YUI’s eighth single, CHE.R.Y. was released on March 7, 2007, and reached the #2 spot. I am not particularly fond of her voice, but I give her props for composing her own music. Whether you end up liking it or not depends on your music taste, I guess, but I’m not hearing anything stellar on this single.

My Subjective Score: 6/10


1. CHE.R.RY
I like how she speeds up the lyrics at little parts, as it keeps the song interesting. I don’t know if I’m quite feeling the actual music, yet the song is upbeat and fun. Maybe you’ll really like it when you listen to it, maybe not.

2. Driving today
A slow song that fits well with the softness of her voice. I think it is a litttle too mellow for me. I don’t have much of an opinion on this one.

 
Track 1: CHER.R.Y.

Hirai Ken, the not-seemingly Japanese ballad singer, has unveiled yet again another nice tempo, feel-good single. Kimi no Suki na Toko was released February 28, 2007 and reached #5 on the Oricon chart. It’s not exactly my cup of tea, but if you are a Ken fan you will enjoy it.

My Subjective Score: 6.5/10


1. Kimi no Suki na Toko
This really doesn’t do it for me. The song is pretty and the more I listen the more I beginning to like it. However, his voice sounds very nasally throughout most of the song.

2. Utsukishii Hito
Ok, this track sounds much better as far as a ballad goes. His tone is improved and he sounds more involved in the music with his voice. I like the simplicity of the background with the piano; Ken doesn’t need to have something covering up his voice because he can actually sing.

 
Track 1: Kimi no Suki na Toko

Beautiful Story was released on March 1, 2007 by Inoue Marina, as the ending theme for the anime “gestumentoheika Mi-na”. Marina is mainly a voice actor, but she has also released two previous singles before this during the past three years, so apparently singing isn’t her main focus. I’m not sure if I’m convinced if she can actually sing, however. She seems cute, but I can’t take her seriously.

My Subjective Score: 5.5/10


1. Beautiful Story
I could use a little more energy out of her voice to match the music, seemed like she was a little asleep. The beat is a little funky and not bad to dance to; by the end of the song I admit I’m moving to the music. It is okay, yet it doesn’t blow me away.

 
2. Hen na Koi
This is a cutesy song enhanced by her high voice. I do realize that Beautiful Story was released for the t.v. show, so it’s not like she was trying to break into the top ten on the Oricon chart and had a great team behind her creating. I can see this as a song for one of the younger Hello! Project groups.

 
Track 1: Beautiful Story

Sakurario was released on March 7, 2007 by the graceful Angela Aki. Do I like it? Yes. But do I love it. No. I feel that she needs to have some more range in her song choices. A lot of her songs sound a lot alike. The overall single isn’t the strongest, but it is still worth spending your money on. Though I may seem negative, Angela is a lot better comparitively to other female musicians in talent. The piano version of “Home” is your treat on this single!

My Subjective Score: 8.5/10


1. Sakurairo
She has a beautiful tone throughout and the chorus sounds just as pretty. There are lots of strings that make it sound very “massive” for lack of a better word. Sakurario is a typical Angela ballad song and I am not disappointed.

2. On & On
I’m not sure if I like the way her voice sounds because at points she sounds like she’s wailing. Anyway, the song is uplifting and I can easily listen to it.

3. Power of MUSIC
I think she almost sounds like Madonna a bit in the beginning! I like that she mixed in some background music other than just a piano and strings to mix it up a little. For some reason this song annoys me just a little bit. It’s decent as a whole, I guess.

 
Track 1: Sakurairo

Baby Don’t Cry was released on January 24, 2007 by the beautiful pop queen Amuro Namie, and is her 31st single (wow!). This single has been sitting around in my room for quite some time, and I figured I needed to blog about it instead of letting months go by. Overall the single is well created, yet it doesn’t exactly fit my taste. Anyway, it reached #3 on the Oricon chart and that says something, doesn’t it?

My Subjective Score: 8/10


1. Baby Don’t Cry
The beat in the background is creative, and it is integrates with her voice smoothly. It sounds like a slowed down dance track, and that’s probably why there is also a remix on the cd. At first I didn’t really like the song, but after I listened to it a few times it isn’t all that too bad and it is growing on me slowly.

2. Nobody
Nobody sounds a lot like Baby Don’t Cry, but just happens to sound a little softer and slower. It is basically the sequel to White Light, a previous song she did, but changed up a little bit. I really like the beat and the tone of her voice is right on. So, yes, I do have a tendency to like B-sides better somehow. I love this song!

 
Track 1: Baby Don’t Cry

Arashiro Beni’s eighth single, Luna, was released on February 28, 2007, and only reached #77 on the Oricon chart so far. She is half-Japanese, having an American father, and can speak English and Japanese fluently. Beni is also part of Bishoujo Club 21, a Morning Musume look-alike group, and one of two soloists from the group. She really isn’t that popular in the music scene, partly because she hasn’t had one single to really break her through. Luna is a decent listen, but she still needs something more spectacular. I wonder what the future will hold for Beni?

My Subjective Score: 7/10


1. Luna
Her voice doesn’t sound perfect, but then it definitely doesn’t seem like it was touched up in a studio. The song doesn’t stand out to me as being all that creative; however, it still sounds quite pretty. Luna is a ballad with a heavy r&b influence that could grow on you after a few listens. This is the theme song for the J-drama Warui Yatsura.

2. NO PAIN,NO GAIN
Beni has some attitude on this song! I like the music a lot, so I do like this much better than Luna, yet I don’t feel it fits with her. It has a rock-pop sound to it. I’m not sure if the chorus hooks me all together; she needs to work on making something a little more catchy.

3. DIGGIN’ON YOU
This is a cover of TLC’s Diggin’ on You from the 90’s. (On a side note, the first CD I ever bought was TCL’s CrazySexyCool, which is where this song is from.) Beni suprisingly does the song some justice. I think she was helped by the fun beat that was already there to give her some energy, but she pulls it off.

 
Track 1: Luna

I am now an official UVERworld fan forever! Bugright was released on February 21, 2007 and reached #1 on the daily Oricon chart. UVERworld is composed of five members that go by their first names: TAKUYA∞ (yes, the infinity is part of his name), Akira, Katsuya, Nobuto, and Shintarou. The album sound splits about half-way through from a friendly rock to a softer sound, and then turns back around to a great rock sound. Honestly, there was not a single track that I disliked!

 
Here are pics of the members:


My Subjective Score: 9/10


1. Zero no Kotae
There is a great deal of variety in TAKUYA∞’s singing that keeps the song from getting boring. The guitar in the background is great and I appreciate the composition all together. His voice is prominent, which should be in a song, and the music compliments fantastically.

2. SHAMROCK
An upbeat song that I bob my head along to. There are parts when he almost whispers the words and it makes the song for me completely because it fits perfect with mood. The only part I didn’t like was the strange, growling voice near the end added in, which was someone completely different from the singer. I thought it was unnecesary.

3. Home Binetsu 39 degrees C
Another catchy song. He does an amazing job making his voice engaging! I didn’t like this as much as the previous two tracks, but it is decent.

4. ~Nagare·Kuukyo·THIS WORD~
An eerie beginning that dives right into a hard rock edge. Even though Uverworld is a rock band, there are still elements of pop present in the sound of their lyrics that allow them to have a broader fan base. This song is definitely darker than others on the album, but as a regular rock listener I can appreciate it.

5. Colors of the Heart
I like the sound of his voice in this one. Colors of the Heart is a lighter track and easy to listen to. It was the third opening theme for the anime BLOOD +.

6. Live everyday as if it were the last day
There is a bit of rapping in this one that is completely bearable because it works. This song has a “pop” sound to it too. The guitar compliments well and has an original sound.

7. Charmant no Ura
A fun song! The chorus is catchy and I like the softer sound after hearing six rock songs. I want a single like this!

8. Hitori Ja Nai Kara
The song follows the mood previously, except for the rapping which made it sound harder. The piano in the background was a nice touch. I guess they’re experimenting with the rock and rap combination. It doesn’t sound half-bad! I feel a jazz basis going on here at parts.

9. Kimi no Suki na Uta
There is a lot of raw emotion in his voice that I haven’t heard until now. This is truly a beautiful rock-ballad. Possibly my favorite on the album!

10. 51%
The very beginning of this sounds like a 90s boy band! Luckily it doesn’t sound like that throughout, and 51% is another track that stays true to the overall sound of UVERworld.

11. LIFEsize
Now we have swung back around to the harder rock sound present earlier in the album. I like the guitar solo! The softness at the end was a nice little present.

12. EMPTY96
Much harder sounding overall. This is a head bobber, be warned!

13. DISCORD
This is probably the hardest rock song on the whole album, but TAKUYA∞ lightens it up for you if you are not a die-hard rock fan. I do like it, however. I don’t know how UVERworld manages to make everything so darn catchy all the time.

14. Kimi no Suki na Uta (Acoustic Version)
I am a sucker for any type of acoustic version. So, yeah, this one sounds nice.

 
Track 1: Zero no Kotae

Sakura Chirari was released on February 21st, 2007 and reached #3 on the Oricon chart, which is quite impressive for such a young Hello! Project group. °C-ute was formed in 2005, pulling girls from Hello! Project Kids, who mainly served as back-up dancers and such. Sakura Chirari is °C-ute’s first “official single” even though they have released 4 indie singles prior. The song itself is not anywhere near fantastic, but it is a modest start for °C-ute.

 
Current members are as follows:


 
My Subjective Score: 7/10


1. Sakura Chirari
Although it is a cute song it has an underlying of maturity to it. I don’t think the singing overall is strong enough throughout the chorus; there could have been more energy. Yajima Maimi sounded pretty well; I can’t recognize a lot of them yet. Overall it doesn’t stand out, but it is a decent song. I do dig the French tunes in there.

2. JUMP
The song seems like it is better suited for a solo artist than a group to me for some odd reason. Some of the girls fall flat in their singing. I like this song as much as I did the first one, yet I’m not saying it was terrible, it just isn’t catchy enough for me to put it on repeat.

 
Track 1: Sakura Chirari

Kimura Kaela is seen as a rebel and a free spirit in the music business, often sporting different hairstyles and fashion, yet she has great talent in music. Kimura Kaela’s “Scratch” was released on February 7, 2007 and reached the coveted #1 spot! This is her third album and I definitely want more of her. There are some great jewels on this album waiting for you to find them, so if you’re a rock fan, hop on the Kaela fan train because has a lot to offer.

My Subjective Score: 8/10

1. L. drunk
The background could have done without that incessant xylophone. If it wasn’t there the song would have sounded ten times better. I don’t want to listen to this if it gives me a headache. I guess that’s just what drunk really is.

2. Magic Music
Just an all around fun song with a fun beat you can bounce around and sing with your hairbrush in hand. The chorus is indeed catchy. This was one of her singles.

3. Snowdome
A little bit of a softer song that is halfway-decent. The acoustic guitar was fitting for the track and I wished there were more times in which it was the sole instrument played. The music overpowers her voice sometimes, and I surmise from this that she is very focused on the music itself and not just her singing. I’m surprised that this was a single.

4. Wani to Kotori
Her voice is pretty, yet this track gets a little “carnival-esque” sometimes with added synthesizers. If she could have just taken out all of that extra unnecessary noise the album would have been much better overall. I have noticed a trend of strong background beats throughout her songs.

5. dolphin
Though it has a harder edge, the accompanying strings make it softer. A well-composed song and I love the guitar solo at the end! This is maybe my favorite song on the album.

6. sweetie
I really like how her voice and the music complement each other well. I love the guitar! This song sounds like contemporary American girl/pop music and I enjoy listening.

7. Kirin Tan
The song sounds very retro in a way I can’t exactly describe, but nevertheless it is interesting. I kind of get a tropical island feel from it somehow. I actually really like this song because it sounds so, so different and far from mainstream, even from the other material on the album. I guess this is her experimental song.

8. Scratch
The namesake of the album happens to be an interlude of sorts with varying piano, guitar, drum, and synthesizer mixing all together with a tiny bit of singing at the end. It is very fitting with the mood overall, so props to Kaela for not creating something really whacky. Again, strong beats that make you listen.

9. SWINGING LONDON
I love the piano in the beginning! Not too shabby of a song. There’s a strong guitar solo near the end. She tends to mix in everything soft with the hard guitar sounds to produce a signature sound. I can envision a music video with her running all over the place singing.

10. never land
I didn’t like this one because it came off too strong for me at parts. Her singing during the voices was fun to listen to however.

11. TREE CLIMBERS
This song is very alternative…I can see her punk-like side coming through. I think this song somewhat exemplifies the music she wants to create.

12. JOEY BOY
JOEY BOY is ok all round but it didn’t really interest me too much.

13. Ground Control Album Mix
Her English isn’t too bad so the song survives. I hope someone can save me from that halloween-ghost synthesizer thing in the middle of the song. That was strange and umm…yeah. The song had some fun pop elements to it so it’s pleasant sounding to the ears for the most part.

 
Track 1: L. drunk

Mai Kuraki’s Season of Love was released February 14, 2007 and reached #6 on the Oricon chart. How it got that high is beyond me, but the only reasoning I can give is that Mai has a large and loyal fanbase. I have heard a lot better from her and I am surprised she would have released a single as weak as this one. Please, please don’t spend your money on this single!

My Subjective Score: 2/10


1. Season of Love
Personally, this song doesn’t seem to have any real spark to it all. It doesn’t sound like the current trends of pop at the moment and sounds very old in terms of composition. I really didn’t like how it was sang or the beat of the song. Very, very disappointing from Mai. Is she finally losing it after all these years?

2. Season of Love (Latin Lover Remix)
I liked the dance remix a lot better! If they had sped up the original song like this it might have worked. But then again this is only a dance version, not a real single and Mai should have done a song completely different from Season of Love. That is only hindsight thinking, however.

3. Shiroi Yuki (Orgel Version)
A lullaby! There are no words in the song, so not much to say.

 

Track 1: Season of Love

GIZA really didn’t put much effort in to this pv much like they didn’t with the song. It was probably filmed entirely in a large, one-room studio. There are some large televisions in the background behind Mai that give the video some color, but all in all it was a poorly done production.

Otsuka Ai is a cute pop idol I do so adore and I have been following her for quite a while ©. CHU-LIP is her 14th single and debuted at #2 on the Oricon chart and its ranking is deserved. She is the typical singer that will give you songs to satisfy your “Jpop” quench. Not a bad thing at times, though. I really like her with blonde hair as a side note.

My Subjective Score: 8/10


1. CHU-LIP
I actually prefer Ai on upbeat songs than the normal ballads she usually produces. I think part of it has to do with the fact that her voice is quite high and thus sounds cutesy. Anyways, the song is quite fun! I thought that it would have been really over-the-top silly, but it didn’t turn out that way, and CHU-LIP is decent and a welcome single from Ai. The music has some ska mixed into it so it’s up-tempo.

2. Kimi ni Kaeru
Though listening to the very first part of the song made me think otherwise, her voice sounds very pretty and soft in the chorus. At some points I’m not sure if I really like the accompanient of some of the music which sounded I think like synthesizers or something…the little beeps are what I’m referring to. Overall the quality of her voice was surprising well-sounding.

 
Track 1: CHU-LIP

 Tommy Heavenly 6 and Tommy February 6 are two “characters” Kawase Tomoko has created. Both of these characters look, act, and sing differently, and Tommy Heavenly 6 is her more recent alias. She is also in the popular band Brilliant Green as the lead singer. I’m not sure if I understand the reason for all of this mutiple personality disorder, but I’ll overlook it and focus on the music. Heavy Starry Chain is Tommy February 6’s 8th single released on February 7th, 2007, and its top spot on the Oricon chart was #10. It is a fantastic rock single to put it straight! Although I listen to mostly JPop, it is nice to break away from it once in a while and listen to some creativity, because I mean let’s face it, how many Momusu members have actually wrote a hit single?

My Subjective Score: 9/10


1. Heavy Starry Chain
A well-composed rock song! The guitar sounds great and compliments with her voice well. I really like the guitar solo in the middle and the overall tempo throughout. The interspersed English didn’t sound very random as in most songs, thankfully. I can tell that Tommy February 6 spends a lot of quality time working on material. I’ll have to dig up more of her music because I really haven’t been a fan, but this has convinced me!

2. Alway’s Somethin’
Just as great as the previous song and matches well with it. I really like how how the lyrics are sung during the chorus. She comes off very strong and is certainly not shy about her singing ability. As I mentioned before she is a seasoned veteran when it comes to music and it shows what maturity brings. How can Leah Dizon do better than this artist on the Oricon charts? It makes me wonder sometimes…

Track 1: Heavy Starry Chain

Leah Dizon is a popular car model in Japan who has released a few photobooks and done countless magazines. However she is not even the slightest bit Japanese nor was she born in Japan! Leah is actually from Las Vegas, which means her first language is not Japanese, so I give her some credit for taking on a singing career in a foreign language. Softly is her first single, released on February 14th, 2007 and reached #7 on the Oricon chart. I think there is a lot of room for improvement for Leah in the future as this single doesn’t really hook me and her singing doesn’t amaze me. How did it reach so far on the charts? Because of her goods looks honestly.

My Subjective Score: 4/10


1. Softy
Nothin really struck me when I first listened to this. After a second listen I still felt the same. I think that there is nothing really that makes the song stick in your head. Possibly it is because the music is very light, but because of this I don’t think her voice is strong enough to carry the song far enought to be interesting. I don’t know if she writes her own music (I could guess an educated “no”) but if she plans on succeeding something needs to occur in the creative making process.

2. Everything Anything
I did like this much better than the previous song, but it did not blow me away. I can’t say that I was interested in this either though the beat was somewhat fun. Her voice sounded strange at some parts and almost unnatural. The more I listen to it the more I dislike it because of the strange tone that pops up in some places. Maybe it could have worked with a different artist possibly…one that could actually sing. 0_o

3. Fever
This falls very flat compared to Kylie’s original version completely. I can’t really comment on the song itself as it is basically the same as the original, but Leah’s voice seems to be drowned out and whispered. She needed more strength to convince me that she could even come a little close to how the song was originally created. There is nothing really special here and I am very sad for Kylie if she ever has to listen to this.

 
Track 1. Softly