Changin’ my Life is best known through their songs used for Full Moon wo Sagashite. Indeed, between 2.5 and 3 years ago it was those songs that first started my interest in the Japanese pop scene. This is their debut album released 2002.07.26. It contains the three singles and their B-sides released beforehand.

The album opens with Myself, the ending and theme for Full Moon Wo Sagashite and an amazing song in it’s own right. It’s hard for me to talk about this song in a way; which I have been listening to even longer than certain Ayu songs- probably 3 years this song has been with me. Well, it blends a lot of synth, a keyboard part, and some strings for a rather beautiful instrumentation. It has a soft, almost ethereal feeling to it. I always think of winter and snow falling ^_^ Myco doesn’t have the best voice, but for sure her voice is powerful and presents a lot of emotion. I love the backing vocals too. Even the lyrics: “Why do I love you so much? The answer is so close I cannot reach it” are just really sad. I love how it builds up to the ending, before quietly ending. It’s a powerful and moving ballad full of longing and one of my favourite songs.

Luv.Remix follows Myself, and it’s a lot faster and more upbeat. It has a very quirky instrumentation- something that should sound outdated with the use of synth and keyboard but yet…it really doesn’t. I really love the constant dance beat and the vibrant string part. The chorus is really strange, with what Myco does with her voice- but it’s really cool and adds something very unique to it. I also like the quiet backing vocals. The song has a great, upbeat feeling to it and its fun to listen to. It does get a little repetitive after a while unfortunately. Though I do really love the ending with Myco’s soft ad-libbing. Really makes listening worthwhile for an ending like that!

Then it’s an album version of Star Dust. This song has a beautiful piano part, with the bass and some strings too. Myco sounds beautiful and her voice carries a lot of emotion. I notice her voice sounds a little strained at times, but it’s not distracting nor does it ruin the song. Overall it’s a very bittersweet ballad, which is soft and gentle making for a very relaxed feeling. I really do like the instrumentation, especially the piano and synth solo instrumental. It conjures up the image of a starry night: which is fitting given the title. The backing vocals this time round are a little distracting, a little too harsh for the song, but that’s the only thing that really gets me. Otherwise this is a very beautiful song.

Confidence follows and it’s a favourite. It opens with a beautiful piano part, and some wonderful and light vocals from Myco. The song is really gentle, with wonderful keyboard instrumentation. I love how it builds up to the chorus, becoming stronger and well, more confident. It’s a wonderful (and appropriate) effect. I also love all the other variations this song goes through, the use of dynamics and the way it builds up and then down is very interesting. This is a beautiful and relaxing song which really, is just so pretty. As always, it carries a lot of emotion and a soft power to it. Like Luv.Remix the ending is something worth waiting for too XD Myco sounds so pretty in this song!

Track 5 is an album version of Embraced love, the B-side to the Star Dust single. Embraced Love is a little odd. It starts badly with Myco sounding a little flat and the thumping instrumentation, and various other parts of it is a tiny bit annoying too (it ends just as strangely too). The song first comes off a little flat, a little mediocre. But then comes the chorus, which is a lot more powerful with better vocals and the song picks up. This is a weaker track, it has some very nice parts and I like the rock edge apparent during and after the first chorus- however the beginning is a bit weak and generally off-putting. Also, sometimes Myco sounds strained. This song has good and bad points to it. I would say once you get past the beginning, and if you can get used to rather weaker vocals now and then then it is decent. I do like how they ventured into an edgier song for this.

Next up is SAYONARAはわたしから(Goodbye from me), the song with very strong vocals from Myco building up to a fast and edgy dance number. Complete with synth, keyboard and backing vocals. I find the backing vocals a little annoying when they suddenly pop up now and then- though they sound quite nice for the “say goodbye” parts. Other than that I like the thumping dance beat, and Myco’s powerful vocals. The high pitched Keyboard sound that pops up now and then it rather nice too. Myco’s adlibbing at the end is just gold, and I like how the guys end it before it fades off.

Then it’s the fast and exciting Focus. The song in Mitsuki’s dream episode one of Full Moon ^_^ The song is very fast and energetic, with wonderful blend of fast dance beat and some awesome synthetic strings. The song carries a lot of attitude, and mainly a lot of energy!! I really love it; it’s so catchy and upbeat. A fun and energetic song which makes me smile a lot!!

Crazy for You was the B-side to Luv.Remix and it follows next. The song has much more mainstream pop/RnB feel than a lot of their other work. Frankly I think Myco’s vocals are really weird in the beginning, and the heavy beat smothers her in the chorus. It really picks up in the chorus where there’s a bit of edgy guitar work and good use of backing vocals- gives the song a bit of power and an edge. This song is like Embraced love- a bit of a mixed bag really. So I’m forced to say it’s no more than decent.

The album is nearly over with Nostalgia, where suddenly the album goes back to relaxing and soft ballads. This song has a very sad and regretful feeling to it. Myco sounds really wonderful and sincere. It’s a beautiful and laid-back ballad. That one synth part is a bit strange though! This song reminds me a lot of Myself, but a little toned down and more laid-back. The song is very pretty, but it’s not outstanding.

Lastly it’s an album version of New Future- and it’s only 5 minutes long?! New Future’s biggest flaw before was that it went on for ages but this is more compact. Either way it’s a great way to end an album, being a very powerful song about hope and looking toward the future. It makes me think of Mitsuki Anyway, we all know this one right? “Let’s sing a song~”. Ah…this song must be ingrained in my brain by now. It’s a very pretty, very powerful song with a lot of energy and hope. Myco gives an impressive vocal performance, and the instrumentation is lovely too.

Overall rating: 8.5/10 (Good, let down by weaker tracks in a way)
Favourite Tracks: Myself, Stardust, Confidence, Focus

I love Changin’ my life, and I have for a long while. For about a year all I’d heard was their best of album, until I found this album of theirs. Changin my life has a strange sound. The keyboard, the dance beats and the synth should sound outdated- yet somehow they make it work. Their work can be powerful songs like Myself and Confidence, and upbeat energetic numbers like Luv.Remix and Focus. I think some of these songs are sub par, but there are really some great tracks too that are just awesome to listen to.