i am so out of touch with the j-music scene these days.

this is how out of touch i am:
i just found out VAMPS = HYDE ten minutes ago and went slightly insane.

200812121500

KHALIL FONG NEW ALBUM: 2008.12.19. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

林峯; YOUR LOVE

… yeah, i didn’t expect that name on my wp either. i seriously didn’t like him when i watched 尋秦記, but now i’m like… hey, the more i look at him, the nicer on the eyes he is. (maybe i just have lower standards now, lol.)

anyway. enough about his face. the ALBUM. this is one of those albums that i didn’t really expect anything from, but really, it’s actually pretty good for what it is. i don’t expect raymond to shed the tv-actor image – he’ll always be more actor than singer to me anyway – and really, he fits nicely into that lack of “good looking people with okay voices”. most of the songs are really “k” (which i can only say is expected), and there isn’t much range in the songs, but i like that better than people trying to constantly sing out of range and failing horribly. (which is like. half of the HK music industry. joy?) plus, he enunciates. very clearly. which is always a huge plus in my book.

now that i’ve managed to ramble for an entire paragraph about nothing, let’s get to the songs.

愛不疚: theme song to 溏心風暴2, but has way better arrangement than a whole lot TVB OPs and EDs. the lyrics are a little awkward (in the sense that when you try to read it it doesn’t really make any sense), but it IS a very good K song. i love the arrangement, especially that echo-y sound.

愛人與海: i’ve heard people say that they like this song better, but personally, i think the previous song is better in terms of arrangement and general catchiness. the lyrics make sense here, i guess. :D but yah, nothing special here; it’s okay.

Tonight: i wouldn’t call it a fast song (it could be faster), but it’s a nice change from the rest of the other slow ones. the better one of the two on the album. the computerized voice is a nice touch to the song, and i actually don’t have a problem with the rap in the middle. i’m still trying to categorize this song though. O.o

明天以後: duet with vincy. i feel like vincy would be in an awkward position here, but… hey, it turned out fine. :D personally though, i don’t think vincy’s voice lends itself to duets.

憑良心說再見: … sounds like 愛人與海. i… have nothing else to say?

影子的愛情故事: he breathes really loudly here, but this is one of the better songs on the album. similar arrangement/feel to 愛不疚, except in a lighter voice. (and a higher range?)

浮生若水: theme song to 太極, so i heard it when i watched the first half of the drama. i actually do like this song, it has this… floaty… and semi-中國風 arrangement, and for some reason it sounds better when i listen to it on the album. maybe it’s because the drama pissed me off. sounds a little like 愛不疚 though.

All About Your Love: this… is a weird one. i can’t decide if i like it or not. the vocals are sound, the tempo is that awkward place between mid and fast, and the bridge feels like a backstreet boys song. (idk where i got that from. don’t ask.) i… guess it’s okay? the “it’s all about your love” line is a little awkward to me though.

夏雪: similar to 愛人與海 and 憑良心說再見. i like the lyrics to this one better though – i kinda cracked up when i heard “難測的真心半天吊要死不死” XD.

明天以後: mandarin version. nothing to say here; it’s the same song. they’re both free from that mandarin problem that all HK artists seem to have though. (vincy is from singapore. doh.)

favorites: 愛不疚, 影子的愛情故事, 浮生若水, Tonight

i can’t believe he’s on version 2 already. it came out like two WEEKS ago. wtfman? O.O

lololol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIQSGTDnOks

^… i have no comments regarding the really… weird… lyrics and JJ herself, but. um. is it really a good idea to copy ayu so blatantly. (for those of you who don’t know what i’m talking about, i direct you to the SURREAL PV and the cover of Duty and SURREAL.)

GLAY VERB TOUR in U.S. 2008; 2008.08.16

there’s still ringing in my ears.

okay. the rundown goes like this, i think:

VERB
yuuwaku
short MC
GLORIOUS
IKITERU TSUYOSA
GIANT STRONG FAUST SUPER STAR
band member introduction + lead in to STARLESS NIGHT (i think?)
STARLESS NIGHT
AMERICAN INNOVATION?
-VENUS
MC
SORRY LOVE
short MC
HOWEVER
more short MC
ROCK’n'ROLL SWINDLE?
MERMAID
SHUTTER SPEEDS no THEME
PEAK hateshinaku SOUL kagirinaku
short MC
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

encore one:
MC
Winter, again
kuchibiru
kanojo no “MODERN…”
short MC
HIGHCOMMUNICATIONS

encore two:
ACID HEAD

i’m a little unsure of AMERICAN INNOVATION and R’n'R SWINDLE, but that’s the general gist of it.

scans; photobooks; hamasaki ayumi; GUILTY

aaaaand the photobook that came with the album that cost me 40 extra HKD. :/ i said this already, but i hate the cover. D: the shoes are really cute though.

scans; album; hamasaki ayumi; GUILTY

i don’t understand why she doesn’t keep her hair curly. she looks good in it.