#10 3OH!3 – Streets of Gold

Yes, good single, good album track and now good album. After listening to three tracks on the previous album so often I couldn’t hear them anymore I was pretty excited about this album and in the end it did deliver. It’s not perfect and sadly not as kick ass as WANT but still has the nice catchy tunes that will stay in your head for a long time. And for the most part the album is just a great fun.

Best Songs: Double Vision, See You Go, House Party

#9 Mao Abe – POP

None of the songs on this album were good enough to be on my other lists but as a whole package you can’t really go wrong with this album. It is fun and she shows different styles even though I still wished she would have been a little bit more creative and had tried some more stuff. But that just means I can be curious about the next album.

Best Songs: I wanna see you, Mada, Tsutaetai Koto

#8 Berryz Koubou – 6th Otakebi Album

Berryz Koubou just had a strong year all around. We got with almost every single two songs and they never really disappointed. So it was double the fun. Also, with songs like Otakebi Boy WAO! they got back to more fun songs and even though I still can’t stand Risako’s voice I can’t help but see it as a step in the right direction that Yurina got to be the center once. Oh, and Dakisimete Dakishimete is on the album which is my favorite so yeah <3

Best Songs: Dakishimete Dakishimete,  Otakebi Boy WAO!, Seishun Bus Guide

#7 UPLIFT SPICE - MEMENTO

With UPLIFT SPICE you just know what you’ll get. Great rock tracks with a unique voice and memorable melodies. And that’s really all I want from them. I have to be honest and say that I think Omega Rhythm was a bit better because I really liked to listen to it all the way through but on the other hand when it comes to MEMENTO I know what songs I prefer. Well, I’m happy as long as there’s a new album next september. I really like that pattern.

Best Songs: Queen Anne’s Revenge, Cosmology, Mönster

#6 Ayumi Hamasaki – Rock’n'Roll Circus

Everyone who read my review knows that I think that this album was a step in the right direction. Back. For me it felt like from somwhere between Rainbow and Memorial Addresse and while most people didn’t like it and seem to prefer Love Songs (which isn’t going to show up on this list) I think this was the better Ayu album of 2010.

Best Songs: Don’t Look Back, Microphone, Last Links, count down

#5 AKB48 - Kamikyoku Tachi

The problem I have with this album is that it doesn’t feel like an album. It feels like a collection of all the singles AKB released in that time. Every fucking B-Side is on there. Everyone who bought the singles must feel like a fool. Except for those who buy allt hose Singles for Handshakes and the likes. But yeah, after all those were some pretty strong singles and also the B-sides were quality stuff. Nothing to complain about really.

Best songs: RIVER, Sakura no Shiori, Tobenai Agehachou

#4 JASMINE - GOLD

Oh look, it’s a debut album! But a damn good one. If you haven’t heard about JASMINE yet, where do you live? I have to be honest and say that the singles were the best tracks and album tracks were good, but not as good. But that doesn’t make the album any worse, it just means I had too big expectations. But what do you expect after songs like THIS IS NOT A GAME and sad to say?

Best Songs: THIS IS NOT A GAME, sad to say, L.I.P.S.

#3 2NE1 – To Anyone

Just like last year, 2NE1 still going strong. It was a long wait for the album but I guess it was worth the wait. The dance tracks are great and I even got to like the slower songs a lot more. My sister just loves Apa (Slow). Plus the solo songs and remix and english version. I guess this album offers everything you want from a korean album. Yes, there’s a difference. I’m curious how there songs will turn out in Japanese and if they will be successful in the US. I doubt it but let’s just drink some tea and see.

Best Songs: I Don’t Care (Reggae Mix), Can’t Nobody, Clap Your Hands

#2 Tokyo Jihen – SPORTS

I’m still not sure about #1 and #2 but since I’ve listened to SPORTS not as much as to the #1 this album gets the second spot. SPORTS is great. I already blogged about it because it blew me away. Listen to it. Every single song would be perfect as a single release. You won’t get bored when you listen to it the whole way through and in the end you’ll want to listen to it again. It’s great.

Best Songs: Sweet Spot, Noudouteki Sanpunkan, Kachiikusa

#1 BENNIE BECCA – BENNIE BECCA

It’s pop, it’s rock, it’s hip hop, it’s Japanese, it’s English, it’s the perfect mixture.  This album is just so much fun and is it really  a surprise when those great artists work together? I just wish that I wasn’t a one time only thing. I want more from them. I can’t go back to just one of them T_T

Best Songs: Ashita, Dilemmas, KAMINARI GIRL

#13 Kasai Tomomi (+17)

1. Sayaka Akimoto
2. Yuka Masuda
3. Yuko Oshima (+2)
4. Minami Takahashi (-1)
5. Natsuki Sato (+2)
6. Ayaka Umeda
7. Haruka Katayama (+1)
8. Minami Minegishi (-4)
9. Rino Sashihara
10. Haruna Kojima (+4)

11. Asuka Kuramochi (+10)
12. Yuki Kashiwagi
13. Tomomi Kasai (+17)
14. Atsuko Maeda (+6)
15. Tomomi Itano (+2)
16. Mayu Watanabe (-3)
17. Natsumi Matsubara (+7)
18. Moeno Nito (-7)
19. Rumi Yonezawa (-4)
20. Rie Kitahara (-1)

21. Ami Maeda (+6)
22. Reina Fujie (+1)

23. Sae Miyazawa (+3)

#11 Asuka Kuramochi (+10)

24. Mika Komori (-6)
25. Haruka Ishida (+3)
26. Mariko Shinoda (+6)
27. Sumire Sato (-5)
28. Amina Sato (-12)
29. Misaki Iwasa (+10)
30. Miho Miyazaki (-1)

31. Rina Chikano (+6)
32. Ayaka Kikuchi (-1)
33. Misato Nonaka (+9)
34. Tomomi Nakatsuka (-9)
35. Haruka Nakagawa (-1)
36. Natsumi Hirajima (+4)
37. Sayaka Nakayan (-2)
38. Miku Tanabe
39. Sakiko Matsui (-9)
40. Aika Oota (+4)

41. Aki Takajo (+4)
42. Shizuka Oya (+1)
43. Maryia Suzuki (+3)
44. Chisato Nakata (-3)
45. Mayumi Uchida
46. Kana Kobayashi

Tomomi Kasai made a big jump and that just because I watched the new year’s episode of AKBingo! and really, really liked her attitude. Camera’s and stuff but she shows that she’s not impressed and wants to fight! Nice. Still, her voice is annoying. And bye bye Amina Sato. Just looking good doesn’t help you too much anymore in my ranking.

#10 Glee Cast – Toxic

This song is special alone for the sung intro which I always sing along. Having Shue sing with the kids again was also very nice. And yay, Britney and stuff.

#9 Dianna Agron - It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World

I just love all the emotion Dianna brings into this song. And it’s simply something different for her after the pop songs she sang in the show. She needs more solos. Even though the duets with the guys are nice, too.

#8 Matthew Morrison – One Less Bell To Answer / A House is Not A Home (feat. Kristin Chenoweth)

I loved Kristin’s guest appearance because I already loved it when she sang in Pushing Daisies and this is definitely my favorite song with her (except for Last Name but that was 2009). And I keep singing along even though them singing it as an overlapping duet makes it impossible to sing it right.

#7 Darren Criss – Teenage Dream

First impressions are important and it’s a very good impression when you take a Katy Perry song and make it 300% better. Who couldn’t love the Warblers after this song?

#6 Glee Cast – Like A Virgin

All those great voices, isn’t it just perfect? And it was the first time Naya Rivera’s voice really stood out to me in a good way. A really good way. Oh and yes, not just her voice is wow <3

#5 Glee Cast – Telephone

I don’t know exactly why but something about Charice’s voice made me listen to this song over and over again. Way more than to the original. I wasn’t even interested in the Gaga song but Glee just makes (almost) everything better. And yeah, where is Sunshine?!

#4 Jayma Mays – Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me

Jayma’s voice goes places I thought only Japanese school girls could go. How can she sound so innocent and so dirty at the same time? Great song and she needs way more songs. One song per season just doesn’t cut it.

#3 Lea Michele – Total Eclipse of the Heart

Oh, Top 3! I really don’t know why I love this song so much but Lea just puts sooo much emotion into it. I don’t know. And the scene itself is just beautiful and sad and… <3

#2 Naya Rivera – Valerie

Oh, Naya! Her voice just got so much better and this song is perfect for her! And even though it’s about the songs let’s not forget the epic dancing of Heather Morris and Harry Shum Jr. But yeah, Naya is enough reason for this song to be my Top 2!

#1 Glee Cast – Damn It, Janet

Let’s be honest. The song itself is full of win but what those two did with it was also great. Especially Lea. How can someone sing just so surprised sounding? And I have to admit, I couldn’t once skip this track when it came on. Not once. [Yay, Rocky Horror Glee Show twice!]

So, that was the little side trip with glee. Next are my favorite albums.
Everythings ready, I just have to write it down.

#10 Christophe Maé – Je me lâche

I listened to this album because I really liked the single Dingue, Dingue, Dingue and somehow my sister listened to Je me lâche and made me play it over and over again. And it is a really good song. She’s been right to make me listen to it so many times.

#9 3OH!3 – House Party

It was a close run between See You Go and House Party but I thought that See You Go would be too similar to Double Vision which already charted here and so I let you all know that I not only like the poppy songs from 3OH!3. House Party is awesome.

#8 MiChi – Jump On It

Since LOVE is. is treated like an e.p. Jump On It gets #8 because it is awesome but not as awesome as other songs. The repetitivness brings it down a little but hey, it still charted <3

#7 Katy Perry – Peacock

I listened to this album and BAM! I put Peacock on repeat instantly. It is so much fun and you can always wonder if the song is really that obvious or if there is some deeper meaning behind it. Oh, and Katy’s voice is bearable.

#6 JASMINE – L.I.P.S.

After listening to it when it appeared as a b-side I didn’t really give it another listen but after liking THIS IS NOT A GAME so much and listening to everything from her again I got hooked on L.I.P.S. even though the lyrics (I understand) seem to be a bit… well “Should I shake my hips?”.

#5 Achtung – Take Me Higher

I guess no one of you has ever heard of these guys but they are a really good korean band and they make I would say really good acoustic rock or something. I listened to them because I found it funny that they use the German word for “attention” as band name. And yeah, Take Me Higher is pretty good. Check them out.

#4 2NE1 – Can’t Nobody

Man, I so couldn’t decide which song to pick. This album has some really good songs on it and they all have something to offer. But in the end I went with the one with the highest play count and that was Can’t Nobody. But all the songs would’ve deserved it.

#3 ONE OK ROCK – Wherever you are

I didn’t think of this song for a long time but some days ago I listened to it again and it is just too good, too powerful and too emotional to not be on my list of great album tracks. I get goose bumps everytime. And we just have to overhear all those “whelever” and “plomise”. I’m sorry.

#2 Tokyo Jihen – Sweet Spot

What can I say? Pure Shiina Ringo awesomeness, but Tokyo Jihen. This song is so beautiful and so erotic and yeah, I pity my sister because she can’t stand Shiina Ringo’s voice so she’ll never know how great this song is.

#1 BENNIE BECCA – Ashita (with Blaise Plant (Monkey Majik))

It was really hard deciding which song was better but I love this combination of English and Japanese and Becca’s Japanese is so cute and all their voices just work so well together. And I was able to understand almost the whole chorus by myself. Yes, before they sang it in English later. Need more BENNIE BECCA!

Those are my top album tracks of 2010. Next my favorite Glee songs of 2010 and then finally: Albums!

But what were my Top10 a-sides of 2010 (as far as I know). I won’t break it down into language/country/genre etc. because I didn’t manage to listen to as much as I wanted. So I’m just gonna start:

#10 Selena Gomez & the Scene – Naturally

I didn’t really want to like this song but whenever I accidentally heard it while it was playing on TV it just got so stuck in my head that I had to give in and just <3 it. I listened to the rest of the album and it’s quite good but nothing compares to Naturally.

#9 °C-ute – Dance de Bakoon!

I wasn’t sure which one to pick. Dance de Bakoon! or Otakebi Boy WAO! from Berryz Koubou. But because of Risako’s voice that I just cannot stand and the fact that Maasa once again has been screwed when you look at the amount of solo lines she gets I went with Dance de Bakoon! because it is a freaky, cool song and just as fun but with more bearable voices.

#8 Ayaka Hirahara – Keropak

Man, what a surprising song from Ayaka Hirahara, didn’t you think so?! And this is one of the songs that I put on my “makes me happy – instantly” list. It can be cold outside and I know I have to work with shitty weather for another 3 hours but then I listen to Keropak and I start smiling and almost dancing. It’s more of a skipping to the beat. But yeah, she should definitely do songs like this more often.

#7 3OH!3 – Double Vision

When I first listened to the album it was a rather mediocre listen and the only song that stuck with me was I’m Not The One because it was slow and something different. But over time I started really liking the whole album and it was a close run between Double Vision, See You Go and House Party but yeah, Double Vision takes the cake.

#6 ORESKABAND – Jitensha

2009 I started being interested in ska as it was something I never really heard of. And then I started liking it and so was 2010 the year when I tried listening to more ska. And you know, ORESKABAND already have the ska in their band name, who else should I have listened to? And Jitensha might just be the song with one of the most simple choruses but that’s what makes it just so much fun!

#5 AKB48 – Beginner

Japan’s #1 is my #5 but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. I really do but I guess there are parts of me that do so because of the banned original PV and some do because there were actually some lines (more than one!) in the song that I could translate without any help. But still, this song rocks and it’s exactly what AKB48 should keep releasing. Except for when’s graduation season. I know you need your Sakura Song.

#4 Wonder Girls – 2 Different Tears

I never really undestood the whole craze about Nobody and this single too, I listened some weeks or even months after the release but it just hit me out of nowhere. It’s such and earworm and the english lyrics just add to that. I loved it. I had it on repeat for a whole night and never got tired of it.

#3 Patrick Stump - Spotlight (New Regrets)

If you have read this blog for a while (which I doubt) you might have read somewhere that I’m a Fall Out Boy fan. Well, Patrick’s going solo so of course I follow him. His voice is probably the main thing I love in Fall Out Boy but he doesn’t need his voice to convince me that he can make it on his own. This song is proof enough. If the whole album is going to be like this I am more than pleased. But, oh mother of god, that voice <3

#2 Miss A – Breathe

I heard that on their first single there’s a song that’s even better. But I haven’t listened to it yet. I’m really interested but Breathe is enough for me at the moment. Not just is the MV one of my favorites from last year but also the dance and everything. Damn, this thing is cute. Whenever I didn’t know what to listen to I listned to Breathe. Because I knew I would listen to it for a while. One listen is just not enough when the song is only a little over 3 minutes long. Damn you KPop hooks!

#1 JASMINE – THIS IS NOT A GAME

All caps for my #1! This is a song that made me listen to the whole discography of an artist immediately. Again. I already followed her since her first single but THIS IS NOT A GAME made me realize that I probably didn’t give her a fair chance and after that every single just got better. Well, not better than this lovely song but definitely almost on the same level. And I guess you will find ONE on this list when I do it next year. Keep rocking JASMINE! Finally some kind of R’n'B that I can listen to without getting bored.

Well, here you have it. My Top10 for 2010 when it comes to a-sides. Next is album tracks and after that Glee. Because, I love Glee, you know. And then top albums. Oh, and no b-sides because I haven’t heard anything good really.

But enough about the formalities. The important thing is that MiChi, one again, delivered a really good single.

Love is. is the title track and I’m not even sure if it was the best decision but then again all of the songs would have worked as a-side. (Even though JUMP ON IT would have been a really freaky a-side.) It’s a rather fast song what I didn’t expect with this title. I imagined something like YOU but I am also very happy because I like this side of MiChi. All in all you could say it’s the typical MiChi sound like Change The World and similar songs with some electro thrown in but I don’t mind that because her latest singles have been kind of different for her.

YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! starts of rather slow which is a nice change from the first song but then builds up to a much faster pace which is just what you would expect with the !!! in the title. The chorus is my favorite part of the song because it’s like you’ve been driving through a tunnel and suddenly there’s the sunlight again and you just drive towards the horizon. It’s a really nice feeling <3

JUMP ON IT is the first b-side I listened to because a friend really, really, really, really likes it and wanted me to listen to it right away. And I have to say I’m not disappointed. The fast pace, the really fun lyrics, the attitude, that’s just what I like. It gets a bit repetative towards the end so if it would have been shorter it would have been good but that’s just my own preference. I like almost every song to be shorter just because of my short attention span.

The cover of PRETTY FLY (FOR A WHITE GUY) is really fun if you can let go of the original in your head. The effects can be a little much but MiChi makes up for that in the really strong chorus. You could almost think she owns those lines! The cover is not her best one but it’s still pretty good and the song itself is already pretty fly cool.

This single really should please everyone. It isn’t ruined if you don’t like the voice of the band’s singer she’s collaborating with or if you just can’t stand samples in any way. With the first two tracks you’re on the safe side and if you like MiChi’s whacky and experimental side you should listen to the second b-side and her cover. I personally like all of them very much <3

Now let’s hope for a full album very soon!
(And when LOVE is. is on there, I’ll finally have prove that this is a single.)

So, three days ago love songs arrived at my door step and now I am going to watch the PVs. And I will write down my first impression of them because when it comes to PVs it’s all about the first impression. I mean, they are there to make you buy the single/album. And you should like them immediately.

In the album’s order:

MOON

Yeah, no… I don’t know. I really liked the dark atmosphere and everything was really pretty but for the length of the song it just wasn’t enough. I mean, yeah, the Ayu covered and viscous black stuff is interesting and weird at the same time but somehow not enough. And God, that dress was just aweful. A pink dress with roses all over it? How old is she? No… And if I want to see stuff get broken I just watch the Is this LOVE PV. There they did it in a really skillful way. But I liked her shoulder and the “old footage” where she plays with her dog. At least there’s some kind of action.

blossom ~director’s cut~

Now that was fun to watch. Something to look for the girls, something for the boys… a dog. Then a turn of events in the middle. His being sad and angry scene was a bit long but the guitar solo was placed well in there. And then some recaps and a happy end that I didn’t really expect. The painted angel was a nice touch. I’m just confused how the doctor could have made a prediction that precise. And no, I didn’t miss Ayu that much. This PV really works. You just can’t expect some kind of masterpiece.

crossroad

Someone has to tell those people that one nice effect isn’t good enough for a 4-5 minute long PV. I mean, she looks horrible. Her lips are just a disaster and that eye make up did nothing for her face… And eveything else is just boring. Yes, she looks at a match. Yes, she starts to burn. Yes, it looks nice but you can’t call that a PV. But you could call it a CM if you show more of those big close ups of her eyes and then put a “Visée” at the end…  At least the TV Ayu brings some nostalgia. She kind of reminded me of the Because of You PV and I really liked that hair style. She should wear it short more often. But yeah. Not really impressed…

Sweet Season

Ayu wants to be white and live in the… what are those? The sixties? Ok, that is kind of interesting. If not only the kids but also Ayu would have been in a bathing suit, it would have been a lot better. But yeah, nice sunny day and all that. Interesting how all those white kids and this one latino kid and this one asian kid can sing along. But the best is the ending. You sit there, wondering what’s going on and Ayu is about to just fall into the pool and bam! She wakes up. Apparently she got herself drunk and cried herself to sleep. That was one good ending, I tell ya.

Virgin Road

I liked it. Mannie (Manuel; yes, her husband-to-be) is badass and Ayu tries to be, which sometimes works and sometimes not… so… much. But when it doesn’t, at least it’s cute. And I mean this storyline of them two being bank robbers and stuff just beats all of her other storyline PVs including some sort of lover. All of  ‘em!

Last angel

So this is the first part of the two-part storyline. Honestly? I didn’t get it. He had a girlfriend before her or does she, again, wish to be white? And I thought all the time that she’s dead and then she’s wearing a wedding dress? I’m just going to watch the next one to see where this story is supposed to go.

Love song

To get it out of the way: I love the short haired Ayu that sings the song. I just love her. And now on to the other part of the PV: I still don’t get it. So, he cheated on her and she leaves and he follows her and then she sees herself with him robbing a bank? No, still don’t have the slightest clue about that. I guess I will look for an explanation on the internet. It will help me. I’m sure of it.

do it again

It’s not like I’m drunk or anything but I did drink some Relentless which is the only reason I’m still awake at this ungodly hour but those camera swings in the PV – they hurt. And most of the PV was Ayu walking down a street with two giant dogs (here, down the street we also got one that’s like bigger than me) and some of those camera swings and angles make it look like it’s been shot in front of a green screen. And you know, I don’t really dig her outfit and this whole thing doesn’t make much sense to me. And I have no idea in what kind of world she’s living there. Is it after the zombie apocalypse? Hm… I guess at the end she sees “the light at the end of the tunnel”. Yeah…

So overall some nice PVs if you just like looking at them but most of them didn’t make much sense to me and I hope it’s because I don’t understand the lyrics. And I’m still not sure if the PVs are in the right order on the DVD. Last angel and Love song are apparently in the wrong order on purpose but it’s still confusing. My final words are: Ayu, cut your hair and never let someone with a needle near your lips. Please.

First of all it is a stop motion video and I really like that idea. At first you could think that they “faked” that effect but when you realize there are some really fast changes happening especially with the guys in the background, I think it’s obvious that they put a lot of work in that PV. I wonder how much.

Too be honest I don’t have the slightest clue what really is happening in that PV except that MiChi walks and sleeps and sits and sings in her apartment that gets decorated but I guess it would make more sense if I could understand the lyrics. Or not. When I think about Japanese PVs they only have something in common with the lyrics of a song in very few cases.

But still, it looks very pretty and most of all very interesting and isn’t that just the real purpose behind every PV? It’s there to make you interested and in the end buy the single or as in this case the EP (even though I think it’s just an EP because Oricon says everything with 4 songs or more is a EP…).

I am very excited for the new songs and be sure to read more about it here as soon as it gets released because apparently MiChi is the only artist beside AKB48 that I will always blog about ^^’

But let’s take a look at last week and what I listened to, just so you see what my ears are dealing with.

I listened to my first album by Hitomitoi which is Synchronized Singing. Please, can someone tell me why the most boring and bland songs are always the ones with over 5 minutes? I mean, don’t get me wrong, there were good songs on this album. Two or three. But all in all this album is almost an hour of boring shit. And I had hoped for so much. If any one knows an album by Hitomitoi that isn’t as boring please leave a comment. I want to give her another chance. I really do.

And now please don’t laugh. I’ve been really busy so I know that this single has been released a while ago but damn, Kumi Koda‘s Gossip Candy is one weird mess. Lollipop is kind of good but all the other songs just left me confused and not liking this. I mean, are there really five tracks on there or how does this work with the same melody thing and stuff? Not impressed. Really not impressed…

Also I’ve listened to a single from Who the Bitch because, you know, it’s an interesting band name. To be honest I can’t say much about the Superstar single but after all I am going to check out more from this all girls band. They have a rather rough sound and a good feeling when it comes to melodies, I think.

Next is NICO Touches the Walls. This is one of the bands I just keep following because I have this feeling that I really should like them but something is always missing and I hope to hear it when the next single is released. Sudden Death Game is a good single and it made a better impression on me than everything else I have listened to by them but something’s still missing. Well, maybe next time.

The last release I will write some words about is YUI‘s Holidays in the Sun because it’s in some way the opposite of Hitomitoi. I expected many boring, same sounding songs and got a really fun album. I especially liked Again. I hope she keeps that up and maybe even the smile.

I hope I will post more from now on and if not you will hear something from me when the end of the year rankings are due. Or the next MiChi single is announced.

It’s been almost a month since 2NE1′s first full length album was released and I had time to listen to the songs. Well, to be honest I mainly listened to the promo tracks. And to be even more honest, I mainly listened to Can’t Nobody and Clap Your Hands.

Especially when it comes to those two songs I had problems at first. They didn’t really stick and I caught myself waiting for the chorus while listening to the song. But after a long, long time that I had to spend in a line in front of a football club fanshop (soccer for you other guys out there) I realized that yes, the verses can be pretty monotone and not exciting but that only happens if you don’t pay enough attention. And you didn’t watch the MVs. I won’t lie, those really made me like the songs more. So colorful <3 But Can’t Nobody is the better one. I don’t think I will write about the videos because you just have to watch them. You really should. But back to the songs.  In the end I love both of them and there are so many different parts of Can’t Nobody that can get stuck in your head, it’s amazing. And Clap Your Hands really makes you clap your hands. In public. Behind your back. I think I looked stupid…

Go Away is like some kind of sequel to I don’t care maybe? The feeling you get while listening to the song feels similar and I really had to smile at some lyrics. The ones I understood, of course. But maybe because it was summer and I wanted to party I didn’t really get into the song. I just listened to it again and you could think of it as some kind of Bom-Song. I haven’t watched the MV yet but I really hear a lot of Bom. Clearly a good song but you have to be in the mood.

Of course you needed a slower song for promotion too, but if that wasn’t the case I bet that I’m Busy would have been another promo track. It is such a catchy song and even if it sounds weird because you don’t understand Korean, you still want to sing along to the intro and chorus.

The last songs It Hurts (Slow) and Love Is Ayaya sound like 2NE1 but something’s missing. Love Is Ayaya again made me think of I Don’t Care but those songs just didn’t interest me after listening to them. But then again most songs on 2NE1 were rather slow. Maybe I haven’t listened to them enough but for now they don’t impress me.

From this point on the albums ends for me. And those are six songs so I think full length isn’t so true. I mean, everything that’s coming after this are the solo songs (that are supposed to be solo works and not 2NE1), a remix and the English version of Can’t Nobody.

Some words about the solo songs. Bom’s You & I is very sweet and I like it but I can’t stop thinking that Bom alone doesn’t work. She needs some support in a song. She tries her best of course but to my ears it always sounds a bit week. Minzy and CL did Please Don’t Go together which was almost like a preview of the album. We got those purely rapped verses and then, when the chorus starts, a change in style. We can listen to this happening a lot on this album. It’s my favorite song from the solo songs; And Dara’s Kiss is my least favorite. Her voice has nothing recognizable and the chorus got on my nerves so easily. I can see why people like it but it’s not my cup of tea.

The commercial song Try To Follow Me shouldn’t have been at the almost end of the album. It would have been a perfect bridge between the first two songs. This song has such a great attitude but is in no means fast paced, so that I guess almost everyone can enjoy it. I Don’t Care (Reggae Mix Ver.) is in my opinion 2NE1s best song. I can listen to it for hours. I just wanted to say that it is perfection. Yeah, hearts and stuff <3 It goes without saying that the English Version of Can’t Nobody can’t beat the orginial but it is a nice extra.

All in all I can say that I really like this album but would have been a bit more happy if there would have been more new songs. But taking a look at my notes at least tells me that the songs after the new six ones only did good to the overall feeling of the album. The album gets a B, the new songs a B-. I hoped for more but it could have been a lot worse. And if you think of the MVs the album is even better.

I hope the next break 2NE1 takes won’t take as long as this one.