Aira Mitsuki – LIGHTSAVER (Single)

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AIRA MITSUKI, Aira Mitsuki - LIGHTSAVER (Single), Jpop, music, Musica

Two years ago, electro-pop forerunner Aira Mitsuki released her fifth album I’LL BE BACK and took a hiatus from the music industry, promising her loyal fanbase that she would eventually return. She surfaced on Twitter the following year, and as her former D-topia Entertainment labelmate Saori@destiny redebuted under the pseudonym “Saoriiiii,” fans began clamoring for Aira’s comeback.

In May, Aira performed her first new material since her hiatus at Tokyo’s LOUNGE NEO. After a summer of sporadic live shows and no formal releases, she recently surprised fans with a brand-new song uploaded to her newly minted YouTube channel, alongside a new logo and promotional pictures.

Relesead Date: 2015.09.21

Tracklist:
1. LIGHTSAVER
2. I’LL AGAIN
3. LIGHTSAVER (Instrumental)

OVERALL RATING

3 stars

Jupiter – TOPAZ (Single)

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Jpop, Jupiter - TOPAZ (Single), music, Musica

Visual kei band Jupiter brings a maxi single “TOPAZ” with three tracks, including instrumental one(s).

Release date: Aug 26th 2015

Tracklist:

1. TOPAZ
2. Iolite
3. Rose Quartz

OVERALL RATING

3 stars

Kalafina – far on the water (Album)

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Jpop, Kalafina, Kalafina - far on the water (Album), music, Musica

far on the water is the fifth studio album released by Kalafina. It was released in three versions: a limited CD+DVD edition (Type-A), a limited CD+Blu-ray edition (Type-B), a regular CD only edition, and an analog LP edition. The title track “far on the water” was used as the fourth ending theme for the NHK program Rekishi Hiwa Historia.

Released Date: 2015.09.16

Tracklist:

1.into the water

2.monochrome

3.Gogatsu no Mahou (五月の魔法; Magic of May)

4.ring your bell

5.Usumurasaki (うすむらさき; Light Purple)

6.identify

7.Hokage (灯影; Flicker of Light)

8.One Light

9.Musunde Hiraku (むすんでひらく; Close and Open)

10.heavenly blue

11.Sorairo no Isu (空色の椅子; Azure Chair)

12.believe

13.far on the water

 

OVERALL RATING

5 stars

LYn – 9X9th (Album)

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Kpop, Lyn, LYn – 9X9th (Album), music, Musica

Lyn has revealed her 9th album ‘9x9th. Lyn commented on the release of her new album, “I have prepared for my 9th album for a long time, I’m pleased with the result and I wish that the songs will be loved for a long time, please give me your love and support.”

Her 9th album will was released on September 9.

Tracklist:

01. 사랑은 그렇게 또 다른 누구에게
02. 이별주
03. 주정 블루스
04. 나 하나만 남겨줘요
05. Only you
06. 나를 봐요
07. 아무도 모르게
08. 청사포
09. 그리움은 사랑이 아니더이다

OVERALL RATING

3½ stars

 

JUNHO (2PM) – ONE (Album)

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JUNHO (2PM), JUNHO (2PM) – ONE (Album), Kpop, music, Musica

2PM’s Junho revealed his first ever solo album ‘ONE‘!

The album, drop this September 14, contains a total of 11 tracks, all of which were composed and produced with input from Junho himself. The title track, “Fire,” was included in Junho’s Japanese mini-album ‘So Good‘ which was released last July.

Release Date: 2015.09.14

Tracklist:

01. Fire
02. SO GOOD
03. Don’t tease me
04. 집에 가지마
05. 눈을 감고
06. Like a star
07. CRUSH
08. INSANE
09. GOOD LIFE 4 ME
10. Pressure
11. believe

OVERALL RATING

4 stars

FTISLAND – PUPPY (Single)

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FTISLAND – PUPPY (Single), Jpop, music, Musica

FTIsland keeps the momentum of its very busy and eventful 2015 going with new Japanese single PUPPY! The single is released to coincide with the band’s fifth anniversary Japanese tour, adorably titled Where’s my PUPPY?

Release Date: 2015.09.16

Tracklist:

01. PUPPY
02. Cycle
03. パラレルワールド
04. PUPPY (Instrumental)

OVERALL RATING

3½ stars

Mitra – Mitra (Album)

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Mitra - Mitra (Album), music, Musica

Mitra Kaislaranta or just Mitra is a Finnish singer who rose to fame after participating and winning the Finnish Pop Idol show back in 2013. As a prize she received a recording contract with Warner Music Finland and few days ago was released the very first album – Mitra. Album includes the singles that have been successful in Finnish charts, but this album has much more to offer, so make sure you give it a listen while reading.

The debut album has ten tracks in total and all of them are being sang in Finnish. The first track Ota Minut (Take Me) starts with a calm melody where the background vocals join in smootly. Refrain is more powerful and harsh. That atmosphere continues till the end of the song. Kukka Kaipaa Valoa (Flower Longs For Light) is one of the hits you could find from the album. It has been very popular track in Finland and with a reason. This song is about a girl who wants to be caressed by her boyfriend. If only she could say it to him… Mun täytyy saada kuulla aina välillä sulta että mä oon kaunis, kiehtova ja ihana…(…I have to hear sometimes from you that i’m beautiful, fascinating and lovely…) This is a lovely ballad that puts you easily to sway along with the slow rhythm. It is being followed by another single – Jotain pysyvää (Something Permanent) which is a perfect song for the radios as it has very gripping tune with tempo changes throughout the track. There has been included also the xylophone what is not usual in pop tracks giving the Summer vibes right away.  The most surprising and outstanding song on the album is definitely Varaton (Penurious). It is a ballad with ear-catching guitar solos and dark, sad melody. You don’t have to understand the Finnish to feel the emotion from Mitra’s voice. Watch out for the violins in the end! To continue with more positive sounds you could find in the end of the album the first single that Mitra released right after winning the Idol show. Äkkisyvää (Deep in Sudden) is a midtempo pop song with strong melody and lyrics. The song is about the person who is struggling inside, but not showing any weakness signs outside.  Album is being finished with relaxing track Rakkauden hyvät ja huonot puolet (The Pros and Cons of Love). It has a soft and romantic sound which would be suitable for cosy restaurant evenings. Very beautiful ending to the debut album.

To conclude, the self-titled album includes variation of tracks which may appeal to wider audience. Everyone could find a song for themself, whether it’s an uptempo pop track or calm ballad. It was definitely a good decision to record the album in Finnish because it suits perfectly to these tracks. I believe the Finnish and also the foreign listeners will appreciate the album and make sure that it would conquer top placements in the music charts.

Tracklist:

1.Ota minut

2.Kupla

3.Kukka kaipaa valoa

4.Jotain pysyvää

5.Kuningas

6.Varaton

7.Myrskyn silmään

8.Äkkisyvää

9.Se ei tuu toteutumaan

10.Rakkauden hyvät ja huonot puolet

OVERALL RATING

3½ stars

Leona Lewis – I Am (Album)

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Leona Lewis, Leona Lewis - I Am (Album), music, Musica

I Am is the fifth studio album by British singer and songwriter Leona Lewis. It will be released on 11 September 2015 by Island Records UK after Lewis took leave from Syco Music in June 2014. Recording began in mid 2013, during the production of Lewis’s first Christmas and fourth studio album, Christmas, with Love (2013). Recording sessions resumed in January 2014 with producer Poet, Toby Gad and Wayne Wilkins. I Am is preceded by the release of “Fire Under My Feet” and the album’s title track except for in the United States where “Thunder” precedes the album.

Tracklist:

01. Thunder
02. Fire Under My Feet
03. You Knew Me When
04. I Am
05. Ladders
06. The Essence of Me
07. I Got You
08. Power
09. Another Love Song
10. Thank You
11. Thick Skin
12. The Best and the Worst
13. I Am (Acoustic)
14. Thunder (Acoustic)
15. Fire Under My Feet (United Studios Session)

 OVERALL RATING

4 stars

EXILE ATSUSHI+AI – Be Brave (Single)

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EXILE ATSUSHI+AI - Be Brave, Jpop, music, Musica

EXILE ATSUSHIとAIによるコラボ曲「Be Brave」のミュージックビデオがYouTubeにて公開された。

「Be Brave」は関西テレビ・フジテレビ系でオンエア中のEXILE AKIRA主演ドラマ「HEAT」の主題歌。MVは2人の力強い歌声と美しいハーモニーを表現するため、お互いが向かい合わせで歌った実際のレコーディングシーンをメインに構成されている。妊娠中のAIが時折見せる、お腹をなでる姿や優しげな表情にも注目だ。

なお「Be Brave」はEXILE ATSUSHI＋AI名義で9月9日にシングルの表題曲としてリリースされる。このシングルのカップリングにはEXILE ATSUSHIとAIが2008年に初めてコラボしたナンバー「So Special」のアコースティックバージョンを収録。さらにCD＋DVD盤のDVDには表題曲のMVに加え、「So Special」のライブ映像なども収められる。

Release Date : 2015.09.09

Tracklist:

1. Be Brave
2. So Special -Acoustic Ver.-
3. Be Brave（Instrumental）
4. So Special -Acoustic Ver.-（Instrumental）

OVERALL RATING

4 stars

Diana Krall – Wallflower (Album)

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Diana Krall - Wallflower (Album), music, Musica

Wallflower is the twelfth studio album by Canadian recording artist Diana Krall, released by Verve Records on February 3, 2015.David Foster produced the album.

Wallflower debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 13,000 copies in its first week. In the United States, it entered the Billboard 200 at number ten with first-week sales of 44,000 copies, becoming Krall’s sixth top ten album on the chart.The album debuted at number nineteen on the UK Albums Chart with 3,511 copies sold in its first week.

Tracklist:

1. California Dreamin’

2. Desperado

3. Superstar

4. Alone Again (Naturally) duet with Michael Bublé

5. Wallflower

6. If I Take You Home Tonight

7. I Can’t Tell You Why

8. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

9. Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)

10. I’m Not In Love

11. Feels Like Home duet with Bryan Adams

12. Don’t Dream It’s Over

Deluxe Bonus Tracks

13. In My Life

14. Yeah Yeah

15. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (Live)

16. Wallflower (Live)

 

 OVERALL RATING

4 stars