overview. a mix-tape of soothing, somewhat downtempo tracks to relax to with a cup of warm coffee. imagine a quaint little coffee shop that's never too crowded: this is the music they might play. english, japanese, mandarin, korean. indie, soft rock, acoustic.
♪ falling in love at a coffee shop _landon pigg [♫]
♪ something to believe _david choi
♪ 동경 센티멘탈 클럽 _misty blue
♪ lying in the hands of god _dave matthews band
♪ 空はまるで _monkey majik
♪1234 _feist [♫]
♪ harry and bess _ferraby lionheart
♪ too bright _rubies
♪ drown out _glen hansard & markéta irglová
♪ stay out of trouble _kings of convenience
♪ 左邊 _sodagreen
♪ big jet plane _angus & julia stone
♪ metal girls _jim bryson & the weakerthans
♪ alison _jeremy fisher
♪ 고양이편지 _casker [♫]
♪ 봉인 _fanny fink
♪ song for me _instant romantic floor
♪ my desert _the life journey
♪ hot girls _headphones
♪ 한쪽 뺨으로 웃는 여자 _misty blue
♪ 白の日記 _kimaguren
♪ blanket song _linus' blanket
♪ 커피를 마시고 (Main Version) _urban zakapa
♫ = individual downloads
comments. i used to help out in a little coffee shop in my neighbourhood that was really centred around music - they had a weekly music night, open mike nights, etc. and always had great music playing. their playlist consisted mostly of jazz; this mixtape goes into the territory of indie, folk, and soft rock. it can be background music, or it can be the centre of your attention. there's a lot of great songs here, but a few personal favourites are chinese band the life journey's my desert with its airy female vocals and stripped-down atmosphere, kings of convenience's stay out of trouble for its beautiful, understated harmonies, dave matthews band's lying in the hands of god for its blend of edgy and comforting, and feist's 1234 for its sweet, simple atmosphere and textured vocals. landon pigg, rubies, and a few pastel artists (misty blue, fanny fink, etc.) also contribute some great songs.
Labels: Casker, Dave Matthews Band, David Choi, Fanny Fink, Feist, Instant Romantic Floor, Kimaguren, Landon Pigg, Linus' Blanket, Misty Blue, mixtape, Monkey Majik, Sodagreen, The Life Journey, Urban Zakapa
I took this idea from an LJ community, basically it’s just ten of the songs that I really like & have constantly been listening to in the last few weeks. Most will probably be fairly recent releases. I excluded songs that I had already posted, which prevented the two Kimaguren songs I posted previously and St. Day from making the list.
I'm putting off the rock/pop rotation I mentioned earlier for another time. & sorry my comments aren't too great ... for some reason I never have a problem with commenting on smaller updates but when it comes to larger rotations I just get kind of tired and all my comments start to sound the same, haha.
Please remember to comment/leave a rating if taking, thanks.
#10. City of Sadness - Zhang Yuan
Mandarin | Ballad
A solo song by Top Combine’s main vocalist, Zhang Yuan. Although I’m not very familiar with the group, Zhang Yuan’s voice is lovely - strong, rich, and rounded. Despite the formulaic arrangement, I really liked the chorus and overall sad yet hopeful atmosphere of the song.
#9. 爱上 (Fall In Love With) - Xiao Yu
Mandarin | R&B/Pop
I really loved his sophomore album, Standing Here, and “Fall In Love With” is one of my favourite tracks. It’s a sweet, mid-tempo number. The piano accompaniment is warm and adds a nice depth to the song, but what I really love is Xiao Yu’s smooth, creamy vocals.
#8. 너라고 (It's You) - Super Junior
Korean | Pop
Upon first listen, I really didn’t think this song was anything special, but it’s really grown on me. The transition from the slower and more serious opening verses into the uptempo chorus is fantastic. The mood brightens at certain points in the song, becoming more hopeful and optimistic, and the accompaniment has strong electronica routes. It’s quite poppy like most of their material, but also more mature and sophisticated.
#7. 王妃 (Princess) - Jam Hsiao
Mandarin | Rock
I’m quite a fan of him, and was excited to see his new album. Princess is the title track. Jam Hsiao spans many genres, but my favourite of his would be rock, and Princess is not a disappointment. The song sounds slightly familiar, but is definitely unique. Jam Hsiao’s voice is slightly rough, suiting the atmosphere perfectly.
#6. 정신없이 예뻐 (Crazily Pretty) - DNT
Korean | Pop
I just love the chord progressions of this song, especially in the synths that dominate the opening. It’s an upbeat track that’s catchy and danceable, but doesn’t offer much beyond that. The vocals are decent (I believe they have a new member, too?) but not outstanding - personally, I would have liked to see a little more harmonizing. Nonetheless, a fresh, summery song.
#5. The Road - Clazziquai
English | Electronica
I love Clazziquai, and I was so excited to give their new album a listen (come to think of it, quite a few artists that I like have released albums/singles lately). “The Road” is one of my favourite tracks from Mucho MUSICA, it’s slow, ambient, and incredibly genuine. It’s one of the more downtempo tracks on the album, but extremely powerful, and something about its darker atmosphere really just caught on to me. The lyrics (and Alex’s voice) are gorgeous too, all in (perfectly understandable) English.
#4. Hello, I'm in Delaware - City and Colour
English | Acoustic
I used to really like this band, but it’s been a while since I listened to them. A soft, understated song. It’s really the lyrics that I love - So there goes my life/passing by with every exit sign .../No sleep tonight, I’ll keep on driving these dark highway lines. Although it doesn’t really have a clear “direction” and might be a little bland to some, I really liked it.
#3. 海岸中央通り - kimaguren
Japanese | Reggae/Pop/Rock
An island-flavoured song, a little more upbeat than the two I uploaded previously from their Sora x Shonen album. 海岸中央通り features fresh, breezy arrangement, smooth crisp vocals, and trumpet riffs.
#2. 你很好 (You're Very Good) - Xiao Yu
Mandarin | Pop/R&B
Opening with gorgeous harmonies against a chordal piano arrangement, You’re Very Good transitions into a smooth and rich R&B song. If you think about all the elements separately, there’s really nothing outstanding about it: a fairly standard R&B-style beat, boomy bass, splashes of piano - but everything just comes together perfectly. Xiao Yu’s voice is, as always, lovely - smooth and rich. It’s a catchy, memorable song.
#1. Africa - Karl Wolf ft. Culture
English | Pop/R&B
I’m not really sure what genre this song would be - it’s a remake, the original artist was Toto. I love it - the many-layered harmonies in the sung verses are simply gorgeous. The melody always gets stuck in my head. Although the rap verses don’t do much for me, they definitely add depth and colour to the song.
Labels: City and Colour, Clazziquai, DNT, Jam Hsiao, Karl Wolf, Kimaguren, Super Junior, Xiao Yu
I thought I'd share a couple recent releases/finds. It's so hot here (I live in the Vancouver area), I've pretty much been staying in all day haha. I watched the new Harry Potter movie yesterday, has anyone seen it?
Please comment/leave a rating if taking.
Co-host applications are still open, click here for more info.
Japanese | Pop/Reggae/Rock
* 09. 泣くし者
* 12. また好きになる
I love this duo, I've uploaded a couple songs from them in the past. They recently released a new album, Sora x Shonen, and personally I find it even surpassed than their debut album, ZUSHI. 泣くし者 is a slow, bittersweet, yearning song with delicate acoustic guitars, alternating between softly spoken rap verses and a few sung ones, leading into the heartbreakingly gorgeous chorus - their harmonizing is so beautiful and intricate. It also incorporates some classical woodwind instruments. また好きになる has a slightly lighter tone, but is just as emotional and genuine. Their vocals are crisp, clear, and incredibly refreshing. I love their style of "rapping", I really don't know what to compare it to. また好きになる takes some time to establish itself, but it's a beautiful song. I really admire this duo's originality and unique style. Give them a try!
Korean | Pop
* 01. 월화수목 금토일 (Feat. 아이유 IU) - Suho
The first song from Suho's recently released 2nd mini-album (haha I don't know if you can tell, but the cover image says "2th" instead of "2nd"). I've been quite impressed with up-and-coming artist IU so far, and was excited to hear her featured in this song. However, I have to say the song itself is quite mediocre. It's a generic, mid-tempo pop track with predictable, poppy synths. IU's singing lacks any real depth or substance - it's light, high, and sweet, but lacks the power and maturity that drew me to her song Mia. Suho's rapping is decent, but not outstanding. A bit of a disappointment.
Korean | Pop/Ballad
* 01. Fairytale (Dong Hwa/동화) - Kim Hyung Joong
Some of you will know that I absolutely love the song Tong Hua by Guang Liang, I've posted it numerous times in the past - it also ranked fairly high on my Top 10 Ballads rotation. Well, this is a Korean cover by SS501's Kim Hyung Joong. I've never been a big fan of SS501 or any of their member's solo material, and I was afraid that this cover wouldn't do the original justice, but it was a pleasant surprise. Kim Hyung Joong sounds fantastic. His voice is brimming with emotion, yet steady and clear. Some changes have been made to the arrangement, eg. addition of acoustic guitars and strings, but it remains easily recognizable. While it was not able to surpass the original, probably because part of what really made the song for me was the lyrics (and I don't understand Korean), but it's a great cover. It's also great to see this because not a lot of Korean artists cover Chinese/Taiwanese songs, it's usually the other way around.
Korean | Pop/Dance
* 01. & Ma Girl - Dannywon
* 02. 내 맘속의 Luv-U - Dannywon
& Ma Girl has a ridiculous and kind of disgusting rap verse that really made me want to just delete the song right then. It's deep and throaty and just ... weird. The random cries of Cho! Cho! in the background sound kind of out of place too. Other than that the song's all right, the hook & my girl, and I do it girl ... is catchy enough but ... no. 내 맘속의 Luv-U is better, but that's not saying much. It's a fairly predictable track, again the rapping really puts me off although it's not as bad as in the first song. I did like the chorus though. Newcomer(s?) to the Korean scene that, IMO, will probably not make it far.
Labels: Dannywon, IU, Kim Hyung Joong, Kimaguren, Suho
Large catch up and make up rotation!
Miss You [m-flo loves Melody]
Starstruck - "The Return of the Luvbytes"
Vanessa [m-flo loves Bloodest Saxophone]
Way U Move [m-flo loves Dragon Ash]
Get On! [m-flo loves Crystal Kay] Astrosexy [m-flo loves Chemistry
The Love Bug [m-flo loves BoA]
Life Is Beautifuls [m-flo loves Double & Toku]
Cosmic Night Run [m-flo loves Crazy Ken Band]
Reeewind! [m-flo loves Crystal Kay] Uchu No Ouou
Album two: ZUSHI by Kimaguren Songs by this duo were originally featured by Haruhi, but I found them so good I thought I’d upload the entire album. This duo released their first single, Omoi omoi, in late spring or early summer of 2007. This album ranked number one in the last week of July ’08 in the Oricon Charts. The entire album is sweet, breezy and uplifting.
2．LIFE
9． P.S.
10．Omoi Omoi
12．Dame Otoko
13. LIFE ( Smart Sports ver.) STUDIO APARTMENT Remix
14. LOVE CALL(Kimagure ShortEdit)/RYTHEM with キマグレン
Rotation #7: Starting letter A
Otsuka Ai – Amairo Parasol Japanese – Pop A rather mellow single by this usually hyper artist. It sounds very much like the A side of the single on which it was released – Amaenbo, although this is probably more upbeat. I think it’s a quite good alternative to her usually hyper music.
Arashi – Asu ni Mukatte Hoeru Japanese – Pop A typical Arashi single – upbeat, happy and poppy. It reminds me a little of Kitto Daijoubu, although this song doesn’t feature Sho’s rapping. It’s also a bit electronic, perhaps more so than their other songs. I really like it though. Happy desu~ <3
ALvino – ARCADIA Japanese – Poprock An electronic song, yet with ALvino characteristics. I really like it, mainly because it seems to step outside the regular rock which ALvino produces a lot.
Ayaka – Ai mo Uso mo Shinjitsu Japanese – Poprock Featuring her strong voice, this song sounds a little darker than most of the songs on her second album. I don’t think the song is as powerful as CLAP&LOVE, but it’s still a really good song.
B’z – Ai no Bakudan Japanese – Rock I think this was my very first B’z song. I can’t even count the times I’ve listened to it. It really is rock music like you’d expect from this amazing musical duo. Upbeat rock, definitely comes recommended.Chachamaru – As Japanese – Rock Perhaps not the first thing you’d think about when you think of Chachamaru, the song is slow and a little mysterious. Near what sounds to me like the chorus, the music becomes really strong, while the rest sounds like a relaxing ballad. Recommended.
Gackt – Another world Japanese – Poprock An upbeat, happy song by this amazing artist with his characteristic beginning. To me it’s the ultimate fusion between rock and pop. Listening to this song brings me instant happiness.
Kanjani8 – Ano kotoba ni Japanese – Pop Another typical JE boyband with a typical sweet boyband song. Although in this case I don’t think that’s a bad thing, it works for Kanjani8. It always brings a smile to my face.
KAT-TUN – Andarusia ni Akogarete (Live) Japanese – Pop I think is from their first concert, and I think the fusion between some characteristics from Spanish music works really good with the rest of the song, which is basically the typical KAT-TUN poprock mix. One of my favourite concert only songs.
Kobukuro – Aoku Yasashiku Japanese – Ballad The minimal volume of the accompanying instruments gives this songs almost an a capella feel, showcasing the harmony of the vocals. To me, the harmony between the vocals and the instruments is the main charm of this song.
Miyavi – Ashita, Genki ni Naare Japanse – Pop I LOVE this song! It’s so sweet, especially compared to some of Myv’s earlier songs. “Spring wind, breathin’ in a breeze” evokes that perfect late spring/early summer day, where the whole world just bathes in the sunlight and all is well. Rie Fu – Ame no Hi ga Sukitte Omotte Mitai Japanese – Ballad Singing of a rainy day, little bells invoke that feeling of the first raindrops on forest leaves on in late spring. This song seems influenced by classical music, with a piano and strings as main accompaniment.
SiD – and boyfriend Japanese – punk Happy happy! This one of the more upbeat songs done by SiD, although it’s nowhere near the hyperness of Smile. Staying within that typical SiD style, I think this song can be put up there with some of the upbeat An Café songs, and other sweet punk like LoveScreamParty by SuG.
Southern All Stars – Ai wa hana no you ni (Olé!) Japanese – Pop/Salsa I couldn’t stop smiling the first time I heard this song. Japanese people attempting Spanish, quite successfully actually, is really entertaining. However, I think they’ve succeeded in giving this song that Mediterranean feel. It’s a real summer song~
Rotation #8: Summer themed
Japanese – Ballad
A sweet ballad with a summery feel to it, with a typical Arashi sound. This song does feature Sho’s rapping ;D “Natsu no namae oshiete..”
Japanese – pop
Rather than their usual hiphop, this song is a really poppy song. It gives you a bit that late night at a tropical island feeling, just hanging out near or on the beach, having a good time.
Korean – pop
Starting out a little sad the song gradually changes to a happy song about the summer, or a summer love. I think, I don’t speak Korean xD It’s sweet and summery and it has DBSK. Win, right?
Japanese – hiphop Rap with a summer sauce. Later it’s a sugary sweet voice prolonging the feeling of a summer night with a potential fling. It really feels like that summer loving. Comes highly recommended.
Japanese – punk
After starting off like a ballad, the song soon becomes upbeat with a punk edge. It’s slower and a bit softer than most SiD songs, but I like it. Unlike the other songs in this part of the rotation, it has no particular summery feel, but it’s a good song nonetheless.
Southern All Stars – Oh Summer Queen
Japanese – pop
The B side of the single I am your Singer, a B side I particularly like. This song has more of a party mood, where the boy dares the girl to come closer etc., rather than a summer feeling. I think this is a cool song. “One two three, now baby come on..”
Japanese – ballad
A soft song by a very good singer. It’s a good song to listen to with a glass of wine in your hand, sitting on the porch and reading a book. A soft breeze to boot and the night is perfect. That’s what I’d do anyway x)
Japanese – pop
Poppy, upbeat, happy. One of the oldest songs in my music collection, it makes me a bit nostalgic :’) It’s just a good fun song, for a little instant happiness.
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Yes, I ran low on inspiration how to describe songs in this rotation. So shoot me ;D Also, feel free to request any songs and please leave a comment.
Labels: ALvino, Arashi, Ayaka, B'z, Chachamaru, cohost: aranka, D-51, Gackt, Kanjani8, KAT-TUN, Kimaguren, Kobukuro, m-flo, miyavi, Otsuka Ai, Rie Fu, SID, Southern All Stars, Suga Shikao, WaT
Rotation 21 is unthemed. The next rotation I do will probably be winter/Christmas themed. A few songs are recent releases, a few are just old favourites. I tried to get a nice mix of genres as well as languages. Songs are organized in alphabetical order by artist name. It was hard for me to pick recommendations, I liked many of the songs in this rotation.
A few requested songs are also included in a separate section at the bottom.
I stand free - ACIDMAN
Japanese | Rock Ballad
Ah, it’s been a while since I heard a good rock ballad. I stand free doesn’t disappoint. Mature, slightly husky vocals, a unique and lovely bass line, and a soaring yet controlled chorus made this song stand out to me.
Ni6etalk (Heart Beat) - Apls
Korean | Electronica
This group has definitely changed a lot. Their previous album showed a fun, upbeat sound while their latest mini-album, which Ni6etalk is from, is much more downtempo. The atmosphere of the song is just amazing - mysterious, pulsing. The vocals are minimal. It might be too experimental for some, but I loved it.
All the Way - Craig David ft. Bonnie Pink
English/Japanese | R&B/Pop
This was definitely not a collab I would have expected, but their light, smooth voices compliment each other well. The lyrics of the song seem to suggest a stronger beat, Get up, now everybody, get up, move your body, cause we’re going all the way the song seems quite relaxed to me. Although I actually didn’t like this song much upon initially hearing it, it’s starting to grow on me.
Passion Fruit - Fuji Fabric
Japanese | Rock/Electronica
An extremely catchy, addictive song from Fuji Fabric - in my opinion, they’re under appreciated. The opening verse is just so fun, popping out throughout the song. It will get stuck in your head. I would call them more rock, but this song definitely has traces of electronica/disco.
愛NEED - Kimaguren (AiNEED)
Japanese | Reggae/Hip Pop/Rock
I absolutely love their unique style of island-influenced rock. A breath of fresh air. Traces of Latin influence linger in the rhythms and beats. It’s lively yet relaxing at the same time, if that makes any sense. Recommended.
Apologize - One Republic
English | Rock
I was reluctant to upload this song since I’m pretty sure most of you have already heard it, but I really couldn’t think of a better song to upload. I’ve been listening to this song a lot lately, I don’t know why. The chorus is just beautiful and will stay in your head. There’s a version of this song that was remixed by Timbaland, I believe this is the original. The lyrics are bittersweet: I’d take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you/I need you like a heart needs a beat, it’s nothing new
But It’s Better If You Do - Panic! At The Disco
English | Pop/Rock
I’m went through a stage of loving this band, a longer stage of hating them, and now I think they’re all right. But It’s Better If You Do is confident, and pulsing with energy. This track is from their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.
The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know - Panic At The Disco
English | Pop/Rock
From their latest album, Pretty. Odd., The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know shows the transformation in their sound, replacing synthesizers and electric guitar with trumpets and classical guitar. Brendon Urie’s vocals have also matured a lot. Laid-back, still sure of itself but no longer brazen, The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know is a good reflection of their new image.
心里的狮子 - Peter Pan (Xin Li De Shi Zi/Heart Of A Lion)
Mandarin | Pop/Ballad
Although the most common English translation for this song is Heart Of A Lion, it is actually closer to The Lion Within Your Heart, which is backed by the lyrics, which speak of doing something you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the courage to. The song has a certain regretful tone to it, but builds more and more to a soaring and hopeful chorus.
Namida (Sleepless Night MANABOON MIX) - Tanaka Roma
Japanese | R&B/Ballad
My favourite Tanaka Roma song, by far. Although I’m quite fond of most of his songs, this one just stands out to me. I heard this mix before hearing the original. This version of Namida is heartbreakingly genuine and raw with emotion. The accompaniment is kept light, mainly just piano. The title of the remix, Sleepless Night, fits it perfectly. Tanaka’s voice has the perfect balance of vulnerability and power that just doesn’t shine through as much in the original, which has a stronger accompaniment and more of a poppy, R&B influence.
r e q u e s t s
Maiden Voyage - Missing Island
Korean | Easy Listening/Bossa Nova
If you liked the Coffee Prince OST, you’ll probably like this song. It does have a certain adventurous feel that fits its name, but is laid-back and makes for a nice, light listen.
THE BUNGY - NICO Touches the Walls
SIMON SAID - NICO Touches the Walls
Japanese | Rock
THE BUNGY is fresh and has an infectious beat. It has a bit of a Western/country feel to it, yet keeps the distinct vibe of Japanese rock. SIMON SAID has an aggressive sound, contrasting a dark, rumbling bass with melodic guitar riffs.
Koi wo Shiteru - ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
Symphony - ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
Takaramono (Homemade Demo Version) - ROUND TABLE feat. Nino (Treasures)
Japanese | Pop
Koi wo Shiteru is a sweet pop song, but the vocals were a tad too little-girl-ish for my liking. Symphony is laid-back and downtempo. I found it a bit repetitive, but I liked it. Takaramono (Homemade Demo Version) has an unpolished, acoustic feel to it, as the name suggests. I’m a sucker for acoustic songs, so it won’t surprise you to hear that out of these three songs Takaramono was my favourite.
Labels: ACIDMAN, Apls, Bonnie Pink, Craig David, Fuji Fabric, Kimaguren, Missing Island, NICO Touches the Walls, One Republic, Panic At The Disco, Peter Pan, ROUND TABLE feat. Nino, Tanaka Roma
Rotation 16 is an artist feature. I have uploaded twelve songs by three different artists, as well as Ilac's latest single and two Glay songs. Total, 16 songs. As always, please remember to comment.
- Haruhi
Hu Ge (胡歌)
album: Start
language: Mandarin
genre: Pop
01. 騎單車的日子
02. 傳聞
03. 地與天
05. 去愛吧
Hu Ge is probably most famous as a Chinese actor. When I heard that he'd released a CD, I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised - Start is quite impressive. 騎單車的日子 starts off the album beautifully, featuring acoustic guitars and sweet vocal arrangements. Hu Ge's voice sounds wonderful in it. 傳聞 is a ballad that, although nice, wasn't very memorable. 地與天 is my favourite song from this album. It's rock-influenced and reminds me a bit of Mayday's more serious songs. 去愛吧 is another slow song that takes a while to build up, but once it does, it's quite beautiful.
Kimaguren
album: ZUTTE
language: Japanese
genre: Reggae/Hip Pop/Bossa Nova
04. ハナレテワカルコト (Hanarete Wakaru Koto)
05. 白の日記 (Shiro no Nikki)
10. 想い思い (Omoi Omoi
12. ダメ男 (Dame Otoko
I recently uploaded the song LIFE by these guys, which remains my favourite song by them. This is the duo's debut album. They have an island-flavoured sound that is very refreshing, and perfect for summer. Hanarete Wakaru Koto is a good song to introduce their style. I love the guitar work. Shiro no Nikki is one of their more laid-back songs, it reminds me a little of Monkey Majik. Omoi Omoi is a fun track featuring fleeting acoustic guitar arrangements. Dame Otoko is completely acoustic, it's not bad but, not really my thing. It features more spoken verses.
Tizzy Bac
album: It's All My Fault
language: Mandarin
genre: Pop/Rock
05. 我又再度依恋上昨天
07. 灰烬
09. Bad Dream, Holy Tears
12. 鞋猫夫人，Madame!!!
An independent Taiwanese band, Tizzy Bac is fronted by a female vocalist. 我又再度依恋上昨天 is soft and relaxed, 灰烬 features a jazzy piano intro and a bit of a darker feel, although it doesn't build much. Bad Dream, Holy Tears is a bit more experimental. The majority of the song is very quiet and soft, but it builds rapidly in the last minute or so. 鞋猫夫人，Madame!!! also features a nice piano accompaniment, it's one of my favourites.
Ilac - Footloose [single]
Korean, Pop
01. 헤픈여자
02. Goodbye Romance
I'd recommend both of these tracks if you like pop music. 헤픈여자 is upbeat, danceable, and very catchy. In contrast, Goodbye Romance is a beautiful ballad that brings out Ilac's wonderful voice.
GLAY
Japanese, Rock
ASHES -1969-
White Road
I have to say I didn't like ASHES as much as I love some of GLAY's other songs. It's not bad, but to me it wasn't outstanding. White Road is a gorgeous ballad with an intro reminiscent of Christmas. Recommended.
Remember to comment! There is a link to a comment box just below.
Labels: GLAY, Hu Ge, Ilac, Kimaguren, Tizzy Bac
Rotation 13 is unthemed. Sorry it's a few days late. Since I uploaded a few complete singles and most of the releases are fairly mainstream and therefore easier to find album covers for, I posted the album covers as well. =) Enjoy, and please remember to comment.
JUNE * mini-album [ I.L.X ]
Japanese * Pop
01. I.L.X
02. SCREAM
03. The Light
04. Lift Me Up
05. GAME
06. beautiful days
JUNE has released two singles before this mini-album, he's Korean but sings in Japanese. He's been compared to Se7en, and I liked his first two singles. He seems to have changed his approach in I.L.X, which is heavier and not as "innocent" as his previous releases. I.L.X is a catchy, upbeat dance track with a good beat. But, I liked SCREAM more - some interesting guitar work and smooth, melting vocal work. It's a little darker in sound. The Light is very laid-back and more R&B influenced, though not outstanding. The light-hearted Lift Me Up is probably closer to the feel of his previous two singles. GAME is pretty good, mid-tempo and showing some impressive vocal work. beautiful days is one of the "cuter" songs on this mini-album, with faint disco influences. Overall, I really liked this mini-album. JUNE has a lot of potential, definitely try him out.
Dragon Ash * single [ Velvet Touch ]
Japanese * Latin rock
01. Velvet Touch
02. La Bamba
I love these guys. Velvet Touch features an awesome bass line and some nice guitar work. It's bright and summer-y. La Bamba doesn't disappoint either - sweet acoustic guitars set a nice tropical feel. I thoroughly enjoyed this single.
Step By Step * Battle
Korean * Pop
I loved Battle's first two singles, I was a bit surprised by how much their style had changed in their third. Step by Step is the title track of their third single. You've probably heard that KiHyun left the group. T_T Step By Step reminds me of Big Bang. Electronica-influenced and consistent, it's catchy and worth a listen, but I liked them better before.
Chun Young Jin * 1st album [ All In One ]
Korean * Pop/R&B/Dance
11. STOP
13. 행복 찾기
14.COUNTDOWN
15. WITH LOVE
This album released in August 2007, but I absolutely love it. Unfortunately, I don't think he's released anything since. His songs have a kind of retro quality, and he has a rich voice. I'll probably be uploading more songs from this album soon. STOP, COUNTDOWN and 행복 찾기 are on the more upbeat side. 행복 찾기 shows the higher range of Chun Young Jin's voice. STOP is catchy and fun. COUNTDOWN has a nice arrangement but doesn't show his voice as well. The heartfelt ballad WITH LOVE seems a bit out of place amongst all the dance tracks, but it's beautiful if a bit generic. Accompanied solely by a piano, his vocals really shine out.
통화 연결음/Ring Back Tone * SunnyHill
Korean * Pop
JangHyun, who was originally chosen to be a member of Battle, is the male vocalist of this group. This mid-tempo ballad is memorable for the vocals - their female vocalist has a sweet, flowing voice. There's actually two female vocalists, but I can't tell them apart. JangHyun's soft vocals compliment them beautifully. Accompanied by acoustic guitars and a steady bass, Ring Back Tone is definitely worth a listen.
LIFE - Kimaguren
Japanese * Rock
This song is simply beautiful. Driven by acoustic guitars and with Latin influences, I love the lyrics (translated lyrics) which are partially in English. I don't know how to describe this song, you kind of have to hear it. Highly recommended.
검은 하늘 (By 투지, Poet, LuK2) - Orifeeling
Korean * Hip-Hop
The arrangement, especially the piano, reminds me a little of Epik High's darker stuff. I'm not a huge hip-hop/rap fan, I only grabbed this because of LuK2. I thought it was decent, but not outstanding.
Labels: Battle, Chun Young Jin, Dragon Ash, JUNE, Kimaguren, Orifeeling, SunnyHill
