Mika Nakashima [THE END] (Fourth Album)

Hitoiro (一色; One Color)
Eyes for the Moon
Glamorous Sky
Blowing Out
My Medicine
Neglest Mind
Real World
Isolation
Blood
Hitoiro (Altanative)
My Way

The album starts off with the mood-setting Hitoiro (一色; One Color). This is such a good song and it certainly captures your attention. I love the arrangement, just wow, the drum ensemble was just kick ass. Mika’s vocals were near perfect in this song, I really did enjoy the way she chose to sing this and the, ’sweet dreams babay’ part that she utters. I can so see this song being played at a climatic scene in a drama or movie, because the whole atmosphere of the song is very conflicting. Great concert or tour opener as well. Its pretty long, but it was a good start to the album.

The next track on the album is the rather sensual Eyes for the Moon. Or maybe its just me? I love the title, gives the song such a carnal flare that is pretty sexy. The arrangement stood out the most to me, but probably because it consists mostly of the drums. Mika’s vocals were good as well, a lot of the time though the arrangement seemed to oddly swallow her words, because she tended to sound like she was fading away, but that could be because her voice has gotten pretty weak from years of smoking.

The next track brings the drear with Glamorous Sky. I believe this is Mika’s highest selling single and I can dig it, but at the same time this is more of a guilty pleasure type song in my opinion. I say that because I don’t particularly like this song, or would I listen to it on a regular basis, but its a good song and its a song that makes for a nice listen every once in a while. The arrangement is your typical mass of soft rock moodiness, and Mika’s vocals are rather appropriate. This song gives off a weird almost vapid atmosphere, but I think that was intentional.

The next track on the album is Blowing Out. I honestly don’t get this title, but Mika certainly rocks out with this song. I mean it sounds like one of those mainstream punk rock songs from over here, seriously. The arrangement right down to Mika’s vocals. I really enjoyed the chorus. I mean this song doesn’t stand out as much as the previous three songs, but its does manage to keep your attention throughout.

The next track on the album is the half and half My Medicine. I kind a like this song and I kind a don’t, but of course I like it more than I dislike it. The verses are pretty good, its just the chorus that makes me not like this song fully, its so chaotic and all over the place, and her vocals took a dive as well. I really only like the whole, ‘loving him is my medicine’ I also believe she sung this song in English and well maybe Mika shouldn’t have sung this in full English, because her Engrish is glaring. The arrangement is your typical rock, sort a grunge arrangement. Its all right.

The next track on the album is the over my head Neglest Mind. The title is pretty interesting, but that’s where it stops. The arrangement is, excuse me for being redundant, your typical rock arrangement, but it did its part of course. I didn’t too much care for Mika’s vocal performance, because she sounded like she was mumbling and she wasn’t, but that’s what it sounded like to me. This isn’t a bad song, not really, but I could not even pretend to care for it, it does nothing for me and goes straight over my head.

The next track on the album is the mind-numbing Real World. No, seriously Mika were you drunk when you recorded this? I mean she really sounded like she was wasted and bored. The arrangement consists mostly of the drums, which wouldn’t be much of a problem if they didn’t sound so lank, it actually dragged this song down more than Mika’s tired vocal performance. This song is a pretty dull and forgettable listen.

The next track on the album is the heavy Isolation. Ah, finally a good song, I was getting pretty worried. This is the rock Mika I’m talking about; tragic. The arrangement is very fitting, I liked it a lot and it created such a dark mood and atmosphere without overdoing it. Mika’s vocal performance was pretty good, the rasp of her voice actually worked to this songs advantage and I love the amount of emotion she put into this track, especially during the chorus. It made me think of those lonely rock stars who die in their prime.

The next track on the album is the hard-hitting Blood. Honestly, I’m afraid of everything, but blood really does nothing to me, so the title is just weird, it doesn’t make me squeamish (how irrelevant). Anyways, I love the arrangement, its rock of course, with a lot of edge and attitude and honestly if I had felt like it I would have probably been bopping my head to the beat. Its cool. Mika’s vocal performance however nearly ruined this song for me, because her voice is so glaringly raspy, its also painful. She makes up for it with the great chorus though.

The second to last track on the album is Hitoiro (Altanative). Another version of the first track. I have always liked this version more, not ever really noticing that they were the same song for some reason, but listening to it now, I don’t really see what the point was. The original is better in my opinion, it leaves more of an impact, emotion-wise.

The last track on the album is a cover, My Way by Frank Sinatra. I have to admit this is one of my favorite songs of all time, I just love the whole: ‘i did it my way’ its a rather powerful and poignant line, though out of the slew of Frank Sinatra songs there are (and there’s A LOT) I’d have to say my favorite is ‘A Very Good Year’. Anyways, I don’t really like Mika’s take on this, I loved the fact that she was having fun, it was nice, but it kind a made the song ridiculous an the message the song conveys was somehow lost, well… in my opinion.

-GRADE: B-
Rating: ** stars

Mika Nakashima’s fourth album THE END was pretty all right. I honestly don’t care for rock music, but I have said before that its a guilty pleasure of mine. Mika’s badass, I’ve said this before as well and her voice can more or less pull this type of genre off, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Though this album is better than I thought it would be, it doesn’t do much for me and becomes forgettable. It does have a few stand-out tracks on it (‘hitoiro’, ‘isolation’, ‘blood’) and her biggest selling single to date ‘glamorous sky’. Its not my favorite album from her and I’m not too hot to hear her putting out another rock album, but I’m not adverse to it either. This is a pretty average album, but is definitely worth a listen or two, especially for those NANA fans Mika was so hot in the movie.

Mika Nakashima [I DON'T KNOW] (26th Single) MICA 3 CHU

I DON’T KNOW
SHUT UP

Mika Nakashima’s 26th single starts off with the a-side I DON’T KNOW. I was wary and excited for this single at the same time, I hardly think the three overweight lesbians have anything to do with it, but its mostly because Mika is so badass, I really love this persona of her. Its also pretty funny, because this song is so stupid and Mika looks like a twig standing next to the other three group members. The arrangement is pretty typical, but it so fits. Is Mika singing in English? God, the Engrish is painful, but I still find that I enjoy this song, way more than I should. I guess its the ‘I DON’T KNOW!’ because honestly, does anyone?

The next track on the single is its b-side SHUT UP. I like this a lot less, because frankly I don’t really care for it. Its also boring and uninteresting. I’m wishing they would have came harder arrangement wise, because the swishing of the cymbals or hi hat or whatever was pretty weak. The vocals were so mild compared to the a-side, why is that? I mean you’re telling someone to ’shut-up’ I’d think you’d want to come a bit harder than that, because saying it like your voice is about to fail on you will only make the other party… laugh.

GRADE: B-
Rating: ** stars

Mika Nakashima’s 26th single I DON’T KNOW was pretty surprising and weak. I like the a-side and I honestly don’t care what anyone else thinks, its fun. The b-side on the other hand is pretty forgettable. I actually wouldn’t mind them collaborating again, maybe doing a joint album together perhaps?

Mika Nakashima [LIFE] (23rd Single)

LIFE
LIFE (ballad)
IT’S TOO LATE

Mika Nakashima’s 23rd single starts off with the a-side LIFE. This song is pretty odd to me. I’ve never not liked this song, it was always more of an indifference, as I always expect this song to be rather down-tempo and depressing, and its pretty obvious why. Its more along the mid-tempo range though, which still kind a boggles my mind. The piano arrangement is pretty slick, I mean its simple without really being simple and I like the consistent and crisp pace of it. Mika’s vocals are pretty OK, I liked her voice more during the verses, the chorus always throws me off because it sounds so light-hearted and uplifting, it always makes me double-take when I hear it. This is not one of my more preferred Mika songs, but its a pretty nice and somewhat different a-side from her.

The next track on the single is LIFE (ballad). Ah, this is a bit more like it. Though, to be truthful I never really cared for the ballad version, it always came across as boring to me. I do like it though, a bit more than the original. Its not as slow as I expected it to be, but maybe that’s a good thing.

The last track on the single is its b-side IT’S TOO LATE. I don’t know what it is now, but I actually liked this b-side at one point. It just sounds oddly bland to me now. I’ll admit the arrangement is fresh, I pretty much liked it and the chorus is pretty interesting, but I listened to this song twice and didn’t really care about it. It could stem from Mika’s rather raspy vocals, but then again I love ‘eien no uta’

-GRADE: B+
Rating: ** stars

Mika Nakashima’s 23rd single LIFE was fine, but I think I was kind a expecting more. LIFE is just a bit underwhelming for me and I actually like the ballad version more, but that’s no surprise. ITS TOO LATE is not a bad b-side by any means, but I normally like Mika’s b-sides, not so much in this case.

Mika Nakashima [MUSIC] (Third Album)

Sakurairo Mau Koro (桜色舞うころ; When We Dance in the Cherryblossom’s Color)
Oborodzukiyo ~Inori (朧月夜～祈り; A Misty, Moon-lit Night~Prayer)
Hi no Tori (火の鳥; Phoenix)
Kumo no Ito (蜘蛛の糸; Spider’s Thread)
Rocking Horse
Carrot & Whip
Shadows of you
LEGEND (Main)
Hemurokku (ヘムロック; Hemlock)
SEVEN
FAKE
Fed up
Hitori (ひとり; Alone)

The albums starts off with the heart-breaking Sakurairo Mau Koro (桜色舞うころ; When We Dance in the Cherryblossom’s Color). How beautiful is this song? I mean it is just one of those songs that touches you every time you hear it. The arrangement is gorgeous and so fitting I can’t stand it. Lovely piano melody. Mika’s vocals are very wistful and it just really brings out the somber undertone of this song and drives it home. It seems like Mika is remembering a love, that has long passed, but is never forgotten. What a way to start the album.

The next track on the album is the lilting Oborodzukiyo ~Inori (朧月夜～祈り; A Misty, Moon-lit Night~Prayer). I just love how Mika Nakashima can make a long song, not so long. As in you know its long, but it doesn’t feel long, or drags or bores you, really. This song is really depressing to me, it could be because of the lonely violin that’s playing, or maybe its Mika’s sorrowful vocal performance? Whatever the case, I love this song, its absolutely beautiful.

The next track on the album is the exasperating Hi no Tori (火の鳥; Phoenix). This had so much potential, because it is not a bad song, it really isn’t. I really like the arrangement, very ambient and atmospheric. Its Mika’s vocals that I don’t like. She sounds like she’s out of breath for some reason, or her voice is going out and it just makes this song not only irritating, but frustrating. After a while my ears started hurting. I even started it all over to make sure that I didn’t like it, because seriously its really hard not to like a Mika song. I don’t like this.

The next track on the album is the interesting Kumo no Ito (蜘蛛の糸; Spider’s Thread). I actually had to listen to this song twice, because I didn’t like it on first listen. Its a very strange song, and the arrangement is very moody and a bit experimental. I mean its very crackly in the beginning and maybe throughout, I’m not really sure, but it did give me the impression of what weaving a spiderweb would sound like if you could actually hear it. Mika’s vocals were nice, a bit raspy and high, but I guess it was tolerable. I mean this song isn’t bad, I find that I like it but I’m still unsure. I think it’ll grow on me though.

The next track is the quirky Rocking Horse. This is certainly an interesting song, I’ll give it that. I don’t like it though. The laugh at the beginning was a bit off putting but nice, it made you think this was going to be one hell of a freak ride. Its not, not really. The beat is a bit up-beat, with a trumpet I believe as the main instrument. I like the arrangement, its the song I don’t like. Mika’s voice is a bit playful in this and the song seems so light-hearted, which should be a good thing, because honestly Mika has some depressing songs, but this just came off as so wonky to me and I just wasn’t buying. Its not a bad song, just not for me, personally.

The next track on the album is the soothing Carrot & Whip. The title to this song is really weird, I just really don’t get it, its so strange. I had to listen to this song twice, because I just wasn’t sure on whether I liked it or not. The arrangement is sparkly, but quite pretty. Mika’s vocals seemed to fit, and just made this song quite the nice listen. Though it does sound weird to me at moments, because of how light the song feels, I still thought it was a good song. Though in a way, it is rather forgettable.

The next track on the album is the down-tempo Shadows of you. This was a pretty nice and mellow song. It had a nice somber, and heart-breaking in a sense piano arrangement. I mean you can just feel the longing exuding from it. Mika’s vocals were very nice, I like the low tones she used, and though you can note the rasp of her voice, it seems to only benefit the song instead of take away from it. I like how she says she’ll wait, even though her heart is breaking.

The next track on the album is the odd LEGEND (Main). I say odd, because its just oddly bad. The arrangement is weird, I mean its interesting but with the little sounds throughout, it just sounds very strange, and you’re focusing more on that than you are Mika’s tired vocal performance. I mean this song just went completely over my head, and what does the ‘main’ in the title mean?

The next track on the album is the mix between down and mid-tempo Hemurokku (ヘムロック; Hemlock). This song is pretty interesting in its own right, but pretty over my head at the same time. I didn’t really know what to think when it first started. The verses are unmemorable and forgettable, and the arrangement is pretty unimpressive compared to other Mika arrangements. Why do I like this song? The chorus. It has a nice chorus, that pretty much makes this whole song.

The next track is the mid-tempo SEVEN. I’m sorry, but I really just don’t get this song, like not at all. I mean its meant to be an interesting song, but it just went clear over my head. I can’t recall the verses, though I’m thinking they were slow-paced. The chorus is sung in some sort of high breathless whisper, and then Mika does these weird ‘do ba loo’ sounds, and its just all over the place and messy. I mean I guess people will like this, but I just can’t be bothered with it. Also, it seems to just come and go–like right when it starts it ends.

The next track on the album is the blue-sy FAKE. I really didn’t expect this song to go this route, but I’m rather pleased that it did. The arrangement consists mainly of a lonely piano melody, with a saxophone I believe in the back drop, very nice. Mika’s vocals were so precise, I loved it. It sounded so 30’s jazz, and just smoky and oh so heart-breaking. I wonder if she’s saying: ‘don’t you dry my heart’ or ‘please don’t dry my heart’ or ‘don’t blame my heart’ I think I heart all three of them. Anyways, this was a good song, definitely.

The next track on the album is Fed up. Another song that’s long but doesn’t feel long. The arrangement was rather somber, with the piano and the violin, which are just sad instruments in there own right. They played so wonderfully though. Mika’s vocals were lovely. I liked how her voice was low and breathless-sounding during the verses and then picks up during the chorus. Its was like, she’s sad now, but she’s not going to be sad forever. I love the title.

The last track on the album is the depressing Hitori (ひとり; Alone). This was a nice and rather sad song, but no surprise there since it translates to ‘alone’. I thought the piano arrangement was really fitting, it brought out the longing undertones of the song. Mika’s vocals were nice and wistful, and I did like how her voice went high, I didn’t notice her rasp at all. Its a bit of a melancholy end, but its a good one.

-GRADE: B
Rating: ** stars

Mika Nakashima’s third album MUSIC was all right, but compared to her second album it was a pretty underwhelming listen. Don’t get me wrong, this was a good album, because I mean in all truth Mika doesn’t have a bad album, its just I found myself more often than not disinterested. The songs on here are good, but they just aren’t all that memorable in my opinion and that in the end makes this a very unmemorable album. I did enjoy the majority of the tracks on here though, stand-out being Sakurairo Mau Koro. MUSIC was a good album, but the songs this time around just failed to ‘wow’ me. At the moment its her weakest (I have yet to listen to VOICE), in my opinion. It started strong, and ended on a good note, I will give it that.

Mika Nakashima [Eien no Uta (永遠の詩; Endless Poem)] (24th Single)

Eien no Uta (永遠の詩; Endless Poem)
YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO

Mika Nakashima’s 24th single starts off with the rather gloomy a-side Eien no Uta (永遠の詩; Endless Poem). I really like how the song starts off, very engaging: ‘well all my life i’ve been searching for this place called paradise, but all i seem to get is uncertainty, so i’ll keep hoping and praying from now until eternity.’ Just… wow. I wonder if the man was really Jamaican? Love the accent. The arrangement is very laid-back and depressing, sounds a lot reggae a bit blue-sy, its very nice and consistent. Mika’s vocals invoke a lot of sorrow. I use to really dislike this song, because her voice was quite raspy, and made it hard to really focus on how good the song was, because you were too busy cringing at her awful vocals, especially when she’d go for the high notes. This song has grown on me however, and though Mika’s vocals haven’t, I find that I can overlook that part and just enjoy the ride.

The second track on the single is the b-side YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO. Its a cover of the Cole Porter song of the same name and features a Jazz Band (Katteni-Shiyagare). Jazz is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres of music, it just always sounds so good. I loved the arrangement, the trumpets, the drums, the bass, yes. Mika’s vocals were great in this, I mean, it was like the rasp of the a-side had never happened. She really did a good cover of this song, definitely.

-GRADE: A-
Rating: **1/2 stars

Mika Nakashima’s 24th single Eien no Uta was a good and solid single. Eien no Uta dripped of melancholy, but it sounded so good. YOU’D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO was a lovely jazz cover and really rounded the single out. Mika really knows how to dish out some great songs.

Mika Nakashima [LØVE] (Second Album)

Venus in the Dark
Love Addict
aroma
Yuki no Hana (雪の華; Snow Flower)
RESISTANCE (album version)
FIND THE WAY
marionette
Seppun (接吻; Kiss)
You send me love
Be in Silence
LOVE NO CRY
Aishiteru (album version) (愛してる; I Love You)
LAST WALTZ

The album starts off with the jazzy Venus in the Dark. I have a love hate relationship with this song, because I love it, but its so long that eventually I just grow tired of it. The arrangement is great and really brings this song to life. Mika’s vocals are very deep but light at the same time. Its all very weird, because I don’t too much like her voice in this song, but it was perfect for this song. I adore the chorus. A really unique track to jump start the album with.

The next track is the very creative Love Addict. This is one incredible song, with one of the best and most intriguing arrangements I’ve ever heard. It’s the epiphany of Jazz and I love that about this song because that is one of my favorite genres of music. The song is incredibly long, a bit over seven minutes, but I never found myself once getting tired of the song or wishing it would end. Mika’s voice was very high in this song, and sounded drained to me for some reason, but she did a great job. No one but her, could have pulled off this song.

The next track is the down-tempo and laid-back aroma. This song relaxes you so much with its smooth steady arrangement and Mika’s smoky and slow-paced vocals that you almost feel like you’re stoned. I mean I could feel the ease slipping into my bones while listening to this, and the feeling was just crazy. It never changes pace, but keeps trickling along, but even so, it never got boring or tiresome once. This is another long track in the line of long tracks that delivers.

The down-tempo tracks keep coming with the wonderfully moving ballad Yuki no Hana (雪の華; Snow Flower). This song is just so touching to me, it really is. I really love the arrangement which is so slow with its piano melody, and it really gives you the impression of a flower in the snow. Mika’s sincere vocal performance really added depth and atmosphere to this song, making it really special. Its a really lovely song, and makes one think of someone whom is very fragile.

The pace picks back up a bit with this next track RESISTANCE (album version). I don’t really like this song, and I believe I never have really liked it. It has a bit going for it of course, I mean everything does stay consistent, but this track is just so static really, and for some reason I kind of expected it to go faster than it did. Mika’s vocals seemed oddly strained, but she managed to pull this song off well enough. I just don’t like this song, it’s really annoying to me for some reason.

The next track is the down-tempo croon-fest FIND THE WAY. This song is really genuinely touching, and I liked that. At the same time, its a very and oddly bland song. It has nothing going for it really, because it stays at the same steady pace both arrangement and vocal wise. I thought the lonely violin piece playing in the background was lovely, it made everything very depressing and Mika’s wilting and melancholic vocal performance only added to that. I really love the, ‘you’ll find the way’ line at the end of the song, very heartfelt. This is a nice song, once you get past how bland it is.

The next track is the beautiful and magical marionette. This is a song that not only am I very fond of, but my mother as well. It’s just so perfectly composed, that you can’t help but love it, it compels you. The arrangement is so lovely and sparkly, really jazz-blues like, and Mika’s vocals are just amazing. I love how smooth and crisp her voice is, especially during the hook which is love. Its the type of song that makes you sad and inspired all at the same time, and the contrast is breathtaking. ‘You believe in magic?’

The next track is the down-tempo Seppun (接吻; Kiss). This song is pretty boring to me, I mean the arrangement is simple but nice, so I didn’t really have a problem with it. It was mostly Mika’s vocals, because she sounded really bored; the dry, dragging tone of her voice really made this song feel heavy. It’s still a nice listen, just mostly a drag to endure to the end and it doesn’t help that its over six minutes.

The next track is the down-tempo You send me love. ‘Time and time and time again, I am thinking of you, though you have become a butterfly’ I was sold right after this song ended. I am officially in love with this song, and will listen to it over and over. It’s so slow paced the arrangement and even Mika’s voice, but goodness does she execute this song well. It is just pure jazzy, lounge goodness.

The next track is the mellow Be in Silence. This song is just love, because I just adore how its so laid-back and easy-going. It has elements of jazz, funk and soul, but mostly soul and it really just moves through you. I loved Mika’s vocals in this, especially when she holds that one note and then lets it die, nice touch. I can imagine being in some sort of smoky and dark jazz club and this song being sung and me just bopping my head and tapping my fingers and foot in tune to the beat.

The next track LOVE NO CRY is pretty all right. I mean I can’t really say anything about this song, and I’ve listened to it about three times. The arrangement is nice, very ballroom applicable, and Mika’s vocals suited the whole flow of the song, it’s just that other than the rather nice and airy chorus this song really does nothing for me, and just breezes on by without being felt.

The second to last track is quite possibly my favorite Mika Nakashima song, Aishiteru (album version) (愛してる; I Love You). This is actually one of the first songs I ever heard by Mika and I remember falling instantly in love with it. The arrangement isn’t really all that, but it’s so well executed. Mika’s vocals were great in this, especially in the beginning when she’s saying, ‘aishiteru’. I would have liked this song to continue along that slow pace it started out with, but it was still great even after it picked up a little. I’ll always love this song.

The last track on the album is the sweeping ballad LAST WALTZ. It’s a very laid-back song, very bluesy and longing. I thought the arrangement was nice, but I hardly paid attention to it at all, since Mika’s vocals really shun in this. She kept her vocals at a slow, soothing pace throughout, and though the song isn’t very interesting, and can become boring because nothing ever really happens, its still a nice listen, and a pretty good album closure.

-GRADE: A
Rating: *** stars

Mika Nakashima’s second album LØVE is pretty damn good. I’ll admit, my love for this album has dwindled but only a bit, thus the A instead of an A+. Mika Nakashima is a artist in which never disappointments me, and I can say that truthfully. I don’t think I’ve ever truly hated a song by her, and I’ve never once been disappointed with one of her albums (well I HAD to give THE END and YES a second listen before I could appreciate them) and I doubt I ever will. Despite the fact that her voice isn’t as strong as the rest of her competition, she always gives her all, and puts a lot into each album that she makes, so that it is definite money well spent. I loved her debut album TRUE, I didn’t think another album could top that, but LØVE just about does. I mean with beautifully clever songs like marionette, You send me love and Be in Silence; the crazy stretched Jazz of Venus in the Dark and Love Addict, and let’s not forget the absolutely beautiful ballads Yuki no Hana and Aishiteru, she pretty much exceeded it. The best thing about this album would have to be the length of the songs, they don’t drag or become boring at all, and that is a feat, because I mostly find long songs a tedious chore. LØVE delivered, and even managed to outsell its debut. I think that speaks volumes for Mika’s sheer talent.