Friday, May 9, 2008

Monthly Jpop Reviews

October 2007
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(Click on titles for audio samples from CD Japan's site, and to write your own reviews.)

Singles

Ayumi Hamasaki - talkin' 2 myself
Ayu's 42nd single is her second new single since she started releasing them again this summer. It includes two new songs ("talkin' 2 myself" and the B-side, "decision"), plus a lightened up "Orchestra version" of "fated," a song off her previous single. Both new songs are hard-hitting pop rock style, with a heavy dose of strings. The songs send you on a dynamics roller coaster, abruptly trading off between hard rock choruses and soft, almost ballad-like, stanzas. At this point, it seems that there are a few basic flavors that Ayu songs come in, and this heavy style is an all-too-familiar one. There is nothing bad about either new song, but nothing original either. This single will quite likely be forgotten in the large historical mass of this artist's work. It will, however, probably be enjoyed by her fans who continue to indulge in each one of her releases, and are happy with her music as it already is. This single receives a mild recommendation to those who like this kind of music, this reviewer not withstanding.

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