Morning Musume – Shouganai Yume Oibito PV Review

Hello! Finally Morning Musume new PV was released at Dohhh UP! A low quality PV was already available some time ago and it was constantly removed by UFA Agency requests – which I can understand, but those who desperately wanted to see the PV – I think they were able to catch it. I’m not a biggest fan of low quality(even Dohhh UP! is really not enough for me – but it’s better) so I didn’t watch it and patiently waited for full quality PV to be released. And so it was.

Now that was already too long of a story – I think let’s go on to the review itself.

You can go watch the PV at Dohhh UP - just click here. And as usual – I’ll stick a youtube video, so you could watch it while reading the review.

While watching it the first time – I was like – Damn, they’re beautiful! – I really like the clothes style in main shots. I think it’s way better than such in Naichau Kamo. As well as the dance shots costumes – they are tender gold-ish toned and again – I like this design more than in Naichau, even more than such in Resonant Blue(let’s not mention that green-ish thingy from Pepper Keibu, since it’s a cover and all…). The song itself is a bit slower-paced than Naichau or Resonant, it is kinda in the middle – sometimes getting faster, sometimes slower. The main theme of the PV is some kind of a simulation of an university-everyday-life – girls read most of the time, looking as if they’re studying something. The beginning is interesting too, it features picture-taking set, which is probably a contrast of university life with idol\talent life. And that’s pretty all of it. The main theme shots is blended by dance shots and close-ups – which is as usual and doesn’t change, so there’s nothing much to be said about it. Overall impression of this PV is good – it builds up a fuzzy-warmy feeling – because the color scheme is really calm and as I said the costume designs are plain and simplistic – which I personally like more than shining-everywhere-chained-and-bright stuff which is featured in Naichau and Resonant and (ah well what a heck) in Pepper Keibu. Yes, I do like the main theme clothes in Resonant and in Naichau, but I think that I like clothes in this PV a tad more. As for the dance – I’ll wait until I can see it in full – because here it is interrupted by close-ups and main scenes, so I can’t really build up the whole picture of it. And a bit on the line distribution in this song – it’s still the same Ai-Reina pattern, but with a bit more lines distributed among others. So in conclusion I’ll give this song a rating – 8 out of 10. It’s not a masterpiece yet, and there’s some mishaps in it – but nevertheless I really enjoyed watching it.

And a little picspam with cute screenshots from the PV, just for those who need them.

And there’s lots more – just turn on your creativity and click the snapshot button.

Thanks for your time.

News batch 7

Hello! I’ve been away for some time, but hey – it was relatively quiet. Anyways, this news batch topics are:

Buono! “My Boy” PV released. Review.

Yajima Maimi’s 3rd photobook cover released.

Yeah, it’s not that much for a batch, but let’s get on with it.

Buono! “My Boy” PV released. Review.

I don’t know when exactly it was released, but it was already broadcasted at M-ON and probably a bit later it was uploaded to Dohhh UP! site. Since I can’t embed the video from Dohhh UP! I’ll stick a youtube one, for your viewing pleasure. And you can click - here - to watch it on Dohhh UP!

So as you might have already heard – this song is a lot more rock-ish than Rottara’ Rottara’ and the PV stands up to this song, being more mature than the previous one. This time the girls are dressed like spies and through some stealthy action try to get to some heart-shaped box. This is mixed with dance shots and close-ups, where the girls are dressed in bright colored(with lots of colors) dresses, which I, personally, like a lot more than Rottara’ Rottara’ ones (and I think I’m not alone in this), but I think I like the style of Co.No.Mi.Chi a bit more, so overall the PV is a lot different from their previous ones, since this one has some plot included(even with a funny conclusion at the very end of PV – but you will see it for yourselves), and I think it’s a plus. So we have a new mature song from Buono! and once again – Tsunku didn’t spoil this one, so we should already try to step away from the stereotype that Tsunku only spoils songs (if such a stereotype exists) – as two Buono! songs proved – he didn’t spoil anything.

Yajima Maimi’s 3rd photobook cover released.

Yup – it’s been already released for some time now, but I think I should stick it here also – in case you missed it.

This is it. It’s plain and simple. Maimi gives you this look – which some interpret as “I’m-too-angry” one and some think that Maim’s true scatterbrain-ish nature  showed up. As for me I think the cover is good enough, though not enough to attract some new Maimi-fans, but hey – who knows. Anyways – after this cover, I really want to see what’s inside, but it will be released on 24th of April and when will I be able to see it – no one knows.

Oh and ℃-ute’s  “Bye Bye Bye” was already released – no Kanna there – you know why. I didn’t listen to it yet, but as soon as I do – I think I will write a review here (that is if nothing gets me busy enough).

Thanks for your time.

Back on track and C-ute – (4)Akogare My Star review

Hello. Like it’s said in the title – I’m now back from time and energy consuming thing called ‘exams’ and though I still have one exam left in February, it’s holidays till 8th of February for me, so let’s see if I manage to fully get back on track with news and stuff.

I’m currently listening to new C-ute album titled “(4) Akogare My Star” and I decided to write up a review of it. Even though the songs it includes were already discussed a thousand times (because full previews were broadcasted at Yajima Maimi’s radio program “I Me Maimi”) I still think that if I write up another complete review – nothing bad will happen.

I’ve been thinking how to brighten up the ordinary review for it to look a bit more interesting. And I’ve came up with an idea – I will “imitate” the sensation you’ll get when you receive your copy of the album(if you will receive one and if you won’t, then you can just turn on your imagination, just like I myself will do it). So – here goes.

Finally it’s arrived and we go to door\post-box or post office or wherever we get the packages. We come home, open the envelope and take out two(or one if you don’t order limited and regular editions together) packed up CDs out of it. So the first thing we notice – covers.

Limited edition is the left one and regular edition is on the right. My opinion is that they’re both good, and I can’t really decide which one is better. Now let me think… Okay, I actually like the limited edition cover. Just look at those expressions on Airi and Kanna faces(and the only fact – that they’re once again together he he ahem…). Now one who could make you wondering for couple a seconds “who’s that” is Mai – either the photographer took a great picture of her, or she just made another step to maturity – anyway she doesn’t look like her ordinary small and yongest in group child-face, at-least on this photo. Same goes to her on the Regular edition. Chisato is great on both covers, as for Erika – regular edition photo is better than limited one. It’s hard to decide what photo of Saki I like – both photos are good, but after all I’ll go for regular edition. Maimi looks way better on the regular edition, than on the limited. On the latter – she looks somewhat “not needed” being there in the left half of the cover, and on the regular she’s in the middle, surrounded by other members.

Now that we finished looking closely to the pretty covers, we unpack the CDs, quickly decide which one to actually listen to and put it inside stereo-system\cd-player\pc or whatever you listen your music on. In my case – PC with iTunes. Once everything’s done, we push play and…

If you don’t sit like (O_o)<Oh my…> – then you must have pretty strong nerves, because when I pushed play and the song immediately rushed into my ears – I was really like this emoticon. Anyways – the first song on the list is ★Akogare My STAR★ its title is as you see, the same as the album title.

From the very beginning, with no introduction or anything like this – girls start singing really fast and catchy tune, which passes trough the whole song and is actually the most easily memorable part of the song(that’s except the words Akogare My Star themselves). As for the song in whole the tune and the lyrics are pretty interesting and not boring(actually I’m listening to it now at the time of writing this part of review and to this point in text it’s already my 4th time). The song ends just like it begins – no outro too. And we’re immediately onto less up-beat song, which is performed by Erika, Chisato and Mai. And that’s – One’s LIFE.

Now this song is great, because it features mix of vocal and raping parts. This is something that C-ute, as far as I know, has never did yet. This song is – as I’ve already said – great and even though it makes less impact than Akogare My Star, I liked this song. And it stands out, being something fresh and new amongst all C-ute songs. This song ends and we’re on to first solo song in this album by Airi – Yes! all my family.

I don’t really know why it is called so, because I didn’t yet read the lyrics closely. Yet another up-beat song, that features lots of guitar parts and always-cute-and-great voice of Airi. I’m currently listening to it for the third time, but I still can’t really understand, is it really Airi solo? Because I hear couple other voices there. Maybe they set out the back-vocals’ volume too high and didn’t “widen” them out to different from the main vocal channels. Or maybe it’s just my imagination. This song is pretty short, and to tell you the truth – it slipped through. It doesn’t have those catchy parts like Akogare My Star has and it doesn’t have those rapping parts like One’s Life has – it’s just a typical C-ute song(and I liked Tsuugaku Vector more). Next on the track-list – already and well-known Namida no Iro. Nothing to say here, latin-ish sound and beautiful vocals – we already heard this when it was released on its own as a single. But I won’t skip it, so now I’ll just once again enjoy it. (random note during listening) I like those high pitched vocal parts. Next song up – Aishiteru Aishiteru by Saki and Kanna.

First slow ballade on the album. It is pretty interesting when fast non-singing parts are mixed in to the singing parts(you’ll know what I mean when you listen to it). Except this, it doesn’t have anything catching your attention. Just another ballade which allows you to enjoy Kanna and Saki voices in full and which prepares you to what will come next – Maimi solo song – Seishun Song.

Now that’s another catchy song that you’ll probably remember. That’s where the heavy guitar sound rules the tune. It’s an up-beat chant-like song(it reminds me of Koero! Rakuten Eagles) – seishun is youth in Japanese and I thing this song really represent this running-in-different-directions and ever-changing youth, because the tune changes really fast and even though there’s some identical patterns that are repeated throughout the song, still you won’t be bored by it. Back vocals in this only back-up the chan-ish rythm of the song. Next song – Big dreams, performed by all C-ute.

Another typical C-ute song, beautiful vocals, interesting tune. But it’s not the song you will remember from this album(at-least I think so – you may have other opinion on this). And that’s pretty much everything there is to be said about it. Though I think it will be great live in the middle or at the end of the concert. Next song – SHINES – once again by all members.

This song is yet another song that you will probably remember. It begins with shouts of fans(probably those of C-ute from one of the concerts) backed up with electronic tune and strong beat rhythm. Though it’s somewhat close to Big Dreams – it’s still more up-beat and I really like it more. The back-vocal parts here are great, and as far as I can hear – line distribution in this one is pretty fair. And it of course features beautiful vocals. Fan shouts, back-vocals and main vocals – all in all – great. Next song – last new song of the album, Yakusoku wa Toku ni Shinai wa.

Yet another probable candidate for live concert ending. It’s a ballade which at the beginning features no strong beats or drums. Instead – clean vocals, strings and guitar. A bit later on – you hear some tinkering and sfx. A bit later the beats come in for the refrain. It’s a beautiful song, which sounds great at the almost-end of the album.

Next two songs were already released as singles – Forever Love and Edo no Temari Uta II – so there’s almost nothing to be said about them, but we won’t skip them – to grab the complete feeling of the album. By the way – Forever Love – is the song, that breaks the overall “fairness” of line distribution in the album – it features only Airi and Maimi(as you already heard hundreds of times). And except the strong guitar rhythm and verse – it has almost nothing memorable.  Edo no Temari Uta II is the shortest in the album.

As soon as Edo no Temari Uta II ends, the CD stops spinning and you would probably push the play button again(that is if you didn’t already turn on the repeat). But I will let you to enjoy your second listening time alone, to gather up your own thoughts and decide what parts of the album you like and what parts you don’t. I’ll just summarize everything.

This album, in my opinion, is better than the previous – it has more strong and memorable parts than the previous one. Though once again – it’s only my opinion and you might have something else on your mind. Personally, I like both these albums(like I’ve said earlier here – I liked Tsuugaku Vector more, than this album’s Airi solo song) but the overall impression is that this album is better.

That’s all for this experimental review – I hope you will like it and I hope that it turned out fine for the readers(because as for me – not everything that I planned to write at the beginning – sustained trough up to the ending) but that’s not for me to judge.

Thanks for your time.

Morning Musume – Pepper Keibu PV

Hello! This was made available about two days ago, but somehow I managed to watch it only now. After wathcing the full and hq version of it I understood that I don’t like it that much. I think that it is weaker than Resonant Blue and a lot weaker than some of previous Morning Musume releases. Somehow I’m again thinking about “generation change” in H!P that we’ve heard of. Though maybe this song will grow up on me after couple of listens.

What I like about the PV itself – the costumes. Though I couldn’t catch a proper glimpse of them, because Dohhh Up! version, after all is not that great in quality. But costumes are good.

The concept of the PV is similar to the Resonant Blue it’s a dance shot with some close-ups. I think that more vesrsions of it will come as soon as Single V or maybe an Even V dvds will be released.

The PV starts of with an old-tv-like picture and sound that is similar to that of original times of the song(60-70ies – I don’t actually remember now when it was). And at some point it goes off to a more modern video and sound. I find this interesting, though at first time I had an idea that this was some kind of codec-malfunction and not an artistic touch to a PV. But overall first impression of the PV is not that bad that I though it could be. Once again – I think it will grow up on me and I start to like it(as it happened with Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance).

I took some screenshots(41 of them to be exact) and I’ll put the best of the best from them.

Berryz Koubou 5th Album [5(Five)] review

Hello! Yesterday this album became available at hello!online. Though the date of official release is 9th September. You know my policy – so I won’t give you direct links to download. Go to Hello!Online and find it yourselves – it’s not that hard to do.

Now on to the album. First things first and I will firstly write up my first impression of the album(a lot of “first” words but ah well…). From the very start of the first song(HAPPY! Stand Up) I decided that I’m going to be enjoying this album a lot. I liked all the songs in it – though I didn’t like the remix of Special Generation, but I will review each song a bit later. So the first impression was really great. I was spamming my friend over the messenger with inaudible shouts and smileys, because I had no words to describe the greatness of this album. I don’t have them now, but I’ll try to be at least a bit objective when I come up to song reviews. The album is still playing – and this will be fifth replay of it. And I think that I won’t be fed up with it. I’m going to listen to it to the point when I memorize all the lyrics…

Now on to songs review.

First on is group song HAPPY! Stand Up it starts up with a groovy tone and later on the lyrics start and this song rises you. This song is a bit looped, but it’s not that tiring. I think this song will be great at concerts – it’s somewhat tension-rising song. The point I like about it is also the retouching of girls’ vocals – this way it sounds even greater. And I give this song 10 out of 10 points.

Next on is Kono Yubi Tomare! (Shimizu Saki, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Kumai Yurina, Sugaya Risako). It sounds a lot calmer than the previous one(this album has a little after-impression about which I’m going to speak a bit later). The tone and theme of the song reminds me of 60ies something American movies background or titles music. It sounds interesting, but it’s a bit weak overall, but vocals here are great too – so I give this song 8 out of 10.

Next on is Baka ni Shinaide (Shimizu Saki, Natsuyaki Miyabi, Kumai Yurina, Sugaya Risako) another great song with great songs. It sounds a lot stronger than previous one. It starts of with some calm keyboard tones and then it suddenly gains pace and loudness. So this song is 9 out of 10(because I like HAPPY! Stand up more than this). Though as I said I enjoyed the album, so It’s pretty hard to judge all the songs – but I’m trying… And it’s very hard! I like this song to – but I can’t possibly give all the songs 10 out of 10…(though I really want to).

Next song is already known Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance. In the context of the album(when your tension is rised by the first song and you are likely to be stricken by two other songs) this song sounds like a relaxation – because you already know what this song will bring you – so no surprises. I like this song. Though it has somewhat simple lyrics – you actually get to stomp your leg or swing your head according to the beats of the song. Because it’s simple yet rising. 9 out of 10

Next one is the song I like very much! It’s Ah Merry-go-Round(Shimizu Saki, Tsugunaga Momoko) this is the first slow paced song in the album. It features great vocals and interesting tune which will probably touch you if not make tears run on your cheeks. 10 out of 10

Next – CLAP! (Natsuyaki Miyabi, Tokunaga Chinami, Kumai Yurina) another tension-rising song. It features a lot of acoustic guitar and interesting vocal passages. Overall this song is a bit calmer than Happy! Stand up. But it gets 9 out of 10 because I like it.

Next – Risako solo “Real Love” – it is VERY hard for me to be objective here… Because I’m a die-hard Risako fan. But I’ll try. This song has pretty interesting theme with a lot of synthesized tones. And Risako’s vocal is really great here. 10 out of 10.

Next – Yume wo Hitotsubu ~Berryz Kamen Ending Theme~ now this song in the context of the album sounds really interesting. It features a tango-like theme and interesting vocals. Though it’s not that moving than other songs. But it sounds interesting so 8 out of 10

Next on – Jingisukan – another “relaxation” song – because once again you know what this song’ll bring you – so no surprises. I liked this song even though it’s a cover. Because it sounds interesting with Berryz vocals(and yes – I heard the original). 8 out of 10

Next song is another well known song – Tsukiatterunoni Kataomoi – these two songs(i.e. Jingisukan and this one) are somewhat “prefaces” of what comes next. This song sounds interesting, though somehow it slept pass me and for some point I didn’t even know what the cover and costumes for this one were… But later on I listened to it a lot and it grew up on me. 9 out of 10.

And now comes the song, which “brings you to Berryz Heaven”(it’s a quote from some forum I don’t remember which though – sorry…) - BE - this song is super slow. It features orchestra sound with a lot of harp and piano. In refrain it features children and men choir. It sounds really great – it calms and soothes you. And you are very happy staying in Berryz Heaven throughout the song. 10 out of 10.

And the last song in this album is a bit let-down. It’s a remix of Special Generation called “Special Generation Eccentric Remix” I don’t like this remix. It features heavy guitar riffs, unbalanced “body” of the remix(with strange inserts of totally different tones and beats) not to mention old vocal audio – which sounds like a stranger here(it doesn’t match in tempo with the remix) and really stuffed up and packed up trashy sound – I don’t like when too much different samples and patterns occur at the same time. So overall points are 5 out of 10(just because it’s on Berryz Koubou album and not a fan-made remix, though it sounds a lot like it).

So overall this album gives a feeling of “waves” you have very fast paced and rising first song and then you have a bit relaxing second and then another rising song etc. I like this conception. I must say that this is the best Berryz Koubou album, if not best in all Hello!Project. This album overcame and surpassed C-ute’s album.

So the total points for this album – 9 out of 10(only because of the remix song). And if you count it out – then 10 out of 10!

Thanks for your time.