element: her voice. I'm sure the lyrics to this song are powerful as they always are, but what's the point in expressing them if the person who's supposed to do it isn't ready? The reason why the song, in my opinion sounds a lot better than her last two singles was because they took two months to actually make the song, plus it's a theme for a pop drama series. What I'm really trying to say here is that the composers are trying to cover up Ayumi's stressed voice (along with maybe a week or two of "express" arranging) with good music. Chances are, those who liked this song probably enjoyed evolution or anything between Duty and this point just as much because the music was really good, and not because Ayu can sing very well along with the music. I know I did. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Little Voice (Japan Ver.)
May 30, 2001 A pleasant surpriseShe's really good, but it's too bad that most of her songs that she chose were from her album, Colours, which was two years ago. I'd pick Chihiro Yonekura over Ayumi Hamasaki anyday. Well, almost anyday... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
May 10, 2001 Impressive
I thought this was another bomber, since I've been listening to her new singles lately. Then I realized that this came out before Duty after listening to it. In my opinion, it beats evolution, but everyone else won't agree with me on this one. You decide. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Love Appear (Japan Version)
Love Appear (Japan Version)
(16)Our Price: US$39.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:April 16, 2001 Avex made a mistake...This album is good. It would've gotten a higher score if it weren't for two things: 1) The songs TO BE and WHATEVER are remixed in this version (monochrome was too, but thatt's okay). They were really minor, (TO BE raised the volume of a beat that drowns out the other instruments, and WHATEVER has an annoying sound effect in it, plus they added two minutes) but that just killed both songs. 2) Her songs have a more commercial feel to them. Just listen to A Song for XX on the 2nd disc, toss out the piano pieces, and you have the original version. Compare that to the songs in Loveppears. The nifty features on the 2nd disc are also good if you have a 266+Mhz system to run it on. Lots of PVs. In short, it's worth your money. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
April 16, 2001 If you have Fly High, forget it
This single is for fans who were unable to purchase a copy of the limited single Fly High and the original single of this re-release. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
April 16, 2001 Absolute perfection
I loved this single. It sounded very natural, and her remixes were fun to listen to. However, the biggest reason to get this single is one song: ever free. You won't find this song in Duty, and it's so underrated because it's not known to many people. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
April 5, 2001 This rules, and stuff. Go buy it now.
If you don't buy this, you are truly missing out two of the best songs created in her entire career. 'Nuff said. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Duty (Japan Version)
April 5, 2001 Eh...It's okay. Not the best you'd expect out of Ayumi. If vogue, far away, and seasons weren't included in this album, it wouldn't be as great. The only song that I like in here is girlish, the first song I've ever heard from her that actually sounds like she's having a good time. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
A Song for xx (Japan Ver.)
April 5, 2001 The true AyuWhy she discontinued this style of music is beyond my comprehension. Out of all of her three albums, this is the best one. However, most people would be turned off by the music as all of her music in this album have a mellow melody to it. Don't be fooled; this is as original as you can get from Ayumi. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestra (Japan Version)
April 5, 2001 Needs more tracks!!!How could they only have eight tracks on this version?! That's not cool, man. However, this version's good. Highly recommended. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
April 2, 2001 So mainstream...
The reason why I adored Ayu in the first place was because of her unique style of music. Now she's giving me this...plastic feel with this song... Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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