Track Listing
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Mirai Taxi
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Yumekui
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Mackerel’s canned food
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PEACH
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Kumuriuta
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Hoshi no Tango
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Katorisenkou
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Frienger
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CHU-LIP
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HEART
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Ren’ai Shashin
1. Mirai Taxi
Out of the previous opening tracks, Mirai Taxi is my favorite hands down. Starting off with Ai shutting the taxi door and then a cool guitar/synth riff pops in and things just get better from there. I love how she justs sounds so right with the whole yelling in the chorus and settling down through the verses. Definitly a great song to start off on.
2. Yumekui
Yumekui pops up after and it does kind of sounds like a more chill version of “Mirai Taxi” which is cool because I still like the track since the single review. The whole dreamy take is so nice and peaceful especially since nothing sounds like it in her discography.
3. Mackerel’s canned food
Our next new track’s name is based off of a band she used to play in which is a nice tribute of sorts. Still the title is still very Ai and for people who wouldn’t know the fact is it strange. I like the whole rock thing, but it probably would’ve fit more in her next album, “LOVE LETTER” moreso than on here IMO…
4. PEACH
One of the two last A-side released for the era, PEACH is our token summer song and Ai’s always had one on each album. So from that standpoint, PEACH is a bit like “U-Boat” in arrangement, but I really like PEACH because Ai’s obviously having a lot of fun here and even though it’s not the best of the era, the PV makes up for it. Dancing peaches FTW
5. Kumuriuta
Would you be surprised that Kumuriuta is basically a ballad? Thought so, Kumuriuta is a pretty nice ballad (but when is one of her ballads aren’t?). Ok, let me take that back. Ai’s vocals kind of seem off by a little bit because she is singing almost by herself in the first verses. After that though, it’s smooth sailing with Ai, piano, acoustics, and strings and drums.
6. Hoshi no Tango
Hoshi no Tango to me is one of her most pleasant songs of recent. Like the whole accordion with the nightlife music is just so done wonderfully. Ai even sounds so good here. Musically, the song doesn’t seem to have any direction, but given the mood, it doesn’t exactly seem that important. Everyone has said this about it and yea, it’s too short. Give it another minute and it could’ve been the best song off the album.
7. Katorisenkou
Kind of like how Mika’s MICA 3 CHU stuff sounded out of place, Katorisenkou is that song on this album. It begins with a mosquito flying around the speakers and then crazy Ai just appears and wow was this the mood twister. “Hoshi no Tango” was sweet and cute…Katorisenkou is just erratic and one of the most random songs that she’s created. Another thing she does each album. Ai definitly took the punk rock and made it her own and the whole ~ka ka ka~ thing is just 0.o and her screaming as well. Would you believe it’s even shorter than the previous as well?
8. Frienger
The rest of the tracks are old ones from here on out and we start with the A-side to start off the era, Frienger. Now from the single review I said that this wasn’t that good to me. Well that decision is still concrete. I’m not sure why I don’t enjoy it as much as the songs that are similar. I think her voice is probably the thing that made me dislike it. Maybe it’s just cuz she’s done songs like this already and I just wasn’t impressed perhaps.
9. CHU-LIP
I’m still giggling over the fact that CHU-LIP’s PV was so strange and funny at the same time. I love the fact the she incorporated some brass in the song and the whole meaning of (I don’t wanna be my parents) going on throughout was just silly and cute. It’s my favorite A-side this era has put out for sure.
10. HEART
HEART to me is like retro music. Like the strings and the guitar melody is just so 70′s pop ballad for some reason. Her voice sounds so right and doesn’t force her to make high notes that she would usually squeak through, so I have to say this was a great addition to the album.
11. Ren’ai Shashin
I kind of figured Ren’ai Shashin would’ve been the track to finish the album because it is a ballad which her albums are also known for of course. I would’ve preferred the version found on “PEACH/HEART” but since this was an A-side I guess it was more important. It’s so dramatic and Ai once again proves that she’s the ballad queen.
Tracks Recommended
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CHU-LIP
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Mirai Taxi
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Ren’ai Shashin
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Hoshi no Tango
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Katorisenkou
Song of Avoidance
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Frienger
I have to say, this is her best album so far. LOVE PiECE has so many good tracks (even though it’s lacking in new material). I do think the new tracks were better than most of the A-sides on the album so it was saying that she’s going in the right direction…(yea…). If I was blogging in 2007, I would’ve said either this or abingdon boys school’s debut album would’ve been the best that year.
