melody. [READY TO GO!] (Third Album)

Finding My Road
with you
Love Story
All For Love
HOPE
Glory of Love
READY TO GO!
ONE DAY
Lovin’ U
REAL ME
ALL I DO
Shine
Dangerous

The album starts off with Finding My Road. I don’t know, I use to like this song, but I don’t too much like it this time around. I guess its up-tempo, it does give you this refreshing type of feeling and the arrangement gave off the feeling of self-empowerment. melody.’s vocals weren’t very engaging in this, sometimes she sounded muffled and sometimes she was straining which made the song sound very awkward. I mean its not a bad song, I just really don’t like the flow of it, despite the chorus being mildly catchy.

The next track on the album slows it down with with you. This is a pretty tedious song, which is strange because I’ve always rather liked it. The arrangement is limp, it sounds like wind struggling to blow on a hot day. I hardly noticed it at all. melody.’s vocal performance was also pretty stagnant, it was almost like she didn’t even care, because her vocals more or less bored me.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo Love Story. I’ve always rather liked this song, but it is a bit underwhelming. The arrangement is nice an soothing, gives off a lonely atmosphere, but the sheer love of it shines through. melody.’s vocal performance was nice, but some strain-age did come through. This is an all right ballad, she’s had better though.

The next track on the album is All For Love. This is a pretty corny song, but for some reason I like it. The arrangement sounds typical and watered down, nothing interesting, but its suits the song. melody.’s vocals are decent, but she doesn’t do much and it becomes a pretty hit or miss performance. I liked the chorus. This track is an all right listen, despite the cheese factor.

The next track on the album is the smooth HOPE. This song is really, dare I say it? Cool. I mean it really is. I was uninterested at the beginning, but eventually as the song progressed I found myself kind a into it. The arrangement is pretty synthy, borderline techno, but it plays so smooth-like, that you hardly notice, but you’re aware of it. It gives off the feeling of the night life, mysterious and dangerous. melody.’s vocals reflected the arrangement, as to where she sounded a bit monotonous which added a lot of flare to this track. Nice.

The next track on the album is the soap-opera-ish Glory of Love. When I saw this title I immediately thought of ‘gift of love’ and kind a groaned a little. The two songs are a like in a sense, but the difference lies in the fact that ‘gift of love’ is an intolerable listen of boredom, this on the other hand is all right, but rather cheesy. I don’t know, the arrangement is generic and melody.’s vocals seem rather placating, but I did like the flow and its a sweet song. Hmm? I think I’m getting soft.

The next track on the album is the feel good READY TO GO!. I actually use to really dislike this song and I’m not really sure why I like it so much now, but it could be because once you get past the generic-ness of it, its actually a pretty catchy track. Its a dance club beat definitely and melody.’s vocals were decent and somewhat engaging. The chorus is the high light.

The next track on the album brings the pace back down with ONE DAY. This song is just like ‘glory of love’ in terms of cheesiness, but I still like it. I don’t know, its slow-paced arrangement wise and vocal wise and melody. doesn’t really do much in either department, but I don’t know, I just like the flow. Also, I tend to be biased when it comes to her songs sung fully in English.

The next track on the album is the rather lame Lovin’ U. I’m quite sure this is the first time I’ve ever not liked this song, or maybe I just finally sat down an actually listened to it. The arrangement is pretty generic and throwaway, I didn’t really care about it at all and pretty much ignored it. melody.’s vocals were pretty stale, it was all just weird, I didn’t really connect with her at all. The song just flew over my head. Its not bad, but its not good either.

The next track on the album is the somewhat suspenseful REAL ME. This song isn’t really all that interesting, but it has enough going for it to keep my attention. I like how seemingly dramatic the arrangement is and melody.’s vocal performance was pretty good.

The next track on the album is the dull ALL I DO. Ah, this song had the potential to be all right, but it ended up being incredibly boring and uninspired. The arrangement was rather stagnant, I think it was the piano, but honestly I don’t even care. melody.’s vocal performance was like I said uninspired and awkward. Forgettable.

The second to last track on the album ups to the pace to about mid-tempo with Shine. This song it pretty up-beat in a not very fast way. The arrangement is a bit sparkly and typical, nothing interesting or that stands out, but it fits. melody.’s vocals were pretty nice, though it doesn’t really stand out either. This is an OK track, if only because its one of those self-empowering type songs.

The last track on the album is the mediocre Dangerous. The last time I listened to this song I actually think I liked it. The arrangement is just generic throwaway club trash, it just sounded so watered down and uninteresting. melody.’s vocals sound awkward once again, because for some reason they don’t stay consistent with the music, I would say she sounds bored, but her vocals are so flat who can tell? This is a rather weak album closer.

-GRADE: C
Rating: * star

melody.’s third album READY TO GO! was quite the mediocre listen. I mean, it really was. The first time I listened to this album, I hated it and dubbed it her worst album to date, then I gave it another listen, because I had felt that maybe I was a little harsh the first time around; it played a bit better and I thought that maybe it isn’t as bad as her debut album Sincerely… listening to it again, I’m starting to think it is. I really tried to give this album the benefit of the doubt, but I honestly can’t. The arrangements/beats are so throwaway and generic and watered down that its really quite comical, then on top of that melody. sounds so uninspired and awkward on practically every track, because she never seems to keep pace or stay on beat and it makes even the songs I did like such as ‘all for love’ and ’shine’ sound uninteresting. I mean this plays like some discarded soundtrack from some dance movie no one really cared about. READY TO GO! I don’t know, I have such a love hate relationship with this album, but at the end of the day, its just not a good album and in my opinion its her weakest. Thank goodness for Lei Aloha.

melody. [Lei Aloha] (Fourth Album)

Daybreak
Say Hello
Haruka; Distant Flower (Eternal Version)
Peace Song
Never Goodbye
Memories in Time
HORIZON
Kiss away
Anata no Soba ni
No Return
Sunset Love
Beneath My Skin
DOOR
Paradise

The album starts off with the rather nice intro Daybreak. The twinkly sounds of a piano, the soothing, crashing waves of the sea, and some harmonic humming. It was a pretty and calming way to open the album, however brief.

The first full length track on the album is the refreshing Say Hello. This was a really nice song, and one that you can really listen to again and again. The arrangement has a very intimate vibe to it, with the guitar being very prominent and the one thing in the arrangement that you just cling to. It brought a very warm and interesting feel to this song. melody.’s vocals were good as well, she sung this song the way it was suppose to be sung, and brought a lot of personality to this track, that makes you feel comforted and safe in a sense.

The next track on the album is the touching Haruka; Distant Flower (Eternal Version). Hmm? Maybe I was wrong about this version. I still like the original single version better, but this is really good as well. I think my dislike for this album on first listen made me turn my ears off in concerns with this song. Its a lot lighter than the single version that’s for sure, it seems more hopeful instead of somber, and I thought melody.’s vocals were gorgeous. I also liked the little choir at the end, it really brought such a warmth to this track. It actually fits right in. Admittedly, a lot more than the single version would have.

The next track is the tragically brief Peace Song. Oh, I really wish she would have stretched this out. Honestly. I love the guitar, its so intimate and soothing. melody.’s vocals were nice in this as well, really flowed well with the constant thrumming of the guitar and I loved the whole: ‘we are standing on a beautiful world’ parts. The length of the track drags it down and makes it really seem wasteful and almost pointless.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo Never Goodbye. I actually found that I enjoyed this song. Wow, I’m guessing I wasn’t really listening to this album the first time, because I honestly did not like this song at first. I completely ignored it actually, and it went clear over my head. The arrangement is very breezy, but it fit in so well with melody.’s vocals, which were really nice. This song gives off a good atmosphere. I mean it really compliments the title: ‘you can go, but no good-byes, because we’ll see each other again.’

The next track on the album is the interlude Memories in Time. A lovely piano melody, with some ‘ooh-ing’, pretty nice.

The next track on the album is the harmonious HORIZON. Oh, this is a really lovely song. I enjoyed the calm sweeping arrangement, that seems to envelope you in warmth, hope and love. melody.’s vocals in this song were quite good. I love how her voice, and the backing vocals were very n’sync and spot on. This was a very enjoyable listen.

The next track is the somewhat mid-tempo Kiss away. This song had a lot of potential, because its far from being a bad song. I’ve heard worse from her, and I really like the arrangement, especially at the beginning, but melody.’s vocals, though good in there own way, really makes this song sound flat.

The next track on the album is the nice Anata no Soba ni. This is quite the sweet track. The arrangement is very soft and calm, rising only a bit during the chorus. melody.’s vocals complimented the arrangement, low during the verses and rising a bit during the chorus. Though during the chorus her voice sounded a bit strange, she still sounded good. I love when she says: ‘keep smiling baby, keep smiling…’

The next track is the rather irritating No Return. This song had potential, it really did. The arrangement is nice, a bit repetitive but nice. I didn’t like melody’s vocals. This song is mostly mid-tempo, and her voice just strains out of control, most notably during the chorus. It pretty much ruins the song.

The next track on the album is the sweet Sunset Love. melody.’s vocals are gorgeous against a beautiful piano melody. Her voice sounds like its so far away… its really quite touching.

The next track on the album is the soothing Beneath My Skin. This sounds just right coming after the Sunset Love interlude. The arrangement was very fresh and easy on the ears and melody.’s vocals sounded so nice. I love the: ‘i promise to be true to you’ ad-libs as the song was going out.

The second to last track on the album is the gentle DOOR. This was a really nice song, with a simple flowing arrangement and calm sure vocals from melody. What else can I say? It was a good song.

The last track on the album is the warm Paradise. This was such a beautiful song to end the album on. The arrangement was so very comforting, with its gentle guitar thrumming and just gave off an atmosphere of serenity and peace. melody.’s vocals were gorgeous, and I loved the harmonization, it just leaves you with a smile on your face. It definitely made me think of paradise, a paradise not found on earth.

-GRADE: A
Rating: *** stars

melody.’s fourth and last album Lei Aloha was a pretty damn good album. I am speechless, and I want to kick myself for giving this album such a hard time. I mean I really loathed this album when I first listened to it, because it just seemed so boring and lazy to me, and there was just way to many interludes and my heart just wasn’t in it. I don’t know if melody. went into this, knowing it was her last album or not, but its like she really put a piece of herself into this and it was so felt. The whole album plays like ’sunshine after the rain’ i mean you have the wistful tracks and you have the hopeful tracks and they all just play like the ending of a dream. I’m a bit saddened that melody. decided to call it quits, because she had so much promise, and this album was like the start of bigger and better things music-wise for her–but I guess she just wasn’t feeling it anymore. Lei Aloha was an absolutely beautiful album, that can surely be listened to again and again, because it plays so nice. melody. certainly left out on a good note. Bravo.

melody. [Haruka (遥花～はるか～; Distant Flower)] (11th Single)

Haruka (遥花～はるか～; Distant Flower)
Plumeria
That’s The Way It Is

melody.’s 11th single starts off with the a-side Haruka (遥花～はるか～; Distant Flower). This song really makes me think of the wind, or air, but in a sad in kind of heartbreaking way. It makes the song a bit moving. The arrangement I really liked, because it was smooth and played like a story, it just seemed to come alive, though it was quiet only rising a bit during the chorus. I thought melody.’s vocals were nice, though she strained during the chorus,  she still did a good job vocal wise, to make this a very touching track. I really wish she would have kept this version, instead of the  ‘eternal’ version on her album.

The next track on the single is the b-side Plumeria. This song really compliments the a-side, as they sound nearly identical its just that this song seems a bit less sad, and a lot more, looking towards tomorrow, well arrangement wise. melody’s vocals sounded a bit muffled like she had a stuffy nose, or she was just singing with her throat or something, she sounded strange, but she still pulled it off. I got such a positive feeling from this song, but at the same time she’s talking about wanting someone back. That aspect of the song makes it a bit wistful.

The last track on the single is a cover of one of my favorite Celine Dion songs, That’s The Way It Is. I didn’t like this cover at all, it just took everything that made the original so good and inspiring and turned it into a lifeless, uninspired and dull cover.

-GRADE: A-
Rating: ** stars

melody.’s 11th and last single Haruka was a pretty good single and as her last, it was her best to date. Haruka was a nice and moving song, that I wish she had put on her last album as is. Plumeria was a bit less sorrowful, but just as good. That’s The Way It Is I didn’t really care for. Its a bit disappointing that she’s ended her singing career, but I’m not really going to miss her.

melody. [Be as one] (Second Album)

Be as one
see you…
De ja vu
realize
Close Your Eyes -English Version-
Promises
Dear Love
Take a Chance
Next to You
Stay with me
Gift of love
miss you (nagareboshi REMIX)

The album starts off with the up-tempo title track Be as one. This song is very high energy, and it never really slows down, even when it tapers down a tad during the hook its still very fast-paced. I really enjoyed that aspect of the song, because it captured your attention and didn’t let go. I thought the arrangement was very trippy and chaotic, but it really worked for this song. melody’s vocals were pretty decent, even though the high tones got a little grating she still did her thing and you could tell she was into the song. I also liked the abundance of English thrown in throughout as well.

The next track on the album is the mid-tempo see you…. This song isn’t really all that interesting, but it’s still a nice listen. I thought the arrangement was pretty nice and somewhat sparkly, and melody. did a pretty decent vocal job, but I thought she could have did more with her tones or even the arrangement to make this song a lot less dull. It seemed to go on for far longer than it should have, and had me really wishing it would end already. I’m still a little fond of this song though.

The next track it the odd De ja vu. This song sounds very experimental to me and I think in a sense I like that about this song, and I believe for me that that aspect is this songs saving grace. Its a weird song to me, because it never seems to know where its going and almost sounds as if melody. is making it up on the spot. I don’t really get this song, because it seems awfully brief and doesn’t really leave much of an impression, but for some strange reason I’m inclined to like it.

The next track is one of my favorite melody. songs realize. I really just adore this song, because it gives you such a feeling of hope that just really touches you. The arrangement is so light and airy and would make for a great instrumental and I just love melody.’s vocal performance in this song, because it was like even she felt what she was singing. Lovely song.

The next track is the beautiful Close Your Eyes (English version). This is my favorite song off the album, and it really helps that it’s sung all in English. I thought melody.’s wistful tone throughout this song was just perfect, and really gave forth the atmosphere of an almost desperate longing. The arrangement was very sad and slow, and really backed up the overall feel of this song, making this track all the more heartfelt and a little lonely.

The next track is the down-tempo Promises. I love the pure and sweet rnb sound of this song, it makes it so easy on the ears and very close to my heart. The arrangement was very calm and mellow, with a gentle guitar thrumming. melody.’s vocal performance was really lovely, and her English was spot on. I thought this song was very sad, but consoling in a way. It’s one of my favorites and sounded just right coming after Close your eyes.

The next track is the over two minutes Dear Love. I think it’s a good thing that this is more of a intro track, because it is very boring and plays like filler. The arrangement is stagnant and melody.’s vocals were very indifferent. This song goes over your head, because it doesn’t have anything going for it, and seems to play longer than its initial 2:46 running time.

The next track on the album is the surprisingly good Take a Chance. I didn’t really expect to like this song, since it doesn’t really have all that much going for it, but that is why it works. Its so laid-back and simple arrangement wise, and it really pulls you into the song and gives you a content feeling. melody.’s vocal performance wasn’t anything to write home about but her tone definitely goes with the whole mood of the song. Its a really mellow listen.

The next track on the album is the somewhat mid-tempo Next to you. This is a hard song to place, because I both like and dislike this song. I don’t like how pop it is, and I like pop, but not to the point where I enjoy it. I do like how breezy and carefree it is, it really gives you a nice hopeful feeling and though I didn’t like melody.’s vocals in this song as much as I liked them in say Be as one she still did a pretty decent job. I’m more inclined to like it.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo Stay with me. It has a very distinct rnb flavor to it that really made it stand apart, and thus really made me enjoy this song. I think I’m being bias, but then again if it’s rnb and its crap, I’m going to basically say it is. This however is a pretty good song, with a nice consistent arrangement and a wonderful and smooth vocal performance from melody.

The second to last track on the album is the boring Gift of Love. This song is so long-winded and nauseating with its cheese that I literally felt my stomach churning while I was listening to it. melody. tries way too hard to make this song touching and it comes off as very lame. I did think the arrangement was rather nice, but this song it really just the dullest and one of her worst songs to date.

The last song on the album is the nice miss you (nagareboshi REMIX). I can honestly say that this is one of the few remixes I like.

-GRADE: B
Rating: ** stars

melody.’s second album Be as one is OK. At one point this was my favorite melody. album, but that was back when I was first getting into her music, and at this point every song I heard from her was good–that is not the case this time around. Though this album is not as bad as it could have been, I still find it terribly underwhelming. I don’t know, I just really think that melody. has a lot of potential, but she doesn’t really do much with it and I am still yet to be impressed with one of her albums and I’ve heard all four. To me personally melody. is much better at singing songs in full English then she is in Japanese, especially considering that her English is pretty darn good. I felt more of a connection to her with songs like Close Your Eyes and Promises than songs like Be as one and realize and I liked both those songs as well. I thought melody. did great vocal wise on a few of the tracks, but a lot of them it just felt like she was very in different and couldn’t wait to be finished recording. Be as one is still technically my favorite melody. album, even if its pretty slow and doesn’t offer much but what were are used to from her.