Sayuri's Music Box

Back, can't say for how long though~

2011-03-13T22:34:00.000+01:00

I'm soooo sorry for disappearing again, i'm just very busy with school since this is kinda my last chance to graduate :S I got some free time today so I thought i should review something! And as you can see I reviewed Kana Nishino's latest single.

The next release i'm gonna review is probably DBSK's new album! I'm gonna wait for the repackage to come out and review the whole thing ;)

Also, i wanted to say that i'm praying for Japan. I saw it on the news and was so shocked, absolutely awfull. May all the victims rest in peace.

Kana Nishino - Distance

2011-03-13T22:28:00.001+01:00

Distance is Kana Nishino's (西野カナ) 13th single. It was released on February 9, 2011.

Tracklist:
01. Distance
02. beloved
03. Call Me Up

Pretty cover! Love the colors.

☆★☆

Distance is such a pretty song. It combines piano with strings and awesome beats. The chorus is really catchy too. Kana uses more low vocals in the verses rather than her usual more high pitched voice. I thought her vocals were really nice and this was a great a-side!

beloved also uses strings with piano, but this song has a more cute and bubbly feel compared to Distance. It's really nice to listen to and has a relaxing feel, but it definitely isn't as good as Distance and the next song on this single.

While Distance and beloved were more relaxing songs, Call Me Up has a more fun and upbeat feel. The beats were so cute and again an addicting chorus! The 'ring ding dong' parts were very addictive too. This song also has more heavy strings compared to the first 2 songs.

Because I didn't find her last single that great, I wasn't getting my hopes up for this single, but this is definitely an upgrade from her last single! I can't wait for her next single that she's releasing on May 18! I hope it will be as good as this one.

☆★☆

Rating:

Discovery: Eri Nobuchika

2010-09-13T22:09:00.000+02:00

Eri Nobuchika (信近エリ)

Genre:
Most of her songs have a dance/house/electronic influenced feel to them because of the heavy beats, but she also has jazzy songs, more pop-ish songs and some ballads too.

Label:
- 2004-2009: Sony Music Associated Records
- 2009-....: Hills Records

☆★☆

Discography (in chronological order, vinyls and dvd singles not included):
- [S] [2004.12.08] Lights
- [S] [2005.04.06] Voice
- [S] [2005.06.29] Sketch for Summer
- [S] [2005.12.07] Kodou (鼓動)
- [A] [2005.12.21] nobuchikaeri
- [A] [2006.05.10] nobuchikaeri.rx
- [M] [2009.06.03] hands
* [A] = Album; [M] = Mini-Album; [S] = Single
Releases in red are my recommedations!

☆★☆

Best single?
I would say Lights, it is one of the strongest debut singles I've ever heard. Not only the a-side is amazing, but also the b-side + it has an awesome acoustic version of Lights!

Best album?
Not really hard, because she only has one real album which is nobuchikaeri. But gawd, what an amazing album it is! I really recommend this album to everyone, 'cause it's basically perfect.

Best song?
Voice! I can't stop listening to that song, it's a great addictive track which combines spanish claps and guitars with heavy beats. Her voice is also outstanding in this song.

Other tracks i recommend:
Lights, Sketch for Summer, Yume no Kakera & Inner Glow

☆★☆

I hope this post helped you and that you got some interest for Eri Nobuchika! It's a shame she isn't really active nowadays though. =[ I hope she'll release something soon again!

Update~

2010-06-21T01:56:00.002+02:00

I'm sorry for not posting for a long time =[ I had an accident which delivered me an injury to my arm/shoulder and I couldn't really type well OTL

And, due to the lack of time, I've decided to do reviews I want to do and not all the newest, it's just taking too much time I don't have =[

So I'll keep this blog up running and also sometimes make random posts with stuff like my fav albums covers, fav ballads etc.~ ^^

I hope you guys will still follow me and i'll post something soon again!

P.S. I've also been thinking about doing something like recommedations or artist of the month etc. If you got any ideas, feel free to tell me then ^^

MBLAQ - Y

2010-06-12T17:46:00.002+02:00

Y is MBLAQ's second single. It was released on 17 May, 2010.

Tracklist:
01. 4 Ya' Stereo - Intro (Feat.Taewan a.k.a C-Luv)
02. Y
03. One Better Day
04. What U Want
05. Last Luv
*The tracks in blue are my favs of this release.

☆★☆

MBLAQ's second single opens up with 4 Ya' Stereo - Intro (Feat. Taewan a.k.a C-Luv). It's an upbeat intro that has a sexy vibe. I really liked the beats and the bass and also the synths that are in the background. Most of their singing was heavily autotuned, but I think it fitted with the song.

I really liked how the intro fits with Y, the title track of this single. Again, their voices are autotuned for the most parts, but it fits here too. Y also has those agressive beats like the first track and the whole song also has a sexy feel. The 'beeping' synths in the back kinda reminded me of those in 2PM's Again & Again, but it was a good add. I think Rain also made a small appearance since the person who sings the 'it's over' parts at the end really sound like him.

One Better Day really has an uplifting feel. I really liked how the song was very upbeat, but still managed to have a calm vibe by adding the pretty piano in some parts and the uplifting strings. This really is a song I would imagine myself listening to on rainy days.

What U Want is quite different and probably the most unique MBLAQ song till now. It has more 'band instruments' like a guitar, a piano and drums. Because of this, the song is more jazzy and I think it was a really nice combination with their voices. I especially liked the chorus, because the 'tell me what u want' parts were really addictive.

Their second ballad, Last Luv, since My Dream from the JUST BLAQ single is really pretty. I really liked the instrumental and the chorusses were also really pretty. I really like the instrumentals because it also has a bit of that jazzy feel (not much though) like What U Want. I especially liked the guitar, piano and drums. There are also some strings added. Their vocals quite impressed me too.

MBLAQ really impressed me with this single, every song on here was really good. Especially What U Want. I hope they'll make more of those songs in the future.

☆★☆

Girls' Generation & 2PM - Cabi Song

2010-05-26T23:09:00.002+02:00

Cabi Song is Girls' Generation & 2PM's (소녀시대 & 2PM) first collaboration digital single. It was used as theme song for the Caribbean Bay waterpark CM. It was released on 20 May, 2010.

Tracklist:

01. Cabi Song

☆★☆

Cabi Song kinda reminds me of SEOUL (a collab single by Girls' Generation & Super Junior), but this is kinda like the 'dance version' and also because of those 'C A B I' lines probably. xD I personally really love this song because it is so catchy. I also love the beats and synths. The whole song also has a 'mysterious' atmosphere and that's what made me love it immediately the first time i heard it.

Their voices also really fit together and I hope they will release more catchy and cool collabs like this in the future!

☆★☆

Rating:

Kana Nishino - Aitakute Aitakute

2010-05-26T21:37:00.003+02:00

Aitakute Aitakute (会いたくて会いたくて) is Kana Nishino's (西野カナ) 10th single. It was released on May 19, 2010.

Tracklist:

01. Aitakute Aitakute {会いたくて会いたくて}

02. LOVE IS BLIND

03. Grab Bag

☆★☆

Aitakute Aitakute has a vibe I can't explain that makes me love this song. It is much more dramatic than her previous singles. Especially the strings in the chorus give it a more dramatic and 'grand' feel. There's a lot of variety in the song too. While the chorus are more fast paced, the parts after the choruses are suddenly very calm and the verses are slower paced too. The drums in the instrumentation were kinda unique too. I liked her previous a-side Best Friend more, but this song is also of high quality.

I really like LOVE IS BLIND. The song has a 'dance' feel to it and it's way more upbeat than the a-side. I especially liked a part of the synths that you hear throughout the song (except for the bridge). It makes the song have a funky atmosphere. The song is also pretty catchy.

I seriously don't get Grab Bag. It's such a weird song and there's just no structure in the song at all. Maybe it's just not my style, but I thought it was awfull. I could stand the verses, but when the chorus began I just couldn't stand it anymore. Seriously, this song is NOT worth a listen, try to avoid it when you listen to this single.

The a-side and first b-side are both very good. But Grab Bag just ruins it for me. I would have given this single 5 stars if Grab Bag wasn't on here, lolol xD. But Kana Nishino really knows how to give some good a-sides. All her a-sides have been extremely good till now and I already can't wait for her next release!

☆★☆

Rating:

Davichi - Innocence

2010-05-24T19:13:00.006+02:00

Innocence is Davichi's (다비치) 2nd mini-album. It was released on May 10, 2010.

Tracklist:

01. 시간아 멈춰라

02. 첫키스

03. 떠나지마 (Feat. 백찬)

04. 사랑을 못해 이별을 못해

05. Shadow

*The tracks in blue are my favs of this release.

☆★☆

시간아 멈춰라 kinda reminds me of Hot Stuff (a song they sang for a drama OST). It follows the same structure where the verses are calm and the choruses suddenly 'burst out' with a more rockish feeling. After a couple of listens I really grew to this song, because of the addictive choruses and pretty verses. Davichi's vocals are, as usual, excellent too. The only thing I wasn't satisfied with was the ending. I think a 'real' ending would've fitted more because this 'fade-out' ending left me wanting for more.

The next track is undoubtly my fav song of this mini-album. 첫키스 has a really nice beat with a nice piano melody playing along with it. I especially liked the 'summery-but-sad' atmosphere the song has. Again, the chorus is pretty addictive with the little english parts and soothing melody they sing. Also, Davichi's manages to capture the feeling of this feeling perfectly by keeping their vocals calm. It's definitely one of the best song by them yet.

Both 떠나지마 (Feat. 백찬) and 사랑을 못해 이별을 못해 are really generic. I didn't notice anything special about it, except that the instrumental are 'pretty'. 사랑을 못해 이별을 못해 is probably the most calm song on here, as it's more a ballad. I thought both of these were pretty boring and not really worth to listen.

Atleast we get a more upbeat song now, after those 2 generic song. Shadow is a really fun song and it's really catchy. I especially liked the choruses and they kinda reminded me of that 'one night only' song when they sing 'one night shadow'. I also really liked the fun parts just before the shadow where they sing oh, what you gonna do?. The fun of this song is what makes it my 2nd fav on this release.

This mini-album is pretty okay, it isn't as good as their previous releases because of track 3 and 4, I could've done without those. But track 1 and especially track 2 and 5 are definitely worth a listen and good in their own way.

☆★☆

Rating:

f(x) - NU 예삐오 (NU ABO)

2010-05-22T17:28:00.003+02:00

Tracklist:

1. NU 예삐오 (NU ABO)
2. Mr. Boogie
3. 아이스크림 (Ice Cream)
4. ME+U
5. Surprise Party
6. Sorry (Dear. Daddy)

Release date: May 4, 2010

The cover is kinda cool, but I wonder which one of the girls it is on the cover? =O

☆★☆

When I first heard NU 예삐오 (NU ABO), I was really suprised. I found myself really enjoying this song. I especially liked the addictive synths in the background and beat the song had. Especially the 'nanananananananana' parts had me hooked! xD I was also suprised with f(x)'s singing/rapping, it was really good. Especially the bridge was amazing with the high notes song by Luna. I could've done without the 'audience' cheering in the back though.

Fans of f(x) (including me) have really waited for Mr. Boogie to become included on an album/single after hearing a live recording of it and I must say I wasn't disappointed. The song has a really addictive chorus and I especially liked the arrangement. It gives a really cool and mysterious vibe to the song. The only con I have is that it's so short!

아이스크림 (Ice Cream) also has some addictive synths and awesome beat, just like NU 예삐오 (NU ABO) and Mr. Boogie. The chorus are extremely addictive and the whole song is really cute. I just love the 'make a shake, make a shake, ice cream, ice cream' parts, they're so catchy!

And again, another song that is extremely catchy. I especially like ME+U because of the instrumentation. ME+U has, just like the other songs till now, again those addictive synths that make this song have a funky and fun atmosphere. I must say that at the beginning I disliked this song, because of the very high pitched vocals f(x) uses, but when I got used to it, I thought that it helped to give the song the funky/fun atmosphere it has and now it's one of my favs of this mini-album.

After the 4 really upbeat tracks we got, we get something more laid-back. Surprise Party is another song that has something catchy about it and I thought the instrumentation was really cute and pretty. Overall it just doesn't have anything striking and it's just nothing special, just generic.

And after the laid-back Surprise Party, we get something even more slower now. Sorry (Dear. Daddy) is more of a ballad with it's slow beats and calm piano in the back. I thought the instrumentation was very pretty. Besides the piano, we also get some synths in the chorus and bridge. The chorus was definitely the strongest part of this song imo, it has a really nice melody. I also liked the verses where f(x) sings with more lower pitched vocals.

f(x) really has bring some good stuff here and this def their best release yet. Every song, especially the upbeat ones, is catchy. It's like they're getting better with every release and I already can't wait for their next release!

☆★☆

Rating:

Super Junior - 미인아 (BONAMANA)

2010-05-16T20:07:00.004+02:00

Tracklist:

1. 미인아 (BONAMANA)

2. 나쁜 여자 (Boom Boom)

3. 응결 (Coagulation)

4. 나란 사람 (Your Eyes)

5. My Only Girl

6. 사랑이 이렇게 (My All Is In You)

7. Shake It Up!

8. 잠들고 싶어 (In My Dream)

9. 봄날 (One Fine Spring Day)

10. 좋은 사람 (Good Person)

11. Here We Go

Release date: 13 May, 2010

Cool cover, but where's everyone else? =S

☆★☆

Almost all of the songs on 미인아 (BONAMANA) are high quality. I expected a lot of this album, but it wasn't as good as SORRY, SORRY (which was perfect imo), but it definitely wasn't bad either.

The album has six upbeat songs and almost all of them were really good! I could've done without 좋은 사람 (Good Person) and Here We Go though. 좋은 사람 (Good Person) and Here We Go were just pure cheese, lol. xD Atleast Here We Go had a bit of a cool arrangement and was a kinda catchy, but that's about it.

The other upbeat songs were all amazing in their own way. 미인아 (BONAMANA), the promonotial track, is extremely catchy, but my least fav out of 나쁜 여자 (Boom Boom), My Only Girl, Shake It Up! and 미인아 (BONAMANA). I must admit that at first I disliked it, but it has grown on me, it just doesn't beat those songs! 나쁜 여자 (Boom Boom) is hot, and I just love the catchy chorus and cool arrangement. My Only Girl and Shake It Up! have a 'mysterious' and more 'calmer' feel. I especially liked the chorus of both songs. They are probably the strongest tracks of this album.

The album also has a few 'slower songs'/ballads. I thought all the ballads were nice, although 잠들고 싶어 (In My Dream) was generic and kind of boring, the instrumental was nice. 사랑이 이렇게 (My All Is In You) was the most 'upbeat' out of the ballads. I thought the sweet feel and nice arrangement the song had was especially nice. 응결 (Coagulation) and 봄날 (One Fine Spring Day) had very simple instrumentals, but it helped adding to the emotional feeling of the song, both songs were extremely pretty. 나란 사람 (Your Eyes) is a probably the strongest tracks out of the ballads and I really liked the whole vibe of the song.

Overall, the album is really good. The album manages to keep your attention throughout all the tracks, except for the last 2. Like I said, it isn't as good as SORRY, SORRY, which is still my fav SuJu album, but this album comes close to being perfect too. They still manage to be one of the most interesting k-pop boy bands out there.

☆★☆

Recommendations:

BENI - Yura Yura / Gimme Gimme♥

2010-05-10T19:32:00.066+02:00

Tracklist:

1. Yura Yura {ユラユラ}

2. Gimme Gimme♥ {ギミギミ♥}

3. bye bye DJ HASEBE REMIX

4. Yura Yura (Instrumental)

5. Gimme Gimme♥ (Instrumental)

Release date: May 5, 2010

I think the cover is really pretty! I like how colorful it is.

☆★☆

Yura Yura is a really upbeat song with a catchy chorus. I really liked instrumental, it has a nice clap/fingersnap beat and some piano. In the chorus you can also hear some strings. I think BENI's vocals are also very good. She really shows of the strength of her voice in the chorus and I think she is improving more and more.

The 2nd a-side is a bit slower and calmer than Yura Yura, but still upbeat. Gimme Gimme♥ also has a catchy chorus and I really liked the sweet and cute vibe that the song has. I thought the instrumental was very pretty.

BENI's first double a-side also has an remix of her previous single bye bye called bye bye DJ HASEBE REMIX. The remix is a bit more relaxing than the original and has more beats. It gives of a more R&B feel. The synths of the original have been removed and I liked the effect that it gave by adding those beats. I think I even prefer this remix over the original!

Both of the a-sides are really catchy! I think all her latest singles have been really catchy, she's really good lately. I still don't know if I prefer Yura Yura or Gimme Gimme♥ since both are great. I think I like Gimme Gimme♥ just a tiny bit more, but it's not much. Check this single out everyone!

☆★☆

Rating:

DIA - 이젠 안녕

2010-05-09T15:01:00.013+02:00

Tracklist:

1. 이젠 안녕

Release date: 29 April, 2010

I like the cover, but I'm not getting the random light things she's been using for some of her covers and promo pics. xD Oh well, it gives a nice light effect anyway.

☆★☆

DIA participated in writing the lyrics of 이젠 안녕 and I think she did a great job. It's a ballad that she wrote for the victims of the 'Cheonan tragedy'. If you don't know what happened and are curious, you can read in short what happened here.

I thought the song was really beautiful. The instrumental is quite simple with just a piano and some synths, but it makes the song more emotional. DIA also displays strong and emotional vocals and I really liked the way she added a short high note after a few long notes in the chorusses.

I'm really looking forward to hearing more from Dia, she's been giving some really good and consistent stuff. She really has amazing talent for someone of her age!

☆★☆

Rating:

Going on vacation~

2010-04-28T23:58:00.001+02:00

There won't be posts for a few days, since I'm going on a vacation!
I'll try to get a review of DIA's new digital single up tomorrow morning ^^

Anyways, I just read there's a new album of Hwayobi coming up in may! =O Definitely looking forward to that since she's my fav female artist <3

See ya people in a few days again!

2PM - Don't Stop Can't Stop

2010-04-23T21:34:00.011+02:00

Tracklist:

1. Don't Stop Can't Stop | 2. Without U | 3. 마자 | 4. 목숨을 건다 | 5. Without U (Explorer Mix)
6. Space 마자

Release date: 19 April, 2010

Hmm, the cover is ok, kinda cool. It's just stupid that Chansung and Taec just aren't fully on it. They could have put those little arm parts on it. lol

☆★☆

The first track Don't Stop Can't Stop is FIERCE. I love the hard beats and synths in the background. I thought the track was kinda addictive in a way too. Actually, the whole song was fierce, including the lyrics. At first I didn't really liked it, but after a couple of listens I started liking it. This is the best song on the single imo.

Without U starts with a simple piano and rain in the background as a simple beat is being added with Taecyeon starting to rap too. Overall the song is just okay and kind of addictive, but for some reason it's pretty similar to Heartbeat for me, especially the structure. The difference is that heartbeat was way better, lol. I think they would be better off with Don't Stop Can't Stop as the promotion track. But they started performing that one live too anyway, lol.

마자 has a mysterious synth you keep hearing almost throughout the whole track. I thought the verses were pretty nice, it has a cool feeling to it by adding that piano as a sort of beat, but in the chorus it's just the typical '2pm sound' again and that makes it kind of boring.

The next track is pretty similar to 마자, it's like a slower version. 목숨을 건다 has a similar beat to the previous track, but with an other instrumental. Atleast the arrangement is pretty, it features piano and some pretty synths. This song is pretty boring to me and my least fav of this single.

The next 2 tracks are remixes of Without U and 마자. In Without U (Explorer Mix) the piano that you hear a lot in the original is completely gone and this song has a faster and more agressive beat also. I prefer the original since it's much more fit to the lyrics. Space 마자 has (like the title says) a more 'space-like' feel to it. The piano that was in the original is gone here also and it now has a bas in it back that gives a cool effect. I think I prefer this one over the original, since it has more variety.

Overall, the single is pretty okay, it's just typical '2PM sound', so it's all just nothing new. I hope they will do something more new and varied next time. Atleast their vocals are improving more and more and they give consistency in their singles & albums.

☆★☆

Rating:

Semi-Hiatus

2010-04-04T15:37:00.009+02:00

I'm sorry for not posting anything lately! I've been really busy with my exams and stuff >___< I hope to post something next week again ^^

Also, I think I will make a list of the artists i listen the most too, and only review the new releases of those, it would be easier =] When there's a list I'll post it! ^^

Anyways, I can't wait for Lee Hyori's 4th album, the song 'Swing' is absolutely amazing and I have high hopes for the rest of the album! =O

Also, Rain's album coming soon, his new song was kinda nice, it was just a bit... boring i guess, but I won't lose hope since Rain has never disappointed me before! xDD lolol~

Lee Ji Ah - The Vampire Romance

2010-03-04T22:08:00.012+01:00

Tracklist:

1. The Vampire ROMANCE

Release date: February 7, 2010

☆★☆

I really really love this song! I think the arrangement is really pretty. It features a piano and guitars and in the instrumental break there's a guitar solo that really fits this song. Lee Ji Ah's voice is very unique and her voice fits perfectly with this kind of calm songs. She manages to capture the feeling of the song perfectly by keeping her vocals really calm and she only puts more strength in her voice in the bridge. I think the lyrics of the bridge are especially pretty:

Tropical dreams of you, tragic faith, destroyed my heart.
Tropical dreams have gone, tragic faith, destroyed my hopes.

I really recommend this song to everyone! ^^

So basically, I hope to hear more soon in the singing career off this actress-turned-singer!

☆★☆

Rating:

alan - Diamond / Over the clouds

2010-02-25T17:16:00.040+01:00

Tracklist:

1. Diamond | 2. Over the clouds | 3. Diamond (Instrumental) | 4. Over the clouds (Instrumental)

Release date: February 3, 2010

☆★☆

Despite all the critism on Diamond, I really enjoy listening to this song. The song starts kinda calm, but that all changes after about 1,5 minutes as the song turns into a more upbeat song while they start singing 'la la la' in the back. Although it becomes more upbeat, the song still manages to have a calm feeling to it. I thought the arrangement off this song was especially pretty and there's a nice guitar solo in the instrumental break. The song is almost 5 minutes long, but I didn't really notice it, because it was easy to listen to (atleast, for me).

The second song on the single is Over the Clouds. With the title I was expecting a really slow or calm song, but this song is really upbeat, way more upbeat than Diamond. I don't complain though, normally I always like the slower songs, but I like this one more than Diamond. It features heavy beats with strings and synths and Alan's voice is autotuned in the verses which really works well with the vibe of the song.

Although I really enjoyed this single, the reason why I got into Alan was because she did music that had a traditional feeling to it. This single didn't do much to show her vocal abilities and I know she can do much more than this. This was nice for a change, but go back to your old style soon, alan!

☆★☆

Rating:

Info

2010-02-17T02:31:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone, welcome to my blog!
I will review mainly Korean & Japanese music here, but sometimes even other international music.

If you come here, you probably came here via asianmusicreviews 'cause I made a new blog here ^___^~

Anyway, look out for the first review soon! If you have something you want me to review, please comment!!

♥ Sayuri