the mog network 4.0- jpop part 4

Jpop

Part 4. 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.

Hirai Ken - THE CHANGING SAME

DFCZ-1020
released 00.10.01
3059 yen

Track Listing:
01. Introduction -HERE COMES K.H.-
02. Love Love Love
03. why
04. affair
05. the flower is you
06. Interlude -BRIGHTEN UP-
07. K.O.L.
08. LADYNAPPER
09. Unfit in Love
10. wonderful world
11. Interlude -TURN OFF THE LIGHTS-
12. Rakuen
13. Aoitori
14. The Changing Same -Kawariyuku Kawaranaimono-

This is Hirai Ken's breakthrough album, having been in the Japanese music scene for a while. Maybe it's because I'm not the biggest fan of R&B but I thought this album was just okay. The songs released as singles, "Love Love Love," "Why," and "Rakuen" are the best songs on the album. "Love Love Love" is my particular favorite-- it's very upbeat (probably the most upbeat song on the album), sounding somewhat gospel, somewhat jazz, with very distinct piano melodies and a choir in the background. "Rakuen" is my second favorite, with a mysterious beat, synthed strings, and smooth vocals. "Why" sounds somewhat similar but is less catchy.

I actually bought the re-release of the album; the original came out sometime in June. Anyone know the difference?

Whenever I listen to this album I always find myself fast-forwarding through many of the songs. But, it's worth a listen. His style of R&B is a throwback to mid-90's R&B here in America with somewhat of a twist, and it sounds very refined. If you don't like R&B at least download the mp3's to "Love Love Love" or "Rakuen."

Hamasaki Ayumi - evolution

AVCD-30203
released 01.1.31
1260 yen

Track Listing:
01. evolution "Original Mix"
02. evolution "Dub's Floor Remix Transport 004"
03. evolution "DJ REMO-CON REMIX"
04. End of the World "Laugh & Peace MIX"
05. evolution "BOOM BASS Ayumix"
06. evolution "Oriental Hot SPA"
07. SURREAL "nicely nice electron '00 mix"
08. evolution "Huge terrestrial birth mix"
09. evolution "LAW IS Q mix"
10. evolution "Original Mix -Instrumental-"

Ayu's latest single sounds like most of her other fast-paced rock songs yet is just as catchy. This one's really hard to sing karaoke to though. Like her last single M the song starts off slow and calm then the electric guitars and synth effects come in. The chorus is extremely catchy, fast-paced, and stylish-- it's somewhat like rap but isn't.

What I do not like about this single (and all of Ayu's singles, actually) is the fact that there are about a million remixes on each CD, none of which I care for. The "LAW IS Q" mix is kind of good, but I don't really like the others. Same thing with the remixes for "End of the World" and "SURREAL"-- the originals are much better. So the title track is great, the remixes suck, and the instrumental... is hard to sing karaoke to. Download the mp3 or else wait for her next album to come out?

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