High Speed Boyz – CHILDHOOD’S END September 13, 2009

Track Listing

1. CHILDHOOD’S END
2. BAD CITY

1. CHILDHOOD’S END

I was surprised to see that CHILDHOOD’S END has a mix of electronica mixed in with the group’s rock sound.  It wasn’t surprising that the lead singer, Jin sounds a little bit like FLOW’s singer, maybe deeper.  As it’s their first A-side, it doesn’t get good until the hard-hitting chorus.  Then again, it helps that the video was pretty freaky too.  I think it’s a very good debut A-side.

2. BAD CITY

This was actually their first song that was released as a digital single before this and boy does start off kind of different.  A synth melody begins before Jin and the boys come in and it definitely sounds like something GReeeeN or FLOW would release an that’s more or less a good thing.  I like that BAD CITY has a consistent sound and Jin sometimes goes into auto-tune mode as well which makes it a cool listen.

 

 

Even though already they have been pointed out to be somewhat of a GReeeeN clone because Jin is related to one of their members and is a producer for em, I’m guessing he wants to get out and do something of his and I think it’s really good because I love the synth mixed in with rock and they’ve so far got it right.

ikimomo-gakari – YELL/Joyful

Track Listing

1. YELL
2. Joyful
3. YELL -instrumental-
4. Joyful -instrumental-

1. YELL

Another ballad to fill the era up?  YELL wasn’t the feeling that I was getting from the title, I thought it was going to be more rock-out and crazy.  What we ended up with is Kiyoe singing strongly with the song’s piano-led arrangement.  Not that there was anything wrong with that, but didn’t we have “Futari” to hold us over on that aspect?  Then again looking at the 6 minute length, I couldn’t exactly take much of it, but I’ll say Kiyoe is singing a whole lot better than she did in “Hotaru no Hikari”.

2. Joyful

Oh wait…now this is the song I was expecting to be “YELL”.  The arrangement is upbeat and the tambourines are just as fast.  Kiyoe’s vocals do sound a lot more exciting and her yelps are just so damn cute.  I actually think it’s the second time where I thought an A-side was really good from ikimono-gakari (haven’t listened to anything previous before “Kimagure Romantic” and I thought that was really awesome).

 

 

Their 3rd release of the era, YELL/Joyful is a bit better than “Hotaru no Hikari” and “Futari” as both songs showcased Kiyoe so much better than those two.  YELL’s length was probably the only downside I could find about the song, but it’s orchestral feel was great and Joyful’s happy and peppy sound won me over very quickly ^_^

Vanilla Beans – LOVE & HATE

Track Listing

1. LOVE & HATE
2. Gamla stan
3. Koi no Theory
4. Gamla stan (Rena Solo Ver.) (LOVE version only)
5. Gamla stan (Risa Solo Ver.) (HATE version only)
6. LOVE & HATE (Instrumental)
7. Gamla stan (Instrumental)
8. Koi no Theory (Instrumental)

1. LOVE & HATE

Vanila Beans really do know their opposites right?  LOVE & HATE is rather one of those songs that’ll get stuck in your head.  I love how they split the chorus in half with love & hate being on each side.  The song does have a strong idol sound to it and Rena and Risa doesn’t have the most exciting vocals, but it’s rather fitting and once again to the point where you’ll be humming the song for quite a while.  See the PV as well…it’s so random and yet hypnotizing…

2. Gamla stan

The first B-side sounds definitely like something that’s from the Beatles’s era of music.  I think I really like the whole retro sound going on.  Sadly, the song seems like it’s dragging along and the girls are sounding wacky, harmonization wise.  At least it’s nice their singing about a city that used to be Stockholm…I thought that was quite cool.

3. Koi no Theory

Koi no Theory is probably the cutest song off the single.  Released previously as a digital single, I think it didn’t fit with the single at all since it was giggly cute.  I’ll say they did a way better job harmonizing than they did on “Gamla stan”.  It’s just as catchy as “LOVE & HATE” if not more, so I’m happy they put this here.

4. Gamla stan (Rena Solo Ver.)

So going by the title, the first B-side is the big shiner off the single since Rena and Risa gets solos of it.  Rena’s version sounds right since her vocals are quite right, but if I’m correct…Risa is still there but she’s muted alot, but to the point where she’s barely audible.  Now that I think about it, Gamla stan is more psychedelic pop, but still retro in a good way.

5. Gamla stan (Risa Solo Ver.)

I thought Risa’s take on it was a little more varied and nice when compared to Rena’s.  Though the ideas switched where Rena’s is barely audible while Risa takes over.  I’m not sure who I’m more into in the solo versions since both still have vocal issues with the BKGD singers and stuff.

 

 

Vanilla Beans begin their sophomore era with a pretty nice single.  They might not be vocally as good as other idol two-somes, but they are nice and having a different sound helps out.  LOVE & HATE is probably going to be my guilty pleasure for a while.  Gamla stan is good, if it wasn’t for the harmonization problems…luckily the solo versions fixed it.  Koi no Theory was pretty good too…I hope that gets on the album.