Berryz Koubou – Ai no Album ⑧ February 24, 2012

Track Listing

1. Mythology ~Ai no Album~
2. Yononaka no Barairo
3. Shy boy
4. Because happiness
5. Ren’ai Moyou
6. Ai no Dangan
7. Amazuppai Haru ni Sakura Saku
8. Atarashii Hibi
9. Aa, Yo ga Akeru
10. Seishun Gekijou (Berryz Koubou Ver.)

1. Mythology ~Ai no Album~

Starting the album off, we get the title track and funny enough it kind of reminds me of Momosu’s more disco-based songs because of all that synthed brass that’s used here.  I have to say, I loved Risako and Yurina’s vocals stood out here and it’s quite catchy but damn it if I can’t call it Berryz’ version of “Kono Chikyuu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterun da yo!”.  They are just quite similar to one another.  At least it’s a nice start to the album. 

2. Yononaka no Barairo

The next track on the album starts off slow before speeding up and kind of having a fast-pased arrangement.  It’s kind of weird that I get a young Berryz’ sound when compared to many of the other songs on the album.  I’m really liking it but the deeper vocalists are having a harder time than Momoko and Miyabi.  I will say that it sounds like “7 Berryz Times” stuff but a little better.

3. Shy boy

I’m surprised at the amount of synths that are in Shy boy, it’s kind of odd but enticing for sure and I’m liking the more sexy atmosphere but did we need to have auto-tune on EVERYONE?!?  It really turned me off from the song in a major way and hearing the members sounding all kinds of awkward just doesn’t work.  Without the the overload of auto-tune, this song could’ve been amongst the best on the album.  WHY TSUNKU WHY?!?!!!!!

4. Because happiness

When I heard the opening of Because happiness, it reminded me of a mix of Momosu’s “OK YEAH!” and S/mileage’s “Uchouten LOVE”.  Yeah it’s that gritty high-pitched synth H!P has been utilzing for quite a while now and it’s getting tiresome on me.  The rest of the song is kind of mid-tempo-ish and flows by nicely and throws in a Classical melody randomly before the final chorus.  It’s an interesting song and pretty good.  EDIT: Two months after being released, Tsunku actually came out and said that this and °C-ute’s “Shiawase no Tochuu” are meant to be played together and it becomes a full song (to be honest, this is a lot better because I felt after a while that Because happiness was empty in a lot of spaces).

5. Ren’ai Moyou

There’s two songs on the album that are split into smaller groups, the first one has Chinami, Maasa, Yurina, and Risako singing together!  It kind of sounds like pretty cool and different for them as it’s a ballad and such.  I’m happy to hear that Chinami kicked things off for the song since she has the high-pitched voice while Yurina has the deepest of the group.  Of course we can’t forget Maasa and Risako as they’re in the middle.  It kind of reminds me of old Tanpopo (the original trio).  It’s soothing and vocally impressive for all four! 

6. Ai no Dangan

Of course the A-side would be included on the album starting with the era’s first big hitter, Ai no Dangan.  Goodness gracious is this song quite badass!  All the members have equal opportunities (cept Miyabi in the chorus where she gets one word LULZ).  It follows their more rockin’ experimentation they’ve been doing since “6th Otakebi Album” and they hit gold with this.  I love the power behind the girls and even girls like Saki and Chinami surprised me here.  Still quite an epic A-side and I didn’t think they could top it…OH how I was wrong XD

7. Amazuppai Haru ni Sakura Saku

AGAIN?!?  I really wish I didn’t have to review this song for the third time.  Like I said back on °C-ute’s album review, this song doesn’t fit for Berryz IMO.  It’s a style that really isn’t touched upon and really is a sore thumb on this album.  Considering that there’s no solos and the vocals are pretty much singing together not providing a lot of Berryz vocals since I hear more °C-ute and Momoko >.>  Just sugary and not impressive at the least…

8. Atarashii Hibi

As the last new song on the album, Atarashii Hibi starts with glass breaking before getting into a rather mid-tempo song.  It’s a bit more mature for them (like the next song) but this is pretty good.  I like the 90′s pop atmosphere with the small latin flares here and there.  I will say that I’m surprised because this is the song with Saki, Momoko, and Miyabi and they all do good and I really like Captain’s deep vocals in the song…SEXY lol.  It’s definitely a throwback kind of song but I liked this a little more than “Ren’ai Moyou”.

9. Aa, Yo ga Akeru

I was coming off my high of “Ai no Dangan” and expecting the song to be bad BUT Aa, Yo ga Akeru is awesome on a stick!  It’s not as badass as as the other song but it’s amazing and mature and just classy all around and I STILL don’t get why people dislike it so much.  It’s like 90′s Eurodance almost and it just flows so well throughout the song.  I’m still in love with he song as is still the best song of 2011!  Why do you think I gave it that title!!!  Oh, you think it was because I gasm because of Risako/Miyabi’s swoop to that high note? Prolly XDDD

10. Seishun Gekijou (Berryz Koubou Ver.)

Yup like °C-ute’s album, Berryz ends theirs the same way with their own version of Seishun Gekijou.  I find it amusing that it’s different from their sister’s group AND the original version in arrangement.  While °C-ute’s version is more guitar laced, Berryz’ version is more towards piano so it’s a little better at being soft enough for the 7 members to sing.  Of course the guy is also singing here but the girls power over him.  It’s actually the preferred version IMO.

Tracks Recommended

• Aa, Yo ga Akeru
• Ai no Dangan
• Mythology ~Ai no Album~
• Atarashii Hibi
• Because happiness

Song of Avoidance

• Amazuppai Haru ni Sakura Saku

I’m starting to notice a certain rhythm between this group and °C-ute.  It seems to me in my book that they go back and fourth between good and bad albums IMO.  It’s really strange for me so when I disliked °C-ute’s recent album, I assumed that I would actually enjoy Berryz’ album and for the most part that is true!  Most songs were pretty good but there were some weaknesses.  Shy boy was the first miss because of the overuse of auto-tune to the point where it was just cheesy and just plain bad AND Amazuppai Haru ni Sakura Saku’s addition to the album…it just had NO place on here.  Still not bad, but I still think “6th Otakebi Album” is their best (that I’ve reviewed so far).

Aimer – Yuki no Furu Machi/Fuyu no Diamond

Track Listing

1. Yuki no Furu Machi
2. Fuyu no Diamond
3. ORION

1. Yuki no Furu Machi

Starting the single with the primary A-side, Yuki no Furu Machi really bores me!  I mean good god, at least try to stray away from the A-sides you’ve done previously because it’s all the same and it really frustrates me that this song is just like both “Rokutosei no Yoru” & “Re:pray”.  I think the melody of the song does stick out better because there’s synths involved during the instrumental parts but otherwise, this is pretty forgettable IMO.

2. Fuyu no Diamond

A 6 minute ballad for Fuyu no Diamond?  It kind of takes the slight synth moments from “Yuki no Furu Machi” but once again finds itself in mediocrity by sounding like most of the other A-sides.  I’m just disappointed here and not even Aimer’s vocals could’ve saved the boredom I had listening to the song.  Though the chorus is nice…still once again frowny…

3. ORION

As always the third song on Aimer’s singles are a cover, however this one is actually a cover of a Japanese artist and that’s Mika Nakashima (which I’m surprised she covered ORION and not “Yuki no Hana” XD.  It’s actually quite simple of a cover only having percussion and piano involved.  While I liked Aimer’s take on in, it’s hard to really cover a song that someone (like Mika) who has unique vocals.  Still I liked this…

 

 

I’m kind of just disappointed in this single to be honest.  Both A-sides failed to bring anything new to the table and both sounded like past A-sides that it just seemed to glide by without notice.  However the only redeeming quality about the single is that ORION was not bad of a cover.  Gah, she needs to break from the ballad zone once!