Images and results from the MTV World Stage VMAJ 2010 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo

The following are images from the MTV World Stage VMAJ 2010 red carpet at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on May 29, 2010. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images). Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.

Video of the Year

* Alicia Keys — “Doesn’t Mean Anything” (She’s pregnant and engaged! Congrats, Ms. Keys!)
* Namie Amuro — “Fast Car“
* Ayaka — “Minna Sora no Shita“
* Exile — “Futatsu no Kuchibiru”
* Lady Gaga — “Poker Face“

Album of the Year

* Namie Amuro — Past < Future
* The Black Eyed Peas — The E.N.D.
* Exile — Aisubeki Mirai e
* Green Day — 21st Century Breakdown
* Superfly — Box Emotions

Best Female Video

* Namie Amuro — “Fast Car”
* Ayaka — “Minna Sora no Shita“
* Kaela Kimura — “Butterfly”
* Lady Gaga — “Poker Face“
* Rihanna — “Russian Roulette“

Best New Artist

* Mao Abe — “Itsu no Hi mo“
* Big Bang — “Gara Gara Go!“
* Keri Hilson (featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo) — “Knock You Down“
* Taylor Swift — “You Belong With Me“
* The Telephones — “Monkey Discooooooo”

Best Rock Video

* Green Day — “Know Your Enemy“
* 9mm Parabellum Bullet — “Inochi no Zenmai”
* Muse — “Uprising“
* Radwimps — “Oshakanshama”
* Superfly — “Dancing on the Fire”

Best Pop Video

* Big Bang — “Koe o Kikasete”
* Ikimono-gakari — “Yell”
* Kumi Koda — “Lick me”
* Leona Lewis — “Happy“
* Pink — “Please Don’t Leave Me“

Best R&B Video

* Alicia Keys — “Doesn’t Mean Anything“
* Chris Brown — “Crawl“
* Jasmine — “Sad to Say”
* Juju with Jay’ed — “Ashita ga Kuru Nara”
* Miliyah Kato — “Aitai”

Best Reggae Video
* Han-Kun — “Keep it Blazing”
* Pushim — “My Endless Love”
* Ryo the Skywalker — “Kokoni Aru Ima wo Tomoni Aruki Dasou”
* Sean Kingston — “Fire Burning“
* Sean Paul — “So Fine“

Best Collaboration

* Beyoncé (featuring Lady Gaga) — “Video Phone“
* Jay-Z (featuring Alicia Keys) — “Empire State of Mind“
* Juju with Jay’ed — “Ashita ga Kuru Nara”
* Miliyah Kato (featuring Shota Shimizu) — “Love Forever“
* W-inds. (featuring G-Dragon) — “Rain Is Fallin’”

Best Karaoke Song

* The Black Eyed Peas — “I Gotta Feeling“
* Miliyah Kato (featuring Shota Shimizu) — “Love Forever”
* Kaela Kimura — “Butterfly”
* Lady Gaga — “Poker Face“
* Kana Nishino — “Motto…“

EXILE wins “Best Artist of the Year” at Billboard Japan Music Awards

Another great start for the new year for the Japanese R&B group EXILE who has won “Best Artist of the Year” for the Billboard Japan Music Awards.  The group also took home the “Best Hip Hop Artists of the Year” award as well.

EXILE – The Hurricane ~Fireworks~ (JAPAN) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

Featuring the second single with the expanded version of EXILE, their single “The Hurricane ~Fireworks” features a collaboration with US hip hop artist FLO RIDA and their “Street Fighter IV” video game theme song “THE NEXT DOOR -Indestructible-”

GROUP: EXILE

CD SINGLE: The Hurricane ~Fireworks~

LABEL: Rhythm Zone

CATALOG #: RZCD-46314/B

DURATION: 35:17

RELEASE DATE:  July 22, 2009

BUY THIS CD SINGLE:

1. FIREWORKS
2. 優しい光
3. THE NEXT DOOR -INDESTRUCTIBLE-
4. FIREWORKS (Instrumental)
5. 優しい光 (Instrumental)
6. THE NEXT DOOR -INDESTRUCTIBLE- (Instrumental)
7. WON’T BE LONG [Live]

DVD: (Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 13:59 Minutes)

1. FIREWORKS (Video Clip)
2. 優しい光 (Video Clip)

EXILE, Japanese most popular and highest selling group who began the year fresh after winning the top award at Japan’s equivalent to the Academy Awards (Nihon Record Taishou) and then surprised everyone earlier in the Spring that they would combine with the group J-SOUL BROTHERS and become a 14 member group.

In July 2009, the group released their 31st CD single “The Hurricane ~Fireworks~”, the second single to feature the 14 members and would feature a collaboration with US hip hop artist FLO RIDA and also feature the theme song to the popular video game hit “Street Fighter IV”.

The single kicks off with the pop track “Fireworks” which was written by michico, P-CHO, GS, KUBO-C and TOMOGEN and featuring music by T. Kura and michico.  The song would feature shamisen playing in the background courtesy of the YOSHIDA BROTHERS and rap by DOBERMAN INC.    Overall, a fun Summer track with cool beats and the shamisen playing in the background.

The coupling song “Yasashii Hikari” features a beautiful romantic slow ballad sung by ATSUSHI (who also wrote the song) and features music by Hitoshi Harukawa.

The third track “THE NEXT DOOR – INDESTRUCTIBLE” is the group’s song that was featured as the theme song to CAPCOM’s “Street Fighter IV” and features a collaboration with US hip hop artist FLO RIDA.  Also, a song that was planned to give international exposure to the group.  The song is an all English track written by NEGIN and Tramar Dillard and music by li showy.  An upbeat track featuring electric guitar by KIKU.

The next two tracks feature instrumental tracks for the three vocal tracks and then concludes with a live version of the popular song “WON’T BE LONG” (which was a collaboration with pop diva Kumi Koda) minus Kumi but overall, a wonderful live track as you can hear the audience really getting into the song.  Awesome!

As for the DVD, the DVD features the music videos for “FIREWORKS” and “Yasashii Hikari”.

The first music video “FIREWORKS” features a girl reading a “Hanabi” storybook and all of a sudden fireworks comes out of the book and then we see a summer Hanabi festival style with people dancing and performing and then features the group performing via fire and water CG is shown all around them.  The music video is directed by Takahide Ishii and produced by Hirokazu Yukawa (Quick Magic).

The second music video is the slow jam “Yasashii Hikari” and is directed by Shigeaki Kubo (SHARKS) and produced by Hayato Murakoshi (MFG).  The music video is like a short film which features a couple in love and spending time with each other.  The couple had great times until things started to worsen in their relationship and are on the verge of a breakup.  The woman visits their old spot where they once would look at lamps around a tree, while the guy has a hard time coping without his girlfriend near him.  But he decides to make it up to her when he calls her up and ask for another chance.  And her reaction may not be what you think.

The CD insert is a trifold which features a photo of the group and the lyrics to the songs plus production credits.  Included inside is a small poster introducing us to EXILE GENERATION and the family tree.  Also, a plug for the group’s SkyPerfecTV show, “EXILE GENERATION SEASON 2″ and also upcoming Rhythm Zone releases.

Overall, I’m a fan of EXILE and with the group you know you are getting music featuring awesome vocals and upbeat tracks and the occasional slow jam.  I thought it was a good touch to include three vocal tracks of different tempos and also the live version of “WON’T BE LONG”.  The collaboration with FLO RIDA for “THE NEXT DOOR – INDESTRUCTIBLE-” was good for an English track from a Japanese group but I know that for those who played the “Street Fighter IV” video game, some had mixed feelings towards the song.

And when it comes to the DVD portion, the music videos were well-produced and higher budget than most artists or group receive for a music video.  But overall, well-done, especially for the short film/music video for “Yasashii Hikari”.  Definitely an ending that is nowhere a cliche with an ending I wasn’t expecting.

But overall, as an EXILE music fan and knowing what the guys have accomplished in Japan, “The Hurricane ~FIREWORKS~” is a solid 31st single for the Japanese pop/R&B group.

BUY THIS CD SINGLE:

EXILE – Perfect Year 2008 Ultimate Best Box (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Music Review)

Japan’s most popular a capella group celebrates their 15th year anniversary with “Love Notes II”, a compilation of past and present romantic ballads. Overall, a solid release!

Purchase this album from CDjapan.com:

EXILE – The Birthday ~Ti Amo~ (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

“A wonderful, well-produced and well-performed CD single celebrating the group’s 9th Anniversary.”

GROUP: EXILE

CD SINGLE: The Birthday ~Ti Amo~

LABEL: rhythm zone

CATALOG #: AVCD-46035/B

DURATION: 40:24

RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2008

BUY THIS CD SINGLE

1. Ti Amo
2. SUPER SHINE feat. VERBAL
3. 24karats feat. J. Soul Brothers and DOBERMAN INC
4. Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～ (Aimai na Boku no Rinkaku)
5. Ti Amo (Instrumental)
6. SUPER SHINE feat. VERBAL (Instrumental)
7. 24karats feat. J. Soul Brothers and DOBERMAN INC (Instrumental)
8. Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～ (Instrumental)

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 17:07

1. Ti Amo Chapter 1 (Video Clip)
2. Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～ (Video Clip)
3. EXILE information

On Sept. 2008, the R&B group known as EXILE had such an impressive year at that point (eventually winning the most coveted music prize in Japan for Best Artist of the Year), it seems that in 2008, the group was on Sky Nine.  The group has since changed its dynamics in 2009 as it fused with the group J-Soul Brothers and have now become a significant large R&B group.

But before the changes, the group released a CD single to celebrate their 9th Anniversary as a group.  The CD single “The Birthday ~Ti Amo~” (their 28th CD single overall which charted at #1) features a total of eight tracks, four which are excellent vocals and the other remaining tracks being instrumental.

The first track features “Ti Amo” which sports a Spanish style of acoustic guitar playing with a cool mid-tempo groove and wonderful vocals.  The song was written by Kiyoshi Matsuo and music by Jin Nakamura and Kiyoshi Matsuo.  “Ti Amo” is just a wonderful ballad that benefits from the group’s silky smooth, romantic vocal style.  While Gen Ittetsu Strings plays in the background and guitar playing by Masato Ishinari.

The second track “SUPER SHINE” features a collaboration between EXILE and m-flo’s VERBAL.  Words are by michico and music by T. Kura and michico.  Overall, an upbeat R&B track featuring an addictive hook and chorus.

The third track is a track that has received many versions from EXILE, “24karats” this time features the J Soul Brothers and DOBERMAN INC (previous versions have featured color and sowelu).  A track that puts emphasis on J Soul Brothers (who eventually fused with EXILE in March 2009).  Overall, same upbeat, attractive beat and well-performed like the previous versions.

The fourth track “Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～” features a slow R&B ballad sung by Atsushi and Takahiro.  Overall a smooth R&B track written by Kenn Kato and music by Face 2 (fAKE).  Awesome vocal track!

The remaining four tracks are the instrumentals of the first four vocal tracks.

The CD+DVD version comes with two music videos.  Included on the DVD is the music video for “Ti Amo”.  A well-produced theatrical style music video that takes place in China around the 1930′s.  Beautifully shot (and obviously a big budget music video), the music video revolves around a woman accompanying her date to a show as they watch Chinese gymnasts performing on stage and seeing a man she loves in the audience with his girlfriend (or wife).  Seeing him with her tears her apart and she remembers the passionate nights she had with the man and when she goes to the restroom, she comes in contact with her former lover alone in the hallway.

The second music video is for “Your eyes only ～曖昧なぼくの輪郭～” and the video is more or less a compilation of clips of EXILE traveling to different areas in Japan, performing live and rehearsing.

The third video is information on recent EXILE music releases and EXILE fashion.

As for the CD insert, the insert is a tri-fold with lyrics and production credits on one side and a picture of the group and an image on the other side.  Inside the CD insert is a flier promoting the J Soul Brothers upcoming release  and also a flier promoting rhythm zone releases at that time.  Also, the CD comes with a cardboard slipcase (with the same image from the cover on the slip case).

Overall, EXILE’s “The Birthday ~Ti Amo~” has been on my playlist for months and overall, this is a solid CD single release from the group.  A good balance of R&B grooves and slow ballads, I found the single to be well-produced, well-performed and a CD single that is definitely worth checking out!

BUY THIS CD SINGLE

JONTE – if (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

A romantic single from JONTE just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Featuring three romantic ballads and a single worth checking out!

ARTIST: JONTE

CD SINGLE: if

LABEL: Rhythm Zone

CATALOG #: RZCD-46116

DURATION: 28:23

RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2009

BUY THIS CD SINGLE from:

EXILE – EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

“This album is absolutely jam packed.  Not only do you get an excellent album, you get two DVD’s with a lot of content.  The first featuring music videos and making of videos and the second featuring an awesome anime OAV feature with the members of EXILE in a Seven Samurai style of storyline.  All of this jam packed in one album!  Just awesome!”

BUY THIS ALBUM:

GROUP: EXILE

ALBUM: EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST

LABEL: Rhythm Zone

DURATION: 1:07:54

RELEASE DATE: July 23, 2008

1. EXILE RELOADED
2. SUPER SHINE
3. MY FANTASY
4. STAY
5. Eastern Boyz ‘N Eastern Girlz
6. New Jack Swing
7. EVOLUTION
8. SCREAM/GLAY x EXILE
9. 24karats -type EX/Sowelu, EXILE, DOBERMAN INC.
10. Touch the Sky feat. Bach Logic
11. DANCER’S ANTHEM 2
12. What is Love
13. Make Love
14. My Buddy / EXILE TAKAHIRO + NESMITH, SHOKICHI (J Soul Brothers)
15. So Special -Version EX / EXILE ATSUSHI + AI
16. 真夏の果実

DVD 1: Region 2, 4:3, DURATION: 65 minutes

1. SUPER SHINE
2. 24karats -type EX (kodomo Version) Sowelu, EXILE, DOBERMAN INC.
3. 24karats -type EX / Sowelu, EXILE, DOBERMAN INC.
4. EVOLUTION
5. Touch the Sky feat. Bach Logic
6. So Special -Version EX- / EXILE ATSUSHI + AI
7. WE! / J Soul Brothers (Special Track)
   
8. Making of: SUPER SHINE, 24karats -type EX (Docomo Version), 24karats -type EX, EVOLUTION, Touch the Sky feat. Bach Logic, Sp Special -Version EX-

DVD 2: Region 2, 16:9 LB, DURATION: 38 minutes

1. Eggzamurai Honpen – Roppongi Jigokujo no Sho
2. Eggzamurai Honpen – EASTERN BOYZ ‘N EASTERN GIRLZ (Video Clip)

Fantastic!

This the word that comes to mind when I think about this best album of Japan’s R&B vocal group EXILE.  The chart toppping vocal group features a total of seven members.  The group is led by Hiro, a member from one of Japan’s first R&B vocal/dance groups ZOO and includes Makidai, Matsu, Usa, Akira who do a lot of the dancing and background vocals and features two main vocalists consisting of Atsushi and Takahiro.

Their music is classified R&B and unlike other male groups in Japan, don’t really dwell into Japanese idol pop but is all about cool soul R&B beats and great vocals.

With this album “EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST”, the album is the group’s fifth best album. And it may be a bit confusing to people because the word “Best” usually means an album featuring the group’s CD singles and hit tracks but “EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST” only features one track from their released singles and that is “24karats -type EX” which was featured as a double A-side track on the group’s 25th CD single release.

But the album does feature past collaborative hit tracks such as the 2005 hit “SCREAM” which the group collaborated with J-rock band GLAY.  Also, a few other collaborative tracks such as “My Buddy” with J Soul Brothers and “So Special -version EX-” with music artist AI.

Overall, the album is quite solid with a good balance of tracks with smooth vocal tracks such as “MY FANTASY” which is so reminiscent of one of my favorite 80s R&B group GUY.  Then there is “Eastern Boyz ‘N Eastern Girlz” with a bass-driven track which is the theme song for their animated feature “Eggzamurai Honten”.

And to further add to the similarities to the old school vocal group GUY, the group has a track titled “New Jack Swing”.  The title is a term coined by GUY’s Teddy Riley which means “pop music usually performed by black musicians that combines elements of jazz, funk, rap, and rhythm and blues”.

With “SCREAM” by EXILExGLAY, this was probably a collaboration that no one would see coming.  Two groups from two different musical genres but both groups made the song work.

My favorite song on the track “24karats -type EX” features an upbeat, body rockin’ track featuring DOBERMAN INC. with the rhymes and vocals by EXILE and songstress Sowelu.  An awesome song!

Another favorite is “Touch the Sky” featuring a collaboration with mega producer Bach Logic who has produced many hits in Japan and even collaborated with remixes for Jay-Z and Akon and of course, known for his work with DOBERMAN INC.  The track is a fast, upbeat track.  Cool vocals and overall, a wonderful song.

“What is Love” is just an awesome song.  Another song that showcases the groups harmonies and overall a smooth track that J R&B fans well just dig!

And rounding out the album are the other two collabs with J Soul Brothers and EXILE’s Takahiro for the track “My Buddy”.  The fact that the two groups are known for their outstanding vocals and also, somewhat a similar style, I don’t think anyone can tell their is a collaboration unless they see it in the track title credits.

And the track “So Special” featuring EXILE Atsushi and AI, two awesome Japanese R&B vocalists was definitely impressive.  The two have a good chemistry vocally and the harmonies with the two and the group was just right!

And to end the album is the group’s cover of the popular Southern All Stars track “Manatsu no Kajitsu”.  EXILE’s version is just fantastic and also, another song that I was surprised to find on the album.  Another favorite track on the album!

DVD 1:

This album version comes with two DVD’s and the first DVD features plenty of music videos and the making of the music videos.

The first video “SUPER SHINE” features the guy decked in pretty cool outfits and dancing in futuristice white and black settings and CG in the future style animation when showcasing the group outdoors.

The second video “24karats -type EX- features an awesome colloboraton with Sowelu, EXILE and DOBERMAN INC.  The first video (kodomo version) features different dance groups showcasing their choreography from teenagers (girls and guys) and then young children.  The second video features EXILE, Sowelu and DOBERMAN INC. performing and dancing.

The fourth video “EVOLUTION” features prisoners crammed in their cell and the guys singing and dancing and eventually releasing all the prisoners from their cells.

The fifth video “Touch the Sky feat. Bach Logic” features the group donning white suits in dark scenery and black suits in white scenery.  The guys dance and perform together.

The sixth video “So Special -Version EX” features a slow jam with EXILE’s Atsushi and AI.  Two awesome vocalists together.  A definitely awesome collaboration with a music video featuring the two singing together at the studio and behind-the-scene clips of the group working out the lyrics and song together in the studio.

The seventh video features a special track titled “WE! / J Soul Brothers”.  J Soul Brothers was the previous name of the group before they named themselves EXILE.   HIRO restarted the group with new members (a total of seven people) and overall, a pretty awesome track and adding another awesome vocal group to the Rhythm Zone roster along with the group COLOR (produced by EXILE’s ATSUSHI)

The final half hour of the first DVD features the making of the music videos.

DVD 2:

Also, included in this already jam packed album (1CD+2DVD) version, the second DVD features the animated feature “Eggzamurai Honpen – Roppongi Jigokujo no Sho”.  With Avex having its own animation division and investing in anime, we are seeing more and more collaborations with the music artists from their labels and anime outside of the standard theme songs.

In this case, it’s actually a beautiful animated feature only available on this album and the animation and even the background’s are very well done.  This is not some low budget piece, this is an actual real animated feature that was written and directed by Yuichi Abe (“Gundam Evolve”, “SD Gundam Force” and “Prince of Tennis” – live action film).  The original plan of the animated series was courtesy of HIRO (Exile) and Makoto Matsuda and music by Ken Harada.

The storyline of “Eggzamurai Honpen – Roppongi Jigokujo no Sho” features a world that is quite dark and people are being kidnapped or murdered by a corrupt ruler.  The members of EXILE do the voice acting of samurai’s, in a “Seven Samurai” style of storyline.  Two sisters are separated after the evil soldiers of the corrupt government kidnap them.  One of the sisters goes to an Eggzamurai member for their help and thus sets up a battle between the group and the evil empire.

Each character is designed after a member of EXILE but with slight differences (such as hair color) and many of the songs featured on the animated feature are from the “EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST” album.

Following the animated feature is a music video for “Eggzamurai”.  The track “Eastern Boyz ‘N Eastern Girlz” features a high budget video that is based on the animated film but in this case, the video is actually not animated.  The set designers went all of their way to create that dark atmosphere and the whole CG landscape of destruction.  Then the guys come out in their Eggzamurai garb and start singing and dancing.

The music video was very awesome and quite impressed with how much went into the making of this video.  You can tell it probably was very expensive.

CD INSERT:

As for the CD, the insert booklet features lyrics and pictures of each member of the group.  Also, production credits.  Also, a flier promoting upcoming Rhythm Zone releases.

There is a second insert booklet primarily on “Eggzamurai” featuring words from the director Yuichi Abe, character information, synopsis and pictures of the concept art for the animated series which was just incredible.

“EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST” is a fantastic album.  Not only do you get a solid album featuring a lot of awesome tracks but you get two DVD’s just loaded with content.

It’s one thing to have the music videos included on the first DVD but was very happy to see a lengthy “making off” also included.  And for the second DVD, a pleasant surprise to see an animated feature with the group.  It’s not cheesy at all.   Good animation, great painted backgrounds and the music video for “Eastern Boyz ‘N Eastern Girlz”, the staff really went all out for that music video as it looks quite expensive in creating this devastated city and dark atmosphere.

So, overall, this album is just a solid release and you definitely get your money’s worth.  All in all, “EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST” is fantastic!

BUY THIS ALBUM:

TV Talk: Monday Night’s Musings for October 6, 2008

Monday’s TV viewing started with USA’s “WWE Monday Night Raw”.  I must of have missed a major pay-per-view battle between Chris Jericho and Sean Michaels because that ladder match seemed brutal.  Jericho with a big red bruise on the left of his lip and part of his tooth broken off.  Of course, for me, watching Santino Morella is the high point of the hour.  The dude is just great on the mic and to insult the Seattle fans of not having an NBA team and sporting the Oklahoma Thunder (formerly Seattle Super Sonics) was amusing.

At 7:00 p.m., I switched to MTV to catch “The Hills”.  The women are hot!  And this episode featured Audrina dating other guys but Heidi’s sister meeting with Lauren to find out if she and Heidi can ever be friends.  Again, Spencer (Heidi’s boyfriend) was just a total dick and the clip for next week’s episode features Heidi possibly choosing Spencer over her sister and giving her sister the boot out of their home.  If anything, interesting debate on the aftershow on MTV.com and also next week, Audrina will make an appearance and I’m sure she will be grilled in regards to the news from Perezhilton.com that LC messed with Audrina’s guy, Justin.  And personally, I just don’t see that happening as LC is totally disgusted with Justin’s appearance and mannerisms.  But Audrina, possibly acting on emotion, lashed out at her best friend to the media and LC wrote on her blog about the whole situation.  Duh-ra-ma!

After “The Hills” was MTV’s “EXILED” in which rich, spoiled teens (featured on “My Super Sweet 16″) are given the heave-ho by their parents to learn that money doesn’t grow on trees and put out of their comfort zone and live for one week in another country (typically with a tribe or very impoverished area) and learn things the hard way.  This time it was Sierra, daughter of musican Cee-Lo where she was exiled to Vanuatu (Island nation in the South Pacific, north of Australia).

Despite not wanting to eat the tribe’s pork and definitely not into the fishing and digging and seeing how women have to live in Vanuatu.  But like all the girls, they eventually have to do work and the first thing I did was check the aftershow to see if she’s changed and learned her lesson.  According to her parents, I guess she did.

I then watched “HEROES” for the fourth episode titled “I Am Become Death” in which Peter from present day is taken to the future by future Peter. You see that those who have the money, have been given powers. Some who use it for good but those who have used it for evil. The world has changed for the worst.

The other interesting development is how Gabriel (aka Syler) has changed. He’s a father and trying to be a good father and has controlled his appetite towards eating the brains of other gifted people with super powers. But what happens when present-day Peter meets up with future-Gabriel?

This show continues to get better with each episode. Definitely leaving behind the second series in the dust and taking the show back to what was important and that is good storytelling. And hopefully unlike the second season, not to be hampered or rushed due to a writer’s strike or any strike.

EXILE – Pure/You’re my sunshine (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

“EXILE, Japan’s current R&B hitmakers releases their 27th CD single featuring a mid-tempo jam with “pure” and an upbeat dance track with “You’re my sunshine” that overall is a pleasant CD single featuring awesome vocals and cool grooves!”

BUY THIS ALBUM:

CDJapan | Amazon | Yesasia

GROUP: EXILE

CD SINGLE:  Pure/You’re my sunshine

LABEL: rhythm zone

CATALOG #: RZCD-45863

DURATION: 26:29

RELEASE DATE: Feb. 27, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Pure
2. You’re my sunshine
3. 変わらないモノ
4. Pure (instrumental)
5. You’re my sunshine (instrumental)
6. 変わらないモノ (instrumental)

EXILE continues to be one of the chart topping R&B vocal groups in Japan and to this day, haven’t really slipped in the ratings as their CD singles tend to reach the top 3 and are usually among the few in Japan that is consistent with sales.

The seven member group (consisting of HIRO, MATSU, USA, MAKIDAI, AKIRA, ATSUSHI and TAKAHIRO) is known by their awesome vocals and dance choreography and in 2008, EXILE kicked off the New Year with their 27th CD single “Pure/You’re my sunshine” which featured a total of three tracks.

The first track “PURE” features a song written by EXILE vocalist ATSUSHI and music by Harukawa Hitoshi.  A beautiful mid-tempo track with a smooth groove, acoustic guitar and keyboards.  Definitely a track showcasing the smooth vocals of the group that they are known for.

The second track “You’re my sunshine” is an upbeat track written by TAKAHIRO and music by Hara Kazuhiro.  Overall, an upbeat dance track featuring a more synth-inspired track with some guitar.

But surprisingly, my favorite track is the coupling track “変わらないモノ” written by ATSUSHI and music by Takumi Masanori.  A slow ballad enhanced by strings courtesy of Yuko Katijani Stirngs that sets a beautiful atmosphere for the overall track.

The CD insert is a standard bi-fold with lyrics and production credits.  Also, included is a mini-flyer for Rhythm Zone releases for that week.

There is also a CD+DVD version released simultaneously with this normal CD-only version.

Overall, there is really nothing to dislike about this CD single.  It’s what you expect from EXILE, great vocals and good music.

I was surprised that I found myself enjoying the coupling track the most but it’s a very well done ballad.

You can’t go wrong with this CD single.  Definitely worth getting if you are a fan of EXILE.

BUY THIS CD SINGLE:

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