Kimi Ga Suki [Enhanced] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese edition of the power-pop singer songwriter's 2003 album, his first in three years. Matthew Sweet has dedicated this album to his fans in Japan. No domestic is scheduled. Copy-Protected CD. Cutting Edge.

Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu
Average customer rating:

"We are not so many worlds apart"

Sweet Rock & Roll

Sweet comes roaring back with a classic after a decade in the doldrums

Not Girlfriend but far from Mars

Let it not escape you

Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu
Matthew Sweet
Manufacturer: Racm Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Living Things

Under the Covers, Vol. 1

100% Fun

In Reverse

Altered Beast

ASIN: B0002MPQQE
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Dead Smile
Morning Song
The Ocean In-Between
I Love You
I Don't Want To Know
Warning
Spiral
Love Is Gone
Hear This
Wait
Tonight We Ride
Through Your Eyes
Silent Track 1

Customer Reviews:

"We are not so many worlds apart".......2006-09-04

Since "Blue Sky on Mars," I lost track of what Matthew Sweet was putting out. I still love "100% Fun." It is one of my favorite albums but, since "Blue Sky" wasn't quite as good, I lost interest. Well, running across reviews for "Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu," my interest in Sweet piqued once again. Boy, I'm glad I didn't miss this album! It is incredible! The liner notes explain that Sweet wrote all the tracks over a one-week period and recorded them without any demos. Well, I guess that was a recipe for success. The proof is in the pudding! The album is a gift to his Japanese fans (Sweet calls it a "love letter to Japan") and was originally not released in the United States. It is worth owning as an import for the higher price but, I'm glad it is available here.

"Dead Smile"(3:01): Cute little opening rocker, but better tracks are to come including 3 slam-dunks in a row!
"Morning Song" (2:37): Man, this is way too short! One of my favorite tracks on this album. Pleasant, kickback feel.
"The Ocean In-Between" (2:49): Wow, what a beautiful rocker! Definitely a tribute to his Japanese fans. The chorus is wonderful with the sweetest lyrics!
"I Love You" (4:39): Awesome rocker! Grabs you right away! The chorus is amazing! You WILL be addicted to this track!
"I Don't Want to Know" (2:29): OK, we got the 3 slam dunks out of the way (there are 3 more to come). This is a nice, pleasant, soft, yet upbeat, track.
"Warning" (2:53): I actually did not like this song at first. I thought its opening was weak, but it gets better with each listen.

"Spiral" (1:51): Now we're talking! But why do such awesome tracks have to be so short!? I want MORE of this! Dark, furtive-sounding, undertones with excellent background guitar!
"Love is Gone" (3:28): Slow and quiet number.
"Hear This" (3:22): Slam dunk time again! The awesome verses kick! In fact, the chorus is almost a let-down. It is a little country-sounding but not enough to detract.
"Wait" (2:39): OK, not a slam dunk, but still another pleasant track with soft vocals.
"Tonight We Ride" (2:45): Now, this IS a slam dunk! Flat out rocks from beginning to end! Great guitar, awesome chorus! Best track here!
"Through Your Eyes" (5:10): I can see why this is the final track as it has that feel to it. It is a nice, catchy song. At the 3:56 mark, it bursts into a guitar/drum instrumental and then peters out to end the domestic record.
"Silent Track 1" (1:50): I actually ordered the unenhanced domestic version, but received the enhanced one anyway. If you are wondering if the extra track is worth possibly paying additional money for the enhanced version, it is silence at first and then Sweet sings "Sayoonara --I will see you some time soon." I would say it is only for completests.

Sweet Rock & Roll.......2006-01-29

This is Matthew Sweet's best album.
Just straight-forward rock/pop.
Raw, but melodic tunes with heft and heart.
He cranked this thing out in just a couple weeks,
so he didn't have time to second-guess himself and slave over the production.
So what you're left with is an honest and heartfelt album that's not fussed-over.

Sweet comes roaring back with a classic after a decade in the doldrums.......2005-08-21

In reading Mr Lavezzoli's excellent review, where he says almost everything, I find he has said almost everything I wanted to say.

I found this album and I was put off by the jacket. Sweet has a huge loyal fan bass in Japan which has followed him from "Girlfriend", a Zeitgeist album, one of, if not the best album of the last twenty years, past 'Altered Beast", "100% Fun" and through the sinking ship of the subsequent albums. He as here as he has always a lyric yet mordant writing gift, a great harmonies, jangly Byrds style guitars. There was a dispute of some sort following his early stuff and his band parted ways. He wonderful backup band for Girlfriend, deserved a lot more credit Richard Lloyd, Ric Menck, Greg Leisz, but most specifically Lloyd whose masterful acidic guitar licks played off against Sweets softer lyric tendency. What he has lacked in recent years is Lloyd.

Sweet is a writer/singer capable of both power and sensitivity. Great harmonies, missing from so much new Rock.

New songs (for a live album). His Janapese fan base worships his every note. A famous Japanese artist did the cover as a tribute (famous to the Japanese): the cat is symbolic of Sweet, the Girl Japan! It certainly appeals more to them and Sweet than to me, I guess, but ignore the outside and get inside. This is the power, energy and spontanaeity of "Girlfriend", altho search as I may, there is not a standout cut like "Divine Intervention". Which is why I give it a 4 star rating rather than 5 under my tough grading system.

This album is obscure, you will have to seek it out, I found only one copy in the largest store in town. Your search will be rewarded.

Let's hope Sweets future efforts include Mr Lloyd and the rest of the crew follow this live format rather than the recent syrupy, overproduced, under-guitared albums.

Not Girlfriend but far from Mars.......2005-08-02

Matthew Sweet made his indelible mark on the music world with albums that resonate with Pop, Rock, and a sense of fun. Girlfriend and the aptly titled 100% Fun are two such examples of the musical legacy he has left in his wake. Recent releases have not lived up to such lofty standards but have been decent nonetheless.

Kimi Ga Suki, a fan "Thank You" cd for the devoted SweetHeads in Japan, is a semi-return to form. Fun, energetic, spontaneous...none of the baggage that or writing-by-numbers performances that drag down some other releases. You are not going to find songs that will define the decade for you as some of his earlier work has for me (can't hear Divine Intervention without opening a time-capsule of memories from a distant era gone by) but you will find an enjoyable listen from start to finish. Buy this album. Enjoy this album for what it is...a thank you note from a pretty cool guy.

Let it not escape you.......2005-07-11

So, I'm ripping my CDs recently and rediscover my Matthew Sweet collection from the early nineties. I thought to myself, "what's he up to now?" So, I discover this "Japan-only" gem a few years late and was STUNNED! This takes you right back to 1991-1995 era Matthew Sweet. I seriously redeveloped my appreciation for Matthew Sweet's acute talents with this one!

Average customer rating:

"We are not so many worlds apart"
Has moments that compare to his best work 4 1/2 stars
a tragedy that so few will hear these wonderful songs
Love at First Track
WOW.

Kimi Ga Suki
Matthew Sweet , and Matthew Sweet
Manufacturer: RCAM Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Living Things
Son of Altered Beast
In Reverse
Altered Beast
Blue Sky on Mars

ASIN: B000172LQ8
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Tracks:

Dead Smile
Morning Song
The Ocean In-Between
I Love You
I Don't Want To Know
Warning
Spiral
Love is Gone
Hear This
Wait
Tonight We Ride
Through Your Eyes

Customer Reviews:

"We are not so many worlds apart".......2006-09-04

Has moments that compare to his best work 4 1/2 stars.......2004-07-23

"Kimi Ga Suki" finally makes its stateside appearence on CD and, although it's not Sweet's best album, it can more than hold for the most part. The most melodic songs on the album like the rocking "Dead Smile" or "Through Your Eyes" will remind you of the best material from Sweet's "Girlfriend" or "Altered Beast". The production is a bit thinner and not as splashy or slick but that's no surprise given that Sweet recorded this at home. "Ocean in Between" recalls "Girlfriend" the most with an infectious hook, killer harmony vocals and a melody that ingrains itself into your brain almost from the first verse. As a result, everything from the best songs to some of the lesser ones have a flow unlike some of his previous albums.

The good news that many of his usual collaborators appear here including Television guitarist Richard Lloyd. His guitar work adds much needed bite to some of the weaker material which gives it a bit more substance. The home recording approach actually works in the album's favor making it difficult to pigeon hole the album's sound. While much of it does recall his previous material, the best songs tend to build on rather his other albums rather than standing at the same level. Adding to the charm is the fact that Sweet wrote the album straight through vs. accumulating songs over time and recorded them in a rush of activity over a week or so. This approach (like McCartney's on "Driving Rain")only adds to the quality of the songs and charm. There's no second guessing here as there wasn't much time to do it.

"Kimi Ga Suki" may be an imperfect album but it's an imperfect album packed with ingenious melodies, sharp playing and singing as well as musical ambition. Unlike another reviewer here, I actually did like "Thorns" and "In Reverse" as they both showed a willingness to step away from a sound that made him successful and take risks outside the power pop genre.

a tragedy that so few will hear these wonderful songs.......2004-07-11

The man is a genius, and this album proves it. Melodious. Harmonious. Great tunes. Great guitars. One of his best albums ever. It is so sad that so few will ever hear these beautiful songs. Listening to this music makes you want to live forever.

Love at First Track.......2004-07-02

I bought this CD weeks ago, and just put it in this morning... I am floored by the quality and beauty of this album. This will forever be a favorite. Buy the CD. You'll fall in love.

WOW........2004-06-18

Girlfriend is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the 90's. To my ears, this one is just as good, if not better. Sweet hooks galore, Richard Lloyd's blistering guitar solos, a rhythm section that will make you bob your head uncontrollably, and luminous production equal a classic in the making.

Tracks:

Dead Smile
Morning Song
The Ocean In-Between
I Love You
I Don't Want To Know
Warning
Spiral
Love Is Gone
Hear This
Wait
Tonight We Ride
Through Your Eyes

Album Description

Japanese edition of the power-pop singer songwriter's 2003 album, his first in three years. Matthew Sweet has dedicated this album to his fans in Japan. No domestic is scheduled. Copy-Protected CD. Cutting Edge.

Album Details

Japanese exclusive release.

Customer Reviews:

Worth the Money or Worth the Wait.......2003-12-31

If you spent top dollar for this you didn't get ripped off you just got it sooner.Best Sweet album since Girlfriend is now available for regular price! 100% Fun was only 75% so this is 25% better.I got it at a record store for the new low price but I wish I had gotten it earlier. It's that good.

album of 2003.......2003-12-08

This is hands down the album of the year for me. His last record "In Reverse" was lush, yet it did not hook me in the first time. I found myself enjoying most of the tracks live. This record hooked me from the first song. He came back to basics, and it's great. Thanks to friend in Japan for making sure I got this record asap.

Had a reason to finally use Amazon.co.jp.......2003-11-09

Like many others, thought Matthew's last two albums were duds and self indulgent. Like on stage, he shines when interacting with other talent. Took a chance on this for temp living in Japan and got it for $13. Damn it is fantastic; every song is good and collectively it is sublime. Perhaps he will send the demos of the cuts that did not make the album to Lloyd Cole to hear if there is another super-hit like Girlfriend in the pile. I say 10 more great reviews on Amazon and Matthew will release this in the US...

What's So Nifty About Japan?.......2003-10-31

Remind me to smack Matthew Sweet next time I see him. I mean, from the one time I met him he seemed to be a genuinely nice guy, but to withold this album from his American fans is more than a little annoying. If it were a rancid filth-pile of an album, then I could understand. But this is REALLY REALLY good stuff! I just got my copy yesterday and it's been playing non-stop in my CD player. Yes friends, Matthew Sweet is back with a vengance! Don't worry about everything sounding like it was recorded in a bathroom like on "In Reverse". Don't fret over lack of substance like on "Blue Sky on Mars". No, this is akin to all the good stuff from his glory days ("Girlfriend", "Altered Beast", and "100% Fun"). But if you're unfortunate enough to live anywhere BUT Japan, you're going to have to do some searching to find this and when you do, be prepared to pay a hefty price. Tisk tisk, Matt. So, in summary, this is a wonderful album full of addictive melodies and catchy songs. Get it if you can afford it.

long time coming.......2003-09-01

I have disovered Matthew Sweet after years of listening to music. As a Todd Rundgren fan, I find him the extention of what Todd could have been if he had not gotten off the path of "popular" music. The CD is way too expensive, but the music is great. I was waiting for an American release and a cheaper price, but my need for some good music moved me to spend the big bucks. The CD sounds better every time I listen to it. My favorites are Dead Smile, I Don't Want to Know and Through Your Eyes. This CD, along with the Thorns debut, have made my musical summer. Buy it if you can, but hopefully it will become more reasonable soon.

Average customer rating:

Kimi GA Suki
Mr. Children
Manufacturer: Toys Factory
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005TZH3
Release Date: 2002-01-01

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