Tommy Heavenly6 I Kill My Heart Album Review

Tommy Heavenly6 - I Kill My Heart

Release Date: April 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Language: Japanese

Track Listing

1.	Wait For Me There
2.	Leaving You
3.	Do You Know My Heart ?
4.	Sad End To A Fairy Tale
5.	Shut Up
6.	Flower Crown
7.	Surely
8.	Gonna Change My Way Of Life
9.	Playground
10.	Things I Can Do
11.	You Should Live In The Sunny Light

1. Wait For Me There

The instrumentals on this track are pretty dark, gloomy, and slightly aggressive which are good in some ways but overall aren't that interesting. The vocals are not very interesting either, it also doesn't help that she sings in a deeper voice than some of her other songs.

2. Leaving You

I want to write actual commentary for this song, but it just sucks. I can't think of any other way to put it.

3. Do You Know My Heart?

This is actually a more upbeat and happy song compared to the first two tracks. It's a lot more catchy and more interesting musically. I like it.

4. Sad End To A Fairy Tale

I didn't really enjoy the beginning half of the song. The build up parts were good, but I honestly can't get into the slower parts of this song.

5. Shut Up

This song is a lot more energetic and I love energetic songs, but this just doesn't quite work for me.

6. Flower Crown

Sure this song has a cute title and all, but I freaking feel like my ears are bleeding after listening to this abortion of a song.

7. Surely

Compared to the last song this is actually more pleasant to the ears. It's a laid back and calm song and a little catchy. Although nothing amazing is going on here, but anything sounds good compared to the track for this.

8. Gonna Change My Way Of Life

This song tries to be energetic and fun and somewhat sassy . . . but I don't know . . . it's really not working for me.

9. Playground

For some reason there are parts of this song that sound like she's trying to sing metal. Which I totally do not understand. Other than that this is a decent song. The instrumentals and vocals are catchy enough to keep my attention.

10. Things I Can Do

The most upbeat song on this album and one I can honestly say would probably listen to again.

11. You Should Live In The Sunny Light

After such a upbeat song, this is the most depressing sounding song on the album. It also pretty much just drags on too much for me. Which is saying a lot since this song is only under 4 minutes long.

Tracks I Recommend

- Things I Can Do

- Do You Know My Heart?

- Surely

To be honest, this album was terrible. I just could not get into it outside of the three recommended songs. I mean compared to her previous albums and singles, this album feels like she just threw this together last minute. Honestly Tommy(Tomoko Kawase) has made better songs than this before. What the hell happened?

Meg & Dia Here, Here And Here Album Review

Meg & Dia - Here, Here And Here

Release Date: April 21, 2009
Genre: Alternative, Indie Rock, Indie Pop
Language: English

Track Listing

1.	Going Away
2.	Hug Me
3.	What If
4.	Are There Giants Too, In The Dance?
5.	Inside My Head
6.	Black Wedding
7.	Bored Of Your Love
8.	One Sail
9.	The Last Great Star In Hollywood
10.	Agree To Disagree
11.	Fighting For Nothing
12.	Kiss You Goodnight
13.	Here, Here and Here

1. Going Away

For the first track on their sophomore effort, you can really tell have gone a somewhat route than the one from their debut album. The song here has strong vocals and an almost ska like instrument arrangement. It's just for some reason, if I couldn't tell it was Dia singing . . . this kind of sounds like this could have been a No Doubt song O_o.

2. Hug Me

The lyrics on this song are somewhat interesting although a kind of weird in some areas(did she just say she changed her race O_o). It also has a somewhat catchy use of piano here and there and the instrumentals are decent. The chorus on this track is also very strong.

3. What If

Here is a good energetic song from the band. The instrumentals and vocals work well together and are paced well. A song that easily get you motivated to be active. I think this could possibly be the best song on this album hands down.

4. Are There Giants Here Too, In The Dance?

Upon the start of this song, you can clearly tell this is a dance song. I mean forget the fact that dance is in the track's title, the sound just screams dance to this. It's got a groove and 90's feel to it and even a almost 80's sounding guitar solo. Also, this track plays with my mind. I know it doesn't have the riff from the Beverly Hills Cop theme, but for some reason this song reminds me of it in areas.

5. Inside My Head

This song has a fast almost talking vocal delivery and sounds much more dark than the last few tracks. It's almost angry in it's tone. The instrumentals are slow and heavy and work well with the vocals.

6. Black Wedding

This is a fast and energetic and catchy. The vocal delivery is very good even though it seems like Dia is yelling more on this track. The instrumentals on this track could also even work for highway speeding or a fight if you ignore the lyrics.

7. Bored Of Love

Here Meg & Dia comes at you with a melodic ballad. The vocals on this song are very harmonious and Dia's voice goes well with guest vocalist Tom Higgenson's(Plain White T's) vocals. It's a beautiful song with insightful lyrics. Also I like the contrast in how the guy sings about how he's in love and the girl sings about how she lost interest. Basically this is the only song on here that carries the sound from their first album.

8. One Sail

Here is a song with a more acoustic vibe and is pretty catchy. The Frampton sister's vocals meld together wonderfully and the instrumentals are strong. I also like the build up towards the end.

9. The Last Great Star In Hollywood

I don't get it, why is Dia using an almost British sounding accent in this song O_o? That alone throws off this song for me. I mean the accent is not horrible and works with the song. To me it just seems a little unnecessary. The song also seems very back beat driven for a lot of it and has an interesting guitar solo. Also, there's a hint of electronica in this track.

10. Agree To Disagree

What the hell? For this track Meg & Dia go for the country sound. They got the country twang and the harmonica going on in the background. I dare you to not want to square dance to this s***. Seriously the track ends with a yeehaw! I'm not a fan of country, but this is catchy as hell O_o.

11. Fighting For Nothing

Here is another song that focuses on Dia's vocals and lyrics. The vocals are great and melodic to start and then just degrades into shouting towards the end. The lyrics are also somewhat insightful.

12. Kiss You Goodnight

This is pretty much a standard pop ballad. I'm not very big on ballads. This is a decent song though.

13. Here, Here And Here

This is the title track for the album, and a wonderful send off for the album. The Mozart inspired chorus ("Here, Here And Here. He pointed to his heart and mind and ears.") thugs at me emotionally. The instrumentals here are also very strong and I love the combination of electric guitars and violins used here. Seriously this track just sweeps me in emotions O_o.

Tracks I Recommend

- What If

- Here, Here And Here

- One Sail

- Black Wedding

- Last Great Star In Hollywood

- Fighting For Nothing

- Agree To Disagree

Clearly for this album, Meg & Dia have gone with a different sound than their debut. While that can be good or bad, I felt they did a decent job with experimenting with new sounds and not alienating fans. Granted they did throw in a lot of different in here. It's not another Something Real, but it doesn't have to be.

Chatmonchy Kokuhaku Album Review

So I finally have gotten myself to stop listening to Perfume and am trying to catch up to a lot of music releases I have missed over the past few months. While catching up, I also decided to review these albums as well using a song by song break down format, rather than my old way of just commenting on the album as a whole. So here is my first review in this format.

Chatmonchy - Kokuhaku

Release Date: March 4, 2009
Genre: Rock
Language: Japanese

Track Listing

1.	8cm no Pin Hiiru
2.	Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)
3.	Umi Kara Deta Sakana
4.	Somaru Yo
5.	CAT WALK
6.	Yodan
7.	Haibisukasu wa Fuyu ni Saku
8.	Aimai na Kanjou
9.	Negai Metemite
10.	LOVE is SOUP
11.	Kaze Fukeba Koi
12.	Last Love Letter (Album Mix)
13.	Yasashisa

1. 8cm no Pin Hiiru

A good song to start the album off with. I love the pacing, vocals, and instrumentals(especially the fact that throughout the song Akiko plays a very strong bass line). It's not a overly energetic or frantic song, but there's enough going on to make it a fun song to listen to.

2. Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)

I think this is a good song. Eriko does a decent job in the vocal department of song, and am somewhat impressed by her "one take" vocals on the chorus. Granted you can sort of tell she is stressing a little to get that accomplished. Pretty much I think the fast one take vocals are what make me like this song so much. So yeah, overall this is a good energetic rock song.

3. Umi Kara Deta Sakana

The opening instrumentals on this track are pretty cool, but everything after that is not as interesting and memorable. Interesting guitar solo by Eriko though.

4. Somaru Yo

Personally I just couldn't sit through this song . . . I'm 100% serious O_o . . . It just doesn't work for me on so many levels.

5. CAT WALK

Here we have another slow ballad song. I am not really a fan of slow ballad songs, but the build ups in the chorus kind of help if anything. I mean it's a decent song, it's just a lot of the beginning just doesn't appeal to me.

6. Yodan

Here we have another fast paced song after the two slower previous songs. The instrumentals are somewhat interesting, the song overall just doesn't quite stick with me for some reason. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there just isn't enough here to get me hooked.

7. Haibisukasu wa Fuyu ni Saku

I absolutely love the vibe of this song. Here the band decides to go with a more acoustic mellow style. It's just a cheerful, happy vibe that I enjoy. I find the guitar on this track to very catchy and I love how it goes well with the vocals in the verses. The bridge and the chorus could use a little more work though, they partially ruin the magic that's in the verses

8. Aimai na Kanjou

It has a good base line, and the vocals are pretty good. I just think this song is way too slow for my liking. I mean it's not bad because the pacing of the instruments and vocals work well together. I'm just not a fan of slow songs as mentioned earlier.

9. Negai Metemite

For some reason Eriko felt like using a deeper voice for this song. It's a nice pop/rock almost somewhat funk instrumental, but the vocals and lyrics could use a little more work. However, it does pick up around the bridge and gets a little better. Pretty much everything after the bridge is where it's at for this song.

10. LOVE is SOUP

What the hell O_o? This is a very simple and cute sounding song that has a vibe that almost harkens to music of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Also I wish I understood Japanese, because I would really like to know what the hell kind of lyrics they could have wrote to go with such a strange chorus as "love is soup". Honestly this song is a bit too out of place for me to get into O_o . . .

11. Kaze Fukeba Koi

After that last track, here Chatmonchy go back to a more energetic and frenzied song. It has a great fast paced instrumentals and the vocals do well keeping up with the fast pace. The chorus of this track is very catchy and overall adds to why this is a good song. I like this one a lot ^_^!

12. Last Love Letter (Album Mix)

This is another great song on the album. This is another somewhat energetic rock song style song. While the verses are a little weak, I feel the chorus and the instrumentals make this a solid effort from the band. Personally I think this is the best overall song on this album.

13. Yasashisa

Here the band has chosen to end the album with another slow paced song. It's not quite a balled and the drums on this track sound almost like a marching drum in places. It sort of gets better towards the end, as it seems Eriko builds more emotion in singing towards the end. However, I can't really say this is a song that has much memorability for me.

Tracks I Recommend

- Last Love Letter (Album Mix)

- 8cm no Pin Hiiru

- Haibisukasu wa Fuyu ni Saku

- Hira Hira Hiraku Himitsu no Tobira (Album Mix)

- Kaze Fukeba Koi

Overall I felt this album is somewhat hit and miss. There are some songs they do well and some that leave a lot to be desired. I guess it really depends on your interests to see what here works for you. It has a good start and is good towards the end, but I'm pretty sure I could do without a lot of the songs in the middle.

New Found Glory And All Time Low Album Reviews

Ok this is a bit delayed but here is my review for the new New Found Glory Cover Album . . . From The Screen To Your Stereo Part II is a great album. Songs from some of your favorite movies have been taken by New Found Glory and are reinterpreted in a way only New Found Glory. The songs really work well with the new pop punk edge given to them. I definitely suggest you guys give it a listen.

Another CD I picked up the other day was All Time Low, "So Wrong, It's Right". Which is also another good listen. It's a pretty good pop punk album. The album has a good amount of fast pace and even the one acoustic song still fits in very well. If you've heard their first release then it's pretty much similar fair which is not a bad thing. I think it's worth checking out.

Motion City Soundtrack Even If It Kills Me Album Review

What's Up Lucky Ones,

So yesterday we went out and got the new Motion City Soundtrack album, "Even If It Kills Me", and let us tell you that is awesomeness with a capital A. The songs on here are amazing with deep and intricate lyrics about topics such as love and being on medication. Even with the serious topics being sung about here they still are able to pop in their little lyrical quirks. Such as references to Autobots, energon cubes, the Wondertwins, pop tarts, Indiana Jones, and even having lines like " Quite likely, you're a failure. It's a shitty thing to say, but hey man - the clock is ticking".

The icing on the cake here is how lyrics such as these are delivered by Justin Pierre, the band's wild haired vocalist. His vocalizations can range of matter of factly describing them(Can't Finish What You Started), energetically singing(Point Of Extinction), or even trying to beautifully whip out a composition of words(The Conversation, Last Night). Other than lyrical content the songs on the album are also good because of the great musical arrangement. The excellent blend of the guitars, bass, drums and the moog (synthesizer) help make the songs very catchy and melodic. The moog in itself adds uniqueness to the songs and is part of the Motion City Soundtrack sound that fans love. The songs on the album keep up a very good variety as there are energetic songs and "slower" songs. Basically the boys from Minnesota have put out a extremely excellent effort that will have fans ecstatic and new comers wanting more. So yeah if you haven't gotten the album yet, why the hell are you still here reading this?

Motion City Soundtrack - This Is For Real

Update: I just got the new New Found Glory album of song covers ^_^ . . . write up to come later . . .