I hope you're all having a great new year so far. =) Just a few recent releases I wanted to share.
- Haruhi
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두근두근 - HAM
두근두근 (Acoustic Version) - HAM
Korean | Pop
While I generally dislike girl groups, HAM (despite their unfortunate name) caught my attention with their debut T.T Dance. 두근두근 is a sweet, bubbly pop song. While compositionally it's pretty standard, their strong voices really add warmth and character. Vocally, HAM is definitely one of the stronger girl groups I've seen. While their style differs a lot from ballad-based groups (eg. early SeeYa, Black Pearl), their vocal ability really elevates otherwise lacklustre pop songs into something youthful and refreshing. The Acoustic Version is backed by acoustic guitar, other than that there isn't much difference. There's still a lot of percussion, bass and some synths, so it's not truly "acoustic" - I was hoping for something more genuine and stripped-down. I prefer the original.
Now or Never - C.N. Blue
English | Rock
This group is Korean but debuting in Japan, but from what I can tell this song is entirely in English. They've been described as a "2nd F.T. Island", while I can see the similarities, I feel like C.N. Blue is a little closer to genuine rock, although their music definitely does have a pop-rock feel. Their English is all right, with an accent that could be forgiven if this song was not so incredibly predictable. The lyrics are mundane and somewhat meaningless - while I understand that you probably can't expect too much from a Korean/Japanese group, composition-wise this song is also a huge bore. Their other songs don't sound much better either. Worth a try if you like F.T. Island, though.
少しずつ大切に - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
MISIA is a female singer that I recently started listening to, I really like her strong, clear voice. Powerful ballads can easily get overly-dramatic, but this mid-tempo number remains light and sweet while still having a lot of emotional value. MISIA's seasoned vocals are simply beautiful, not to mention expressive.
逢いたくていま - MISIA
Japanese | Ballad
Another song by MISIA off the same album, this one is a pretty, piano-based ballad. It's delicate and warm, with touches of strings and a very classic feel. What I really appreciate about this song is that while it does feel timeless and classic, it's not outdated nor cookie-cutter. MISIA's unique voice and the richness of the accompaniment and arrangement really make it stand out. In other words, it's familiar, but certainly nor generic.
NOAH (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
This is one of two songs (the other is just below) that came with their 2010 Official Calendar. I love acoustic/unplugged versions, so this song was a treat. It's a rock ballad with acoustic guitar and clean vocals that have a raw, unpolished feel, backed with harmonies. A refreshingly genuine song.
antenna (Unplugged Version) - THE KIDDIE
Japanese | Rock
I really love the fluid, soothing guitar in this song. antenna is relaxing and calm, a perfect song to unwind to. The build-up in the last minute or so of the song keeps things interesting.
罗马假日 - Anson Hu
Mandarin | Pop
I saved the best for last - I've had this song on replay for the past few days. Although Anson Hu is a pretty big name in the Chinese music industry, I have to say I'd never really given him much attention until I decided to try out his recently released album titled 失业情歌 (Music Life). While I have mixed feelings about some of the songs, a few really stood out to me - and this is one of them. 罗马假日 is simply gorgeous. The light guitar, rich bass, and delicate keyboard come together perfectly, held by one of the more interesting percussion parts I have recently heard. Anson Hu's vocals deliver with a quiet intensity, adding to the dark feel of the song. Not that it's a dark, depressing song - it's tinged with hope and nostalgia. The ethereal piano melodies lighten the song up, keeping it from being too overbearing or repetitive - in my opinion, it's one of the highlights and defining features. Highly recommended!
Labels: Anson Hu, C.N. Blue, HAM, MISIA, THE KIDDIE
