Tracks:

1. Canvas

2. Kimi wa Su.te.ki♡

3. Cry&Smile!!

4. Canvas (piano version)

5. Canvas (Instrumental)

6. Kimi wa Su.te.ki♡ (Instrumental)

Ken Hirai’s Canvas / Kimi wa Su.te.ki♡ was released on February 20th, 2008. It’s his 28th single and peaked at #3 on the Oricon Charts, selling 23,600 copies in its first week. The title track was used as the theme song for the drama Hachimitsu to Clover.

Canvas is the typical Kenken ballad. An uneventful one at that, it lacks a climax and isn’t very exciting. It is nice though, I just wish it was a little more… you know special. The arrangement reminds me a lot of Kimi no Suki na Toko but is at a lot slower pace. A little disappointing Kenken. D: Your voice is nice though. 8D

I love how out there Kimi wa Su.te.ki♡ is! xD It’s so crazy and funky. It’s so upbeat and just plain weird. I like it a lot more than Canvas though. Kenken’s voice sounds a little falsetto-y but it wouldn’t sound right if he used his emo, sad ballad voice. And it’s not often that we hear a synthy track so… yeah. RECOMMENDED! ;D

Cry&Smile!! is a great feel-good song. Although I think his sha-la-la’s and ooh’s were a little too much. It’s got a gospel feel to it and is probably one of the highest quality track on here. Ken uses his higher vocal range for the chorus and most of the song. The chorus would probably have to be my favourite part just because it’s kinda catchy. :3 The church chorus was a nice touch too.

I really enjoyed the piano version of Canvas because of the simplicity of it. Everything seemed like a little too much and just this is great. You can hear his voice more clearly and it’s just beautiful.

Overall Grade: