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m-flo
- Planet Shining (2000)
If
you knew me back in like late '99 - 2000, then
you knew I was going nuts with j-pop. And amongst
all the j-pop stuff, nobody impressed me more
than m-flo!! m-flo is made up of 3 members,
Verbal(rapper), Lisa(half colombian/japanese
vocals/rapper) and Taku(beat producer and DJ)
I learned about them first when I bought Dance
Dance Revolution: Club Mix 2nd Append for my
PSX. They had two tracks in the game, Been
So Long and The Rhyme Brokers.
Both songs had great beats and I'd play it just
to listen to em. Their unique sound and flow
is what made me pretty much fall in love with
their style. Even though half the stuff they
say is in english, they sound like they're from
NYC and the beats do too. (i didn't include
the outro...it's no big deal)
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1.
Intro / :56 / Download
(right click, save as)
The
album starts with a nice mellow beat and a flight instructor
giving you instructions in english and then in Japanese
which is followed by a spaceship taking off. m-flo's
whole style is basically "taking you to another
world." =) [BLASTOFF! 10/10]
2.
Ten Below Blazing / 4:54 / Download
(right click, save as)
Now
the album truly begins. The first track m-flo deals
to ya is real fast paced and gives you the idea that
you're in some kind of tunnel or some shit. It does
give you a feeling of being somewhere hot! The rhymes
are delt REAL fast Verbal shows his skills by his usual
"going off beat and making it sound good"
technique. It's amazing how fast they switch from english
to japanese in this track. Personally, I really like
the remix of this track more, but it's still hot!
[Blazing! 9/10]
3.
Interlude / :34 / Download
(right click, save as)
More
flight instructions! haha This time, it tells you in
both languages that certain electronic devices aren't
allowed. The beat is silly, but fun to listen to.
[Fun. =) 10/10]
4.
Planet Shining / 5:05 / Download
(right click, save as)
The
track that the album is named after, this track is a
perfect example of their New York-ish style. The beat
is dark, yet has a really unique style thanks to looping
piano chords are just real exotic sounds throughout.
Verbal and Lisa do a great job at mixing their vocals
up too. [SHIIINE! (not die) 10/10]
5.
Come Back To Me / 4:49 / Download
(right click, save as)
This
one's a track that most girls might like. It's all Lisa,
showing how great she is when it comes to vocals and
slow songs. The beat is amazing, slow yet with a ton
of depth. Violins, guitars, and lots of great synth
sounds are used to create one of the best tracks on
this album. [Delicious. 10/10]
6.
Interlude / :58 / Download
(right click, save as)
Without
a doubt, my favorite interlude on this album!! It gives
you some in-flight instructions on calling home or choosing
radio stations. The beat is great too! It builds up
to some fast ravish stuff. [Oh YES! 10/10]
7.
Chronopsychology / 3:48 / Download
(right click, save as)
Lisa
does most of this track, but Verbal spits the last verse.
The beat is rough, changing tempo and shit. This is
one of those head bobbin tracks. Personally however,
I like the Coldfeet remix however. It should be in my
Downloads section soon. [Mind-bending! 9/10]
8.
Hands / 5:10 / Download
(right click, save as)
Man,
I love this song!This is the one song that EVERYONE(and
I mean everyone) loved listening to, no matter how much
they didn't like m-flo or jpop. The beat is beautiful
and the vocals Lisa delivers are mellow and just sounds
like her singing is meant just for you. The whole song
is about wanting to have "your" hands in hers
and how she melts from "your" touch. Verbal
then comes in with an amazing job at rapping to this
beat, once again using his off beat technique that just
puts the icing on this cake! [SUGOI! 10/10]
9.
Radio Show (Interlude) / 4:37 / Download
(right click, save as)
This
track is hilarious if you understand some japanese and
what's actually going on. The beat in the background
is m-flo's Too Much Sense followed
by Love or Truth Phileo mix's beat,
which aren't on this album. Basically, from the preview
interlude, radio was selected and the Radio Show is
being listened to. The funny part is that the host has
Verbal and two other rappers, Alter-Ego and General
Gau, and they just get interviewed...but all 4 people
ARE Verbal!! haha [Retarded! 9/10]
10.
Saywhatchugotta / 3:58 / Download
(right click, save as)
Verbal
takes over and I mean COMPLETELY takes over this track.
This track continues on from the Radio Show, where Verbal
and the "two other rappers" make a track together.
Verbal does a great job at making each "person"
sound completely unique and having a totally different
style. This track is meant for hardcore j-pop fans,
cause if you don't like jap-hip hop then this isn't
for you! [Notbadatall! 9/10]
11.
Just Be / 5:22 / Download
(right click, save as)
For
some reason, this makes me think of "Planet Shining
part 2" or something. haha The beat is weird as
well, but this time with more bass. Lisa sings more
on this track while Verbal spits near the end of the
track with "Unika" aka Lisa's rapping alter-ego.
haha It's a bit more slow paced than a lot of their
songs. The hook is real nice and catchy too. This one
will get some part of your body moving to it's beat.
[Rhythmatic! 10/10]
12.
Interlude / 1:37 / Download
(right click, save as)
This
one just plays Mirrorball Satellite 2012 in the background,
another of their tracks not found on this album, while
it's trying to connect a phone call that was dialed.
Nothing too special...but still fits the album's style.
=) [Blah? 9/10]
13.
Quantum Leap / 3:26 / Download
(right click, save as)
This
is another rough beat, where they just go off rapping
to drum filled beats and it has a Soundgarden kind of
sound near the end of the track...you'll know what I
mean. Verbal does a hot ass part at the end though,
where he says the entire alphabet in his verse. Personally
however, I LOVE the remix of this. [It's cool.
9/10]
14.
L.O.T. (Love or Truth) / 6:12 / Download
(right click, save as)
One
of my personal favorites, this track was the second
song I ever heard from them(minus the DDR tracks). When
I heard this after Been So Long, I knew I was gonna
love anything they came out with. The beat is melodic,
yet very R&Bish. Lisa once again sings sweet vocals
while Verbal raps, creating a beautiful blend of both
worlds. Near the end of the track(around the 5 minute
mark), the beat changes...I dunno about you guys, but
I get goosebumps from that part all the way up to the
end of the track. [Love is chosen. 10/10]
15.
Deep Within / 6:25 / Download
(right click, save as)
This
track is like a 6 minute long poem...I love this. Lisa
just speaks, while a really nice beat plays in the background,
which goes PERFECT with the tone of this track. Verbal
has the second verse, where he basically has a poetic
moment himself(probably my fave part of the track).
He does some wonderful rhyming too. This entire track
is in english too. [Extremely deep. 10/10]
16.
Been So Long / 5:51 / Download
(right click, save as)
The
cream of the crop. The beginning of the j-pop craze
amongst myself and my friends. This track needs no introduction.
The beat is soulful, while the rhymes Verbal spits are
FIRE. Lisa spits some amazing lines herself as "Unika"
and sings the hook amazingly. And as if this wasn't
good enough, you should hear the remix!!!! You should
see me do this song on DDR on Maniac...I can actually
beat this. =) [It's a wrap. 10/10]
OVERVIEW
There
hasn't been many albums that I'd listen to every single
track without skipping at least one. This is definitely
one of those albums I can just sit and listen to until
the end!! If you want a taste of Japan's music at it's
best, look no further. Just go with the flo of this
mediarite.
It's
as good as...[Nothing
can compare! 10/10] |
