Bottle Caps and Silhouettes

Fireflies by Owl City

2009-07-13T23:31:00.001-07:00

Release Date: July 13, 2009
YouTube: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CMr52bCXNdU&client=mv-google&gl=US&hl=en

This new single features slight R&B beats mixes with the usual Owl City techno style. I like how they're trying to merge genres with techno. It gives Owl City a unique sound. This track ends beautifully with the last bit of lyrics being sung quietly to piano. They've brought together many different aspects music and made it into a song that truly flows. This single is a nice peek at Ocean Eyes.

SONG (8.5/10)

3 Splash by Koda Kumi

2009-07-12T18:17:00.001-07:00

Release Date: July 8, 2009
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWXDmBH3rAI (Lick Me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k7K4_t5390 (Ecstasy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-2C_oEo_pA (Hashire!)

Lick Me (7/10)
This is a pop song with a rock-ish twist. Despite the track’s name, it’s meant to be a fun, summery song. The chorus is catchy, and I found myself humming it the last time it was sung. I love the way Kumi’s powerful voice is mixed with the pop music in the background. Great song.

Ecstasy (8/10)
An interesting contrast to Lick Me, Ecstasy is a slightly-synthesized dance track. And it makes me want to dance. Ha. This song is my favorite of the three, probably because I think her voice was made for these kinds of songs. If you listen to any of the three, listen to this one.

Hashire! (走れ, Run!) (7.5)
Continuing with the pattern of different genres, Hashire! is more of a rock song. I was expecting a little faster tempo, but I like it anyway. At the end of the chorus, she belts out a really awesome long note that I love listening to.

I really liked how she mixed up the genres in this triple-A side. But I’m glad she did, because 3 songs that sound the same is boring. So thank you, Koda Kumi. This being her 44th single, I’m glad she keeps producing good music even after that many songs. Also included in the single is an introduction (09:00 A.M.), and interlude (12:35 P.M.), and an outroduction (12:00 A.M.); and on one version of the single, there is a remix for each track explained above.

TOTAL (7.5/10)

Nobody by Wonder Girls

2009-07-03T17:02:00.001-07:00

Release Date: September 22, 2008 (Korean)
June 26, 2009 (English)
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=299804122&id=299804120&s=143441 (Korean)
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=319533648&s=143441 (English)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/wondergirls?blend=5&ob=4

This song is very repetitive, but catchy. So it works. The Wonder Girls released this song first in Korea last year, and it has a completely English chorus. So it's a perfect song to re-release in English, right? America seems to agree. This five-member girl group is touring with the Jonas Brothers in order to promote themselves and their new single in the U.S. of A. Within two minutes of listening to it for the first time, I found myself humming to it already! Like I said, it's catchy, and it will get stuck in your head easily. It's a very pop-ish song, but it ends with a rap, and I kind of like that concept. The music video is funny, too. It has a story line...go check it out.

SONG: (8.5/10)
MV: (8/10)

*NOTE: If you're interested in seeing them in concert, you can find out more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Brothers_tours#Jonas_Brothers_World_Tour_2009. They will be performing Nobody, and Tell Me. Also appearing in the Jonas Brothers World Tour are: Demi Lovato, Jordin Sparks, Honor Society, and Jessie James.*

Poll Results!

2009-07-03T16:12:00.000-07:00

So remember the poll I started? Which Asian pop star had the best breakout in America: Se7en, Utada, or Wonder Girls? Here are the results:

Se7en=9.09%

Utada=72.72%

Wonder Girls=18.18%

This is what I've heard about them:

Utada: Half American and half Japanese, she grew up in both Tokyo and NYC. She debuted in America for the second time with This Is The One (review:http://ta1lz.blogspot.com/2009/04/this-is-one-utada.html), and has appeared on many radio and television shows. Many people that called in told Utada that they had imported several of her Japanese albums, showing that she had popularity before the big release. Before This Is The One, she released Exodus. The album didn't do well at all, and Utada admitted that some of the lyrics she wrote were cheesy and she didn't spend as much time on it as she would have liked. I recommend This Is The One, and it's available on iTunes, Amazon, and in stores where CD's are sold.

Wonder Girls: The Wonder Girls are a Korean group with really good English. They haven't released an album yet, but their single 'Nobody' has been a hit. Nobody was first released in Korean, but was released in English four days ago. As promotion, the Wonder Girls are on tour with the Jonas Brothers to perform their debut single. I don't particulary care for them, but the Jonas Brothers are really popular. Being on tour with them will do a lot for the Wonder Girls' popularity.

Se7en: Actually, I haven't heard anything about them/him/her. If you do, feel free to comment about it.

The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) by The Black Eyed Peas

2009-07-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Release Date: June 3, 2009
Singles: Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=318390146&s=143441
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/blackeyedpeasvideo?blend=3&ob=1

Boom Boom Pow
-see single review-

Meet Me Halfway (3.5/10)
This is BEP's version of an 'I miss you' kind of song. Very much a contrast to the dance tracks.

Imma Be (4/10)
Very repetitive with simple background music. It sounds almost like a Pussycat Dolla song with male vocals.

I Gotta Feeling (5.5/10)
Another song with too repetitive lyrics all throughout the song. Lyrics other than repeating the title don't begin until almost two minutes into the song.

Alive (3/10)
Slow and kind of boring. The lyrics are very simple for the kind of song they were trying to create. Another repetitive song.

Ring-A-Ling (4.5/10)
Yet another repetitive song. There's about a one minute intro of one of the guys saying 'ring-a-ling'. That ends up being the chorus. I like the beat, though.

Party All The Time (6/10)
Since Meet Me Halfway, the songs have been gotten gradually more of dance tracks. I like the beat to this song. It's less repetitive then most of the other tracks.

Out Of My Head (3/10)
A slightly angry, I-don't-care kind of song, mostly sung by Fergie. The beat isn't very good, and it's kind of boring. She's just talking some of the time. About 2;30, she says something about being too drunk to remember the bridge. It's very repetitive.

Electric City (4/10)
This sounds more like a mix of the new and old BEP. It's a techno/rap mix. More of the other members are heard in this track.

Showdown (3/10)
It sounds like a filler song. It's like Electric City, just a little faster. Yikes.

Now Generation (5/10)
It sounds like a rap song with a harmonica in the background. I really like the lyrics, though. It talks about our generation's lack of patience and obsessions with Google, MySpace, etc.

One Tribe (5.5/10)
This has almost the same message as Now Generation, except a little more political. It's a rap-ish song saying that we should unite a little more and forgive and forget.

Rockin' To The Beat (2/10)
A very long '60's techno intro (almost 2 minutes). Sounds more like an interlude than a song. Almost a filler song.

Rock That Body (6/10)
The beat reminds me of a seizure. Sounds like it has a touch of '60's. There's a funny high pitched voice that I think is Fergie.

Missing You (2/10)
Very repetitive, and at this point, kind of annoying. Definately a filler song.

Overall, I was very disappointed with The End. There were about 3 songs worth listening to. The rest was either too repetitive, a filler song, or both. BEP is trying to create a new, more techno-pop image. Will they keep their popularity with this new sound? We shall see.

TOTAL (4.2/10)

The Death of Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

1958-2009

That's right, he's gone. At 4:15 today, Michael Jackson died of cardio arrest. He had passed out in his home, and a staff member called 911. He was then rushed to the hospital, where they were unable to get a pulse.

For more details, turn on the news. It's bound to be there.

ta1lz is now on Twitter

2009-06-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

That's right folks, I now have a Twitter page. Check it for upcoming reviews and information about Bottle Caps and Silhouettes!

http://www.twitter.com/ta1lz

Hold On Tight by Hey Monday

2009-06-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Release Date: October 7, 2008

Singles: Homecoming, How You Love Me Now

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/gizmodollie (This person has every song with lyrics)

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=292026232&s=143441

*NOTE: Go to http://www.myspace.com/heymonday for information on the Let's Make A Mess Tour, featuring This Providence, The Friday Night Boys, Stereo Skyline!, and The Bigger Lights. All tickets are $13 or less in advance*

Hey Monday is often compared to Paramore. The main female vocals of both groups give their songs a strong, feminine feel to match the alternative instrumentals. This is their debut album, and they're on their second tour. Was Hey Monday received so well because of their similarity to Paramore, or because of their own music? You decide.

Set Off (5.5/10)

"They" don't want her and her guy to be together, but they don't care. Their relationship is constantly compared to fire, and the fast drums in the bridge create that image.

How You Love Me Now (9/10)

This is an in-your-face, I-found-out-about-her breakup song. Definately my favorite song on the album.

Homecoming (4.5/10)

The first couple seconds sound like one of those music boxes, then immediately goes into guitar rifts. The lyrics talk aboutcoming home at the end of the summer, reminsicing about an old boyfriend.

Obvious (7/10)

A very dirty, in-the-moment song about her having fun with the guys she's with.

Candles (8/10)

Beginning as a ballad, Candles is about forgetting a past love ("blowing the candles out"). The regular band instrumentals join in gradually throughout the song.

Run Don't Walk (5/10)

It starts off with techno, joined in by the band within a couple seconds. The message is a mix of Hurricane Streets and Obvious.

Josey (6/10)

Josey tells the story of a girl going out for the night, and in the mood to have a good time. The upbeat tempo helps the story's mood.

Hurricane Streets (7.5/10)

Full of rebellious lyrics, Hurricane Streets talks about not wanting to waste a minute and being impatient of where she is.

Arizona (6/10)

Pope sings of driving to meet someone she thought she loved, but she finds she's "stranded".

Should've Tried Harder (5/10)

The lyrics are laughing in the face of the guy who wants to get back with her, and her strong vocals bring the words to life.

6 Months (8/10)

A soft acoustic guitar complements the lyrics of awe she belts out for the guy she misses. Beautiful song.

TOTAL (6.5/10)

Symphony by Marié Digby

2009-06-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

Release Date: June 2, 2009
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDxBRnht5Kk
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=317644295&s=143441
Lyrics: -see information to the right of the video on YouTube link-

Symphony is her second single towards her second album. It's a beautiful ballad with an impatient mood. She's not sure about herself, and just wants to channel her emotions into music and 'write her own symphony'. Digby's strong vocals boldy get out the message intended in the song: Break away and write your own history.

SONG: (5.5/10)

--NOTICE--
If you're a big Marié Digby fan, she has several unreleased songs for her new album (to be released this summer) posted on her YouTube account. She updates regularly.

Marié Digby: http://www.youtube.com/user/mariedigbychannel

Strawberry Avalanche by Owl City

2009-06-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Release Date: June 2, 2009
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnu54YiCr04
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=317467256&s=143441
Lyrics: http://www.smartlyrics.com/Song683825-Owl-City-Strawberry-Avalanche-lyrics.aspx

This is a new single from Owl City, a relatively new group. Adam Young provides smooth male vocals for the techno-pop style they create. Some fans say that their music creates a dream-like feel in the light way they arrange the beats. They aren't very well know, and came out with one album last year called Maybe I'm Dreaming.
Strawberry Avalanche combines upbeat music with slow singing, which is usual for Owl City. The song is about dreaming of avalanches of fruit in a celestial setting, while thinking about spending time with a girl. A little random, but the lyrics fit with the song nicely.

SONG: (8/10)

Best Asian Pop Star

2009-06-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

So I stumbled upon a poll about three Asian pop stars who have started careers in America. It was between three: Se7en, Utada, and Wonder Girls. Here are the slightly crazy results:

Se7en (1234)
6%
Utada (6143)
30%
Wonder Girls (12926)
64%

I would like to re-do this poll. Go look them up on YouTube, listen to a couple songs, then vote. Please vote. :)

The Fame by Lady GaGa

2009-06-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Release Date: Standard Edition-
Canada: August 18, 2009
Europe: August 29, 2008
Australia: September 6, 2008/November 15, 2008
Germany: September 19, 2008
France: October 13, 2008
U.S.: October 28, 2008
Italy: October 31, 2008/January 30, 2009
Ireland: January 9, 2009
United Kingdom: January 12, 2009
Philippines: March 1, 2009
Spain: March 8, 2009
Argentina: March 17, 2009
Brazil: March 31, 2009
China: May 4, 2009
Japan: May 20, 2009

Lady GaGa is a fresh, new artist that burst onto the music scene with her debut album, The Fame. Using a modern twist on retro ‘80’s beats, she created the soundtrack of 2009. The singles were each a different kind of upbeat dance track, and all were extremely well received. The first, “Just Dance”, topped the charts in over ten countries. “Poker Face” did even better, hitting number one in over twenty countries. “Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)”, “Love Game”, and “Paparazzi” also charted in countries around the world. The Fame has been certified as Platinum in the U.S., selling over one million copies. It was released in four editions for different areas, and Lady GaGa plans to re-release it later in the year. In an interview with MTV, she said this about The Fame:

"This idea of 'The Fame' runs through and through. Basically, if you have nothing—no money, no fame—you can still feel beautiful and dirty rich. It's about making choices, and having references—things you pull from your life that you believe in. It's about self-discovery and being creative. The record is slightly focused, but it's also eclectic. The music is intended to inspire people to feel a certain way about themselves, so they'll be able to encompass, in their own lives, a sense of inner fame that they can project to the world, and the carefree nature of the album is a reflection of that aura. I like to funnel interesting ideas to the rest of the world through a pop lens."

A style that she dubs “theatrical pop”, The Fame is full of catchy dance tracks and racy lyrics. With her first album doing this well…what will her second look like?

RATING: (6.5/10)

Seishun Bus Guide/Rival (青春バースグイド/ライバル) - Berryz工房

2009-05-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

Release Date: June 3, 2009
Single V Release: June 16, 2009

This is Berryz' 20th single, and a double A side. Seishun Bus Guide is the ending or theme for some anime. Seishun Bus Guide has, like most Berryz songs, an overdose of Risako's scratchy voice. Momo, Miyabi, and Yurina all have about half the lines she has. I was very disappointed in this song. It sounds like generic anime music, and nothing special like you'd expect from a double single. Overall...not such a great song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH7j1pTlz0A - Seishun Bus Guide PV

This was a really weird PV. The girls are posing as guys crushing on the 'young bus guide'. To those who aren't really knowledgeable of Japanese uniforms and stuff, the only giveaway that they're playing guys is that they're wearing a boy's uniform. So basically, it looks like a lesbian crush. In the dance, they're all wearing these weird shiny, patent leather-looking uniforms. And...the dance wasn't anything special.

SONG (3.5/10)
PV (4.5/10)

Rival...sounded like a Buono! song with a ten-year-old twist to it. That sums it up. Chinami and Maasa actually got to sing in the first verse, but it was the two of them together. Again...Risako is the main vocalist. She has a glass-shattering high note at the end. Ouch. That in itself puts a dent in the song, even if it's a good song. But beware, this song is extremely catchy, and WILL get stuck in your head if you listen to it all the way through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFB3rwcui1Y - Rival PV

This looked like a PV Buono! might have done for one of their earlier singles. It was very cutesy (dare I...? Kawaii. O.O) and childish looking. 1:25, 2:10, 3:10, and 3:56 are funny Chinami moments, though. Half the time, they're playing with cardboard food or cardboard instruments.

SONG (4/10)
PV (5/10)

SINGLE (4.25/10)

Avalanche - Marié Digby

2009-05-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

Release Date: April 13, 2009

Marié Digby, half Irish and half Japanese, is slightly popular among Americans. Avalanche is rated 4 1/2 stars on iTunes, and has recieved 281 ratings and 99 reviews. Her voice is light and airy, and she can hit high notes with perfection. Avalanche is a beautiful example of her range and talented voice. If you're in the mood for discovering a new artist and picking up a couple songs, I suggest Marié Digby.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=250521399

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yj7m9xDgJo

This time I also posted the iTunes link. She's really big on YouTube, actually, so you'll find a lot of her music there.

Decode - Paramore

2009-05-01T18:59:00.001-07:00

Release Date: November 4, 2008

I know that it came out last year, but I actually really like this song. It's kind of off from Paramore's usual style, and I didn't like it at first. But it grew on me.
Decode is an altenative song off of the Twilight soundtrack, and was written specifically for Twilight. If you've read Twilight, you'll know what I mean. I actually hated a lot of the songs on that soundtrack, but this one stood out. Partially because I already had numerous songs from Paramore already. The guitars in this song are really loud without being obnoxious, and Haley belts out some really long notes. Nice job, Paramore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=danZJ9KdKRk - Decode

All of the offical music videos I found had been forcefully replaced with other audio due to copyright, so I'm posting the link to a fan video.

SONG (9/10)

Boom Boom Pow - The Black Eyed Peas

2009-05-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Release Date: March 30, 2009

The Black Eyed Peas make their return to the music industry with their single Boom Boom Pow. I was a fan of the Peas when they were really big a couple of years ago, but this was really disappointing. Yes, it's catchy and it's stuck in my head right now. But can I say that I like it? No. It's alright as far as The Black Eyed Peas go. I hope they come out with at least two more singles before releasing their new album...it'll give us an idea to see if they're sticking to their old style, or trying something new.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtGlHPFCH8A - Boom Boom Pow music video

The music video brought out a hint of techno in Boom Boom Pow. Fergie had on this fake hair thing that reminded me of Princess Leia. Ha. Their music videos were never terribly interesting before, anyway.

SONG (6/10)

Shouganai Yume Oibito - morningmusume｡

2009-05-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

Release Date: May 13, 2009

It hasn't officially come out yet, but the PV has either been leaked or released. So here we go.

I listened to a low quality preview a couple of days ago, and absolutely hated it. But, I recently decided to give it a second chance, and looked up the PV. Now I think it's...alright. I still don't like it very much, but I can see it having a chance of growing on me. A lot of the momusu songs that I don't like at first end up that way...

And! I must point how awesome the line distribution was. They didn't focus on two girls! Risa had a bunch of really awesome lines, and LinLin and JunJun got around three or four lines each. Each girl got at least that many. Except Koharu, and I'm not complaining.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nbB_O7ihOA - Shouganai Yume Oibito PV

The PV was extremely disappointing. All they did was close ups of them singing or looking off into the distance. A couple times they showed them reading or on phones. And the dance? Barely a dance. They put maybe fifteen to twenty seconds of the dance in the PV, so what I actually saw of it was pretty disappointing. They were kind of flailing their arms around all girly like...like I said, barely a dance. It'll be interesting to see the whole thing when the dance shot comes out.

SONG (5.5/10)

PV (2.5/10)

Platinum 9 Disc - morningmusume｡

2009-05-01T14:54:00.001-07:00

Release Date: March 18, 2009
Singles: Resonant Blue, Onna ni Sachi Are, Kanashimi Twilight, Naichau Kamo

雨の降らない星では愛せないだろう? (Ame no Furanai Hoshi Dewa Aisenai Darou) (8.5/10)
This is a particularly slow song, but I think momusu needs at least one on every album. Tsunku always seems to write one to suit the voices of the girls that he has at the moment. This is a very beautiful song, and all of Hello! Project sang it at the beginning of the Elder Club Graduation concert.

SONGS (9/10)
Starting off with a quiet piano, SONGS gradually works into an upbeat pop rhythm that it maintains for the rest of the song. I think this should have been a single instead of...Kanashimi Twilight, say? This is a pretty good taste of the new, more modern style momusu is developing.

Take Off Is Now! (7/10)
Take Off Is Now is sung by Ai Takahashi (middle), Reina Takana (bottom right), and Risa Niigaki (middle left). Ai and Reina's voice sound a little awkward together in this song, but it's a good song. For some reason, it starts off with a Jamaican guy...that's kind of random for J-Pop. The only complaint I have is that Risa barely gets any lines.

私の魅力に気付かない鈍感な人 (Watashi no Miryoku ni Kiduka nu Donkan na Hito) (3.5/10)
This is a solo song by Aika Mitsui (middle right). This really sounds like something I would hear from DDR. I like the instrumentals a lot, but I really do not like Aika's voice. This song would've turned out a lot better if Tsunku would've given it to another member.

グルグルＪＵＭＰ (Guru Guru Jump) (5/10)
This is another DDR inspired song sung by Kusumi Koharu (bottom left), LinLin (top corner left), and JunJun (top corner right). I really think this song would've turned out better if Koharu wasn't in it. Again, a good song without the best vocals (I don't mind LinLin and JunJun).

情熱のキスを一つ (Jounetsu no Kiss o Hitotsu) (7/10)
Another song sung by Ai Takahashi, Reina Takana, and Risa Niigaki. It's awesome how many lines Risa gets! In the chorus, Ai and Reina are singing together while Risa has solos. The tempo is a bit slower than the last song of this threesome, but I really like it.

It's You (1.5/10)
This is probably one of the worst songs momusu has ever produced. It's a solo song by Sayumi Michishige (top right). Her horrible voice combined with strange and random instrumentals makes for an extremely awkward song where nothing seems to fit. Her weird bit of English in the beginning seemed really out of place with the music.

片思いの終りに (Kataomoi no Owari ni) (5.5/10)
Kataomoi no Owari ni is Eri Kamei's solo song. Her voice and the instrumentals were...okay. I kind of like it...but I kind of don't. To me it sounds like anime music. But that's kind of appropriate, considering she's starring in a new anime. Overall, a decent-ish song.

リゾナント　ブルー (Resonant Blue) (6.5/10)
This song is completely dominated by Ai Takahashi and Reina Takana. Koharu and Risa get a couple short solos, and Sayumi gets a short "Help me!" towards the end. I really like the song, but I hate the fact that Aika, JunJun, and LinLin were completely ignored.

みかん (Mikan) (5.5/10)
This is one of those happy, peppy, life rocks pop songs. I didn't really care for it too much, but this is one had a touch of those more awesome, random singles that momusu used to come out with. That's one of the only good things about it.

女に幸あれ (Onna ni Sachi Are) (9/10)
Onna ni Sachi Are is a techno-pop song that debuted JunJun and LinLin, momusu's first Chinese members. This was one of the first singles where morningmusume's new style was unleashed. I really like it, and you can hear the variety of voices really well.

悲しみトワイライト (Kanashimi Twilight) (5/10)
This rock/pop combo didn't go so well. For one, this was almost a Miki Fujimoto solo song. Second, the way they tried to mix the two genres with their voices really didn't sound great. It was too slow. I really don't think this should've been a single. Also, this song was released in early 2007, before Miki and Hitomi Yoshizawa (my favorite!) graduated. They really waited a while to put this on an album.

泣いちゃうかも (Naichau Kamo) (6.5/10)
Naichau Kamo is the last single that was released before this album. It took a while for it to grow on me. The tempo is faster than on a lot of the pop songs that they do similar to this. This was kind of a leap for them...in my mind.

ALBUM RATING: 5.5/10

Berryz工房 Special Best Vol. 1 - Berryz工房

2009-04-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

Release Date: January 14, 2009

Otoko no ko (8/10)
This is the only new song on this album, with it being a best album and all. Berryz really surprised me with how well they can sing a rock-ish song. Miyabi and Risako get five lines per verse, leaving barely any lines for the other girls. My favorite part is after the second verse, Yurina has a very epic line, and the electric guitars are going crazy in the background. :D

Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai (6.5/10)
This song is quite a contrast from Otoko no ko. Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai is Berryz' first single, and Tsunku sings half the song in the background and under the girls' voices. They sound really young...because they are. When they made this song they were what, ten? I think part of this song being on their first best album is kind of ceremonious (for lack of a better word).

Piriri to Yukou! (5.5/10)
I will admit, the first time I listened to this song was to write this review. Again, this is an older single, but it really fits their age and their voices. It sounds like more of a fun song, with the random "yays!". Sorry to all you hardcore Berryz fans, but this doesn't exactly appeal to my ears.

Semi (7.5/10)
Another first listen. Semi is a slower song off of their first album with a very cute music video. I actually liked this song after the first couple lines, which surprised me. Usually Berryz songs take a couple listens to grow on me. The line distribution was pretty good, and their Engrish was cute, too. XD

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY (6/10)
Again, a first listen. I found a 2005 concert performance (a Miyabi/Risako duet) to listen to. Very generic pop...but it's another song off of their first album. Besides Risako's voice, I thought the song to be...alright. It definately sounds like a song Berryz would sing.

Yuujou Junjou oh Seishun (4/10)
I couldn't find where this song was from, but I'm pretty sure it's from their first album (Maiha's in it). It's very upbeat and fun sounding, again suiting their young voices. I'm not particularly a fan of some of their older songs, and this one isn't much of a difference. I don't mind their voices, but there is an annoying instrument that plays in the beginning and ending of the song that sounds like a recorder.

Koi no Jubaku (6.5/10)
Koi no Jubaku is Berryz fifth single. I like the beginning music, but the song itself...not so much. To me it doesn't sound very well put together. Not only that, but Saki, Maasa, Chinami, and Maiha are pretty much ignored (they only sing in the chorus). The tune of Koi no Jubaku makes it extremely catchy.

Special Generation (6.5/10)
Aah, the most celebrated single that Berryz has ever sung. It's too catchy for its own good! Ha. The only complaint I have about this song is, agian, the fact that only half the girls get lines. Besides that...it's generic Berryz.

Nanchuu Koi wo Yatteruu YOU KNOW? (4/10)
Berryz tried out techno pop with this single...and produced something that no one else could probably manage to sell except Berryz. I don't particulary care for it, though. This is their seventh single.

Sabori (5.5/10)
This track is a slower pop song off of their second album. It's not repetitive like a lot of the things Berryz was producing around this time. Another first listen...but I heard someone pull off a pretty nice high note. I think it was Miyabi or Chinami. I don't know. I can see this as a nice easy listening song.

Jiriri Kiteru (7.5/10)
Jiriri Kiteru is their tenth single. It's another techno pop song, but a step up from their last try. As far as earlier Berryz songs goes, this is one of my favorite singles. It sounds like something you'd probably hear on DDR or something like that.

Warachaou yo BOYFRIEND (4.5/10)
This is Berryz' eleventh single. Tsunku's "ballooom"s in the beginning of the song cracked me up. Personally, I don't care for it. 'Let's laugh, boyfriend'. ...? It's a very catchy song, but it sounds like it didn't have much effort into it...like a flop song. I don't like how it fades out at the end, either. On the bright side, Yurina was actually the major vocalist in this track!

Omoitattara kichi desse (5.5/10)
This track is sung by Yurina, Maasa, and Chinami. It kind of reminds me of Nanchuu Koi wo Yatteruu YOU KNOW? by how upbeat it is. I had almost the same reaction to both songs, although I think I liked this one better. And yes, it's another first listen. But I'm glad they gave these three girls a decent song on an album.

Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi (6.5/10)
This being their fifteenth single, Berryz started to get more mature with their style (except for the random "yay!" here and there). After one listen, Tsukiatteru no ni Kataomoi isounds like more generic Berryz. I'm happy for Maasa, though. She's a minor vocal in this song!

Dschinghis Khan (4/10)
Dschinghis Khan is a Mongolian folk song that was translated into Japanese, that Tsunku whipped up into a pop song for Berryz. It's their sixteenth single, and it kind of disappointed me. With this song, Berryz sounds like they're trying to sound younger again. I still don't get why they sang about a guy that's famous for how many people he killed...?

Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance (6.5/10)
Berryz seventeenth single turns out to be another pointless, catchy song about...dancing like a monkey. Maasa and Chinami do get a couple of lines. And if the lyrics weren't kind of weird, I would probably like this song. It's got a nice upbeat rhythm.

MADAYADE (7/10)
Their eighteenth single, MADAYADE, is fun and upbeat like their past two singles, but the singing is better. Each girl (except Miyabi...who deserves lines) gets at least two lines in the verses. What I really like is that Yurina and Chinami are minor vocals! The lines are almost evenly spread.

BE (8/10)
BE is a very slow song off of Berryz fifth album. I liked it straight off the bat, which, like I said, doesn't happen often. It's nice to hear something slow and almost sad sounding from them every once and a while. BE fits their voices very well.

ALBUM RATING: 5/10

This Is the One - Utada

2009-04-30T04:07:00.001-07:00

Digital Release: March 24, 2009
Physical Release: May 12, 2009
Single: Come Back to Me

Come Back to Me (9/10)
This bittersweet song is a beautiful example of Utada's range. It's a very repetitive, catchy song, but the emotion she sings with brings out the best in the lyrics. This was a great song to pick as a single.

On and On (6/10)
On and On is one of the more upbeat tracks on This Is the One. The only complaint I have about this song is the annoying "Yeah!" shouted throughout the song in the background. It takes away from the lyrics.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence-FYI (8/10)
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is a beautiful piano piece composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and it fits Utada's voice very nicely and complements her style. I would say this is one of the better tracks on the album.

Apple and Cinnamon (8.5/10)
This track sounds very similar to Come Back to Me, but with noticeable differences. The flow of this song makes it very easy to listen to, and it's definately one of my favorites.

This One (Crying Like A Child) (9/10)
Giving off a melancholy feel, this song is full of great lyrics and a chorus I got addicted to. Utada displays how much emotion she can produce with her voice without making it sound like a ballad.
Automatic Part II (5/10)
This is Utada's tribute to her older fans. Automatic was her first Japanese single and it made her a hit. The song is completely pointless, but still fun to listen to. It was a bit of a letdown for fans who were looking forward to this song.

Dirty Desire (6/10)
One of the few more upbeat songs on This Is the One, I think Utada had a dance track in mind with Dirty Desire. The title pretty much says it all.

Poppin' (5/10)
The intro of the song reminds me of a spy movie. The song is a little too repetitive to the point where it's almost annoying, but it's still very catchy.

Me Muero (6.5/10)
Translated to 'I die' in Spanish, this track is full of slighty random lyrics and a catchy Spanish tune. This song stands out without being too weird for the album.

Taking My Money Back (6.5/10)
Another great example of Utada's amazing range. Taking My Money Back itself is NOT, however, a good example of her song writing ability. She resorted to more generic lyrics, and it made for a tad of a boring song.

Included in This Is the One are two remixes of Come Back to me:
Come Back to Me (Seamus Haj & Paul Emmanuel Radio Edit)
Come Back to Me (Quentin Harrison Mix)

ALBUM RATING: (7.5/10)

Bye Bye Bye! by C-ute

2009-04-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

This is the first of a string of flops Hello! Project has produced lately.

This techo-pop song featured an overload of Airi and Maimi again...but the overall distribution of lines was better than past singles. Mai's voice sounded pretty good in this song, and she got a lot more lines than a minor vocal in C-ute usually gets. They pixilated Saki's voice way too much, and only let her shine for one solo, and only in the second chorus. Erika was, once again, on the outside the entire time. Chisato, however, got two beautiful lines. She also looked really pretty in the close up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydPBYbmlyrM - Bye Bye Bye! PV

The PV was an extreme disappoinment. The dance moves were awkward and badly thrown together, and the giant Bye Bye Bye light up sign in the background seemed to be the focus of the video. Really, is it that important? There were a couple times when the lights were off and you couldn't see what they were doing, but those giant words were flashing. That's kind of pointless. The outfits looked okay, but the whole 'futuristic' look didn't really fit. And the close ups! They all looked really pretty, but the pastel backgrounds weren't doing anything good for them.

I rate the song a 6/10

I rate the video a 4/10

C-ute's next song is supposed to be a cover song (Tsunku's been giving H!P a lot of those lately...), and hopefully they can do better than this!