MEG - BEAUTIFUL (2009)
Regular Edition
Limited Edition /w DVD
Released May 27th, 2009

1. DAYS
2. PRECIOUS
3. TELEPHONE
4. LIES
5. STAR
6. STAND
7. WHY
8. JOKER
9. SKIN
10. BEAUTIFUL
11. FREAK <yasutaka nakata remix>

This is my view right now.

I listened to this album on the subway down here and doing it a second time as I’m typing this out. It might be a bit too soon to do it in standard blm album style but I’ll write in order of first impression appeal from ascending order.

DAYS doesn’t count as a song since it’s an intro so it’ll go first. Nothing too special going on in the song: a synth pad carried by MEG’s quirky engrish. The delivery is solid and almost haunting with a downtempo, minimalistic beat that builds into a solid percussion line. An interesting experimental piece.

STAR is a piano led, downtempo track that doesn’t quite do it for me. I don’t know what it is about it but it doesn’t really connect with me. She’s had more appealing slower songs like NATALIE. It’s cute enough and MEG does a solid vocal performance but I’m just not feeling this one.

STAND starts off very summery. It should be a perfect song to listen to considering my current situation but just like STAR, it’s just not carrying much of a catchy tune. Solid performances all around. The guitar and electric piano is a fun combo. It’s really just the melody.

WHY? It sounded like it had so much potential once that bassline dropped, but from there, it just didn’t really deliver. The melody is somewhat interesting and the main melodic synth is fun in its repetitive nature but where a song should grow on you, it just doesn’t do anything after it shows you its stuff.

Ahhh, the title track, BEAUTIFUL. It’s kinda downtempo but not so much. (~120 neighborhood) and it suffers what the songs previous suffers from, I mean, it’s cute and it’s entertaining, but the melody just doesn’t carry though. It could basically blend in with the scenery or if it happened to play on random, it wouldn’t attract my attention.

And this is where the album takes a turn for the better. TELEPHONE starts off the fun with a solid beat and a fun electric piano line with a splash of guitar. Aside from it being the third track, it’s a good start to the album and grabbed my by the ear and took me for a bit of a ride. It could just be that I’m a sucker for the big beat snare.

SKIN is more of an instrumental track than a vocal track. The lines that MEG delivers is more of a logical separator than anything else. It’s like lines – “I’m starting” – do a bit of stuff – lines – “I’m starting to build up momentum” – add something else to the mix – go for a break – come back kicking – o hi more lines – “I’m still here” – come back full-force – take another quick break – CRESCENDO! WITH LINES! – cool down – fin.

PRECIOUS is the only song I heard previous to listening to this album. I love this song on its own and already did a review of it. Why don’t you read that instead?

Starting off with a funky break of a beat and keeping the broken quality throughout, LIES really sets itself apart from the rest of the album. The chorus is so solid and really holds the entire song together. There are no words to further describe the song. I just suggest you listen to it and see why I’ve given it the #3 spot.

JOKER has, by far, the catchiest melody in the album. This is some extreme last.fm spam potential. MEG’s higher register is showcased in the chorus and it’s. just. love. When I can’t explain things, I turn to fanboy tactics to solve my problems. People tend to understand fanboy more than the little technicalities that I might blurt out for a song like this but It doesn’t need anything confusing like that to muddle its enjoyability factor. This would definitely be the number one track on the album if…

FREAK didn’t get the nakata remix treatment. HOLY. CRAP. Where did this come from!? It’s songs like this that remind me why I consider him to be a musical genius. I’m not going to say that the Hadouken version of the song was a complete train wreck but one needed to be in a particular state of mind to really appreciate that song. Lucky for me I enjoy Hadouken’s music and when I found out that they did a collaboration with MEG, I kinda flipped out for a second. Something about their styles don’t quite mesh well together but it was an experience. THIS, however… I can’t sing its praises enough. I think we may have a potential Song Of the Summer on our hands.

And that’s it!

Though, I would like to add, MEG didn’t really have a fashion show / clubby party song like she had on her past two albums: MODEL in BEAM and MAKE LOVE and SUPERSONIC in STEP. I kinda wanted one but it’s ok that it doesn’t have one. We’ve got some quality melodies and vocals and I find it to be quite BEAUTIFUL. HUR.

I’ll start watching 11PM EST. Click Here for a popout or hit the jump to view the post page directly.

I won’t bother talking about the game other than it’s awesome and click the link to check it out on the Steam store. My friend, Sei from Sekushii Island, told me to watch the Plants Vs. Zombies Music Video from the Steam Product Page. At first, there was a bit of a facepalm. ~Oh wow. The marketing on this game is crazy.~ Then the lyrics kick in, and from there, it’s just… infectious? Maybe? Not quite on the Gee level though. After getting a heads up on Destructoid about there being a Japanese version to this song, and there being links to the Composer/Performer, Laura Shigihara’s blog, I had to investigate. There’s a really cute back story to how “Zombies On Your Lawn” came to be so give ‘er a read!

So anyway, what can I really say about this track other than it’s got everything that it needs to be as cute and viral as it already is. The instrumental is simple, yet fun and playful, and doesn’t take away from or drown out the main focus – the lyrics. These lyrics are just so adorable. They totally fit the theme and flavor of the game and get the point of zombie-hatred and kick-assy-ness of the plants across while retaining it’s light, playful nature. Ok, so I said a bit. Just give this song a listen. Then go and support and play the game. It’s only $10.

ノースリーブス - タネ (2009)
Click for CDJapan Product Page

Released March 18th, 2009

1. タネ
2. Girls' talk
3. タネ -Instrumental-
4. Girls' talk -Instrumental-

There really isn’t too much to say about this single except that its A-side is slightly more upbeat than Relax! The dance is cute and I found it to be a worthwhile purchase. It doesn’t do anything that hasn’t been done before but it does what it does very well. Though, the real highlight of this single is the B-side, Girls’ talk, with all of its technopoppy influences. The punchy bass drum and lo-fi snare make for some excellent percussion. The splash of guitar and synth adds to the catchy melody and the girls’ voices. A fine tune and it was the deciding factor for me to purchase.

If you liked Relax!, I’d say give it a shot. If you’re anything like me, then I’m pretty sure you’d enjoy this one. This was a “for remixing” purchase. Once some ideas come, I’ll see what I can do, though, I already like both songs how they are… maybe for a new mixtape?

PV after the jump!

1. The Show
2. Bring Me Down
3. Skipalong
4. Don’t Let Me Fall
5. Anything I’m Not
6. Knock Knock
7. Dangerous And Sweet
8. Trouble Is A Friend
9. Live Like You’re Dying
10. Like A Song
11. We Will Not Grow Old

So I’ve been listening to this album off and on for about a month and a bit. My cousin introduced me to Lenka during the holidays and twisted my arm asked me to accompany her to the her show on February 2nd. If you’ve read my review of that, you’d know that I think she’s awesome. I’m back a week later with this full review of her debut album in standard blm format.

We Will Not Grow Old
As with all blm reviews as of late, It’s not that it belongs here, it’s just something has to go here. It’s got the lyrical content and a nice tune but nothing quite sticks with me for this song. I guess it doesn’t quite have an internal meaning for me just yet. I enjoyed hearing it live but just like listening to it again, it just doesn’t affect me like other songs on this album. I can’t quite put my finger on why. I just don’t have much to say on this track. That’s all.

Live Like You’re Dying
I like the message in this song and it makes me want to do something with my life like it should but as a song, it doesn’t quite have any staying power. These are good words to live by but as a song, I usually skip it.

Skipalong
I’m not sure what to say about it. Watching it live was a treat; whenever Lenka said Sugar Bomb, she’d make an exploding action with her hands and her eyes would widen. It was adorable. I wasn’t particularly attracted to this song otherwise.

Dangerous And Sweet
Lenka gets upbeat and lively with this track complete with clap track! This song reminds me of a few people I’ve met in my life. I, too, am sometimes oversensitive but I don’t think I let people’s words get to me as much as it does Lenka and whoever she’s serenading in this song. It’s a cute song. It’s dangerous… and sweet.

Knock Knock
This was the first song that really touched me on this album. I feel everyone needs someone dependable in their lives. This one goes out to all those who’ve dropped everything or who’ve gone beyond the call of duty to help a friend in need. It’s not particularly catch but Lenka’s vocal performance just grabs at your heart and makes you feel all fuzzy like the person she’s singing about probably made her feel when they helped her out.

Trouble Is A Friend
It’s really hot seeing her do this live because she has this seductive look, like trouble himself. I really enjoy the line “I won’t let him in but I’m a sucker for his charm.” Everything about this song feels real and honest. It makes me wonder what her inspiration for this song was. The combination of Drum, Piano, and Bass create the solid foundation for this song with little dabs of other flavours like the Brass and extra Percussion/Bongos. It’s a pretty little song.

The Show
At first it reminded me of Yawl Naim’s New Soul but once the beat dropped, I knew Lenka was more than just another “unfolk” vocalist in the still growing genre. This song is so cheery and pleasant which contrasts well against the insecurities that are shown in the lyrics. It’s like the song is “let[ting] it go and just enjoy[ing] the show”.

Don’t Let Me Fall
This is one of the cutest songs I’ve heard in a long time. Everything about this song is as she said at her show. I can’t remember quite what she said about it but it had to do about how dependent the singer is on the one she loves. The feelings I get from this song is that it’s a whole-hearted, dependent, and kind-of-love-you-can’t-find-these-days kind of love song. It’s the love song that sounds like a lullaby. On a technical/fanboy note, in the show, she was playing those string hits that are most prominent at the start and throughout the quiet parts on her little Robot Pet, the M-Audio 25 Key Controller.

Anything I’m Not
Her honesty on stage as she sung this song was just adorable and magnetic. What this song lacks in self-esteem, it makes up in honesty and its optimistic instrumental. What I like to imagine goes on in the song is that our protagonist has become a mindless 9-5 zombie and while she tries to enjoy it for the sake of mental sanity, she wishes should could break away form the regular routine from everything she is and become anything she’s not while trying to maintain her uniqueness. That’s a mouthful, but then again, that’s life for a lot of us, am I right?

Bring Me Down
This is easily the most aggressive and emotionally charged song on the album. It is also her break up song. And it also sounds really happy. Why is that? *whistle*

It’s odd that it’s my second favourite song but I can’t really tell you why it is. I do think that that second last “The writing’s on the wall” is quite hot.

Like A Song
I think it was watching her do this live, and a cappella, is what really threw this song into the top spot. Taking it for what it is, it’s a creepy sounding song. Sounds like I should be walking around Silent Hill. Add in the lyrics and it becomes one of the saddest songs I’ve heard in a while. It does somewhat relate to Silent HIll 2’s story line, which creeps me out even more. I do wonder what the inspiration to this song is. If a song like this managed to come out of my head, I’d feel bad singing it regularly. I probably wouldn’t be able to sing it without crying. The pain I feel just hearing this song is enough to make the eyes water. I wonder if I can do a cover…

Outside, it’s a not-so-bad -2ishC. My cousin and I are in the basement of the Drake Hotel sitting on a bench up against a wall. The stage is decorated like a fairy tale forest with animals all around: a few owls, a panda, and a squirrel. Against the rear curtain, a modest banner with “lenka” written in script. No capital on the “L”. It’s just about to hit 9PM and there’s wifi and so why not start the review while I’m still here, right?

The crowd’s buzzing. Talking about school. Talking about other things. People buying drinks. Everyone’s kinda chill. More so than the other shows I’ve attended. I wonder who else has played down here…

The opening act is tuning her guitar. She didn’t introduce herself yet, but instead started serenading with an old soul kind of voice. She introduces herself to us as Megan Hamilton. If you look at her, you wouldn’t think a voice like hers would come out. There’s a kind of honesty in her singing that I couldn’t tear my ears away from. She said she’s on facebook. I’d like to add her. She says she also has free postcards at the merch table. I’ll be sure to pick one up.

I think I’m gonna put the macbook away for now… Stay tuned for the Lenka write-up when I get back to my cousin’s place later tonight.

So in chimes the opening for “Trouble is A Friend” and in walks this cute, little, brunette Aussie with the voice that could melt your heart and a dress that could knock you out. Every note, a bit of her heart pours out. It’s like this for the entire show. Lenka stands about 5 feet even and though she’s a total shorty, she looks like she could take on the world with her robot pet.

Her robot pet is a little M-Audio Oxygen 8 25 Key MIDI Controller and she plays it like no one’s business. She’s put a few personal touches on it, most obvious is a strap so she can play it standing up. A ribbon hangs from the strap and a heart at the top of the control console. The crowd awwww’s when she pulls it out for the first time. She also plays the keyboard for a few songs, the one I can remember being “Anything I’m Not”.

There were moments during the show where I found myself closing my eyes, getting lost in the music, and expecting myself to wake up in a bus or subway with my headphones on since there was a surreal feeling about being down there with her and the hundred or so people.

Somewhere in between, she tells us that this Toronto show is the first that sold out. “I’ve really made it” she says in celebration. We cheer.

One track that I can’t help but make special note of is the live rendition of “Like A Song” which she sings completely a cappella with the eerie white noise of World War 2 radios. It’s quite haunting and almost scary. Of all the songs, this one brings out the most emotion.

Outside of playing all of the songs on her album and a b-side, she plays a Modest Mouse cover who’s name escapes me but I probably enjoyed her version more than the original. She, then, commemorates her first sold out show with encoring with the Disco Remix of “The Show” which I hope gets a studio recording. It’s pretty intense and quite enjoyable for the last song of the night.

I managed to snag a picture with her and asked for her to sign my ticket. She’s very friendly. She’s also quite hot in the picture. And as usual, when I’m in pictures with celebrities, I end up looking dumb. Oh well.

If I had to sum up the night, I’d have to say that the performance was better than the CD similarly to how Nicole Atkins live is better than her studio recordings.

You can find out more about her from her Official Site at Lenkamusic.com.

1] please come INTRO!
2] WORK THAT feat. PHARRELL & CHRIS BROWN
3] AFTER 5(A.M.) feat. MADEMOISELLE YULIA
4] TOKYO DRIFT (FAST & FURIOUS)
5] SWEET GIRL feat. DONDRIA
6] TERIYA-KING feat. KANYE WEST & BIG SEAN
7] 5th ELEMENT feat. CORNELIUS
8] SERIOUS JAPANESE
9] ZOCK-ON! feat PHARRELL & BUSTA RHYMES
10] (CANT’) “BAKE” THAT “FAPE” feat. TAKAGIKAN & ADROCK
11] いつも IT’S MORE
12] I still love H.E.R. feat KANYE WEST (ALBUM MIX)
13] get the hell OUTRO
14] TOKYO DRIFT (FAST & FURIOUS) REMIX feat. PUSHA T & FAM-LAY

I’ve been off the TERIYAKI BOYZ party van for a while. Just last month, I learned about ZOCK ON! I figured I’d would be too late to review it but I was never about doing those on time anyway. Either way, I was blind-sided with this latest album. I was just browsing around and found it in the latest releases list. I didn’t miss too much based on the tracklist.

Let’s do this right in standard blm album review format (save the best for last):

5TH ELEMENT
This reminds me of Moon The World from BEEF OR CHICKEN, showcasing their ability to rhyme on top of an irregular beat. It’s at the top just because it’s not quite as catchy as the rest of the tracks on the album. It’s good but nothing I’d be blasting out of the car anytime soon. Makes me want to understand more of the language…

SWEET GIRL
This one is kinda unfairly put near the top because it’s a good song but I just don’t like it as much as the other tracks. Also, the use of auto-tune makes me lol a bit. I really don’t mind the effect since I don’t listen to all the hip-hop acts that use it on this side of the lake. Nothing personal, just something’s gotta be here. Found the Jack Bauer/Sparrow shout out funny.

SERIOUS JAPANESE
Solid beat. Nice flow. FOR SERIOUS. CHO SERIOUS. Nothing personal again for being up top.

TOKYO DRIFT
Maybe if I didn’t kill this song when the movie OST came out, I’d probably still enjoy it as much as I do the rest of the album. The remix is refreshing and should add bonus points bumping this down further but that wouldn’t be fair. I won’t count the remix in this list but it’d probably be 2-3 spots further down.

WORK THAT
Great opening. Great energy. Is it sad that I don’t know who Chris Brown is? I think he’s R&B, no? I don’t know. Pretty standard overall. I have nothing to say that makes it stand out but at least I have nothing to say about it sucking.

TERIYA-KING
Kanye’s part is pretty sick. I’m a casual Kanye listener; I’ve never bought an album but what I hear on the radio is pretty cool. I don’t listen to the radio much and it’s not overplayed for me. Oh hur hur. Good strong solid beat like a song of its title should have.

I still love H.E.R. (ALBUM MIX)
The only difference I can hear is during Kayne’s part: they don’t change the beat for him like they did on the single version. In the single version, he gets a bass-boosted kick while everything else gets turned down on the lower end of the spectrum. I think it sounds better everything equal.

ZOCK-ON!
Thanks, Groove Heroine. I think it’s a good collaboration between east and west hip-hop. Pharrell doesn’t get much in terms of lines but then again, the featuring means nothing other than they’re in it, regardless of how much activity they have (just looking back on Pharrell’s Can I Have It Like That feat. Gwen Stefani who said 6 words). Anyway, solid beat. Good use of percussion. Would sound good played by a drum line. Who really knows or cares what a “ZOCK” is… this is a good song according to my ears. :)

(CAN’T) “BAKE” THAT “FAPE”
ADROCK WUT. I miss the Beastie Boys. I totally fell off the Beastie Boys party van. I C WUT U DID THAR. I’m a big fan of puns and and FAPE is kinda like FAP … but in french. The verb to fap. Look it up. Also, fake bapes are fake. Don’t support the fake market. No one deserving is getting money. I digress. Solid beat, something blastable. Catchy hook.

いつも IT’S MORE
This song wins the award for 2nd most chartable song on this album. And by chart, I mean stepchart for ITG. Not that this ranking is of how chartable these songs are… I don’t know, maybe there’s some sort of correlation between songs I enjoy and songs I find to be chartable. Creatively chartable anyway. Super blastable. They even tell you to “Turn it up. Turn it turn it up.” There’s an interesting 8-bit-ish instrument kicking around in the background that would make for an interesting pattern to follow. I need to somehow turn up the volume for it. The beat is simple but everything about it is super catchy and I enjoy listening to it… repeatedly.

Which makes this album winner…

AFTER 5 (A.M.)
From the start, I saw the promise in this track. It had the beginnings of a trance track then it dropped the funky drum and busted out the teriyaki sauce. we’ve got a hit on our hands. This wins most chartable song because of its complexity and diversity for followable stepping patterns. It’s music to my ears and feet. It’s songs like these that make me look good. It’s fun from start to finish and doesn’t fail to make me bounce in my seat. It’s a good party song as well. Some good background music to have people bouncing. Also, lol cowbell.

Apparently, there’s a worldwide release going down February 3rd. I should pick this up. For serious. CHO SERIOUS.

Starting with the instrumental track, Nakata busts out the real drum kit like he did with Puppy love on the GAME album (it being my 3rd favourite track overall). Everything else sounds like good old Perfume to me. I especially love the hat line throughout. The bassline is fairly standard, nothing particularly rumbly but carries well. The real feature instrument is the piano and electric keyboard. The arpeggios throughout the song really add the dreamy effect and the simple touches Nakata adds in are the icing on an already delicious cake.

And for the topping? I like strawberries. There happens to be 3 strawberries with the names of a~chan, nocchi, and kashiyuka on this Dream Fighter cake. Like most Perfume singles, I find the melody to stick to me like syrup does on pancakes. Not the runny kind, but the really thick and slow kind. Hrmm… molasses?

I guess syrup should stick since the ladies’ outfits are a syrupy yellow and are really sweet in all senses of the word. As usual, they assume their roles as the classy one, the girly one, and the leggy one. I just have to say that kashi’s boots are definitely made for walkin’ if you know what I mean.

Product packaging is cute. Even the obi paper is textured and shimmery like the insert that has cute solo pictures of each of the ladies.

The B-side, Negai, is a nice treat for the quiet technopop types. People have been calling it macaroni part 2. I think that it feels a bit more emotionally charged than macaroni. It’s probably because it’s slower and less playful. As slow and chill macaroni is, it’s still got a bit of pep in its step. Negai, however, just makes me want to lie down and reflect on things.

Overall, love the package and hope this keeps going.

Techno-Pop Sweetheart Aira Mitsuki returns after the (what I believe to be) success of her debut album, “C.O.P.Y”, with ROBOT HONEY. I say successful because C.O.P.Y sold just 400 copies less than Perfume’s Complete Best Limited Edition. For this entry, I’ll be commenting only on the PV while saving the actual music commentary for when I get the chance to listen to the single. All I’ll say for now is that it’s super-cute!

As for the PV, though it’s been out for a few weeks already, let me start by saying “finally”. ROBOT HONEY’s close-ups, dance shots, and a few situational moments and really showcase Aira who is pretty cute in the PV. I find her previous PVs to be perverse and often baffling since they didn’t really show her off unlike other female, or female-led, artists. Colorful Tokyo Sound NO.9 had some dancing but nothing particularly in focus. China Discotica had some close-up shots but they were pretty lifeless (kinda reminded me of a few of the early Berryz close-up shot PVs). GALAXY BOY was just … special >_<.

But onto PV specifics, while better than her previous, I can negatively scan a few things in the PV. For example, the dance is a little cheesy but that’s ok; it’s the good kind of cheese. A few of the close-up shots lack energy but they don’t keep it on her long enough for me to actually care THAT much. And those are the cons when I’m actually looking for them. Otherwise, everything about this PV is what I expect of PVs. The flavor overall is quite tasty. Cute. All the outfits are cute. Totally fits the song. I just need a translation. Also, the mini-Aira was adorable with her key-bow in her hair.

Overall, yay. I wonder how her next will do.

Tour of the Americas Flyer

You remember that feeling of being a kid at Christmas? I felt that 2 Saturdays ago while attending this show. The whole feeling of the night was something unforgettable. I actually watched We Will Rock You, the Queen musical, earlier that day which won’t get its own review post but it’s definitely worth a viewing if you can make it to one! A couple of things didn’t happen as they should have but the night was definitely awesome and intense given this is the group that, in my opinon, had the best album of 2005 (with Hold Your Color).

XI on the ones and twos

The show was going on the same night Nuit Blanche was going on in Toronto. I could care less about contemporary art. I don’t have the mental mind state for it. But anyway, I just found out today that the opening act, Mystical Influences, couldn’t make it out. I’ve never heard of him before and I thought it to be odd that they start a Drum & Bass show without a D&B DJ or something. Ah well. Upon further research, I found out that another local DJ made it out that goes by the name XI. He spins grimy DubStep tracks. I wasn’t in the mood for it that night since it was I was expecting D&B but I’m actually listening to his mixes available for download off his MySpace while writing this up. It’s pretty hypnotic. But anyway, I got into Kool Haus half way through his set. Wasn’t feelin’ it but it was good for what it was. It’s pretty fkn awesome now that I’m listening to it while in a mood to listen to it. As expected, there was a decent crowd just camping the stage area waiting for Pendulum to come on. The people I was with at the time wanted to sit in the lounge area so I went with them for a bit but then we decided we’d get in on the crowd action. We managed to sneak into the middle and hung out there for a bit then they left me for one reason or another and I managed to get a spot right up against the front fence. Best place ever.

Kodish's Kit of Doom

So Pendulum gets on at 12 something and I’m just going bananas while they start off with Showdown, off the In Silico album, then directly into Fasten Your Seatbelts, my favourite track off the Hold Your Color album, which was just intense live. That and everyone around you is jumping. I probably crushed some poor person’s toes. Or maybe a few people’s… I dunno. I didn’t care. All the rest of the songs blur from here on out but I was having a hell of a time. I know they did Mutiny and it was awesome. I know they did The Other Side because that was another fun mosh song. It was too bad that there was no Tarantula or Masochist. Either way, I think it was one hell of a show for THEIR FIRST SHOW IN CANADA. wtf.

Post show, you can ask me about what happened if you care. I’d rather not put it up here just in case XD It’s kinda lulzy now that I think about it but… heh.

PENDULUM. LIVE. IS. AWESOME.

Hit them up if you’re into live D&B.

Also, I put up a video of Mutiny on Youtube. See if you can find it before they take it off.

Also, Pendulum’s Official Website. That might come in handy for people who want to know more about them.