REVIEW: alan - JAPAN PREMIUM BEST & MORE
Chinese Tibetan singer Alan Dawa Dolma is one of the best J-Pop singers in recent history. Her first greatest hits album compiles all of her best songs, in chronological order.
CD1
1. Ashita e no Sanka
The album starts with Alan's debut single which is also her best song. Her signature sound is her "Tibetan wail" and she uses it to the max on this incredible song. She is by far the strongest pop vocalist in Asia. The end where she screams "utae, todoke" at the top of her lungs is enough to make anyone orgasm.
5/5
2. Hitotsu
A beautiful ballad, this is a more modern J-Pop sound. It was her least successful single, but I have no idea why.
4.5/5
3. Natsukashii Mirai ~Longing Future~
This song just takes you away on an epic journey. It's so uplifting and amazing and it's like you're with a group of amazing people following queen Alan to the promised land.
5/5
4. Sora Uta
The intro of this song is amazing, it's like the song will combine pure pop with her Tibetan wail. Unfortunately the song lets you down in that regard, as it becomes pretty standard J-Pop fare. But it's still really good.
4/5
5. Kaze no Tegami
A more rockish side of Alan, this is another great song. Listening to the album it's always bizarre to think that she's never had a lot of success.
4/5
6. Red Cliff ~Shin-Sen~
This was the theme song of an epic war movie, and that's exactly what the song sounds like. Extremely powerful, emotional and beautiful.
5/5
7. Megumi no Ame
Another stunning ballad. She just tugs at your heartstrings with her gorgeous voice.
4.5/5
8. Gunjou no Tani
This song gives me so much life. The beautiful music and beat and Alan's stunning voice holding it all together. Awesome song.
4.5/5
9. Kuon no Kawa
Alan's most successful single. The flute intro is really cool, and the rest of the song is great as well. Very beautiful melodies.
4.5/5
10. Ballad ~Namonaki Koi no Uta~
The first minute of this song is so, so beautiful. Like a beautiful dream world. I remember I got tears in my eyes when I first heard it.
5/5
11. Swear
After so many flops it was like Avex kind of gave up on her unique qualities and instead turned her into a really generic and boring J-Pop singer. Alan's fans were shocked when this single came out.
2.5/5
12. Diamond
Another relatively weak single, it was at least stronger than "Swear". And her voice is enough to make each of her songs listenable.
3.5/5
13. Over The Clouds
Any song that uses AUTOTUNE on the flawless Alan Dawa Dolma automatically FAILS. Actually it is not that bad, but still.
3/5
14. Kaze Ni Mukau Hana
More like the old Alan but this song doesn't offer anything truly spectacular. It is beautiful though.
3.5/5
15. Kanashimi wa Yuki ni Nemuru
A very calm, beautiful song, that showcases Alan's gorgeous voice to the fullest.
4/5
CD2
1. Echoes
A really Asian sounding song, which is always a good thing. And there is a stunning wail at the end. The Chinese version "Hu Huan" is better, but still this is extremely good, one of her best.
4.5/5
2. Komorebi
A pleasant song, but nothing more.
3.5/5
3. Eternal Love ~Koi no Hana~
A very pleasant song, but nothing more.
4/5
4. Venus Flower
Meh. Why do J-Pop singers always try these jazzy songs?
2.5/5
5. Wasurenaide
This CD is pretty useless to have physically. This is so boring.
2.5/5
6. Ai wa Chikara
Alan sings opera with Kei Fukui. A very epic end to this great album.
4.5/5
She gave me boring, she gave me no energy, she gave me I just want this to be over with, she gave me stiffness, she gave me no stage presence, and I believe she gave me lip-sycing as well.
I am stanning so hard for her this week. 