Reviews written by Alex
-
Memory Single Album - She Dreamed That She Was Flying Like A Bird
Memory Single Album - She Dreamed That She Was Flying Like A Bird
(1)Our Price: US$10.99List: US$14.99Save: US$4.00 (27%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:March 22, 2009 solid ballad albumMemory's voice should be familiar to those who are familiar with Spring Waltz, particularly the song Flower. Like Flower, many of the songs on this album are solid ballads.
Track 1 is the strongest ballad on this album, with a beautiful classical backing; pianos and violins, later joined by an electric and an acoustic guitar. Memory's vocals are smooth and suit the atmosphere and instruments perfectly, and the overall song gently tugs on your heart, seeming to resonate bittersweetly. It's a very sincere song, and very enjoyable. As a ballad, it's not incredibly unique, but the electric guitar is a nice touch, and not overdone at all. It's in between a sleepy soft ballad and a powerful ballad, making it easy to listen to.
Track 2 is a little iffy. The beginning is a a somewhat awkward guitar intro with Memory suddenly coming in a bit later. She sounds a little uncertain in this song. It's definitely the more upbeat track, but it sounds a little awkward and incomplete, for some reason.
Track 3 is a more upbeat ballad, falling somewhere in between Track 1 and 2. It's relaxing, but still fairly energetic, and quite sincere as Memory effortlessly lilts to the higher notes. Her English is surprisingly fluent "I'm gonna give you all my love~" is quite cute. It's a fun and pretty song, but it doesn't stand out as breathtaking or astounding.
Track 4 is a remake of a popular Japanese song known as Nada Sou Sou. It follows the original song surprisingly well, and as I like the original song, I found Memory's version quite enjoyable as well. Although the song is supposed to be traditional Japanese style, Memory covered it very well.
The instrumentals are a nice touch, as Track 1 and 4 both have nice very nice instrumental backings. The instrumental to Track 2 is also pretty good; though not as nice, it's not bad.
In conclusion? If you like ballads, try this out. Memory's awesome at ballads; her voice is light and sincere. If you don't really like albums, try it out anyway; there aren't many popular female singers in Korea who can carry a tune that well, but Memory is an exception. She can sing confidently and with emotion. The main downfall of the album is, frankly, the lack of diversity; though Track 2 was a nice try to add something different, it fell short compared to her ballads in terms of quality. Still, a solid ballad album that's worth taking a look at.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Dong Bang Shin Ki Vol. 4 - Mirotic (CD+Photobook)(Korea Version A)
Dong Bang Shin Ki Vol. 4 - Mirotic (CD+Photobook)(Korea Version A)
(141)Our Price: US$15.99List: US$21.99Save: US$6.00 (27%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
October 26, 2008 one word: awesome.though i'm a DBSK fan, i approached with album with considerable skepticism. i adored their past two albums, but this one was supposed to be one of dramatic change. i did eventually cave in, and it's easily become one of my favorite albums of 2008, and my favorite DBSK album so far.
the first track is their lead single, MIROTIC, which has some clear American influences in its overall sound; however, it does retain a KPOP-feel. the vocals are on par, making for a great American-inspired dance song - and i usually don't like dance music all that much. other great upbeat songs include Track 2, Wrong Number, which talks about an almost stalker-like girlfriend, and Track 5, HEY!, which leaked early and is extremely addictive with a fast beat and catchy sound. there are also a number of slower tracks, like Track 3 (Afterglow), Track 6 (You're My Melody), and the last song Love in the Ice, all of which brilliantly showcase the boys' smooth and harmonized vocals. and for those who enjoy something sort of slow and sort of fast, there are tracks like Track 4 (Crazy Love) and Track 7 which aren't exactly fast-paced dance songs or slow ballads, instead falling comfortably in the middle.
in short, this album was completely worth the one year and seven months wait. the boys' vocal skills have developed immensely during their stint in Japan, and this album is definitely one only DBSK can pull off, combining intense choreography with amazing vocals. definitely one of Korea's best albums this year, one of DBSK's best works, and one of my favorite albums to date.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
YounHa Vol. 2 - Someday
YounHa Vol. 2 - Someday
(6)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
September 7, 2008 a solid second album~!Younha’s second album is a great effort: it features, of course, her standard pop-rock sound, along with a bunch of ballads and rock-inspired songs. I personally enjoyed Gossip Boy and Telepathy largely, both fun, energetic pop-rock songs with infectious melodies. Best Friend also follows a similar vein and is also pulled off well with an adorable piano solo, as does My Song and…, which is entirely in English with barely an accent.
There are also rock songs, like Hero and Someday, both of which are energetic but a little typical at times, though it’s compensated for thanks to Younha’s vocals. There are a number of slower tracks; some are slow, but not ballads, like Track 2’s Memory (which features Tablo’s excellent rapping; the pair work really well together) and Rainbow (a more acoustic-like sound; more soft rock than pop-rock). Others are simple ballads, like Track 7 (Sound of Rain), Strawberry Days, and Track 11 (It Hates). The ballads are in a row (including For Catharina, a piano solo), which can seem a little boring after awhile, though Track 11 is saved thanks to the addition of an electric guitar halfway through the song. My Song and… cuts off the ballads for a few minutes, though Track 13 is yet another ballad. The ‘last’ song (aside from instrumentals) is a different version of Track 2 without Tablo; I personally preferred it with his rapping.
Overall, this album was solid, much like her previous one. It’s certainly a fresh breath in the music scene; Younha’s sound is a unique one in the Korean pop scene thanks to her versatile, strong, and genuine voice. I think the tracks could have been better arranged – I was getting bored of so many ballads in a row, and rock songs tend to lose their punch when you hear so many of them in a row (as in the beginning) – though at least Best Friend was thrown in the middle of some ballads to prevent too many slow songs in a row. Still, Younha is versatile, and there seems to be a song for any mood or occasion.
The main highlight of course is Younha’s voice; the songs (if Younha didn’t have her amazing voice) could’ve been rather bland. None of the tracks really stood out to me the way Password 486 did on first listen, but if you like Younha, or female pop-rock vocalists who can really sing, then this is a nice album to try out; I certainly don't regret getting it.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
-
Dong Bang SHin Ki - Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimattan darou? (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Dong Bang SHin Ki - Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimattan darou? (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
(4)Our Price: US$12.99List: US$18.99Save: US$6.00 (32%)Related promotions:July 31, 2008 great single~i personally didn't really like their last single, beautiful you; so when i heard they were coming out with another ballad, i was doubtful. nonetheless, this single blew me away when i first heard it: the title track is a heartfelt ballad with sweetly sad lyrics of being unable to confess until it's too late. the music is soft, and the vocals are bittersweet and gentle to match.
the b-side, by comparison, is a more traditional summer song reminiscent of their former summer songs like Sky and Summer Dream with a reggae-style. the energy on this track nicely balances with the a-side's softer sound, and despite being a b-side, is of good quality; not simply a throwaway track.
the acapella and instrumentals are also a nice addition, making this an excellent single overall. highly recommended single.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Ray Kang Vol. 1 - Now, Here
Ray Kang Vol. 1 - Now, Here
(6)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:July 31, 2008 nice debut~to someone who enjoys acoustic soft-rock, i've always had trouble finding this genre in korean music; it seems to be mostly in american music. ray kang's sound is, as one might expect, very american-inspired, for better or worse. to hear this genre in korean (and english, as some of the tracks are completely in english) is a unique experience. ray's voice is husky and soothing, and the music matches his voice well, never overpowering or understating.
my only disappointment was a lack of variety, as some of the songs sound a little similar to one another. nonetheless, it' a high-quality debut that should be checked out by those who are fans of this genre.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
-
YounHa Vol. 1 - The Perfect Day to Say I Love You
YounHa Vol. 1 - The Perfect Day to Say I Love You
(9)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Related promotions:2 people found the following helpful
January 21, 2008 one of the best this yearI first heard of Younha around the time she was still fairly new to the Japanese industry, and most of her Japanese songs didn't leave a lasting impression on me. This album, however, showcases her talent beautifully. Though it never really strays too far from the pop-genre, ensuring it doesn't alienate too many hardcore-mainstream listeners, it does mix in healthy amounts of pop-ballad, rock, and even a few jazz elements, resulting in an album that fits together, but doesn't have you feeling like every song is the same.
Throughout this album, Younha shows off her versatility with genres, powerful vocals, vocal range, and most of all her passion. She easily does powerful rock songs as easily as powerful ballads, showing her flexibility but leaving a trademark sound that belongs distinctly to Younha. The lyrics are, as one might expect, about love; something that usually makes me cringe a bit, but some of them, thankfully, are less cheesy than one might expect from a teenage girl's songs.
Definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. Though this album, as stated, isn't particularly ground-breaking in terms of its style, as it IS a pop album, it's oddly refreshing and fun to listen to. She definitely deserved all the awards she got for this album.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
-
Monday Kiz + V.O.S. + Ilac Single - Friendship
Monday Kiz + V.O.S. + Ilac Single - Friendship
(1)Our Price: US$10.99List: US$14.99Save: US$4.00 (27%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:January 19, 2008 great singleI personally am not enormously huge on ballads, but I really liked this single. To any Korean music-savvy person, VOS should be familiar, and one of their members takes part in this: but the other two, a member of the duo Monday Kiz and soloist Ilac, are considerably underrate. In my opinion, the three of them sound great together. They may not be as good-looking as some male singers these days, but they more than make up for it with their vocals.
In the title song, which is my favorite, each of them take their turn singing solo parts, emphasizing their own unique voice and skill, before a short instrumental solo takes place. When all of them sing together, though, it's really amazing; the way they harmonize, and slowly build their strength up sent a shiver down my spine.
The b-side isn't bad either, starting off a bit more slowly. It's more mellow, but follows the same R&B-ballad style. It's not a bad song, but I prefer the title track: but their harmonization in this song is just as great. It's gentler, but just as emotional; though the beginning is a bit slow for my taste, it's very soothing.
That said, this is a great single, especially for R&B-ballad fanatics. Even if you're not one, like me, and you're just looking for some very talented male vocalists belting out beautiful love songs, I'd definitely recommend this. :)Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
Showing: 1-7 of 7 items
Page:
1
United States - English
Bookmark & Share