Review by MaiyaV

Absolutely gorgeous single from Ayumi-san! The three songs are all stellar, and the videos for "glitter" and "fated" are beautiful and clever in the way they inter-link to tell a chapter-by-chapter star-crossed-lovers story, with Ayumi-san in the title role, of course!

A lovely single from one of my long-running favorites, this'll really put anyone in mind of summer - light, happy, catchy, and the music video for Atarashii Hibi illustrates that exactly. Makes me yearn to run around outside in sandals and a sundress, too, even though it's 15 degrees (F) right now! Ogon no Tsuki is just as lovely, a perfect accompaniment.

Nao-san's single 'Rain' is one of those gentle & lovely ballad-type tracks. Slow and pretty, Nao-san's high, sweet voice makes this a song worth listening to. The emotion she injects into it is rarer than one might think with the preponderance of this type of pop-ballad, but she does justice to this otherwise simplistic song. I especially enjoyed the melding of violin and piano with Nao-san's voice.

I do love Mika-san's voice, and this single delivers on her lovely smooth vocals paired with a relaxing Reggae touch where 'My Sugar Cat' is concerned. This song does bring to mind relaxing at poolside with an exotic drink in hand ^_^. 'Koishikute' is a very nicely mellow c/w song, fitting with the mood of the first track to extend to evening and dancing outside on the patio under the warm summery stars.

'Sunao na Mama' is one of those songs that immediately grasps me by the throat and refuses to let go. It starts incredibly simply but evolves into one of the loveliest ballads I've ever heard, doing real justice to Mika-san's fabulous voice. It's impossible to listen to just once! 'Fever', in contrast, does showcase Mika-san's appreciable range - she isn't just a pop-ballad princess! This track easily brings to mind a smoky jazz club in the heart of New Orleans. Not to mention that Mika-san pulls off a very credible all-English song, at that. I did like the SUGIURUMN Remix of 'Sunao na Mama' for the other track on here. It's very dance, but not too heavy - there's a brightness to it that isn't found easily in driving dance remixes. It's as easy to listen to multiple time in that respect as it is the original cut of this song.

Mika-san's smooth and resonant vocals are given star treatment with the song 'Eien no Uta'. She shines on this track that is a pleasant blending of of a mellow R&B beat and the more stirring sounds of strings. I loved the cover 'You'd be so nice to come home to' as Mika-san does not only put in a remarkably lovely effort on the English lyrics, but the jazziness of the track is an unutterably beautiful frame for her voice. Swooning is not beyond the realm of possibility when giving this one a listen to!

Latin Dance Competition. That is the first thought to leap to immediate mind at the first notes of the excellent & energetic 'Angelus'. Hitomi-san gives us a fantastic showing of her powerful, beautiful vocal talents with this track used in the anime series 'Inuyasha'. Can't help but want to get up and dance! 'Z!Z!Z! - Zip!Zap! Zipangu' is a wonderfully frivolous-sounding title, while the song behind it is just as dance-worthy as the previous track. This one is a bit softer, closer to a pop sound, and Hitomi-san doesn't stint on giving it her all.

'Winter Love' is indeed a ballad, an unspeakably lovely ballad that gives us the chance to appreciate the sweeter side of BoA's remarkable vocals. She more than does justice to this track, and I personally wouldn't mind hearing more like this from her. 'Candle Lights' has a nice mellow tone to it that gives it a pleasant R&B feel, and BoA's voice only adds to that. This girl doesn't miss a note, and it's great to pick up a single like every once in a while when you just want something gentle and relaxing.

I've been a fan of V6 for quite a while, and while I like 'Jasmine' I don't think it's their best effort. Still, the boys are pretty much perfect in this song. The song itself doesn't do much for me. It's a pretty typical-sounding, summery-feeling, pop-ish, ballad-y track that, while completely inoffensive, lacks the 'oomph' of some of V6's better songs. 'Rainbow', on the other hand, while also a bit below par, has a catchier tune that tends to stick with me whenever I hear it. I find myself humming it at odd moments, and I enjoy turning it up, as the boys pour a little more verve into this track. They were simply more spot on for this one. Both the BOSSA NOVA & the LAIDBACK Version remixes of 'Jasmine' are pretty decent, but like the original, don't do much for me personally.

'Wish' is a great upbeat song that gives Yurika-san's regular sweet voice an energetic workout, with positive results. She carries it off well, though she doesn't have what I'd term a strong voice, and the song itself is pretty catchy, worth repeated listens. 'Unbalanced Days' is a better showcase for Yurika-san's vocal talents. It's mellower, more the style I like when listening to her. Slower or gentler is simply a better fit for Yurika-san, and this track does justice to that.

A brilliant showing from GHOST, this first track is heavily J-Rock and proud of it! A great beat with a fantastic vocalist, the semi-eeriness of the keyboard-manipulated high notes, makes 'RiNG' a song worth repeated listening. 'Insanity' is a take-no-prisoners track. Harsh, punishing, unapologetic, begging to reveled in, GHOST hit gold with one! The included DVD of the 'Kurutta Kajitsu to Uwa no Sora' video only makes 'Akai Kumo' all the sweeter. If you haven't picked this and the sister-release, 'Blue Cloud', up what are you waiting for?! They only released a few hundred of each!

'Kurutta Kajitsu to Uwa no Sora' is a kick-@$$ song with a kick-@$$ beat. It's got an uneasiness to it, like spying your reflection in the cracked glass of a broken mirror. Something just feels off, and the realization creeps up that it's you! 'Devil May Cry' is brilliant, powerful vocals & exquisite instrumentation kicking it and taking names. There's no fault to be had on this one! The video DVD of 'RiNG' rounds out 'Blue Cloud' beautifully. As with the sister-release, 'Akai Kumo', there were only a few hundred of this made, so if you like bands like Gackt or Malice Mizer, you'll be doing yourself a favor by getting into GHOST with these CD's!

Guh. How to articulate the utter rapture 'Enemy' brings me? I honestly do not know if there are words to describe how fabulous this song is, or how freakin' PERFECTLY the brilliant green brings it to life. The signature sound I've come to expect from them has only blossomed with this single. I consider the acoustic version of 'the angel song' along with the DVD, however awesome, to be treats to the track 'Enemy', it is that good. It could be the only thing on here, and I would be satisfied.

I only got into Crystal Kay recently, but this moderately-priced single didn't disappoint. I can tell it isn't the pinnacle of her work, but it is a lovely sampling of the smooth R&B tones I enjoy from artists like Crystal Kay, who have the more than the required vocals to put on a good showing. I'll definitely be hunting up more from Crystal Kay!

Okay single, doesn't really grab me, or even make me sit up and take notice. Vastly different sound from when Kuroda-san was Iceman's vocalist. Other people may like this single for Kuroda himself, but I'd've probably been happier with his more recent stuff.

I have to say, whether you care for the fact that 'Flying' was used as the OP to Tales of Eternia for the PS or not, the song is one to track down and own for its own sake. 'Flying' starts off mellow, then builds up its energy to a lovely soaring intensity, as the title implies, and ends on the same note it started on, capping off perfectly a great little song. It makes me inclined to seek out other Garnet Crow releases for more of their sound. 'Cried a little' is more of a ballad, much slower paced, and took me a few listens to really appreciate, but now I like it just fine. It drags a bit for me when I'm not in the mood for this type of song, but the melody and vocals still sucker me into listening, simply because Yuri Nakamura's deeper, undeniably all-woman voice is such a refreshing change from all those bubblegum-pop teeny-bopper idols who wish they could sing as well as her. 'Cried a little' is also a very nice counterpoint to 'Flying', giving a sort of mini-view of the range of Garnet Crow's works.

A fan of Utena or not, the opening theme by Masami Okui is one of my all-time favorites! The energy, drive, and intensity don't let up for a second, which is truly impressive for a singer to maintain in a 4 1/2 minute song. The c/w song on this single, 'I can't ...' is a sweet thing all on its lonesome. I was really glad I snagged this particular single for this song alone. I hadn't heard it previously, but I really do love Masami-san's voice on this track. Not to mention the melody has a nice catchy feel to it. It is a less driven song than RR, with a bit of ballad feel to it because of its slower tempo, but as I said, it is a lovely display of Masami-san's vocal talents. As a plus, the back of the jacket for this single features a gorgeous picture of Utena, a collecting plus for fans of the show.

I am biased, true, since I have adored Myco all the back to during her Changin' My Life days (who still have a lovely sound, broken up or not), so when I say I love this solo cd of hers, it is 1) because I am a fan, and 2) because it is beautiful to listen to in its own right. I was impatient for it to be released, mainly because I adore Hibari and Lily from the single, and wanted desperately to hear the rest of the album. I was so happy not to be disappointed! Myco's full range is well-displayed on my collage, with some great new tunes as well as a re-visit to a couple old favorites from CML.

Beyond promising for one of my favorite J-singers of all time, this single gives more of Myco's beautiful voice teamed with absolutely gorgeous melodies. 'Hibari' has a lovely, flowing upbeat energy that Myco matches perfectly with her seductive vocals, drawing the listener gently into the song rather than bashing them over the head and dragging them in with the more frenetic energy of others of its genre. 'Hibari' builds intensity of sound slowly, cresting at the end for a sweet ride that's a refreshing change to listen to. 'Lily', the image song for Myco's character, Shasha, on Get Ride! AMDriver has the benefit of a rather unique introduction, where what sounds like a harpsichord is the lone opening instrument paired with Myco's voice, and it works! It gives the entire song a poignancy any other instrument would be lacking. They truly find the right combination of instrument and vocals for this piece. The gentle interspertion of violins and drums conveys the upswelling of emotion in Myco's voice very well. NOTE: the 'Lily' on the single and the one on the album are two different versions. The complete title of the album version is 'Lily viajero blanco puro'.

Holy Bunny Rabbits! You don't know how long I was looking for a decent price on this single! AGES! Ebay - $100, WTF?! No, seriously. And that was USED!! Creeps. Remember the '90's magical girl anime, Hime-chan's Ribbon? This is the first single, containing both the original OP and ED by the ever popular SMAP boys. Impossible to find, or so I thought, until on a lark I tried here. I've found that entering the catalog number of what I'm looking for on a search engine is a surefire way to find older rarities like 'Egao no Genki' & 'Burabura Sasete' in places you wouldn't think to look or might not know exsist. Hooray!! The wonderful energy and kick-butt voices of SMAP in a nostalgic old favorite from when I was a kid (er, a younger kid), and now it's mine! All MINE!! Hah. Take THAT, eBay smucks!