[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to misono – Junin Toiro

January 17, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

ARTIST: misono

CD SINGLE: Junin Toiro

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: avcd-31318/B

DURATION: 19:11

RELEASE DATE: November 14, 2007

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Junin Toiro
2. Giza Giza LIFE
3. Junin Toiro -instrumental-
4. Gizagiza LIFE – instrumental-

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 12 minutes

1. Junin Toiro -Video Clip-
2. misono comment
3. Junin Toiro – TV Spot 15 second and 30 second

I realize that I’ve been very critical of misono’s CD singles and partly my criticism is that if one is going to be marketed as a rock singer, make me believe it. Make others believe it.

With misono, you get these unusual music videos which a few do work and many don’t but I just can’t stand when she’s holding a guitar and not playing it.

Of course, it’s hard for some people to see her past the day after tomorrow years but the direction of misono’s musical career is like how I view Ashley Simpson. Someone who likes rock, made to sing rock music and does it work is best left on the impression of the listener.

I know that misono likes Avril Lavigne and even sung on her tribute album but misono is nowhere near Avril. She’s nowhere near the girls of Avex’s female rock group EUPHORIA.

But I’m always willing to give her the chance because I enjoy her voice but it’s all about her marketing and the music that she does.

Her latest CD single “Junin Toiro” was released on November 14th and both the main track and and the coupling song “Gizagiza LIFE” is produced by the popular Indie rock band Go!Go!7188.

The first song features an electric guitar driven song and reminiscent of the style of Go!Go!7188 but definitely misono’s distinct vocals give it her own style and the song is fun and after a few listens, the song started to grow on me.

The coupling song “Gizagiza LIFE” is interesting because this is another case of a misono released CD single where I prefer the coupling song over the title track.  The Go!Go! 7188 influence is definitely evident in this song and I think that is why I enjoy it much more.  It’s not j-pop rockish and it’s pretty cool.  The only thing that I didn’t care for on this song is the distortions in the middle of the song but all in all, a very cool, catchy song.

As for the DVD, the DVD features an interesting music video of misono being treated bad by her boyfriend, a sister or bully, being caught by someone while in the bed with a guy, being splashed with water, being slapped.   And yet again, another music video featuring misono carrying an electric guitar and again, not believable and just doesn’t seem right.

As for the comment section on the DVD, misono talks about her new song and the weight loss and then the :15 and :30 second spots for “Junin Toiro”.

As for the CD insert, now this is where I find it very interesting.  On the pictures is misono wearing a kimono and when you unfold it…a misono wearing a halter top and showing off her mid-section.  On the other side is the lyrics.  Now on the back of the CD, you see misono stripping off the kimono to reveal her wearing shorts and showing off her slim figure that she’s worked so hard for and has been well-documented on the news last Fall.   Then you look at the interior of that back coer and it’s a misono kneeling and she no longer looks thin.

So, it makes you wonder…. digital manipulation, has she gained the weight back?

Fortunately, I enjoyed the music this time around for misono.  The “Junin Toiro” is a cool song and it benefited her to collaborate with Go!Go! 7188 but if misono is to be going the rock direction and she wants to be looked as a rock star, then again I say the words… make me believe it.  Take some guitar lessons and we’ve seen it before with another avex trax star named hitomi who got away from the pop music, got a guitar, took some lessons and it became incorporated to her music and her live performances.  The same can be done with misono.

Also, learning the guitar will definitely help people stop the comparisons with her older sister Koda Kumi.  But so far, we get cheesy music videos that don’t enhance her rock music all that much.

But for misono’s music, I really digged the coupling song yet again for this CD single.  The main title track “Junin Toiro” is not bad but didn’t wow me either.

All in all, a slight improvement but an improvement nonetheless.