I☆Reviews

Color Change! is Crystal Kay’s eighth album, released on the 6th of August 2008. Crystal Kay worked with producers such as Jam & Lewis and Bloodshy & Avant for this album. It reached #8 on the Oricon and sold 15,519 copies that week. *Btw, Kuri is her nickname in case I confuse anyone*

• Namida no Saki ni

Starting off the album is it’s first single. The instrumentation of guitars and finger-snaps come in straight away for an immediate beginning for the album, it sounds good. For me, either the energetic, catchy, fast paced chorus or the rockin’ and electronic instrumentation is the best part of the song. The song itself is a completely new direction for Kuri, switching from her usual pop and R&B for a fresh pop-rock sound. I’ve loved this song since I first heard it in May and still adore it, so it gets an 10! 10/10

• One

One begins very light, then strings came in and are followed Kuri’s vocals. The verses aren’t much, but the chorus is great and just plain fun. I really liked the combination of strings, synth and bass beats in this song, Kuri’s singing is fabulous here too – especially towards the end. However it’s not really anything new from Kuri, if had to point the song’s single bad point. 8.5/10

• Good Times

Good Times is the first new song we hear on the album, and I think it’s a good representation of what the album’s new tracks sound like. The song is based off of synth and R&B beats. I really liked Good Times‘s loud opening. The chorus isn’t really much, but once again Kuri’s vocals sound perfect and very clear. In parts of the song, you can hear Kuri talking in the background in English whilst in the foreground she’s ad libbing. It’s a nice touch to the song. I also like the bridge a lot too. 8.5/10

• Help Me Out

Help Me Out starts off quite sexy, with Kuri talking in English and an acoustic guitar is prominent. After this your bass and beats are added with a little bit of synth. The chorus is by far my favourite part of the song, and probably my favourite chorus on the whole album, as Kuri’s singing in a higher register and it sounds very strong and not strained at all. Not amazing, but still a highly enjoyable track – and the chorus is really nice. 8.5/10

• Itoshiihito

Itoshiihito is the first track produced by Jam & Lewis we hear. It starts off very Western, naturally, with the strong hip hop beats. There is a classic piano heard throughout the song and it sounds very beautiful and seperates Itoshiihito from the other R&B flavoured songs on the album. The chorus is just Kuri repeating “itoshiihito” so that gets a bit boring easily. 7/10

• Kaerimichi

Kaerimichi is easily the most dramatic song on this album, and out the two ballads on the album, the better frankly. The instrumentation is mainly an orchestra and piano and together they sound beautiful. My highlight of the song is it’s chorus which is very powerful and Kuri’s vocals really hit you especially towards the song’s climaxa and ending. Kuri’s always delivered with all her ballads, and this song is no exception. 9/10

• Girl Move On

Girl Move On is the b-side to Namida no Saki ni, but it didn’t make the cut to this album. However since I enjoyed it so much I added to the album myself and will also be reviewing since as well. Girl Move On starts of with a very deep sounding electric guitar and acoustic beats. Both the verses and chorus are just as catchy as each other. In the chorus Kuri even sings in Spanish, only adding to the song’s latin feel. And once again, Kuri’s vocals are amazing, specifically in the bridge, which where she holds some impressive holds and sings in a high register. 9/10

• Toki no Kakera

The second ballad on the album is Toki no Kakera. It starts off very dramatic, but as you get closer to the chorus the instrumentation becomes way more light-hearted, positive. The chorus seems very happy and but I have to say the background music is my highlight of the song. 7.5/10

• Time Goes By

Times Goes By is a mid-tempo track, and is remenissant of her Call me Miss… album tracks. It’s a very lovely track, and the chorus is also very catchy. I paticularly liked the combination of the background vocals and Kuri’s own in the chorus. The song is quite short, so there’s not much else to say about it although it would sound great at the end of the album instead of the middle. 7.5/10

• I Can’t Wait

Now this song starts off very, very strange. Kuri’s is singing “C to tha” and then a what sounds like a robot replies “K”. The song feels a bit all over the place and the actual singing doesn’t feel like it starts until the middle of the song! Honestly, the song’s instrumentation and chorus just bugged me. So that’s both Jam & Lewis tracks over with. 6.5/10

• Shining

I don’t really know what Shining is doing on here, but I won’t complain as I’ve warmed up to it since it’s release. Shining is a really nice and happy winter song, although at the same time a typical Crystal Kay R&B inspired pop song, and I feel she has much better ones on her past albums such as All Yours and Call me Miss…, but don’t get me wrong, the song is good, just not great. 7.5/10

• It’s A Crime

It’s a Crime is the only Bloodshy & Avant produced track on the album, and it’s really good! It’s very dancey-urban and features major vocal manipulation for Kuri, it sounds like she’s singing with that robot from I Can’t Wait. XD There’s synth, electronic beats and what souds like violins too. The chorus is exciting, especially the first line of it. The song is really short though, and is missing that gritty feel it had from it’s radio rip, but that doesn’t really particularly matter. 9.5/10

• History

This song begins with a guitar and violins, and some electronic beats. The chorus comes in first and features a great and effortless combination of English and Japanese, which I’m a sucker for. Guitars are suprising prominentely featured in this song, and they give History a very cool feel. The bridge is just brilliant, and very strong musically and vocal wise. I really like the way Kuri sings “hiiistoooryyy!” too. XD 8.5/10

• Suki

Suki is the b-side to One, but it didn’t make the cut to this album. However since I enjoyed it so much I added to the album myself and will also be reviewing it as well. Suki is a very sleek and sexy dance song, and like Namida no Saki ni was a change in musical style that turned out exceptionally well. It’s keeps it’s stylish dance theme throughout the song and vocal manipulation is featured at the end. I only heard the original version of this song about a week ago. It’s by Dreams Come True and Kuri’s take sounds so different it’s unreal! 9/10

• The final word…

Crystal Kay is by far my favourite artist, and I’m always sure I’ll enjoy everything she puts out. I always have done and hopefully always will do. This album is no exception. It’s preceeding singles were great, and all the album tracks were enjoyable and showed Kuri’s versitality as an artist, switching from pop-rock to pop to R&B to hip hop and even some dance and latin inspired tracks. The only problem I have is that the quantity of copies sold doesn’t live up to the quality of the album. DDD: But that’s not Kuri’s fault, BUY HER ALBUM!

Standout Tracks: One, Help Me Out, Kaerimichi, Girl Move On, It’s a Crime, History, Suki

Fav. Track: Namida no Saki ni

My Rating: 85% or A