Senin, 24 November 2008

Ami Suzuki - Supreme Show



ALBUM REVIEW
Ami Suzuki - Supreme Show

1. TEN
2. can’t stop the DISCO *
3. climb up to the top *
4. SUPER MUSIC MAKER (SA’08S/A mix) *
5. Mysterious
6. change my life
7. LOVE MAIL
8. A token of love *
9. TRUE
10. flower
11. ONE *

Note: Songs with a (*) at the end of their titles have already been reviewed.
Click on the links to see their reviews.
Songs in bold are new tracks and will be reviewed.

♦ ♦ ♦

This is Ami Suzuki’s 7th album and it was released on November 12, 2008. This album reached #16 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 8,748 copies. It’s also her first album to be produced by Yasutaka Nakata and it commemorates her 10th anniversary in the music industry.

To start things off for this 10th anniversary album in a very fitting way is TEN. Alongside the normal synth and beats, what I liked the most about this song is the piano. I love the instrumental sections that feature the piano and they provide an interesting twist to the otherwise electronic sound of the song. The lyrics are in English and even though they are quite simple, you can tell that they are about her music career. Words such as challenge, success, setback, and surprise describe the various stages of her career. A great way to open the album in my opinion.

All of the tracks from the can’t stop the DISCO single appear on the album and in their original tracklisting order. I must say that I really like can’t stop the DISCO now and it was one of those songs that took a while to grab a hold of me. It’s also a good representation of the more laid back club sound that the album has.

Now we have climb up to the top, the B-side from that single. I still haven’t gotten over Suzuki’s annoying yelling but the music proves to be hot anyway. The crazy and constant synth riffs are cool and they never let up, actually making this song the most aggressive on the album. If you can get past the yelling, you’re set.

I honestly felt that it wasn’t necessary to include the SA’08S/A mix of SUPER MUSIC MAKER on the album but since it’s so different from the original, I think it’s okay. The remix is less electronic than the original and the vocals sound less distorted as well. A new mix of FREE FREE would have been great too though.

After all of that, a new track finally appears and it is awesome. Mysterious is my favorite of the album’s new tracks and I find it to be an addicting mix of laid back synth and thumping beats. In this case, the song’s repetition is GOOD and the main reason why I think it’s so damn catchy. Despite the lack of variety and the sameness of Suzuki’s vocals, the rhythm is very infectious.

Imagine THe WeekeND, a song from her last album DOLCE, but about a million times better. That’s what I make of change of my life, a retro inspired track that has a heavy 80s new wave sound. The synth lines are funky and I like the constant beats that go along with them. Suzuki’s vocals are similar to what was heard in Mysterious, but that is not a bad thing at all.

The next track features a more involved and synthed up arrangement compared to the previous two songs. LOVE MAIL is filled with higher pitched synth riffs and upbeat vocals from Suzuki. I liked her “cuter” sounding vocals most of the time, except for when she yells “LOVE MAIL!” to signal the beginning of the chorus.

The ending of LOVE MAIL goes right into the aggressive sound of A token of love, which was originally the B-side on the ONE single. I think this song is pretty cool and I love the strong, rampant techno beats mixed with that deep synth. The verses are actually my favorite parts of the song because of the great rhythm heard in Suzuki’s vocals.

I want to say that TRUE is something that Perfume would do because of the way it starts but Suzuki eventually makes it her own. Her deeper vocals are a good indication of that and the bridge features an interesting organ-like sequence. It’s not exactly the most memorable song, but the music has more sweeping synth riffs compared to the previous tracks.

flower is probably the most unique song on the album because of the inclusion of strings. The beginning is very pretty with the flowing strings but there is also a strong beat as well. The overall arrangement is melodic too, the chorus being the best part. Suzuki’s vocals are slower paced for the verses and she showcases elongated notes, but her voice gets stronger for the chorus. This song is definitely a welcome addition to the album.

Ending the album in the most absolutely perfect way is none other than ONE. I love this song to death and I think it is one of the best songs that Yasutaka Nakata has produced for Suzuki (along with FREE FREE). It’s such a strong techno track that is just saturated with intensity. It’s incredibly catchy with a rhythm that never slows down, except for the effective beats that end the song.

Without a doubt in my mind, Supreme Show is Ami Suzuki’s best album. While I said her previous album DOLCE was “great”, this album is far greater in terms of overall sound and Suzuki has found a genre of music that suits her the best. Nakata has created a niche of the ”J-tek” genre that really fits her and she excels at it. While the album as a whole isn’t as aggressive as I initially thought, I take Supreme Show for what it really is: club and house music at it’s best. This is NOT a true dance album and more songs have the laid back, mid-tempo sound of can’t stop the DISCO than the high octane dance vibes as heard in ONE. Even so, the entire album is very addicting and each track compliments the next perfectly. To end this review, the album is the epitome of FIERCE and one of the best of 2008.

Overall Rating

5 stars

Kamis, 20 November 2008

fransiscus of assisi Choir

KFA, Koor Fransiskus Asisi.
Sebuah koor yang berada dibawah lindungan Santu Fransiskus dari Asisi.
Semula ini adalah koor kecil dibawah naungan gereja Katedral Santo Yoseph dengan nama Koor Katedral (KK). Kita tidak pernah ingat kapan mulanya koor ini berdiri. Tapi koor ini, kini adalah salah satu koor terbaik di Pontianak.
Salah satu koor dengan personil yang cukup banyak dan dengan lagu-lagu pop Kristiani dan ordinarium yang bervariasi.
Dari misa yang hanya menggunakan lagu-lagu ordinarium, KFA merupakan salah satu pelopor dari digunakannya lagu-lagu pop Kristiani yang lebih menyentuh hati dan memberikan suatu kekhusyukan tersendiri bagi para umat.
Hal ini tidak terlepas dari para legenda yang sudah membesarkan nama KFA di depan para umat. Proviciat buat mereka.
Tetapi, walaupun demikian, kita tetaplah satu organisasi kerohanian yang berkumpul sehati dan sejiwa, seiman dan sekepercayaan akan Yesus Kristus. Wujud utama dari pelayanan kita ialah bernyanyi untuk memuji dan memuliakan Tuhan, selain itu juga bergerak di beberapa kegiatan sosial seperti panti asuhan dan panti kusta.
Latihan KFA dilaksanakan setiap hari Rabu dan Jumat pada jam yang sama, pukul 19:00 - 21:00.
So, yang ingin bergabung, welcome to the family.. Hohohoho
-Syalom-

Rabu, 19 November 2008

Angela Aki - Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~

SINGLE REVIEW
Angela Aki - Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~

1. Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~
2. final destination
3. Still Fighting It
4. Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~
-strings version-

This is Angela Aki’s 8th single and it was released on September 17, 2008. This single reached #3 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 110,329 copies.

When I first listened to Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~, I thought it was rather unremarkable. It’s a slow burner and the musical structure is similar to another song that was released earlier this year: ayaka’s Te wo Tsunagou. It’s one of those songs that doesn’t really pick up until halfway through and that’s exactly what happens here. However, Aki’s vocals are stellar as always and her voice breathes life into the music, which is actually the most memorable thing about this song. Going back to the arrangement, the beginning is mostly just piano but it later adds some clapping and background vocals. This is where things begin to get REALLY good and the true message of the song comes out: “Keep on believing“. That is what Aki sings during the inspiring bridge sequence and it eventually leads into a great climax. While not as musically involved or exciting as previous singles, Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~ still proves to be a wonderful song that reaches out to people with its positive and endearing lyrical content.

Believe it or not, I thought the B-sides on this single were even better! They start with final destination, a vibrant song with a laid back band arrangement. The chorus is pretty catchy and Aki’s vocals are wonderful, especially when she performs those high notes. The bridge is the absolute highlight though with the English she incorporates:

Driving forward to my final destination. No matter how far or how long, whether it’s right or wrong, I belong in your arms.

The other B-side marks the return of the classic Angela Aki cover song! If you’re not familiar with her covers, she takes an English song and adds her own Japanese lyrics while keeping some of the original lyrics. In a sense, she makes the song her own while still maintaining some of the qualities of the original. This time she covers Ben Folds’ 2001 song Still Fighting It. This is actually my favorite song on the single and I think it’s beautiful from beginning to end. Aki sings with such sincerity and emotion that I couldn’t help but love it. The ending is fantasic when she sings some of the original English lyrics with powerful vocals.

An extra bonus on the single is the strings version of Tegami ~Haikei Juugo no Kimi e~. I like this version more than the original and for one simple reason: DUH, IT’S THE STRINGS. The song sounds a lot better with the them and as a result, more radiant as well. I still think the original sounds kind of “empty” with just the piano but the strings instantly fix that in this version.

Overall Rating

5 stars

Ami Suzuki - can’t stop the DISCO

SINGLE REVIEW
Ami Suzuki - can’t stop the DISCO

1. can’t stop the DISCO
2. climb up to the top
3. SUPER MUSIC MAKER (SA’08S/A mix)

This is Ami Suzuki’s 29th single and it was released on September 24, 2008. This single reached #17 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 4,655 copies.

can’t stop the DISCO is a different taste of electropop from Ami Suzuki. I only thought the song was “okay” at first but it has grown on me. I still don’t think it’s as good as her previous single though. This Yasutaka Nakata produced track has a more laid back house style compared to the full blown dance sound of FREE FREE and ONE. For instance, there is less emphasis on synth but rather on the beats instead. As a result, I thought the music flowed very smoothly. Suzuki sings in a lower pitch but her vocal performance is pretty catchy and sleek as well. This is most evident in the chorus, the most infectious and memorable part of the song.

The ending of can’t stop the DISCO flows right into the sensual introduction of climb up to the top (you heard the sound of women moaning and stuff). This song is in English and features Suzuki literally shouting out the lyrics. It gets borderline annoying but fortunately this song focuses more on the music and I have to admit that it is HOT. The synth lines are amazing, especially during that crazy section in the second half, but that’s about it. If Suzuki changed her vocal style instead of just plain yelling, this would have been a lot better.

At least the remix of SUPER MUSIC MAKER is awesome. I actually liked the overall presentation of the SA’08S/A remix more than the original. It features less distorted vocals and a more pop oriented sound while still having a club feel. I also loved how the ending vocals of the original transformed into a new bridge section for the remix.

Overall Rating

3½ stars

alan - RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~



SINGLE REVIEW
alan - RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~

1. RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~
2. Xin Zhan ~RED CLIFF~
3. Ashita e no Sanka ~Orchestra Version~
4. RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~ (Instrumental)
5. Ashita e no Sanka ~Orchestra Version~
(Instrumental)

This is alan’s 7th single and it was released on October 15, 2008. This single reached #23 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 5,260 copies. The 2nd track was used as the theme song for the Chinese movie Red Cliff and the title track was the theme song for the movie’s Japanese release.

Holy shit. RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~ is epic epic epic. Being the 4th release in alan’s 5 elemental singles campaign, this song represents fire and the burning desire within one’s heart. I loved how cinematic and theatrical the music was because it features a fantastic orchestral arrangement. There is a great accumulation of tension right when the song starts with alan’s adlibbing and it just builds and builds until the powerful chorus arrives. The sweeping strings really give the song its dramatic feel without being over the top. However, the most phenomenal part of the song is without a doubt the climactic bridge sequence that includes powerful mountain vocals. I was honestly blown away by that part because it is AMAZING. alan is certainly becoming a force to be reckoned with and this song proves it.

The 2nd track is the original Chinese version, Xin Zhan ~RED CLIFF~. This was actually my first time hearing alan sing in her native language and there’s a big difference in terms of how “natural” she sounds. I’m not surprised though and the Chinese version is definitely on the same level as the Japanese version, except for one thing. The bridge does not feature the mountain vocals previously heard in the Japanese version. I was mildly disappointed by the exclusion but the song is still insanely epic nonetheless.

Also on the single is a grandiose and sensational orchestra version of her debut Japanese single Ashita e no Sanka. I really liked how things got mixed up for this version because it does not follow the same structure of the original. It open and ends differently, plus the verses are rearranged as well. The instrumental sections are great and sound really grand with the added strings and brass, giving the song this extra ”royal” or “imperial” vibe.

Overall Rating

5 stars

YUI - Love & Truth

YUI - Love & Truth

01 - Love & Truth
02 - Jam
03 - My Generation (YUI acoustic version)
04 - Love & Truth (Instrumental)

WaT - 36ºC



SINGLE REVIEW
WaT - 36ºC

1. 36ºC
2. Seishun no Kagayaki
3. 36ºC (Instrumental)
4. Seishun no Kagayaki (Instrumental)
5. Shiosai no Gogo

This is WaT’s 10th single and it was released on October 29, 2008. This single reached #5 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 33,389 copies.

After a couple of listens, it’s safe to say that 36ºC is a pleasant song with a nice, warm atmosphere. The only thing about the song that bothers me are Wentz and Teppei’s solo lines because they don’t sound very good. However, their harmonizations are good as always so no complaints there. The music is quite relaxing and features light electric guitar chords alongside some percussion and strings.

While the A-side is nice and all, the B-sides are actually a lot better. Seishun no Kagayaki has a more progressive sound and the music is very upbeat as well. I liked how the song starts with fast paced guitars and percussion followed by distorted vocals. Honestly, this SHOULD have been the A-side. It’s a great song.

This single was released in 3 different editions: a limited type A, a limited type B, and a regular. While the limited edition type A comes with some goodies like a trading card, the limited edition type B comes with a bonus track titled Shiosai no Gogo. It features a progressive percussion section as well but the sweeping guitar riffs makes this song stand out, making this one of the duo’s more unique songs. This could have easily been an A-side as well but hopefully it will be on their next album.

Overall Rating

3½ stars

misono - Kazoku no Hi / Aburazemi♀


SINGLE REVIEW
misono - Kazoku no Hi / Aburazemi♀
(Osaka Version) -Piano Version-

1. Kazoku no Hi
2. Aburazemi♀ (Osaka Version) -Piano Version-
3. music letter
4. Aburazemi♀ (Osaka Version) -TV Size-
5. Kazoku no Hi -instrumental-

This is misono’s 11th single and it was released on October 29, 2008. This single reached #23 on the Oricon Charts and it has sold 4,456 copies.

Kazoku no Hi is one of those “thank you mom and dad” kind of songs but set to a pretty good pop rock sound. It starts off with just acoustics but it transitions into catchy electric guitars for the 1st chorus. The instrumental sections are nice since they feature stronger riffs too. While I do like the overall melody, it tends to drag on and start getting repetitive, which is the only real flaw of the song. For being over 5 minutes in length, it’s too long.

For those who don’t know, misono is a regular on the popular game show Quiz! Hexagon II. It’s so popular in that it has its own special music units who perform songs for the show (even a compilation album was released and it hit #1 on Oricon). Aburazemi♀ (Osaka Version) is one of them and the original version is a duet between misono and comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa.
The piano version, which is exclusive to this single, is performed by just misono. The piano chords have a nice, playful vibe to them and are the best thing about the song. misono’s vocals are controlled most of time, but there are times when she strains her voice. I also have to note that this song is 8 freaking minutes long and gets boring about halfway through.

The next track is a song that only features simple music box chimes. music letter COULD have been good, but misono’s overly emotional vocals kind of ruin it. I guess she was crying throughout the entire thing but it seriously hinders her singing. She’s done this before with Last Song and I didn’t like that song either.

The original version of Aburazemi♀ (Osaka Version) appears as track 4 but in a shortened, TV Size format. I like it more than the piano version because it sounds better as a duet and more suited with its acoustic arrangement. Surprisingly, misono and Hiroshi Shinagawa sound good together.

Overall Rating

3 stars

Mika Nakashima - ORION


SINGLE REVIEW
Mika Nakashima - ORION

1. ORION
2. FOCUS
3. ORION (Instrumental)
4. FOCUS (Instrumental)

This is Mika Nakashima’s 27th single and it was released on November 12, 2008. This single reached #6 on the Oricon Weekly Charts and it has sold 27,046 copies. The title track was used as the theme song for the drama Ryuusei no Kizuna.

I’m really glad to see Mika Nakashima slowly drift back to the soft jazz sound that she does so well and ORION is definitely a step in the right direction. This is a calm, melodic song with great vocals and a rich arrangement. For me, the best thing about the song were the ambient electric guitars. They’re laid back and perfectly characterize the jazzy atmosphere, giving the music some flavor.

The B-side is something I haven’t heard in a while from Nakashima. FOCUS reminded me of the upbeat pop songs of her early career, but better! The arrangement is kind of offbeat with its use of synth but when the brass comes in, it’s very nice. Nakashima displays fast, lower pitched vocals for the verses but she adds a good amount of emphasis and power into her voice for the excellent chorus. I love how she ends the chorus by singing “My focus is on you” too. It’s easily one of her best B-sides and I’m estatic that it’s also on her latest album VOICE.

Overall Rating

4½ stars