Sorry for the lack of updates during December. I was actually aiming to have posted much more reviews this month but it looks like I failed D:

Oh well, 2009 has been a great year for reviewing, and I really hope that 2010 would be even better. It’s all thanks to all of your support that had kept me reviewing more and more releases! I hope that my blog would become bigger over the next year and another thank you for visiting this blog. May you also have a great 2010!

~Eve

Artist: Kana Nishino
Release Date: August 13, 2008
Labe: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. Style.
2. Stamp
3. September 1st
——————————————————–
Style. did a pretty decent job with matching Kana’s vocals with the arrangement as well as giving listeners a good listen. The only problem is the fact that it didn’t really catch or keep my attention to the song. Oh well, at least she’s still working her way up in the music industry.

And here I think that Stamp would have been better if it was the A-side. It’s more attention grabbing, catchy and memorable to listen to. But then here’s the thing: it’s…too…short!

September 1st is another decent listen since there had been new elements added. I liked the new arrangements the best, though.

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Release Date: July 24, 2002
Label: Avex Trax
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. independent
2. July 1st
3. HANABI
4. independent (instrumental)
5. July 1st (instrumental)
6. HANABI (instrumental)
———————————————————————————–
There were so many covers for this single! I simply chose to use blue one because blue’s my favorite color.

I just loved how the mood and pace transitioned back and forth throughout independent! There were some quick and energized parts and then the chorus is also thrown in to change the moderate pace to fast. For some reason, I felt that Ayu really handled her vocals pretty well this time too!

Transitioning moods in July 1st also reigns surpreme! At first it sounds like a complete balland and the next minute, the arrangement is thrown in to the trance and dance category. This was probably one of the best Ayu releases out there and a total job well done.

Finally, HANABI has the kind of instrumentals that soudns pretty scary. Not to mention, Ayu has that sad voice to add to it. I really liked the song and its beautiful arrangement but when I listened to this song a few minutes ago, I was really in the mood for happy music…

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Kana Nishino
Release Date: April 23, 2008
Label: SME records
Personal Rating: 3/5

1. glowly days
2. celtic
3. Yami Yami Day
——————————————————————
Seriously, I think kana looks reeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaally creepy in this cover…

Oh no, Kana’s debut already sounded very unmemorable enough but it seems that glowly days takes a step down from the past release! How was Kana able to turn things around in like seven releases? Anyways, the instrumentation is still pretty lacking in what’s that called…originality.

There’s also celtic that doesn’t sound so interesting either. Pretty much a R&B and pop oriented track. Better vocals, but I’m still snoring with this song.

Just when I thought that this single wasn’t going so well, Yami Yami Day pretty much saves the faces of the first two tracks. The song is still R&B but regardless, it takes the more “happy” route, making the song MUCH more memorable than any of her past releases.

Personal Rating: 3/5

Artist: Kana Nishino
Release Date: February 20, 2008
Label: SME records
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. I
2. In Stereo
3. Just a friend
——————————————————————
Reviewing Kana Nishino was already in the Upcoming list so right now, I have no guilt in starting to feature another artist! =D

I wouldn’t say that I was an ideal debut. As of now, It’s like wow, Kana Nishino must have been a real noob back when she first started. But that’s okay because I’ve already listened to her latest release and LOVED her vocals. I is a combination of pop and rock with a hint of Kana’s uber sqeaky voice. Although it wasn’t my idea of a strong debut, I still thought that Kana went off to a good start.

Now In Stereo seriously didn’t sound as memorable. It’s not really Kana’s fault because the arrangement did nothing to engage me into the song. Regardless, Kana’s voice still has the Engrish and her vocals are still a bit squeaky.

Just a friend is still B-side material even though Kana made a total genre switch. This time, it’s R&B and it suits Kana’s vocals pretty well. But I’m still not so sure that this is the best genre she could sing in…

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Artist: Himeka
Release Date: November 25, 2009
Label: Sony Music Japan
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Hatenaki Michi
2. Sora wa Oshietekureru
3. Hatenaki Michi (Instrumental)
4. Sora wa Oshietekureru (Instrumental)
5. Hatenaki Michi (Anime Edit) [Anime edition bonus track]
——————————————————————
Looks like Himeka was able to maintain her rising star repuation by releasing the incredible Hatenaki Michi ! This is definitely something unique when it comes to anime music and should definitely be one of Himeka’s best work up to date! (Well, there had only been two releases) I just love how her voice was already beautiful to listen to and this time, she had just taken a step p to make her vocals sound even more beautiful!

Then there’s Sora wa Oshietekureru that wasn’t really as serene but it does share the same upbeat style that was used in Asu e o Kizuna and still has the use of her awesome vocals.

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: Younha
Release Date: November 18, 2009
Label: Geneon Entertainment
Personal Rating: 4.5/5

1. Suki Nanda
2. Sunday
—————————————————————————————-
Suki Nanda pretty much had very strong elements popping out all over the place that I actually don’t know where to start! I really loved how the mixture of pop and acoustic instrumentals were incopoerated in a fashion that blends in well with Younha’s voice. And this time, Younha’s voice reigned supreme and not the instrumentals. I also loved how there was a backgroudn chorus that successfully supported Younha’s vocals. A job well done.

Sunday gives off a new taste into Younga’s category as the drums, electric guitars and piano went well with the upbeat-ness of this awesome song. In my opinion, I wouldn’t say this was B-side material and could have made a good A-side as well.

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Artist: MiCHi
Release Date: September 9, 2009
Label: Sony Music Japan
Personal Rating: 3.5/5

1. YOU
2. YOY
3. YOU (version 3.1)
4. YOU (instrumental)
———————————————————————————————
The introduction of YOU had a nice feel of piano instrumentals accompanied by a series of humming performed by MiCHi. Unlike her past songs, YOU has a more melachonic mood to it andis not much of a dance, pop or rock oriented track. It’s like when Ayu’s release of Guilty when all of her songs were all about her mixed emotions and the burden of her deafness. This is a good change but I would miss the good ol times when she sounded all wild if this would be her music style in the future.

YOY (also known as “Why oh Why”) picks up from the emotional YOU and turns out to be a laid back dance track. It still isn’t as wild as her last releases and there would have been so many ways to improve this track. Like having more of a hook to make listeners actually enjoy the song and making it something more catchy…something along those lines. For me, I just wasn’t able to actually like the song.

The YOU (version 3.1) I guess is trying to be an (epic) acoustic version of the A-side. The only thing that I really liked about the song is the erhu that plays at the beginning but that’s pretty much it. The rest of the song is pretty much boring and sounds like only a few things had been changed since we heard the A-side.

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Alan 100%
Ami Suzuki 100%
Angela Aki 75%
Ayaka 100%
Ayaka Ikio 100%
Ayumi Hamasaki 79%
BoA 3%
Do as Infinity 3%
Erina Mano 100%
Every Little Thing 15%
Genki Rockets 100%
High and Mighty Color 44%
Himeka 100%
Hitomi Shimatani 13%
JASMINE 100%
Jyongri 100%
Kanon Wakeshima 100%
Kumi Koda 44%
Leah Dizon 100%
Love Planet Five 100%
MiCHi 66%
Nami Tamaki 14%
Saori@destiny 100%
Shoko Nakagawa 50%
Tomiko Van 100%
Utada Hikaru 90%
Wyolica 100%
Younha 20%
Yui 42%

I’m too lazy to do the total amount…Maybe next month

Artist: JASMINE
Release Date: October 28, 2009
Label: Sony Music Japan?
Personal Rating: 4/5

1. No More
2. CLUBBIN’
3. what you want?
—————————————————————–
The first thing that comes to mind when I hear No More, was that there was a MAJOR volume change from one part to another. At the beginning of the song, it was so quiet that I had to pump up the volume but like after a few seconds, music just starts blaring really loudly in my ears! For some reason, people say that this A-side was similar to her last one but the only similarity that I hear are the same instruments and vocals, but that’s all. This was one legit A-side, especially when it comes from JASMINE.

I had mixed opinions for CLUBBIN’, though. With all of the rapping elements included, the song may have soudned a bit repetitve during some parts but it didn’t really last for long. But there was this thing I had with the middle of the song when everything all the sudden just became boring. I actually didn’t finish listening to this song when I first listened to it because I found the arrangement to be just a little predictable… and here I was expecting some awesome dance track, lol

Finally, what you want? comes back with JASMINE’S strong sense and taste of R&B. For some reason, I found this to be better than CLUBBIN’ since the repetitve parts actually sounded a bit catchy. As most of you know, I’m not really in to the R&B music but not when the verses get stuck in my head without being annoying!

Unlike most reviewers, I actually enjoyed the single quite a bit. Sure the B-side weren’t as strong but hey, she’s just starting out. Perhaps she has more success with the R&B and rock genres.

Personal Rating: 4/5