THE IDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 2 Series

[Raestloz]

Just got my hands on dem 3

My judgment?

Master Artist 2 07 Yukiho Hagiwara

LOST - Maybe I don't know Asakura Azumi much, maybe Asakura Azumi hasn't been into singing for long, or maybe she's just a bit under the weather when singing this, or is LOST really that hard? I will never know, but her version is... well... slightly under mediocre. Her voice itself is good, but the way she sings is the one at fault: not flowing naturally. I can hear her a bit stiff in some parts, and her breathing in air.

Also, good, they used the actual BGM from the original LOST, unlike DREAM...

MEGARE! - I don't know why, but for some reason when I'm listening to this Yurina Hase's voice began to haunt me, this didn't happen with that LOST above, so I really don't know why. At any rate, Yukiho's MEGARE! is good enough. 100% not ear bleeding and is actually enjoyable

Sweet Donuts - I like this, and I think it's time for me to let go of Yurina Hase (she's still haunting me after that MEGARE! up there). It flows really well and  think fits Asakura Azumi well. The ultimate point comes from the fact that the group sing matches each other perfectly in this group, unlike HMH and TCM in which Miki and Makoto overran everybody else

Nando mo Ieru yo - feels more like a plain anime song than an iDOLM@STER original. I have to say it fits Yukiho well, but.. well... doesn't fit iDOLM@STER. I was expecting lots of instrumental variation from an iDOLM@STER original. But I guess the very expectation biased my opinion, or is it?

Koi - Goddamit now I remember Yurina Hase's For Fruits Basket again. But seriously, I think from the whole CD this one fits Asakura Azumi, and Yukiho in general, the best. The usual slow, piano-filled song fit for a soft voice

Master Artist 2 08 Mami Futami
MEGARE! - Look, I'll be honest: I was expecting something awesome with the new-look Mami and when I hear the usual Futami I feel kinda disappointed.

Speaking of expectations, I was expecting Mami or Ami to make MEGARE! aesome. I mean, this kind of song is usually for Futami or Yayoi, but once again Haruka tops another.

Expectations aside, her voice is, well, you know, the usual. As for the singing itself, is not that great: feels a bit plain in some parts, Haruka's got a lot more intonations than this one. Mediocre I say.

Jammy - IDK, shouldn't it be "Jammy"? Is there an official romanization?

Ah, now THIS is what Mami should sing. Fits her perfectly and is enjoyable. But... eh... feels plain, kinda like Yukiho's original song, although it has more variations, so it's better

Sweet Donuts - Going on the Famison 8-bit route, Project-iM@S? I like this one, a lot. Lots of instrumental variations at play, a great alternative drastically different from Yukiho's, and thus incomparable with it. I have a good feeling for this "Sweet Donuts", Yayoi's probably would be a unique one too.

Yume no Naka e - Is actually pretty good. Her singing flows well, although I can practically hear this song in Haruka's voice and enjoy it better.

Also, for the humming part, let's just say she's not made for humming. And the ending... is it supposed to be that way? Humming "Yume no Naka e" with the sound dimming to the background? Never expected that kind of ending in THE iDOLM@STER.

Remei Starline - Not for me. I can picture myself fighting Sephiroth holding a Buster Sword, shrugging off Supernova and proceed to unleash Omnislash while listening to this. To be honest, I never bothered with Remei Starline back in MS02. But seriously, why the hell is there space launch garbage in this? I know it says "starline" but "launch confirmed"? Seriously?

Master Artist 2 09 Yayoi Takatsuki

Smile Taisou - I expected this kind of song for Yayoi, lots of fun. Pretty childish but cheerful! "A Ha Ha Ha!" haha. Fits her perfectly and very good. Especially the way they do the "Ha ha ha" part. A stiff "Wa Ha Ha Ha"? Ahahahaha I'm sold. This literally made me smile

Kiramekirari - Well, the ol' Kiramekirari is back. What to expect? Surprisingly, they didn't just copy the old one, they actually re-record this one, now with lots of back voice, and echoes!

Sweet Donuts - Pardon me, but is that Kiramekirari in the first 4 seconds?
Well, while this is unique to Yayoi, and on its own a good song, thanks to Yayoi's great way of singing (not breathing lol), I feel that Yayoi sounds the same for pretty much every song, and that makes me kinda sad.

Sampo - LoL what is this? Some kind of marching band orchestra? I can picture Yayoi with lots of other elementary children singing this. Kind of like how a child sings national anthem: non-intonational and sings it just because she was told to. This is perfect for her. Kinda bland in that the notes and octaves are pretty much just that and that again, but it still almost made me laugh, for the aforementioned reason

MEGARE! - Okay, now I really can't do much for MEGARE! I thought either Yayoi or Mami will do it justice, but I'm wrong: Haruka does it more justice, a LOT more.

On its own this is a good song, but... you know... feels plain. Kind of like Takane's version: good but bland.

Also, definitely not ear-bleeding, and while I was whining of how Yayoi sounds the same everywhere, now I think she better not try anything too new.

[TweenDoriru]

My 2 cents (kind of in response to Raestloz):

1: Yukiho's LOST is good, imo. She kind of sounds like Azusa in parts...but, still a good song. This and Sweet Donuts is what I return to her CD for, mainly.

2: I enjoy Mami's Yume no Naka e a great amount. Mind you, I may be biased...but I liked her "humming" (a musical version of the trademark Futami "n fu fu~"!). I must agree, though...I expected far better for the Mami version of MEGARE!. It's not that I was expecting something different than standard Futami, but I don't think it turned out as well as Asapon can do.

Also, I think the song is supposed to be "Gemmy", not "Jammy".

3: Yayoi's Smile Taisou was love. Plain and simple. I didn't really enjoy Sanpo (despite it being Totoro), and the Kiramekirari remix was alright. But after I listened to Smile Taisou, everything else on the CD wasn't as good in comparison...XD

Overall, on Sweet Donuts:
Yukiho won vocals.
Mami won BGM.
Yayoi's didn't win anything, but was still pretty good. XD

[Raestloz]

My 2 cents (kind of in response to Raestloz):

1: Yukiho's LOST is good, imo. She kind of sounds like Azusa in parts...but, still a good song. This and Sweet Donuts is what I return to her CD for, mainly.

Her LOST is by itself pretty good, it's just that her singing doesn't flow well and feels a bit stiff at some part, probably either due to excitement or anxiousness, or simply out being of under the weather, unlike Hibiki's accentuated DREAM which I can say intentional

2: I enjoy Mami's Yume no Naka e a great amount. Mind you, I may be biased...but I liked her "humming" (a musical version of the trademark Futami "n fu fu~"!). I must agree, though...I expected far better for the Mami version of MEGARE!. It's not that I was expecting something different than standard Futami, but I don't think it turned out as well as Asapon can do.

I think that's my problem. It feels like she's trying to hum but at the same time doesn't quite doing it right, probably because musical laugh is not that good in general

Also, I think the song is supposed to be "Gemmy", not "Jammy".

IDK, that's what appeared on top of my head when I read the hiragana. The two sounds pretty much the same. Like I asked, is there an official romanization on this one?

[Maka]

Best CD was Miki's, my personal favorite spot probably would've gone to Chihaya if Ai ni Tsuite wasn't so boring and whiny. But seriously, Miki's CD is the only one where I've put all the songs on it on my ipod. Day of the Future is incredibly catchy, Squall shows the more serious side of Miki in a great way, and her Tips Tap Tip is the best imho.

Worst imho was Hibiki, because Trial Dance was a engrishy wreck [did I hop in the TARDIS and go to some bad 80's mecha anime? Whaaaaa...] Nada Sou Sou is passable, DREAM is a poor remake through no fault of Hibiki; the bgm just sucks [but I was never crazy about the original], and her Tips Tap Tip is great but Haruka's and Miki's are better. I love Hibikin, she needs better stuff.

Best new song was either Nemurihime, Day of the Future, or tear. Worst was either Nandomo Ieru Yo [doesn't fit Yukiho and sounds like the op to a stereotypical moe anime] or Trial Dance [again, engrish EVERYWHERE and it sounds very dated].

[BT2]

IDK, that's what appeared on top of my head when I read the hiragana. The two sounds pretty much the same. Like I asked, is there an official romanization on this one?

http://www.project-imas.com/w/Talk:Jemmy

[Raestloz]

To be honest after hearing all 9 I'm a bit worried. The guys at Project-iM@S seem to go for standard anime-opening song. Just look at START!!, tear and Nando mo Ieru yo.

I have to say they're good, but they certainly is not as unique as I hoped.

Or perhaps it is me being paranoid and overexpecting

[Haldo]

Wait... anime opening style? And they're coming out with a new anime soon?

I hope this means what it sounds like...

[Sev]

Thumbs up to Haldo for awesome speculating. Evey girl gets her own OP i hadn't even thought of that. which makes me feel kinda stupid

[Raestloz]

I don't mean to crash the party but it's very unlikely. For example, you don't want to make Nemuri Hime your opening song, or - for extreme example - TRIAL DANCE. I don't know how they would rig Nemuri Hime to fit an OP (it still may work) but TRIAL DANCE won't fit into an anime OP no matter what they do with it.

Also, I don't think they'll go Bakemonogatari style, one girl per episode.

I mean they began to drift from the usual unique style to standard J-pop band style. iM@S 2 is the first time I hear an iM@S original that sounds like an anime OP song.

So far, only 3 makes the list: START!!, tear and Nando mo Ieru yo, but considering it's a new beginning, the idea might take off.

It will be a different case if they make Haruka, Makoto, and Yukiho leader of their respective units though.

[TweenDoriru]

And you know, just because it sounds like an anime OP to us doesn't mean that's what they intended it to sound like, necessarily...besides, anime pull songs from other sources to use, as well (does -anything- Franz Ferdinand sound like an ED song? Not unless you watch the credits of Parakiss)

I wouldn't be surprised if they gave everyone an episode where they play the main character...otherwise some of the idols might end up getting the short end of the stick and not showing up as much as anyone else (Ricchan's probably got that one)

[hamuzou961]

Out of curiosity, did anyone here get the THE IDOLM@STER 2 765pro H@PPINESS NEW YE@R P@RTY !! 2011 CD?

[Raestloz]

Out of curiosity, did anyone here get the THE IDOLM@STER 2 765pro H@PPINESS NEW YE@R P@RTY !! 2011 CD?

I certainly (and sadly) don't. What does it contain?

On Topic; I hope Ryuugukomachi got great originals. I certainly wouldn't want standard anime style again (with emphasis on drums, mostly). Uniqueness is what hooked me on iM@S in the first place.

[Maka]

I can see Trial Dance as an 80's anime op.

Nandomo Ieru Yo is pretty anime op-ish too. I can see it working as something for a moe harem comedy. XD;

[Raestloz]

I can see Trial Dance as an 80's anime op.

Well, still won't make it into a 2011 anime.

Nandomo Ieru Yo is pretty anime op-ish too. I can see it working as something for a moe harem comedy. XD;

Can't agree more.

[nowano]

Here come's the second season!

THE IDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 2 -SECOND SEASON- 01 Minase Iori
COCX-36739　Price: ￥1,800 (Without tax: 1,714yen）
Song, talk：Minase Iori, Futami Ami

THE IDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 2 -SECOND SEASON- 02 Futami Ami
COCX-36740　Price: ￥1,800 (Without tax: 1,714yen）
Song, talk：Futami Ami, Minase Iori

Release date for both CDs: 4/13/2011

《"THE IDOLM@STER MASTER ARTIST 2 -SECOND SEASON-" Cover song request No.1》
They are requesting the followings this time:
1. Cover song for Iori
2. Cover song for Ami
3. Cover song for unit of Iori and Ami

Application period: 2/4 - 2/18
Producer who have selected the songs will be written on the booklet.
Request Application Link

http://columbia.jp/idolmaster/news/index.html