My Little Lover Best Collection – Complete Best – (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)
September 18, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
If you are a My Little Lover fan but haven’t purchased their latest singles or you are a fan who loves their music but never purchased any of their singles within the last 15 years, then this best album is for you. A wonderful release to celebrate My Little Lover’s 15th Anniversary and is highly recommended!
ARTIST: My Little Lover
ALBUM: My Little Lover Best Collection – Complete Best -
LABEL: Oorong Records
CATALOG #: AVCO-36038-9
DURATION: DISC 1: (1:03:32) | DISC 2: (1:25:40)
RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2010
BUY THIS ALBUM from CDJapan.com:
DISC 1:
- り・ぼん
- あふれる
- dreamy success
- ラビリンス
- イニシャル
- アイデンティティー
- 音のない世界
- 時のベル
- blue sky
- 月の船
- 世界の旅人
- ハーモニー
- Man & Woman
- 白いカイト
- Hello, Again ～昔からある場所～
- ALICE
- NOW AND THEN ～失われた時を求めて～
- YES ~free flower~
- ANIMAL LIFE
- Shuffle
- 空の下で
- DESTINY
- CRAZY LOVE
- shooting star ～シューティングスター～
- 日傘 ～japanese beauty～
- Survival
- 深呼吸の必要
When I first discovered My Little Lover, the group was like a breath of fresh air, a band that was needed during a time where Japanese music was heavily dominated by Komuro Tetsuya music (which I enjoyed but it was literally becoming too much and over saturating Japanese pop music) and I remember hearing “Man & Woman” and I was hooked.
I have to admit that lead vocalist Akko captured my attention and then to find out that the group was created by Takeshi Kobayashi (popular musician and producer), I was hooked. The group pretty much consisted of Akko, Takeshi Kobayashi and guitarist Kenji Fujii and throughout the mid-to-late 1990′s they dominated the charts and by the late ’90s, the band went through an experimental stage and then the group halted all music projects as both Takeshi Kobayashi and Akko (who married in 1996) moved to the United States.
In 2002, Fujii retired and in 2005, My Little Lover moved to the Avex and the group was back. Well, not exactly as Kobayashi took a step-back from the group (both Akko and Kobayashi divorced in 2008) and it was primarily Akko and various musicians.
While My Little Lover still creates wonderful music, it is now primarily Akko and various musicians working on single and album releases and as a long time listener of My Little Lover, Akko still maintains that My Little Lover sound which revolves around her well-known vocals and in 2010, My Little Lover has fortunately lasted long enough to celebrate it’s 15th Year Anniversary and what best than a Best Album release.
“My Little Lover Best Collection – Complete Best” has been released in two versions. One with songs that feature My Little Lover songs from 2006 to the present and a double CD release which features the same disc but also comes with a second CD which consists of the group’s top hits from 1995-2004.
This best album is primarily for those who have missed out on My Little Lover’s new releases and those who have never owned a My Little Lover album before but wanted to. You literally get every single release as there are 23 singles that My Little Lover (note: Otono no Sekai/Toki no Bell is a double sided single, so a total of 24 songs) has previously released and there are a total of 27 tracks on the double disc album. The extra tracks include “深呼吸の必要” (Need for Deep Breathing) which is a theme song for a film (of the same title) and was a coupling track to the band’s 16th single “Kaze to Sora no Kirimu” (a single not included on this best album) and songs featured on previous albums.
The CD booklet contains lyrics to the songs and various photos of the girl (pictured on the front cover).
Overall, best albums are subjective to the listener but if you enjoy My Little Lover’s music and you have not had the opportunity to own any of the CD singles, then I definitely recommend this best album and is literally a great starting point if you are jumping in now.
The only thing that would have really made this best album very complete is if all music videos were collected in a third disc (a DVD) but considering most of their older hits were with Pony Canyon and everything post-2006 is on Avex, I suppose that would have been difficult. But overall, this is a wonderful best album collection to celebrate My Little Lover’s 15th year anniversary and is definitely recommended!
BUY THIS ALBUM from CDJapan.com:
or YesAsia.com
My Little Lover – Otono no Sekai / Toki no Bell (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
February 27, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“Beautiful, enchanting and as always, Akko’s vocals are unique and her own. Also, a live release of the classic MLL hit ‘Hello Again’ is included. Simply another solid CD single from My Little Lover.”
BAND: My Little Lover
CD SINGLE: 音のない世界 (Otono no Sekai) / 時のベル (Toki no Bell)
LABEL: avex trax
CATALOG #: AVCD-36003/B
DURATION: 32:42
RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2009
BUY THIS CD SINGLE
- 音のない世界
- 時のベル
- Hello, Again ～昔からある場所～ (acoakko Live ver.)
- 愛と平和 (acoakko Live ver.)
- 音のない世界 (Instrumental)
- 時のベル (Instrumental)
DVD INFORMATION: Region 2, Duration: 6 minutes, 4:3
- 音のない世界 (Music Video)
Beautiful, enchanting and as always, Akko’s vocals are unique and her own. Simply another solid CD single from My Little Lover.
“Otono no Sekai/Toki no Bell” is the 22nd CD single from My Little Lover and the sixth CD single feature Akko as a solo artist.
There has been quite a shakeup with My Little Lover as the core team that formed the group are no more and Akko and MLL composer and musician, Takeshi Kobayashi (famous producer and former husband) have since went their separate ways.
But I have to say that since going solo, Akko still has managed to keep the My Little Lover sound alive. Teamed up with talented musicians, her music is still as beautiful now as it was back then.
“Otono no Sekai” is a ballad that was used for Japanese TV network TBS and a theme for the drama “Love Letter” and was the #1 downloaded ringtone on recochoku (note: In Japan, the majority of music sold in Japan are mobile based digital files and ringtones). The song was written by Akko with music by Tomoya Matsuura and arrangement by Makoto Minagawa.
The track showcases acoustic guitar, strings and overall, reminiscent of popular, classic My Little Lover ballads from the past.
The second double A-sided track “Toki no Bell” is a commercial theme song used for Daihatsu’s “Mira” and an upbeat track written by Akko, music by etsuhiko and arrangement by Makoto Minagawa.
The third and fourth tracks are songs from Akko’s “My Little Lover Live#5 acoakko” live concert back in Dec. 2008. The songs featured is their classic hit “Hello, Again ~Mukashi kara aru Basho~ (acoakko Live ver.)” which features acoustic guitar, keyboards and strings. A beautiful live version of a true classic.
The fourth live track is “Ai to Heiwa” which means “Love and Peace”, a track that was featured on My Little Lover’s seventh album “Identity”. Another beautiful live track featuring Akko on vocals, Masayoshi Fukukawa on guitar and Toshiyuki Mori on keyboards.
The remaining two tracks are the instrumentals for the first two songs.
As for the DVD, the music video for “Otono no Sekai” is included and features Akko walking along the shoreline, as with another woman and reflecting the song’s title “Otono no Sekai” which means a “World with no Sound”.
As for the CD insert, the insert contains the lyrics and production credits.
I may be a bit biased towards My Little Lover. I’ve always enjoyed the group because of their sound, their willingness to experiment and just doing the kind of music that they want. And although the trio that I knew back in the 90′s are no more, the core soul of My Little Lover, being the vocalist Akko, is still a major part of the group and showcasing her amazing skills as a songwriter but she’s also a talented musician.
The CD single is another solid release by the My Little Lover and if you are a fan of Akko or MLL’s music, then definitely pick this CD single up!
BUY THIS CD SINGLE
My Little Lover – Labyrinth (J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
May 13, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“My Little Lover’s “LABYRINTH” CD single conveys sadness and emerging from the darkness and showing us the strength of Akko as a songwriter. “
GROUP: My Little Lover
CD SINGLE: Labyrinth
LABEL: avex trax
CATALOG #: AVCD-31389/B
RELEASED ON March 12, 2008
- Labyrinth
- sunday morning
- Labyrinth (Instrumental)
- sunday morning (Instrumental)
DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 4 minutes
- Labyrinth (music video)
I am very fond when it comes to the music of My Little Lover and when we interviewed her in 2007 and pretty much confirmed on the inspirations of Akko’s lyrics, with the release of “Labyrinth”, I sensed sadness in her music.
With her divorce from My Little Lover producer and partner, Kobayashi Takashi, I often wondered what would happen to My Little Lover as a group.
Fortunately, Akko and My Little Lover has continued. Even continuing her musical collaboration with Kobayashi who was responsible for the music and arrangement of the main track “Labyrinth”.
Both “Labyrinth” and its coupling song “sunday morning” are rather sad tracks but showing how one can overcome the challenges and come out of the darkness to the light.
“Labyrinth” has a similar feel to their hit song “NOW & THEN” and another track which Kobayashi lends his musical talent on keyboards. The song has a beautiful arrangement as the piano and acoustic guitar play a major part of the song but it’s Akko’s vocals and the emotion you feel behind the words of the lyrics.
“sunday morning” is an electric guitar driven slow-tempo song which just feels sad when listening to the song.
I would think that when Akko wrote these songs, this was her expressing that part of her life at that time of the divorce. especially how the accompanying “Labyrinth” music video featured Akko stuck in her bed and not wanting to get up but eventually finding the strength to get out of bed and become the vibrant and happy person that she is.
Eventually, finding the will to get up and a depiction of a red string which usually connects two lovers, the red string connects her to a key and the key leads her directly to her diary.
Of course, the interpretation of the “Labyrinth” music video is my perspective on it, but this is how I interpreted it.
I also want to mention that when I watched Akko in this music video, she exhibited the beauty and spunkiness of how she was back in the mid-90′s with “Man & Woman” and looks incredible now as she did then.
The CD insert is a standard bi-fold with lyrics on one end and nothing on the other side but a metallic bluish, gray solid color. Included is a mini-flyer promoting My Little Lover’s Anniversary live at CC Lemon Hall.
With My Little Lover celebrating their upcoming anniversary live performance on May 1st at CC Lemon Hall which was in conjunction of the new album release of “Identity”, My Little Lover is definitely here to stay.
Akko has proven in 2007 that even if it’s just her, as a remaining member of My Little Lover, like Sakai Izumi continued with the bands name despite being more of a solo act, I think the same will continue with Akko and My Little Lover and the musical style that the group is known for, will still continue.
Both songs on this “Labyrinth” CD single emits the melancholy of things that may have transpired in Akko’s life but in the My Little Lover sense of beautifully created music is still present.
Akko does a great job as a songwriter and with her distinctive voice, My Little Lover fans can still feel at ease that she and My Little Lover will continue to produce great music.
Buy this CD Single
[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to My Little Lover – “dreamy success”
September 27, 2007 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
BAND: My Little Lover
CD SINGLE: dreamy success
LABEL: avex trax
CATALOG #: AVCD-31237
DURATION: 21:23
RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2007
- dreamy success
- jelly fish
- kuchibiru
- dreamy success (instrumental)
- jelly fish (instrumental)
My Little Lover’s akko is back with her third CD single through avex trax titled “dreamy success”.
For those who are reading this and wondering if My Little Lover is a band, I guess you can say that it operates similar to the band ZARD. Which started out as a band but later became a solo artist (in ZARD’s case… Izumi Sakai), My Little Lover was a trio, then duo and now with the move to avex trax focuses on vocalist acco while husband, musician and producer T. Kobayashi focuses on ap bank projects, events and also producing other artists.
The last CD single “Afureru” brought T. Kobayashi back to producing and even participating in the music but in the latest CD single “dreamy success”, akko continues to work with different musicians and the latest CD single features three diverse tracks that don’t all incorporate the My Little Lover style of music but by no means does it mean its a bad thing.
The first track “dreamy success” is a catchy pop song which incorporates a MLL feel that is happy, fast-paced song which incorporates a heavy beat.
While “jelly fish” shows a bit of acco’s interest in incorporating more acoustic tracks to her music. And with akko interested in several American artists that do incorporate a country/rock/acoustic style feel to their music, it was nice to see a different type of song that she takes on and does well with. The song has a Jack Johnson acoustic feel but with a beat.
The third track “kuchibiru” is a slow ballad that incorporates a piano/acoustic/drum accompaniment. It’s a beautiful song that is very mature and hip lounge style of song.
All three songs are written by akko.
The CD insert comes with the lyrics to the music and an insert promoting My Little Lover’s winter acoustic tour.
I’ve grown up with My Little Lover’s music and learned to enjoy their style of music, may it be the style of past, or a style incorporating worldly instruments and beats to an electronic underground style of music.
For me, I have enjoyed My Little Lover’s music and how they are able to embrace musical styles worldwide and most of all, not afraid to experiment without any worry of offending fans used to a certain style of music of theirs.
“dreamy success” is a good single, definitely not among their best material to date but still an enjoyable CD single that manages to experiment with musical styles again but yet sounding so fresh and appealing that longtime listeners of the band won’t be disappointed.
With acco’s acoustic concert coming up in Winter 2007, it’s great to get a sample on this CD single of what she has in store for her live performance and I look forward to checking that out.
My Little Lover – Alice (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
May 2, 1996 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“My Little Lover’s fourth CD single features a tie-in to their Website and a more synth-pop based track. Overall, another solid CD single release.”
Purchase this CD Single:
BAND: My Little Lover
CD SINGLE: Alice
LABEL: Toys Factory
CATALOG #: TFDC-28043
DURATION: 19:47
RELEASE DATE: April 22, 1996
- Alice
- Meguirau Sekai
- Alice (Instrumental)
- Meguriau Sekai (Instrumental)
The group My Little Lover which consists of popular producer/musician Takeshi Kobayashi (on keyboards), Akko (vocals) and Kenji Fujii (guitar) return with their fourth CD single “Alice”.
For their latest single, My Little Lover went for a more synth pop-based tune with “Alice”. The Single was released in conjunction with the group’s Website which was launched last year and gives access to viewers to watch footage from the making of their video but also footage to view the making of their album “Evergreen” and recording in Los Angeles.
The coupling track “Meguriau Sekai” features a more rock-based sound that has the same style of music that fans are used to hearing from the group. Overall, a solid coupling song.
The remaining two tracks feature the instrumental versions of the two songs and the CD sleeve features the lyrics and production credits to the song.
Overall, another cool single from the group and its great to hear the band with a new single again!
