the mog network 4.0- jpop part 1

Jpop

Part 1. Initially this page was a list of all the CD's I have. But that got too boring... in this section I review some of the CD's and music-oriented stuff I buy.

Amuro Namie - GENIUS 2000

AVCD-11756
released 00.1.26
3059 yen

Track Listing:
01. Make the Connection Complete
02. LOVE 2000
03. RESPECT the POWER OF LOVE
04. LEAVIN' for LAS VEGAS
05. SOMETHING 'BOUT THE KISS
06. I HAVE NEVER SEEN
07. STILL IN LOVE
08. MI CORAZON (TE AMOUR)
09. YOU ARE THE ONE featuring IMAJIN
10. KISS-AND-RIDE
11. THINGS I COLLECTED
12. NEXT TO YOU
13. ASKING WHY
14. GIVE IT A TRY
15. LOG OFF

Japanese media sensation Namie Amuro's latest CD album since 1997, after her hiatus, both matured herself and her style of music. Some don't like her new style, which concentrates more around R&B than pop music. While she isn't a pop megastar anymore; the short-skirt/high boots trendsetter she was in the mid 90's-- this album has a lot of new style to offer.

"Love 2000" is a dance/R&B type song, and takes some while getting used to-- but it's a great song. "I Have Never Seen," Namie's first song out of hiatus (released back in late '98), is reminscent to "Dreamin' I was Dreamin'" and follows a somewhat slow pop beat. Tracks like "Something 'Bout the Kiss" and "Leavin' for Las Vegas" are truly hip hop/R&B-- maybe that's they were produced by Dallas Austin, the rest being traditionally produced by Tetsuya Komuro. Finally, "Respect the Power of Love" follows the style of Namie's older songs-- a positive pop beat, and great vocals on Namie's part. It's somewhat reminscent of "Don't Wanna Cry."

Genius 2000 has a completely different style than Sweet 19 Blues or Concentration 20. I wouldn't recommend getting it unless you like R&B. The old Namie style appears in songs like "Respect the Power of Love," which is my favorite of the album, and of all of Namie's songs in general. If you get it and don't like it, give it a few listens before judging it.

Utada Hikaru - Wait&See ~risk~

TOCT-22070
released 00.4.19
1260 yen

Track Listing:
01. Wait&See ~risk~
02. Hayatochiri
03. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
04. Wait&See ~risk~ (Baton Girl Mix)
05. Wait&See ~risk~ (ORIGINAL KARAOKE)

Hikki's 5th single, produced by American producers Jam and Lewis like her 4th single, "Addicted to You." The title track is a mixture of rock and R&B, and is fast-paced, much like "Movin' on Without You." The songs are written by Hikaru as usual, except for "Fly Me To The Moon," which a cover of the old song (some first heard it from EVA.) It's a great maxi-single, with wonderful lyrics. Like Genius 2000, however, it's not traditional j-pop, but more R&B.

Part 6 || Part 5 || Part 4 || Part 3 || Part 2 || Part 1

Back to Main