~It's all about MiChi~ the 2nd thread ♥

[AyuGAME]

not as bad as her single cover...
good luck MiChi

[ILoveGeniuses]

I'm loving it so far.

[ayugwen]

Does that mean we're getting a real music video for Saturday Night soon? (not just the lyrics video?) I hope it's good coz the song's such a jam!

Ordered the album+DVD edition at CDJ. October is such a good month!

[Kacku]

EYES WIDE OPEN leaked. MadNesS vol. 4 is SO GOOD! I was expecting a lot from it but it still hit a fucking homerun. Might be my favorite MadNesS track! And I LOVE Lighten the Fxxk Up, such a great pop-rock jam. Nearly Maybe... is not the most memorable song, but I don't have a problem with it. I'm at Just because now, another very nice song! Damn, now I have furious need to get a real copy to myself. If only I could have pre-ordered. ;__;

EDIT: still missing you is a nice ballad, but doesn't beat motto (but what does?). Hello is such a nice song! Journey too. Damn I love this album.

[NintendoHTF1242]

It's surprising to me that nobody in this topic is discussing the album. It's very well-done among this year of shitty releases in J-Pop.

I really like the flow of the album, and MiChi sounds great. I do miss the crazy party girl from UP TO YOU, but this more gentle caring girl in EYES WIDE OPEN works as well. It is somewhat disappointing knowing MiChi only worked on about 6 of the 12 songs present, in regards that she wrote all of UP TO YOU and 2/3's of THERAPY (although she is main producer of the entire thing). But it's nice to see her giving T.O.M a break (he only worked on two songs for this album).

My favorite tracks are Lighten the Fxxk Up, Nearly Maybe..., still missing you, Hello, and Journey. The only song I didn't like was INdependeNt GiRL?.

[Kacku]

I'm definitely up for discussion about this album! I've been wondering how people have taken it, haven't seen much said about it anywhere.

I agree this is one of the best J-pop albums released this year; it's not saying too much, since I think 2013 hasn't been too good albums-wise. Anyway, I think EYES WIDE OPEN is a very strong album - it doesn't have a single song I dislike, though some tracks are very skippable (... well, actually just make me feel this way INdependeNt GiRL? and YOUR Life, so not bad at all). Most songs are dead catchy, MiChi sounds great and relaxed, brings a bit of playfulness to many songs. I like the album's shift in sound towards being more acoustic, brings a little something new to MiChi's discography (I wouldn't have minded another disco song though, LOVE Saturday Night).

However, I think the material on this album isn't quite as strong as on the previous ones. The songs and production are a lot more simple than on her past releases - nothing wrong with going more simple, but listening and comparing the new material to songs like, say, THERAPY or Perfect World, I can't help thinking that MiChi can do more, she can go deeper. EYES WIDE OPEN isn't one-dimensional, per say, but, compared to her previous albums, I don't think I'll have as many discoveries and new things to find when I go back to it and listen with fresh ears.

On a side-note: do you think this album is more... I don't want to say self-centered, but that's the only word I can think of. I mean, it sounds to me that this album has most of the songs sung from me-perspective, probably telling about MiChi's thoughts and feelings, whereas on THERAPY, most of the songs were addressed to somebody, it sounded more like MiChi was talking to the listener (actually, looking at THERAPY's tracklist, this seems to come through even in song names: Light up, Take it easy, Find your way,). Not critisising this, just something that has popped into my mind when listening, must be my English major creeping through...

Tl;dr, I really like this album! I really need to add it to my collection, thank god it's Christmas soon. Also, my favorite (new) tracks are exactly the same as yours, with MadNesS 4 added (love the random Italian and flamingo crooning or whatever that crazy sound is), which naturally proves that these are unquestionably the best songs of the album.

[ILoveGeniuses]

I still havent heard most tracks in full as Ive had SO MUCH other more important stuff to buy and I can't find a download of it either.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by Kacku

I agree this is one of the best J-pop albums released this year; it's not saying too much, since I think 2013 hasn't been too good albums-wise. Anyway, I think EYES WIDE OPEN is a very strong album - it doesn't have a single song I dislike, though some tracks are very skippable (... well, actually just make me feel this way INdependeNt GiRL? and YOUR Life, so not bad at all). Most songs are dead catchy, MiChi sounds great and relaxed, brings a bit of playfulness to many songs. I like the album's shift in sound towards being more acoustic, brings a little something new to MiChi's discography (I wouldn't have minded another disco song though, LOVE Saturday Night).

I definitely agree with you in regards that this album has literally no tracks that are skippable. They're all listenable; even the more boring tracks are good. But I also do wish she made another underground club song or something...MiChi is really depriving us of this.

Originally Posted by Kacku

However, I think the material on this album isn't quite as strong as on the previous ones. The songs and production are a lot more simple than on her past releases - nothing wrong with going more simple, but listening and comparing the new material to songs like, say, THERAPY or Perfect World, I can't help thinking that MiChi can do more, she can go deeper. EYES WIDE OPEN isn't one-dimensional, per say, but, compared to her previous albums, I don't think I'll have as many discoveries and new things to find when I go back to it and listen with fresh ears.

I DEFINITELY AGREE!! I was listening to this album again for the 50th time in my car and realized that the production is much, much simpler than THERAPY (and of course UP TO YOU). THERAPY's first six tracks had a LOT going on in them; while for EYES WIDE OPEN it was much smoother and relaxing and simple. I don't mind it, of course.

Originally Posted by Kacku

On a side-note: do you think this album is more... I don't want to say self-centered, but that's the only word I can think of. I mean, it sounds to me that this album has most of the songs sung from me-perspective, probably telling about MiChi's thoughts and feelings, whereas on THERAPY, most of the songs were addressed to somebody, it sounded more like MiChi was talking to the listener (actually, looking at THERAPY's tracklist, this seems to come through even in song names: Light up, Take it easy, Find your way,). Not critisising this, just something that has popped into my mind when listening, must be my English major creeping through...

Hmm can you elaborate a bit more? But I understand where you're coming from. UP TO YOU and THERAPY had a lot more songs that were catered to us believing in ourselves and reaching for our dreams, while this album seems like it was more of MiChi opening up her eyes to the world and telling us her true feelings.

Wow, now I kind of understand her album titles.
UP TO YOU = Self-explanatory. Life is what we make of it.
THERAPY = MiChi's therapeutic session that she wants to share with us.
EYES WIDE OPEN = MiChi opening her eyes to the world.

Of course, just my interpretations.

Originally Posted by Kacku

Tl;dr, I really like this album! I really need to add it to my collection, thank god it's Christmas soon. Also, my favorite (new) tracks are exactly the same as yours, with MadNesS 4 added (love the random Italian and flamingo crooning or whatever that crazy sound is), which naturally proves that these are unquestionably the best songs of the album.

I hope you can get it soon! I waited two weeks for my copy to arrive and I was ecstatic to see it in my mailbox. Honestly, all the volumes of MadNesS have been great (although I do rank vol.1 near the bottom).

[Kacku]

Originally Posted by ILoveGeniuses

I still havent heard most tracks in full as Ive had SO MUCH other more important stuff to buy and I can't find a download of it either.

http://jmp3up.info/?mp3=16738 Try some of these?

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

I definitely agree with you in regards that this album has literally no tracks that are skippable. They're all listenable; even the more boring tracks are good. But I also do wish she made another underground club song or something...MiChi is really depriving us of this.

My thoughts exactly! I may not care for all the tracks as much, but they're still so well made that I'll gladly listen to them when the album rolls to that point (unless I'm REALLY in a hurry to hear a particular song). This seems to be a thing all her albums share; I don't skip a single track even on UP TO YOU, my least favorite MiChi album.

I'm also starting to hunger for another underground-style song. I originally got into MiChi thanks to her uplifting "therapy" songs, but I've come to like her grittier songs too: Shibuya de Punch is one of my overall favorites and recently I've discovered JUMP ON IT.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Hmm can you elaborate a bit more? But I understand where you're coming from. UP TO YOU and THERAPY had a lot more songs that were catered to us believing in ourselves and reaching for our dreams--

You got my thought perfectly! (Though it was really badly worded, need to avoid trying to post too deep thoughts after a tiring day.) I actually went back and took a very close look at every album's tracklist and the lyrics of each song and made a VERY rough divide between 'me-songs' (where MiChi sings about her thoughts and feelings) and 'you-songs' (where the song has a message for the listener) on each album. Based on this, I think EYES WIDE OPEN was the album with easily the most me-songs; I think Lighten the Fxxk Up and YOUR Life are pretty much the only songs aimed right at the listener. THERAPY, I think, is on the other end of the spectrum, with more than half of the songs addressed to the listener and speaking of the themes you mentioned.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

--while this album seems like it was more of MiChi opening up her eyes to the world and telling us her true feelings.

Wow, now I kind of understand her album titles.
UP TO YOU = Self-explanatory. Life is what we make of it.
THERAPY = MiChi's therapeutic session that she wants to share with us.
EYES WIDE OPEN = MiChi opening her eyes to the world.

Of course, just my interpretations.

I stan for your interpretations!! I've actually been wondering about the third album's title and what meaning could be behind it; it wasn't nearly obvious as the previous ones. I couldn't come up with any kind of conclusion myself, but your idea makes SO much sense! In the intro track, she's had her eyes opened and is wondering about her place in the world and on the rest of the album, she's opening her eyes yet more, observing all these things in her life and telling of them to the listener.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

I hope you can get it soon! I waited two weeks for my copy to arrive and I was ecstatic to see it in my mailbox. Honestly, all the volumes of MadNesS have been great (although I do rank vol.1 near the bottom).

I hope so too! I've been listening to this album a lot from my iPod and computer and it would be really nice to be able to pop the actual CD into my silly old radio and blast it around the house. Besides, I'm dying to see the booklet: THERAPY's had some gorgeous pictures and judging by the cover, EWO should at least have some colorful pics to look at!

I agree about MadNesS vol. 1 not being among the very best: it's certainly a nice and quirky song, but it's so damn short and feels like it ends abruptly, I just can't get immersed into it like I can with vol. 3 and 4.

Btw, having flipped through the booklets of MiChi's first two albums again... I really wish someone with great Japanese skills would bless us with their knowledge and translate MiChi's notes in the booklet. I'd love to know what she's saying about Shibuya de Punch and the album overall!

[ILoveGeniuses]

@Kacku Arigatou!!

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by Kacku

I don't skip a single track even on UP TO YOU, my least favorite MiChi album.

How come UP TO YOU is your least favorite album? I personally thought that the album was flawless minus One of a Kind lol

Originally Posted by Kacku

I'm also starting to hunger for another underground-style song. I originally got into MiChi thanks to her uplifting "therapy" songs, but I've come to like her grittier songs too: Shibuya de Punch is one of my overall favorites and recently I've discovered JUMP ON IT.

Shibuya de Punch is gorgeous. Have you heard her song, "Surrender" from the "MiChi MadNesS" album? That one is great. I wanna order that album sometime in the future from CD Japan to complete my MiChi collection.

Originally Posted by Kacku

I stan for your interpretations!! I've actually been wondering about the third album's title and what meaning could be behind it; it wasn't nearly obvious as the previous ones. I couldn't come up with any kind of conclusion myself, but your idea makes SO much sense! In the intro track, she's had her eyes opened and is wondering about her place in the world and on the rest of the album, she's opening her eyes yet more, observing all these things in her life and telling of them to the listener

I'm glad we could agree! It just occurred to me after reading your interpretations (: So thank you lol!

Originally Posted by Kacku

Btw, having flipped through the booklets of MiChi's first two albums again... I really wish someone with great Japanese skills would bless us with their knowledge and translate MiChi's notes in the booklet. I'd love to know what she's saying about Shibuya de Punch and the album overall!

Ugh I wish I could find translations for THERAPY and EYES WIDE OPEN. Nobody is translating the lyrics and it's killing me. I really want to see what Find Your Way is about.

Also; not to spoil anything, but you get your money's worth with the EYES WIDE OPEN booklet It's great being able to discuss MiChi's flawless-ness with another fan as passionate as I am. I love, love, LOVE MiChi.

[Kacku]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

How come UP TO YOU is your least favorite album? I personally thought that the album was flawless minus One of a Kind lol

It's just math: UP TO YOU has more songs I don't care for that much than the other two albums. I'm really meh about HEy GirL, Something Missing, One of a Kind and UP TO YOU and though I like YOU, it's totally overshadowed by all of her other ballads.

Might be explained by the fact that I fell for MiChi's lighter, positive songs and THERAPY (which I think is her most flawless album, lol) first. Those are closer to my usual music taste than the party-girl underground-ish songs UP TO YOU has more.

However, I've started to come around to the whole album recently: ChaNge the WoRLd also used to be on my meh-list, but one day I suddenly heard the song's genius and I've come to love it. I've also discovered the amazingness of Why oh Why and WoNDeRLaND? and I really like and appreciate them, even though they haven't become new favorites.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Shibuya de Punch is gorgeous. Have you heard her song, "Surrender" from the "MiChi MadNesS" album? That one is great. I wanna order that album sometime in the future from CD Japan to complete my MiChi collection.

Oh yes I have! Surrender is just a wonderful song, it's such a gem on MiChi MadNesS. I hope you can get the album soon! I don't care for that album much myself, but I can sympathize with wanting to complete the series lol.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Ugh I wish I could find translations for THERAPY and EYES WIDE OPEN. Nobody is translating the lyrics and it's killing me. I really want to see what Find Your Way is about.

I agree, so many lyrics I want to know better. I also want to know Find Your Way's message better and All about the Girls is another song I'm really curious about. I'm suprised no one has taken the challenge, I would've thought MiChi had at least enough fans to have one or two who can do both English and Japanese.

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Also; not to spoil anything, but you get your money's worth with the EYES WIDE OPEN booklet It's great being able to discuss MiChi's flawless-ness with another fan as passionate as I am. I love, love, LOVE MiChi.

That's great to hear! I love when albums have good booklets and visuals, it makes the album experience so much better and really makes having the physical CD and booklet feel worth the trouble.

And thank you! It's also great for me to be able to discuss all these things about MiChi with someone, usually there aren't that many chances to do it and I rarely get to meet someone so passionate and interested! I'm kind of a late addition to MiChi's fandom, since I only discovered her some time after THERAPY, but she's become one of my favorites and a really important artist to me. Songs like YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!, PROMiSE and motto. drive stress and anxiety away like nothing else and other songs like THERAPY, Shibuya de Punch and Perfect World just take me to places, it's amazing. Her positivity is so refreshing, it makes her a lovely artist to follow.

[NintendoHTF1242]

I became a fan right as she released KiSS KiSS xxx. That song is still one of my top-favorites. And I so agree with you on MiChi's positively through her music and lyrics. I always listen to her when I'm feeling down because she always brings me right back up! THERAPY does exactly as the album title suggests, it provides therapy (:

[Kacku]

I received my recent CDJapan order today, and EYES WIDE OPEN was one of the items included. So happy to finally have it in my collection! It's so pretty! I got the CD+DVD version, not sure if it was the best decision since the music videos are kinda... reeeeally cheap, to put it nicely. But on the other hand, it comes in a nice slipcase with a re-sealable plastic pouch, which is the greatest thing (it will remain pretty for years to come, yay!).

Anyway, I reiterate: blasting MadNesS vol. 4, Saturday Night, and Lighten the Fxxk Up from the radio and singing along at full power is the best thing!

[Kacku]

New single All I Know announced for July 16th release! The song will air tonight on Japanese radio, I hope someone, somewhere, somehow can record and upload it.

[AyuGAME]

ah glad to know that she still releasing new stuff...she need to re-invent..

[Kacku]

Re-invent? I disagree. She has a unique sound that works perfectly for her, and I think she can still make amazing songs based on that. I'm open to her experimenting with new things (which is what she has been doing for a good while: the disco-banger Saturday night, funky INdependeNt GiRL?, and acoustic ballads motto. and Nearly Maybe... clearly stand out in her discography, especially compared to her more electronic-influenced early works), but I don't want her to throw away what works.

EDIT: Damn, couldn't catch a stream because of traveling. :< I hope the song will pop up soon. Sony uploaded a little blurb about the song, describing it as a number with a "UK rock taste" from MiChi's roots. Apparently the song is composed by Yoichiro Nomura, the guitarist of MiChi's live crew, and the lyrics are done by MiChi and (not sure if I'm reading this right) Ishiwatari Junji.

[NintendoHTF1242]

I saw the news on her Instagram! So excited!

[AyuGAME]

Originally Posted by Kacku

Re-invent? I disagree. She has a unique sound that works perfectly for her, and I think she can still make amazing songs based on that. I'm open to her experimenting with new things (which is what she has been doing for a good while: the disco-banger Saturday night, funky INdependeNt GiRL?, and acoustic ballads motto. and Nearly Maybe... clearly stand out in her discography, especially compared to her more electronic-influenced early works), but I don't want her to throw away what works.

I agree, that she need to keep her style, because it's so unique
but still she is working and lets face it that her latest release is not doing well on sales or on the chart...if she want to continue singing and releasing music, she needs money, and money come from sales. So she need to combine her style and public style to make her song more appealing.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by AyuGAME

I agree, that she need to keep her style, because it's so unique
but still she is working and lets face it that her latest release is not doing well on sales or on the chart...if she want to continue singing and releasing music, she needs money, and money come from sales. So she need to combine her style and public style to make her song more appealing.

I get where you're coming from. T.O.M was her main producer when she first started out and their chemistry was breathtaking. Unfortunately, she doesn't have him produce for her as much nowadays. I wouldn't mind if they got together and made another club-banger though. Maybe for the next album