Track List:
01. Oh Yeah!
02. Love so sweet
03. WAVE
04. We can make it !
05. Firefly06. 太陽の世界
07. Carry on
08. ROCK YOU
09. Cry for you
10. Love Situation
11. 風
12. Be with you
13. LIFE
14. アオゾラペダル
15. Everybody全身
Basic Info:
The latest album from 嵐 (Arashi), released in two versions. The regular edition, discussed here, was released ahead of schedule while the limited edition, featuring the four members' solos, hasn't dropped yet, to my knowledge. I'll likely handle the solos separately when they become available.
Review: Track 01: Oh Yeah!
A nice, smooth and upbeat song to open the album. There really isn't anything remarkable about the song except that it really reminds me of "Carnival" a lot. It would make a good concert song, though, and I'll be expecting to hear it.
At first, I wasn't overly gung ho on the song but, after three or so listens, it's really grown on me, as is the way with most Arashi songs.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 02: Love so sweet
The theme for Hana Yori Dango Returns and one of the singles on the album. Months after this song's release, I am still putting it on mixes and doing the "fresh dance" that goes with every "zutto zutto."
Really, this song embodies what I think of when I think of Arashi: refreshing sound, good harmonies, solid lyrics, upbeat, and a dance to go with it.
Track Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: Track 03: WAVE
This track did absolutely nothing for me. The singing was pretty standard and the music wasn't anything special. In some places, it sounded like they were singing a little flat.
Track Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Review: Track 04: We can make it !
Theme to Matsumoto Jun's drama "Bambino" and the most recent Arashi single, this is quite possibly the most uplifting, cheer-inducing song in the world. I can't express my love for this song enough. Just listen to it.
Track Rating: ★★★★★
Review Track 05: Firefly
This song has all the fun of "Right Back to You" with a smoother groove to it and a rap section. Yes, it's a little rehashed, but it's still fun. I'm also a sucker for really obvious key changes.
Track Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: Track 06: 太陽の世界
The opening of this song is reminiscent to "Lucky Man" but doesn't feel like it has the musical joy of its predecessor. It's not a bad song; it's just boring.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 07: Carry on
This track sounded like every other JE semi-ballad ever made. It wasn't my least favorite thing on the album, and it was decently sung, for the most part, but it featured too much desperate note-howling drama for my tastes. Arashi can do better, and I expect better.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 08: ROCK YOU
Despite the title, there is little rock in this song. It is, in fact, hoppity happy. The first three rounds, I couldn't really get into the pace of the song but, after a bit, it got stuck in my head.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 09: Cry for you
When they created the term "rock out," they made it for this song. This song requires pyrotechnics and kirakira falling from the sky. It reminds me, a little, of early Depech Mode in its synthesizer work.
Track Rating: ★★★★☆
Review: Track 10: Love Situation
I was ready to write this song off after the first listen but, now that I'm on my third or fourth go, it's not so bad, really. It's upbeat and well toned and would be fun to do at karaoke with friends. It's no magical feat of musical awesome, but it's also not offensive to the ear. In fact, it's kind of cute.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 11: 風
The opening feels very General Hospital, and the pace continues on much that same note. Nothing spectacular, vocally, but nothing offensive. It feels a bit like a filler song.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 12: Be with you
Every album needs a soft, floaty song and this is it. This is a prime suspect for the concert cooldown period, to be sung while the band is flittering about in their cranes. It features a decent amount of solo time and doesn't require great feats of vocal skill to perform. the neighborhood elementary kids could perform it for their graduation song and do a decent job.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 13: LIFE
Every album also needs to experiment with something. This track experiments with a weird tempo about which I'm still not sure how I feel. Aside from the weird half-beat stops, the song is clean and typical Arashi fare. The stops might make it hard to perform live, but I have a feeling they're going to try it anyhow.
I would like to know, however, who told Sho to solo in a manner that was not rap. Sho does not belt. Yes, he pulled it off in "We can make it!" but that was a lucky shot. Also, stop giving him this weird calypso-rap thing. It sounds...not so good.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 14: アオゾラペダル
From the soundtrack to the "Honey and Clover" live action movie, starring Sakurai Sho, this single was never one of my favorites. The song lacks personality, but is generally well performed.
Track Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review: Track 15: Everybody全身
Have you ever heard KAT-TUN's "ノーマターマター"? This song was written to the same back track. I'd be willing to bet money on it. Still, this song is better, one of my favorites on the album, even. It's a through and through concert song, full of energy and genki and wonderful.
Track Rating: ★★★★☆
Overall Rating for the Album: ★★★☆☆
Rating Breakdown:
★☆☆☆☆ - I couldn't make it all the way through the song, not even once.
★★☆☆☆ - I made it through once, but wouldn't listen to it again
★★★☆☆ - I am not offended by the existence of this song, but I wouldn't run out to buy it.
★★★★☆ - I would listen to this song multiple times and recommend it to others.
★★★★★ - I have had a religious experience and will worship this song for life.
