Tracklist:
1. サイン (Sign)
2. Gon’ luv u
3. KIRA✩KIRA✩ (DJ HASEBE REMIX)
4. サイン (Instrumental)
This is BENI’s sixth single under the Universal Japan label. It peaked at #50 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and sold 1,596 copies.
This cover is class-ay. I love her hair and outfit. It almost seems like a high-fashion magazine shoot.
~
Oh, wow. サイン is such a pretty song. Like most of BENI’s A-sides since switching to Universal J, it’s an easy R&B song that makes plentiful use of BENI’s lovely voice. I like the fact that this song has a more polished feel than BENI’s previous singles. It’s very mature and womanly. Furthermore, I wasn’t noticing as much of the weird diction/pronunciation that I did with 恋焦がれて and ずっと二人で, which was awesome. BENI’s voice sounds so much better when she’s crisp and clear.
Remember the song Brand New World by Yuna Ito, from her DREAM-era? Well, take that song, make it about ten times better, and bam. You have Gon’ luv u. Catchy beats, bright synths and a very charming vocal performance by BENI make this a really strong B-side.
I made it no secret that I didn’t like KIRA✩KIRA✩. At all. This hasn’t really changed, but I will admit that the DJ HASEBE remix version is an improvement over the original. I still don’t care for it very much, but it’s not as bad.
Summary: All in all this was a very nice single.. The remix? Eh. I could have done without, but it wasn’t bad. I’m going to have to disagree with what other bloggers have said about being tired of BENI released midtempo songs – with サイン, I didn’t mind at all. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Single Grade: A-
Tracklist:
1. BREAK OUT!
2. XIAHTIC [JUNSU from 東方神起]
3. BREAK OUT! -New Jack Swing Mix-
4. BREAK OUT! -Less Vocal-
5. XIAHTIC -Less Vocal-
This is Tohoshinki’s twenty-ninth single. It was released on January 27, 2010 and sold 169,842 copies in its first day (!).
I think they look kind of…tired. Lol.
~
And now, something totally different. BREAK OUT! is a rather great departure from the sweet R&B we’re used to hearing from Tohoshinki. Instead, it’s a straightforward electronic number, kind of like their previous single Survivor, only darker. I was really impressed by this song’s strong instrumental and the flawless-as-always vocal performance from the boys. It seems kind of like this song is meant to be a statement regarding the still-ongoing lawsuit between Tohoshinki and SM Entertainment, which is even more interesting. I would say this is a very strong A-side – even more so than Stand by U!
Hearing this Japanese version of XIAHTIC was my first time hearing any version of this song, ever, which I guess makes me a bad fan. Lol. Well, in any case, I ended up really liking it a lot. Junsu’s got a truly awesome voice and he doesn’t get drowned out by the elaborate arrangement of the song. His performance isn’t without its faults, though – for example, he could afford to work on his English a little more, but seeing as this is J-Pop, it’s excusable.
BREAK OUT -New Jack Swing Mix- puts a totally different twist on the original song. It’s more R&B in nature, and to be honest, it sounds kind of dated. I prefer the original version by about 100%.
Summary: The fact of the matter is that Tohoshinki is unstoppable, which makes their current legal troubles with their Korean music agency all the more troubling. However, this single shows us that even amidst all the crap that’s been going on, Tohoshinki can still put out some great pop music, which is, after all, what they do best. All of the songs on this single, remix excepted, are really great vocally and musically, and they have a way of making you feel not the least bit embarrassed in listening and enjoying them. So you go, Tohoshinki. Keep the faith eternally!
Single Grade: A+
Tracklist:
1. 외톨이야 (I’m a Loner)
2. Love Revolution
3. Y, Why…
4. Now Or Never
5. 그럴 겁니다…잊을 겁니다… (I Will…Forget You…)
This is C.N.BLUE’s first Korean mini-album, which was released on January 14, 2010.
Sweet cover. The guys look really handsome in those suits.
~
외톨이야 was such a pleasant surprise! It’s got a funky, jazzy indie rock feel that’s very, very unique compared to what we’ve been seeing in K-Pop lately. There are so many things that make this song different and really refreshing – for one, it’s pop-rock, kind of like the Jonas Brothers only minus the Disney, and then the subtle incorporation of rapping into the song that’s not as overt as most other K-Pop songs. Long story short, if you’re looking for something different, check this song out!
I really dig Love Revolution. It continues where 외톨이야 left off and digs even deeper into that same indie-rock sound. Starting out with a great guitar riff, it leads off into the first verse which consists of all rapping, and then into the chorus which contains the catchy hook, I need you in my life. Lead singer Yonghwa has a really great voice that’s very well suited to rock music.
Y, Why… is more of a rock ballad than anything. There’s a definite nostalgic, sentimental feeling to it, which is a nice change. Once again, I was impressed by how C.N.BLUE managed to put the rap verse in there without making it sound awkward or out of place, considering this is, first and foremost, a rock song. Either way, this is a great track.
I’m sorry, C.N.BLUE, but…I’m beginning to grow weary of this. Now Or Never, in the same vein as all the songs we’ve heard so far on this mini-album, is an indie-rock track that pulls out all the stops. Now, not to say this isn’t a good song – it is. The simple fact is that it sounds very similar to the other songs on this album and that’s, well, that’s all well and good. But I’m looking for something different now.
Here we have it! 그럴 겁니다…잊을 겁니다… is the first and last true ballad, as well as the longest song by about a minute, on this mini-album. It’s a nice coffee-house acoustic song, and it’s nice, relaxing, and a treat for the ears. I would have liked the placement of the song to be a bit different – as in, it would have been nice if this could have acted as a break between all the rock songs – but it would have sounded good anywhere. A nice way to close out the mini-album.
Summary: If there’s anything we don’t hear very often in the K-Pop scene, it’s rock music, pop-tinged or otherwise. If you’re looking to remedy this absence, then by all means, look into C.N.BLUE. Their guitar-laden sound is especially refreshing amongst a music scene that’s become predominantly electronic. There comes a point where the songs start to sound a little same-y, but the final track on the mini-album takes care of that problem. It’s a great debut in any context, and it excites me to see how much recognition they’re getting.
Album Grade: A
Tracklist:
1. You were…
2. BALLAD
3. RED LINE ~for TA~
4. You were… (Music Box Mix)
5. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Orchestra Version)
6. You were… (Instrumental)
7. BALLAD (Instrumental)
8. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Instrumental)
This is Ayumi Hamasaki forty-seventh single. It was released on December 29, 2010, and has sold 108,620 copies.
Um, can I just say ten thousand times better than S/S? I mean, anything’d be better than those covers at this point, but still.
~
It’s that time of year again! Once winter rolls around, Ayu never fails to have a sparkly, wintry ballad up her sleeve. Enter You were…, a twinkling winter power ballad. It’s kind of like an amalgamation of all of Ayu’s best-known winter songs – CAROLS, Together When… and, in particular, 2008’s Days – in that they all have similar qualities, such as piano, rock guitars, and winter bells. That said, this song was a bit of a disappointment initially, but Ayu sounds pretty good and the lyrics are really nice.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is BALLAD, a grandiose Oriental ballad that’s the true gem of this single. This song features a sweeping arrangement and a melody that’s remarkably similar to that of one of Ayu’s older songs, theme of a-nation ‘03, and to tell you the truth, it’s absolutely gorgeous. A number of factors, like the Chinese-inspired music to Ayu’s lovely vibrato, make this one of her best ballads since JEWEL. That last note she hits is brilliant too.
RED LINE ~for TA~ is an “uplifting” song inspired by and dedicated to Ayumi’s official fan club, Team Ayu, and it’s a really nice song. It’s got a sunny melody and a catchy hook, which makes it really enjoyable. A couple people have compared this song to teddy bear, off of Ayu’s 2000 album Duty, but I really don’t see it. It really warms my heart that Ayumi would dedicate a song to her fans.
Next we have the music box version of You were…. It’s pretty nice, but it bored me a bit, to be honest. I’m told that Ayu recorded a new vocal track for this version, but it doesn’t sound all that different to me. I dunno. I think this was just a bit unnecessary.
I really liked the original version of Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~, but the orchestra version is just as pretty. Not that much has changed between the two versions, but this one is nice all the same.
Summary: I feel like I’ve said just about all I can say about this single. Overall it was a fairly pleasant experience, since both BALLAD and RED LINE ~for TA~ were as easy on the ears as any song Ayu’s ever made. There’s no question that I could have done without the mediocre You were… and the unnecessary rearranged versions, but neither one is bad or boring enough to cheapen the two best songs the single.
Single Grade: B+
Tracklist:
1. 너 때문에 (Because of You)
2. When I Fall
3. Diva
4. 너 때문에 (Inst.)
This is After School’s second single, which was released on November 23, 2009.
Aw, they’re holding teddy bears. That’s cute.
~
너 때문에 starts off with a twinkling piano line and some hushed vocals, leading the listener to believe it’ll be a ballad, and then springs to life with lively synths and a slightly shout-y rap verse. It’s a very contemporary song with high high high production quality and a decent amount of autotune, but it still retains its power and sentimentality through the vocals. Each girl has a distinct voice, so you can tell you’re listening to a different person each time. A couple of them have excellent voices, too.
Another R&B track, When I Fall is quite pretty and very American. The music consists of a mainstream beat and acoustic guitars, with some vibrant synths every now and then. The vocals are good in an average sort of way, but they don’t reach their apex until the end, near the final chorus. There’s some English thrown in there, but it sounds well-placed and pronounced perfectly. Overall, the song is pretty mediocre, but it’s still pleasant and very listenable.
Okay, so…Diva. Take every energetic, cutesy, and overly-synthed song by a K-Pop girl group you’ve ever heard and you pretty much have this song. I tried to like it, but I couldn’t get past the fact that this song is basically the audial equivalent of a seizure. Final verdict: hot mess.
Summary: After School are a rookie K-Pop girl group – like we don’t have enough of those already – who have a very mainstream sound. This is the description I’d give to two out of three of the songs on this single (Diva and When I Fall): mainstream, and to some extent, forgettable. Appropriately, the standout track on this single is the A-side, whose lovely and emotional sound becomes the sole redeeming quality of an otherwise grossly mundane release.
Single Grade: B-
Tracklist:
1. GLORIA
2. Muffler
3. It’s all too much -YUI Acoustic Version-
4. GLORIA -Instrumental-
This is YUI’s sixteenth single. It was released on January 20, 2010.
I like the wintry feel of these covers. YUI looks very pretty also.
~
I’ve enjoyed the rock sound of YUI’s latest releases, but the upbeat pop feel of GLORIA was a pleasant surprise. There’s a lot of acoustic poppy-ness going on with the music in this song, and YUI remembers how to adjust her voice accordingly, which makes for a very happily listen-able performance. The yai yai yai yai thing she does during the chorus is pretty annoying, but it’s also the only real drawback to this song.
Muffler is a slower, but still cheery acoustic pop song that kind of reminds me of Michelle Branch from the early 2000’s. It’s a cute and feminine sounding song with a bouncy beat and keyboards. YUI sounds especially in control of her voice and vibrato in this one, which is pretty nice.
Next is It’s all too much -YUI Acoustic Version-, which is pretty much self-explanatory. I always tend to enjoy YUI’s acoustic takes on her own songs, and this is no exception. There’s something really charming about YUI’s voice, even after the bells and whistles have been taken away. I also really liked the simple harmonies in this song.
Summary: It’s nice to see an artist return to their roots after a period of trying something different. With releases like again and It’s all too much, YUI went for a more indie, prog-rock type sound, but GLORIA and its respective B-sides is a pleasant nod to YUI’s skills in simple and acoustic. Very nice single.
Single Grade: A
Tracklist:
1. Tik Tok (feat. Yoon Eun Hye [윤은혜])
This single was released on January 12, 2010.
Normal cover is normal. No complaints, though.
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Well, I’ve never reviewed 2PM before on this blog, but since I included them on my end-of-year countdown, and I also happen to really like this song, I’m going to start.
I have to say this is an excellent single. 2PM normally go for a more hip-hop type sound, but Tik Tok is a very contemporary and romantic R&B song. It’s more midtempo, which in turn results in a nice, un-rushed vocal performance, which I really like. Yoon Eun Hye, despite only being featured for a total of 15 seconds after the first chorus, sounds very good and seductive in a feminine way. Her voice contrasts nicely to those of 2PM. The music is very calming and beautiful to listen to as well.
Summary: Perhaps the reason I never got around to reviewing 2PM’s music here on a song for xx is because I sort of felt that their music was good, but in a very similar-sounding way. With Tik Tok, this is no longer true. It’s a really enjoyable track on the whole, and I especially enjoyed Yoon Eun Hye’s part, although it was way too short for my liking. I’ve heard that 2PM’s comeback album, set for an April release, will have a different feel from their debut album, and the logical deduction is that this must be it. Well, let’s just say I hope that that’s the case.
Single Grade: A
Filed under: *Announcements
No, I’m not dead. Lol. As of right now, I am taking an extended break from reviewing to get back into the swing of things such as school, extra-curricular activities, and sleep.
I will be back most likely within the week, so expect to see some more reviews around here, especially of Ayu’s latest single and some retroactive stuff as well. So be sure to check back soon!
In the meantime, I give you this funny TVXQ gif.
Filed under: 2NE1, Girls' Generation, SHINee, Super Junior, Younha, f(x)
Damn straight. :]
Talk about process of elimination. K-Pop presents so many great options to choose from, it takes quite a while to choice which ones you think are “best”. But, I gave it a go, and here’s what I came up with. Take a look!
Best Song
As far as K-Pop songs go, it’s hard to find anything sweeter, cuter, or catchier than Gee. And for that matter, I don’t think a single song matched the popularity or ubiquity of Gee in 2009. The song stayed at #1 on KBS Music Bank for nine weeks straight, its video accumulated over one million YouTube views within the first day of its release, and the song scored Girls Generation their first mega-hit and turned them into sure-fire household names. It is by far the most memorable K-Pop song of 2009.
Honorable Mentions
Wheesung – Insomnia
2NE1 – FIRE
SHINee – Ring Ding Dong
Best Mini-Album
Let’s face it – 2009 was 2NE1’s year. They had by far the most successful debut of any artist of the year and some of the biggest hits to boot. I guess they’ve just got that “FIRE”. Snicker.
Honorable Mentions
SHINee – 2009, Year of Us
SeeYa – Rebloom
Girls Generation – Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)
Best Debut
I couldn’t decide. xD So it’s a tie! I did previously say that 2NE1 was more or less the biggest act of the year, I also feel that f(x) had a really strong debut with LA chA TA, and deserve some recognition. They had a bit of a misstep with their recent single, Chu~♡, but their yet-unreleased track Mr. Boogie very well might become one of the most memorable songs of 2010.
Honorable Mentions
Park Bom
MBLAQ
BEAST
Best Album
Who consistently impresses her listeners with every new release? Younha. Who has proven herself to be one of the most talented solo artists in K-Pop? Younha. And who is never hesitant to explore new genres, even when the results sometimes border on, ahem, plagiarism? That’d also be Younha. Though not a match for her brilliant masterpiece Someday, released in August 2008, Part.A: Peace Love & Ice Cream is another notch on Younha’s exceedingly impressive belt. And the accusations of plagiarizing Lady Gaga and the Jackson 5 – well, whatever. It’s just a part of being an artist. I meant to include the second volume, Part.B: Growing Season, but I didn’t get around to reviewing it before I made this list. Expect that review very soon, though!
Honorable Mentions
Super Junior – Sorry Sorry
2PM – 1:59PM
Younha – Part.B: Growing Season
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What a year it’s been, huh? All the debuts and new releases in 2009 mean endless possibilities for great music in 2010. It makes me very excited. Once again, if you have a comment, leave one!
I’m going to make a short announcement right after this to round out the year. Stay tuned!
Filed under: Ayumi Hamasaki, BENI, HIMEKA, Kana Nishino, Namie Amuro, TVXQ, YUI, Younha, Yuna Ito
Let’s just make this clear before we start: I do not use Photoshop, and there will be no nifty visuals in this post, or the other year-in-review list I’m going to post. If this is what you’re looking for, then please feel free to look elsewhere.
Now, let’s begin, shall we?
Best Overall Single
This is what we pay you for, Ayu.
Despite the facts that neither song on this single is my favorite A-side off of NEXT LEVEL - that honor would go to “GREEN” – and that the aforementioned album was definitely not my favorite of the year, Rule / Sparkle was certainly the strongest collection of songs that Ayu released in the entire year: Two really great A-sides and some kick-ass remixes. Haters can take a seat, ’cause the Empress is here to stay.
Honorable Mentions
Namie Amuro – WILD / Dr.
Yamashita Tomohisa – Loveless
Kana Nishino – Dear… / MAYBE
Best A-Side
The reason I don’t review Perfume’s music here in this blog is because I typically don’t have much of a critical opinion concerning their releases. Instead, I merely enjoy. The thing about ワンルーム・ディスコ (or One Room Disco, for those can’t read katakana) that I enjoyed so much more thoroughly than I normally do is its light yet complex melody, and sweet, unembellished vocals. It’s a song that takes great effort to dislike – clearly, more effort than I could ever manage. Plus, could they be any cuter?
Honorable Mentions
Yuna Ito – trust you
Jejung & Yuchun – COLORS ~Melody and Harmony~
YUI – again
Best B-Side
It’s not often that I prefer the B-side on a Yuna Ito single over the A-side, but when I do, it’s a fairly big deal. Happy Days, the lovely and uplifting A-side off of Yuna’s latest single Let it Go, has the potential to become one of her best upbeat songs to date. Here’s to hoping it shows up on Yuna’s next album!
Honorable Mentions
HIMEKA – Sayonara Solitaire
Miho Fukuhara – Cry No More
Younha – Okurisobireta Kotoba
Best Debut
French-Canadian anime singer. What else is there to say? Oh, I know what else: SHE’S AN AMAZING SINGER, YOU GUYS. And her Japanese, though not perfect, is really remarkable for a foreign singer of non-Asian descent. The dream she had and the hard work she’s put in are something you just don’t come across every day, in J-Pop or elsewhere. Long story short, give her a listen.
Honorable Mentions
Big Bang
BENI (not counting her stuff with avex, lol)
…aaaaand, drum roll please!
Best Album
Does this surprise anyone? Well, it shouldn’t. As the only album that has earned almost universal praise, Namie Amuro’s PAST < FUTURE is easily the J-Pop album of the year because it has more excellent tracks than Ayu’s NEXT LEVEL can shake a stick at. WILD, Dr., COPY THAT, LOVE GAME, Defend Love, FAST CAR, and I could go on. So if the past is truly lesser than the future, it’s exciting to think what Namie is going to do to top this one. Personally? Can’t wait.
Honorable Mentions
Kumi Koda – TRICK
Tohoshinki – The Secret Code
BENI – BITTER & SWEET
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And so, my J-Pop choices for the year 2009. Have something to say about them? Leave a comment!
Stay tuned for Part II: K-Pop!
