Reviews written by Cherryblossom-garden.com
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Sky (Japan Version)
October 2, 2005 Highly recommendedI think this is BENNIE K's best single so far. It didn't get as much hype as Dreamland, but I think this single has a much better range of songs.
The title song "Sky" is a medium paced song with a melancholy feeling and freedom to choose as its main theme. Track two, OSAGA, has a really weird composition, the instruments are all native Japanese but the arrangement is odd. The song is about being proud of your roots and so on, at first I frowned at it, but now it's one of my all-time favorite BENNIE K songs.
The final song, "Happy Drive", featuring m-flo's verbal is another great track. The rap is really hilarious in this song and the tune is very addictive.
I'm looking forward to their upcoming album in November, but untill then I'll keep myself happy with this single and of course the Dreamland single.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Jonetsu (Japan Version)
1 people found the following helpful
September 1, 2005 Awesome songThis song is really awesome. Jounetsu uses the music from UA's orignal Jounetsu song, but the lyrics are different. It's a really good R&B song that starts off kinda unconventional but continues into something really brilliant. Definite must-buy for Miliyah fans and for people that love inventive R&B. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Mahiru no Tsuki (Japan Version)
Mahiru no Tsuki (Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:2 people found the following helpful
September 1, 2005 AlrightThis single is alright. Mahiru no Tsuki is an okay ballad with some soft piano and obligatory dramatic violin. The c/w "Prayer" pretty much sucks. I don't understand why Hitomi is giving us so many half-assed singles, but it's gotta stop cuz I'm getting tired of them already. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
2 people found the following helpful
August 29, 2005 Great song!I just heard this song on the radio and I must say I love it. It's a lot better than Dareka no negai kanau koro. I'm sure it'll be a big hit. Her voice sounds much better than it did a few years ago and I'm glad she's coming back to the Japanese music scene because I've missed her so much. She'll be releasing another single this winter and hopefully soon we'll hear when her new album is coming out, since she mentioned that she's been recording quite a few songs lately.
Keep up the great work Hikki-chan, we still love you!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Promise (Japan Version)
August 6, 2005 Great!
Apart from the very basic background music, "Promise" is a very catchy upbeat song, and is currently being used as the Yakitatte! JAPAN! anime series opening song. "Taisetsu na mono", at first I hated it, and then for some reason, after a few more listens, I loved it and now I like it more then "Promise". If you're a TiA fan, don't miss out on this one. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Warabi Gami (Japan Version)
August 4, 2005 Wonderful cover
This single is absolultely great! I just saw the video on MTV Asian and even though the video is boring the song is great! bird's magnificent voice is just perfect for this classic song. Koja Misako can be proud of such an excellent cover! Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Synchro (Japan Version)
June 26, 2005 Impressive
I had never heard of this band before this single and I was really surprised at how catchy it is. It's a weird, happy kind of song. The vocalist reminds me of Otsuka Ai and YUKI (from Judy and Mary) but she does have her own unique sound. Highly recommended buy. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Hikari no Kazu dake Glamorous (Japan Version)
Hikari no Kazu dake Glamorous (Japan Version)
(2)Our Price: US$13.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:June 21, 2005 Still on quite there yetAlthough Avex is spending some good money on getting Beni commercials and advertisements, she's still not broken through as an artist. She seemed to be on a roll after her third single, but sales only went down after that and her debut album, 4th single and 5th single have had disappointing sales. This single takes a very different approach with music. In her first 4 singles, Beni really focused on using the strength in her voice to stand out, this time the song is very smooth and soft. The side-affect of that is that the title song is too uninteresting because it's nothing we haven't already heard and it borders towards Avex's mass produced quasi-urban music. It's a real shame because once again we see an Avex artist relying on her beauty rather than her talent, which in Beni's case is a real shame because she's such a good performer.
I'm praying that Beni will at least keep her clothes on regardless of the disappointing sales, I don't want her to turn into the next Koda Kumi or Namie Amuro because that would mean that there's no more Avex artists I like.
"The Power" and "Call Me, Beep Me" were disappointing in my opinion and also way too generic to be considered good. I liked the way they morphed her voice in the beginning of "The Power", but that's about it.
If you've never heard Beni, I suggest getting her "Here alone" or "Harmony" single, because it'll give you a better perspective on her talent.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Mermaid (Japan Version)
1 people found the following helpful
June 7, 2005 Much better than Garnet MoonThis single is definately a good buy for $11.99. The song ~Mermaid~ is accompanied by Gothic Fugue music that makes the whole very, well, Gothic. Shimatani Hitomi has a great voice, but a lot of times the music does not match her voice (Angelus single for example was the classic mistake of making a low soprano sing club music). This single I really feel that they choose good music and lyrics.
I very rarely buy Avex products because of their lack of quality, but this one I will buy just to be fair.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Let's go faraway (Japan Version)
Let's go faraway (Japan Version)
(3)Our Price: US$15.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
June 7, 2005 Faraway with SoweluSowelu's 10th single at last! I've been waiting for a new official release since February. Yeah she did the single with JHETT and appeared on the female soundtrack but I was waiting for an original single.
"Let's go faraway" is a true Sowelu song. The music is done by the same man who did "I Will" and the lyrics are by "Natural High" who also did wrote her songs "Last forever" and "cloudy" from her last album.
The song is much like "No Limit" but I like this one much, much better. It has a better tune and I love the lyrics. Sowelu always looks great, especially in this video, which has a real summer setting. No Sowelu fan should go without this single. I'm hoping that she continues doing Japanese music and doesn't stray too much into english music. Her english is great but they always make her do covers and that kinda ruins it.
Highly recommended single to anyone who loves JPop summer tunes!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
fairy (Japan Version)
April 11, 2005 Magical music by a Japanese legend
Seiko Matsuda has been in the business for so long, yet her music has never been disappointing. "Fairy" is a wonderful album in many ways.
First off, this album is pretty much only ballad-type songs, so if you like upbeat music, this album isn't for you. If you are looking for easy-listening, then this album will be your favourite for a long time.
The music on this album suits Seiko's sweet voice almost perfectly. Right now this album is what I use to unwind after a long day of work, and I really recommend it to Seiko fans and newcomers to Japanese music.
One thing I can't get enough of is the beautiful cover. Seiko looks so..magical! It really fits the title of the album as well as her sweet personality. And she sure does look great for a 43 year old. ^_^
The only problem I have with this album is that it costs $30,49 for only 10 songs (Track 5 is instrumental). Of course, I don't mind spending that kind of money on her, but it's still a bit pricey.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
MUSIC (Japan Version)
1 people found the following helpful
March 8, 2005 An Album you Cannot Miss!This album is really hard to describe in words. It's simply brilliant from beginning to end.
The CD opens with "Sakurairo Maukoro", one of the most touching and sweet songs I've ever heard. "Oborodukiyo ~Inori" is also a ballad, but in a much more mystical way, Mika's voice really hits the high notes in this one. "Hi no Tori", probably one of her more famous singles, is a sort of classical song mixed with a techno beat and unusual vocals. "Kumo no Ito" is perhaps one of the most beautiful songs I've heard so far, it is a masterpiece of contemporary music accompanied by Mika's 'haunting' voice. "Rocking Horse" on the contrary, is a masterful mix of jazz and rock, which makes for another awesome track. "Carrot & Whip" is more of a mainstream pop song with rather interesting lyrics and a more adult theme. "Shadows of You" is another sweet ballad, which I can't get enough of. Mika's voice really sweeps you away with this song, a great romatic mood maker. "LEGEND" is a great techno-ish song, and "HEMOROKKU" reminded me of 80ties hip-hop mixed with techno beats and funny lyrics. "SEVEN" is an awesome, fast pop song about time, and "FAKE" is an amazing, slow, Jazz song. "Fed Up" is really stunning, it's a mix between a ballad and a hardrock song, and I was really surprised at how well Mika pulls it off. "Hitori" is a sad song about a woman who longs for her lover after parting, and is a really sentimental ending to this great album.
This is perhaps one of the best albums available right now. Don't pass it up!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
BEST OF SOUL (Japan Version)
BEST OF SOUL (Japan Version)
(20)Our Price: US$35.25Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:January 12, 2005 $30 for old songsI'm sorry, but the normal edition of this CD is a rip-off. $30 for a bunch of old songs, with no new remixes or anything.
You're better off getting the more expensive DVD version because it has all the videos to go along with it.
Hopefully BoA will come up something good soon, because most of her albums are boring.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Omoi ga Kazanaru Sono Mae ni... (Overseas Version)
October 28, 2004 Wow! Another hit by KenKen Hirai does it again. He has topped the charts with this unbelievably beautiful single. This song is very sweet and slow, Ken's voice is very soothing and the music is very calm and easy to listen to.
Omoi ga Kazanaru Sono Mae ni is the number 1 hit on the Oricon charts, so don't miss out on this single!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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