MOON / blossom – Ayumi Hamasaki

Release Date: 2010.7.14

At long last, the “empress” of J-Pop has released a new single, after taking a nice, long break after her last studio album, “Rock’n'Roll Circus”, was released…nearly three months ago. Well, at least she’s putting ‘em out fast. Her fans must be happy (and ngl that sounded totally dirty). I was once a big fan of the “Queen”, a long, long time ago. And while that glamor shot that must’ve been done in a mall in the early 90s look on the covers turned me off almost immediately, I listened to it anyway.

This single isn’t horrible! But, true to the same ol’, same ol’ formula we’ve been getting from Ayumi for the past few years or so, this is nothing new. I don’t know, is she even trying now?

But like I said, it’s not so bad. “MOON” is an epic and admittedly gorgeous rock-tinged ballad. But it sounds like everything we’ve heard. In fact, Ayumi’s vocals sound the same as they do in her last album and the one before. She’s made so many songs and rehashes that at this point it’d be easier to write an equation of what her new songs sound like than actually describe them. This one is basically “Days” + “BALLAD” ÷ “Jewel“. Still, it’s worth a listen if you’re new to the woman. It’s certainly pretty enough.

“blossom” is also nothing out of the norm for our Ayu. It’s a standard Hamasaki summer song, only this time, she decided to switch things up a bit by slowing down the tempo and using less electronic influences, making it mainly pop/rock. The chorus is catchy as always. But there’s really nothing new here. Again. The highlight of the CD+DVD edition of the single is the THE LOWBROWS remix of “Microphone“. THE LOWBROWS are known for their hot electro-club remixing of famous artists, and this is no exception. Dark, Crystal Castles-esque synths and stomping claps make this the song to download.

I was hoping that after her last album, Ayumi would at least attempt to be more original, but it looks like she’s just going down the same path of mediocrity that has been apparent in her career for the past three years or so. Please come back, “RAINBOW“-era Ayu. We (or maybe just me?) miss you dearly.

★★★☆☆☆

Gossip Candy – Koda Kumi

Release Date: 2010.7.7

Oh Kumi, you were once so great, with your bottle-humping and lesbian goodness.

Where did it all go wrong for you?

Kumi’s new single, “Gossip Candy“, isn’t exactly the hot stuff we used to expect from her, but that’s…okay. I think. I don’t know. I’m having mixed emotions about her.

At least this release is varied. Of course, the strongest song is also the lead song, “Lollipop“: an irresistibly catchy song that, despite the whole “lick my lollipop” innuendo, is actually about women empowerment. I’M SERIOUS. At least I’m not the one who pronounces, “I dodged the bullet, bullet / baby boy, we’re gonna pull it” as “I touch your booty, booty / baby boy, we’re gonna party”. Fail pronounciation aside, the song is good, catchy dance-pop that tippy-toes between hip-hop and straight-up electro, making it her best song in a long, long time.

Then the “lulz” ensues with the fishbowl songs. Koda Kumi wrote two songs, “Inside Fishbowl“, and “Outside Fishbowl“, both about how people percieve being trapped differently, with “Inside” being about the positive aspects of being in your own world, and “Outside” being about breaking free from control. Wow, Kuu, you’re so profound when you write your crappy pop-rock. I’ll admit, I enjoyed them a bit when this single leaked nearly a month ago, but now it’s just…no. “Inside” belongs to little sis misono, and “Outside” has too many instances of “fishpoo”. I do not like Engrish this much.

“For you” is your typical R&B filler that must’ve been thrown on here as compensation for crappiness. But a big highlight of this single is the cover of “Got to be Real“, a fun, summery version of the Cheryl Lynn classic. I still imagine Kumi chugging down that Pepsi Nex everytime I hear it.

More Lolli, less Fishpoo, okay Kumi Kuu? (I promise my future reviews will be more serious than this one)

★★★☆☆☆

Bad But Good – miss A

Release Date: 2010.7.1

I’ll be honest, the most I’ve heard from JYPE are the Wonder Girls, and we all know how that hot mess of a group went down. So I’m guessing they’re putting their new efforts (at least for now) in newcomers miss A, and actually, they aren’t bad. Okay, so they sound like everything else in the South Korean music industry. But their style includes a softer, more European electro influenced brand of dance-pop, devoid of most autotune compared to something like, say, T-ara. This is one of the redeeming factors I’ve always seen in Park Jin-Young: he knows how to make good, somewhat creative dance-pop. And that slightly retro feel that seems to be present in all of his works? It only adds to the charm of miss A.

What I like about this new group is that they don’t seem to aiming for any particular niche, compared to their peers. They aren’t trying to be overly ridiculous, annoying, and they certainly don’t come across as try-hard. They let the music do the talking, and are perfectly content with a simple aesthetic.

Oh, and there’s a girl with pink hair in this group. How can you not love it?

Take the lead-off track that’s all the rage at the moment: “Bad Girl Good Girl“. It sounds slightly dated without going overboard, with a classy sophistication that’s rarely found in songs that sound like down-tempo Girls’ Generation. And something even better is added to it! Vocalists that can actually harmonize with each other (damn you, Sohee!)! The watery synths make it a pretty good pop song. But suddenly things get wilder with “딱 마주쳐“, with an infectious orchestra sampling. “다시 사랑” sounds like a Eurobeat song gone 2010, with some all-too familiar keyboard rhythms. The only track that sounds different from the first three is the last, “Break It“, a funky club anthem with some sassy guitar and fluent English background vocals.

That’s not to say this is perfect. These are fine pop songs at best, but as I previously mentioned, this release’s biggest downfall is that it seems very similar to everything else out there, despite JYP’s magic touch and his added flair.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable debut, and it’s understandable why miss A is gaining popularity so fast: they sound much like what Wonder Girls would if they continued their Korean activities. I’m also starting to wonder if they would be suitable to replace them considering the hectic lives they lead. Only time will tell if this group can stand the test, but if another “Break It” or “Bad Girl Good Girl” is in the works, then I’m definitely all for it.

★★★★☆☆

Holla!

Welcome to Diamond Railway, my new music review/musings blog. It’s named after the single by talented (and severely underrated) artist Hitomitoi. I’ll be reviewing all kinds of music, no set language or genre. Yeah, I’ll review anything you throw at me.

Holla~