Review: Aina Aiba Lead the way

Leading the way to the start of something new!

Popular voice actress Aina Aiba made her long-awaited re-debut as a solo act with her single “Lead the way” this past week--but was it worth the wait?

Aiba originally made her debut with their track “夢の光、君の未来“ (“Yume no Hikari, Kimi no Mirai”) back in 2016. It was used for the theme of popular trading card game anime Cardfight Vanguard G. Aiba has since been attached to BanG Dream multimedia project as Roselia’s lead singer Yukina Minato and has been using her luxurious vocals for that project among others which have been under Bushiroad. “Lead the way” is currently attached as the opening theme for the current season of Cardfight Vanguard and is a return to form, with Aiba calling this her “0th single”. 

The single released with three tracks along with the instrumentals and dropped with both a CD-only standard edition and a CD + Blu-ray limited edition. While the Blu-ray only included the music video for “Lead the way” and making-of for the music video, this review shall only focus on the single’s standard edition.

With dulcet chime ringing in the intro, thus begins our lead track “Lead the way”. Aiba’s softer vocals might come as surprise to fans who discover her through her time with Roselia, for her voice comes off as higher and at a more earnest vocal pitch. The compositions by Agematsu Noriyasu of music creative team Elements Gardens is on point, as his electronic and uplifting compositions work wonders, elevating Aiba’s vocals to places she hasn’t been able to reach before in previous works. One of the only blemishes to this track is that it spends most of its time building up to a major crescendo with a softer outro to follow—until it flat out ends. This in turn brings it to such a jarring halt of an otherwise amazing song and leaves listeners feeling empty and craving resolution.

Switching gears to the dance floor, Aiba leads us to her track “Everyday’s Evidence”. Keeping to a highly rhythmic beat, this is such a surprising departure from everything she has done before. This track bears a heavier dance influence with high paced compositions and Aiba shows off just how much her vocal range has improved with her time with Roselia through her ability to match the arrangement beat for beat. The track is fairly solid overall and I won’t mind if this is the style Aiba will continue with for future work.

Last but certainly not least, Aiba channels her intensity with “ParodoX”. This piece tests the more extreme points of her vocal range. While this is stunning, the composition was lacking, featuring unnecessary pitch switches constantly throughout the track. While some might think these switches might be vital because they do allow “ParodoX” to stand apart from the other two songs, others might find it distracting, thieving the limelight from Aiba’s vocals.

Overall, “Lead the way” is a solid re-debut as a “0th single” with several big pluses and a couple minuses. While some tracks aren’t doing anything groundbreaking for the voice actress-turned-singer genre, this a great base for Aiba’s next single.

★★★★☆

Ken’s rating: 4/5

Order your copy of “Lead the way” in the links below!

Standard edition

Limited edition

Review: First Palette creates a colorful masterpiece

Back in May, five-member vocal group Color Creation released their very first album First Palette which went on to debut at number two in albums on the Oricon. Color Creation got started back in 2017 and consists of Kaz, Riosuke, Junpei, Takuya, and Yuuto. This album is a culmination of all the singles the group has dropped so far. First Palette contains a total of fourteen tracks including hits “I’m Here”, “Canvas”, and “Let it Snow”, just to name a few; however, also on the album are tracks such as “Movin’ On” and “Odds & Ends” which are new and can only be found on this album. A quick note: the Type B edition of First Palette does feature a slightly different track list and includes the song “Smile” while the limited edition and Type A edition feature the song “Saturday Night”. For the purposes of this review I’ll be focusing on the limited and Type A editions since they feature the same track list.

The album starts off with a punch. “Movin’ On” is a fast and upbeat song that really shows off the playfulness of the group while still featuring the amazing vocals the group is known for. The track moves pretty fast but it’s a good first step of the journey the album takes the listener on. From there we move to “Summer Love” which is one of Color Creation’s first singles. This track is a bit on the simple side with a fairly uncomplicated beat but one that is super catchy. The hook on the chorus will surely have the listener up and dancing, which is perfect since the lyrics discuss dancing in the sun.

Now I just want to talk about a few more highlights or I will be here all day. The sixth track “Odds & Ends” is a great find and a wonderful song. It starts off slow but quickly picks up and includes some really beautiful verses that flow in a very satisfying manner before building up to a breakneck pace as the chorus kicks in, only to slow down again, but it maintains the momentum started with the first verse. This track was a really nice surprise and a song I can definitely recommend. One more great song I want to mention is the final song on the album, “Butterfly”, another that was written exclusively for this album. “Butterfly” is a stunningly beautiful song and an amazing way to conclude this album. It starts off with one person singing and passes along from one member to the next but as the verses go along it starts to crescendo to this amazing pinnacle before the rest of the group joins in and sings the chorus. It’s a stunning song that will stick with the listener long after they finish the album.

For the DVD with the limited edition comes with the music videos for the songs “Canvas”, “I’m Here”, “Blue Star”, “Let it Snow”, and “Butterfly” which can only be found on this DVD. You also get a nice movie showing how the album comes together along with some TV appearances from the boys including a segment in which each member shows off their cooking talents. It’s definitely worth picking up the limited edition for the extra goodies. I can’t recommend this album enough. Ever since I purchased it I’ve been listening to it on repeat. It’s a great first step for the group and I can’t wait to see what Color Creation does next.

Gray’s score: 5/5

Review: Miliyah Kato I HATE YOU

Is MILIYAH's I HATE YOU as strong as it sounds? Lets find out!

★★★☆☆

I HATE YOU is the first physical mini-album release by Miliyah Kato (I specify “physical” as she did release a digital mini-album in 2014). It was released March 21, 2018. Unfortunately, it did not make it onto the Oricon Top 10 but instead claimed the 27th spot the week it was released. Before I dive into a breakdown of this album, allow me to provide a little background on Kato for those who are unfamiliar with her.

Kato is a Japanese R&B singer under the Sony Music record label. She made her official debut in 2004 with the single “Never let go”/”Yozora”. This was a big hit for her as it reached #15 on the Oricon chart. And Kato is still going very strong today. 

I am going to dissect this album song by song and also discuss the promotional video for title song “I HATE YOU”, as I bought the limited edition version from CDJAPAN.

1. “I HATE YOU”. I love, love this song--from the first melody of the intro I was hooked. “I HATE YOU” has a catchy beat and I love Miliyah’s vocals with this song; they fit it so well. My only gripe is that she is slightly autotuned at the beginning of it, but once you watch the video this decision makes sense. This is a mid-tempo R&B tune but it still has a beat that you can dance to, and the lyrics are good. I actually like the lyrics quite a bit; “I HATE YOU” is about loving someone who doesn’t love you anymore and questioning yourself, asking yourself “Why and how can I still love them?” and “Why did I waste time on them?” This is a song I can relate to because I have had similar experiences in the past. This is the best song on the album--as it should be, being the title song.

2. “顔も見たくない” (“I Don’t Want to See Your Face Either; Kao mo Mitakunai”) feat. JP THE WAY. So, I didn’t know what to think of this song when I first heard it. To me, it is your typical R&B song. It has got a mid-tempo beat with autotuned rap; it starts off sounding like it could be a ballad then jumps into mid-tempo R&B. It is more of a head-bobbing song. JP THE WAY’s rap is lightly autotuned; I’m not a fan of autotuning so this turned me off a little bit, but I really like Miliyah’s vocals and I love her side of the rap. She does a decent job at rapping and it works with this song pretty well, as it fits with the tempo. This is a song many a girl (or guy) can relate to, for it is about having an argument with your significant other and not wanting to see their face or talk to them afterward.

3. “二人の関係” (“The Relationship Between Two; Futari Kankei”). Another mid-tempo R&B tune. I like the beat of it but I have a problem: there is not much that sticks out in this song. I like the lyrics, but I find nothing catchy or unique otherwise. To me, this is just a generic R&B song, and I don’t dislike it but I don’t love it.

4. “Interlude -the world-“. This is an interlude to the next song and it spans twenty-eight seconds. I found it very unneeded. However, it gives you a taste of what the next track will be about.

5. “世界” (“The World; Sekai”). Another mid-tempo/slow R&B song; I really like it. I love how the melody and the song flow together very well. My only complaint is that it doesn’t stand out like it should, as all the other titles on this album have a mid-tempo beat. But it is a very enjoyable tune, especially if you are trying to wind down to something relaxing.

6. “Don’t let me down”. This is my second favorite song on here; I loved it the first time I heard it. It is a mid-tempo R&B song (what a shock) but there is something unique about it that sticks with you. It also has the perfect beat to match Miliyah’s voice, and I love the lyrics. I highly recommend checking out “Don’t let me down”--it certainly didn’t let me down.

Now, speaking of the DVD, it is my favorite. I love the video for” I HATE YOU”; it is a throwback to all of those late night 90s commercials of the 1-800 numbers asking viewers to call single girls when they're lonely. I remember all of those commercials so it was a fun throwback for me. Miliyah’s outfits were awesome, too. Definitely check out the music video! It is so much fun and has to be one of my favorite videos I have watched in awhile. Unfortunately, the video is not available on YouTube, as Miliyah is under Sony Music Japan’s sublabel Mastersix Foundation.

I am a huge Miliyah fan, but I will say as a first mini-album, this was a little disappointing for me. I felt that it started off strong with “I HATE YOU” and also ended strong with “Don’t let me down”, but the in-between tracks are lackluster. They are forgettable and all blend together, honestly. If you are a Miliyah fan, I would pick I HATE YOU up if you can snag it for a reasonable price. Or you could just pick up her Femme Fatale album, as the best songs off of this mini-album are also on her newest studio album that dropped this past June 21. I am still glad I bought I HATE YOU, though, since mine came with stickers and the DVD (I got the first press edition as seen below).With that being said I give this mini-album a 3 out of 5.

Review: BoA 私このままでいいのかな？

With BoA’s return to the Japanese market, can she still prove that she is the Queen of K-pop?

★★★★☆

It’s been almost four years since BoA’s last Japanese album, Who’s Back, came out. BoA is now back with 私このままでいいのかな? (Am I Okay Like This?). This album includes twelve tracks and three different editions: a CD + DVD version with four music videos and a documentary; a CD + DVD version with excerpts from Billboard Live; and a CD only version. I will be reviewing both of the CD + DVD versions. Let’s see if BoA is truly “okay like this”—or even better!

BoA, for those of you unaware, is a Korean singer who has been very popular in both the Korean and Japanese music industries since early 2000. One of her biggest songs is “Every Heart”, featured in the anime series InuYasha. BoA used to be very active in both Korean and Japanese industries but lately has been practicing acting as well, so she has not been as active musically as she used to be. Her last Japanese album came out in 2014 and her last Korean album in 2015, so seeing a new album released this year was a great treat.

“Where am I now”

The title caught my eye right away, as that is literally what I thought when I read news of BoA releasing a new album. This is a mid-tempo song, not the type you’d think to start off the album, but it works very well and gives you insight into this album’s overall sound. I, personally, really like this song; it’s not my favorite on the album, but it has a catchy chorus and a great tempo.

“ありがとうサヨナラ (“Thank you, goodbye”)”

This is an upbeat tempo song. With a title like “Thank you, goodbye”, one wouldn’t think it’d be upbeat, but it has a super catchy beat. This song seems to encourage you to forget about your past love and bid them farewell. It teaches to let go. I enjoyed the lyrics and beat in this song very much, so much so that it’s up there as one of my top songs on this album.

“Crow”

When I first heard this song I thought she was saying “Crawl” at first (I don’t know why, but I guess “Crow” and “Crawl” do sound similar to me). This is another fun and upbeat song. If you are wondering why there would be a song called “Crow”, this song seems to be about sticking together like crows in a flock (or “murder”, if you wish to be that specific or macabre) and looking out for each other. That's probably the best way to describe it. It is a particularly fun, catchy song as well. Not a top favorite on this album but very enjoyable.

“Jazzclub”

“Jazzclub” is very jazzy, just as the title implies, and was one of the songs used to promote this album. The first time I heard this, I didn’t know what to think--I wasn’t officially sold on it until I saw the video. Regardless, this is a song I would love to swing dance to! It makes you want to put your dancing shoes on. And I love hearing the trumpet in this song.

“FLY (album version)”

This is the first ballad on this album; you can say it’s more of a mid-tempo ballad, as I don’t consider it a full-out BoA ballad. This is a favorite of mine. I absolutely LOVE this song! It is gorgeous and the lyrics really speak to me, and it’s a song I feel a very personal connection to. I highly recommend it. It’s one that really sticks out on the album. It also was a previous single, but I like the album version better than the single version.

“Right Here, Right Everywhere”

This is an official BoA ballad; you know it is when you first hear the piano at the start of the song. And this ballad is a beautiful one, although it doesn’t feel like a typical BoA ballad to me; this one has more of a mellow ballad feel to it. Perhaps a spring ballad feel is the best term. BoA’s winter ballads seem to stand out for me a little more than this one. However, this is a beautiful song and I highly recommend listening to it.

“Manhattan Tango”

This is an interesting song, another with a case in which I wasn’t sure how I felt about it upon first listening. It has an upbeat tempo with a 1940s-esque sound to it, definitely a song to tango to. Now that I’ve listened to this album several times, I can say this song has really grown on me. Its beat gets me right into a dancing mood and I believe her vocals mesh with this song perfectly. There are also tidbits of BoA rapping, to boot.

“Make Me Complete”

This song is entirely in English-- yes, you heard me, English! BoA’s English is fantastic, and she definitely showcases it in this song. This is a typical ballad, a beautiful one that I very much enjoy. It’s one to remember, as the lyrics are what got me to enjoy it. I think it is a song everyone can relate to.

“Lookbook”

This is my favorite song on the album. I loved it upon my first listen. It is an upbeat dance song, one that would probably incite anyone to dance and sing to it. And, oh man, as soon as I hear the chorus I have to get up and starting moving if I’m not already. Although “Lookbook” was released as a single in December of 2015, I didn’t listen to it when it came out. Too bad I didn’t, because this song is HOT. I highly recommend it.

“Mannish Chocolat”

This is my second favorite song on the album and another with an upbeat tempo, As soon as I heard it I fell in love with it. The beat is great, as is the chorus, and I love when she says “Mannish Chocolat”. This is another song that I want to dance to and it makes me want chocolate!!

“Kiss My Lips”

This is a Japanese version of “Kiss My Lips”. This song stands out the most on the album as it doesn’t fit the overall style of the album, for it’s a mid-tempo R&B sounding song. This is a personal favorite of mine as I love both the Korean and Japanese version—both are amazing. I honestly can’t decide which one I like better. Even though this song does not fit in with the rest of the album, it is a favorite of mine and I highly recommend listening to both versions. The Korean version is on the album Kiss My Lips, released in 2015.

“私このままでいいのかな?” (Am I Okay Like This?)

This namesake song is nothing short of amazing. It's a beautiful ballad about breakups, but don’t let that fool you: there appears to be much more beneath its surface. This song made a personal impression on me. The artist explores the common fear of getting hurt and encourages listeners to ask themselves “Are you okay like this?”. “私このままでいいのかな?” is a ballad I recommend to everyone; heck, it had quite an impact on me. The vocals and, well, everything about this song are beautiful and I would consider this one of my favorite ballads.

The DVD
 

I bought both CD + DVD editions; each DVD came with a different track listing. One DVD came with four music videos that led up to this album: “FLY”, “Lookbook”, “Kiss My Lips” (Japanese version), and “Jazzclub”.

It also comes with the “Documentary of Jazzclub”, a 24-minute glimpse detailing the making of Jazzclub and also her photoshoot for the album. I loved the documentary, as one gets to see BoA interact with all of the cast and crew. The documentary is mostly in English but features Japanese subtitles since it was filmed in New York.

The music videos run for about 20 minutes. I personally enjoy watching BoA’s music videos and can’t choose a favorite off of here; I loved them all, honestly. “Kiss My Lips” was the sexiest, while “Jazzclub” and “Lookbook” were the most fun-filled. “FLY” was beautiful and serene.

The second DVD came with live CLIPS from Billboard Live Selection. Unfortunately, this was not long (15 minutes), which was disappointing. That being said, the live songs were amazing, as BoA had a live band behind her. I also enjoyed seeing “Jazzclub” sung live. It is worth mentioning, however, that I feel like there could have been more live videos in this edition, as it felt a little lackluster compared to the other DVD.

Overall, I think BoA’s Japanese comeback is a success. 私このままでいいのかな? delivers, to both fans and listeners who are just tuning into BoA. Unfortunately, this album did not chart on the Oricon as well as I had hoped. I think it deserved to chart higher. This is a great album as a whole, one with many memorable songs. The lyrics are solid and I especially appreciate the meanings hinted within this album: the societal pressures women face. One can hear this underlying theme in the songs and I am glad, being a woman, that she is addressing these issues in a tasteful manner. 私このままでいいのかな? has just the right mixture of songs, from its easygoing, earworm-inducing dance tunes to its most heartfelt ballads, and I look forward to seeing what BoA has in store for us in the future, both in Korea and Japan. I give this album a 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: the tripod e.p.2

Return of the hip hop trio a big hit? No question.

★★★★☆

After several years apart, LISA, DJ Taku, and Verbal are finally back together as they once again set to transcend Japanese music with their newest single “the tripod e.p.2”. Included are three new songs: a remix of an older song along with both an instrumental and an acapella version of the new songs. This brings their total to eleven songs on a very beefy return; however, covered in this review will only be the three new tracks themselves and not the instrumental and acapella versions. After having been apart for so long, does the trio still have that charm they had all of these years? Let’s find out.

M-flo, for those who don’t know, is a hip hop group born back in the mid-90s from vocalist LISA, Verbal, and DJ/ rhythm producer Taku. They were mainstream and international successes early on, earning the title of most iconic and influential hip hop production team in Japan.
However, in early 2002, Lisa announced her departure from the group to jump-start a solo career; this left only DJ Taku and Verbal to engage, with various amounts of collaborations throughout the 2000s. They coined this time period the “M-flo Loves” era. With all three members finding only limited success in the 2010s, they announced in December of last year that they will be reforming.

Their main song, “No Question”, jumps right in with a classic M-flo style with a keyboard introduction leading up to Lisa’s first verse. This is a nice evolution for DJ Taku’s style from his “M-flo Loves” era, compared to his earlier work that involved many classical instruments with a rap and techno style. Overall, it was a nice reintroduction to M-flo, but my only criticism is regarding Verbal’s rap solo. It seemed as though it had thrown off the beat compared to the beat Lisa used, which almost sounded like two different styles of songs being combined.

After the explosions of beats and sounds that was “No Question”, “Never” dials it back, a way that blends both a rap and ballad style of music together. Lisa’s soothing voice, along with Verbal rapping in what sounds like a voice distorter, brings a totally different sound that works amazingly well. Add to this an amazing violin and piano playing in the background that really pulls out the emotions that Lisa is trying to express in the song. While short, the song leaves the listener wanting more. I surely recommend this song off of the album!

In a complete 180-degree turn, “MAKE IT BREAK IT” speeds up the tempo with sharp pitches and beats that make it sound more akin to techno, which involves Lisa in more of a rapper role compared to the other two songs. “MAKE IT BREAK IT” serves as a lovey bookend to exhibit the range of what M-flo is capable of. However, my only gripe with this song is the inclusion of the boy who was repeating “M-flo in the house” into the end of it. This sounded off-putting; an unnecessary, not so pleasant way to end the song.

Overall, “the tripod e.p.2” is a great reintroduction to M-flo as a three-member unit. It has some minor hiccups that I personally don’t agree with, but I feel that this is a great jumping-off point for newcomers to J-pop and people with a preexisting interest in Japanese hip hop and R&B. I give this single a 4 out of 5.

You can buy the single (here)