ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D – eggmate of the year July 30, 2012

Track Listing

1. eggmate of the year
2. stop the time
3. eggmate of the year (instrumental)

1. eggmate of the year

I like that the band decided to have a little more fun for the second A-side in eggmate of the year.  It carries the summer feel quite nicely and has the same amount of rock added in!  Of course the energy brought from SHiNNOSUKE’s rapping and singing is quite strong and makes you wanna hit the beach and rock out.  Definitely an improvement over “Complication”.

 

 

*Will review the B-side if the single ever leaks!*  I’m actually surprised that their debut album, “From Dusk Till Dawn” will not feature the A-side in its tracklist.  It makes me wonder why eggmate of the year is omitted from the album because it’s actually quite good of a summer tune!  Then again it is the only single that hasn’t leaked yet either which is a bit meh…

Sayaka Sasaki – Reason why XXX

Track Listing

1. Reason why XXX
2. Ordinary Day…
3. Reason why XXX (off vocal)
4. Ordinary Day… (off vocal)

1. Reason why XXX

It’s been a while since I’ve heard Sayaka and she comes back in an unusual way.  Reason why XXX is quite an enigma of a song because it has electro, 8bit, and rock tendencies which gives this wild arrangement.  I’m also surprised at the power of Sayaka’s vocals as well because they got a lot more heavier and has power behind it.  It’s varied and showcases the many good things about her.  Great A-side.

2. Ordinary Day…

I was really surprised when we came into Ordinary Day… because the song is a lot slower than the lead track but it isn’t a ballad by any means, it’s just a mid-tempo kind of song.  I’m not sure why but the song was extremely dragging the entire time and I was bored of it immediately after the first chorus.

 

 

I have to say, Reason why XXX might be a pretty good A-side from her but the single was dragged down with that boring B-side, Ordinary Day…  I mean it’s only a small step above “Starting Again” but I just don’t like that boreness!

ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D – Complication

Track Listing

1. Complication
2. Fortune
3. BUMP ON da STYLE
4. Complication -TV Size Opening Ver.-
5. Complication -TV Size Long Ver.-
6. Complication (instrumental)
7. Fortune (instrumental)

1. Complication

Getting into the trio’s debut single, I was wondering why Complication is considered their most well-known track but I honestly can’t see why it’s good.  I mean it has a mix of anison and the band’s sound all rolled into one package.  I don’t think it’s as good as their later singles are which is a bit surprising but I think it’s a suitable debut A-side and I kind of like SHiNNOSUKE’s vocals but not so much of the rapping…that kind of threw me off.  Still not bad…

2. Fortune

At least the band kicks it up a notch for the first B-side, Fortune.  It’s still quite anime-esque and reminds of a NARUTO theme for some reason >.>.  I like the energy and the band has a little more fire going on in this song which is pretty cool.  I’m a little surprised that there’s a lot more of this rapping going on which kind of makes it sound like a FLOW song (something I’ve said before about the group).  I liked the song a lot more than “Complicaton”.

3. BUMP UP da STYLE

The last track on the single, I thought they made a funny with that piano intro.  It seems the song is suited more for their hip-hop side but the song switches genres by getting a bit more rockin and it goes back and forth lol.  There’s still a lot of rapping to be found which is no surprise but it’s kind of a fun tune.

 

 

ROOKiEZ and their debut is different from what I know of the band today.  Complication is a pretty good single but I do think their later singles are much better!  I like SHiNNOSUKE’s vocals when he isn’t rapping but the times he rapped were actually solid. 

Natsuko Aso – Fighting Growing Diary

Track Listing

1. Fighting Growing Diary
2. WONDER SUMMER VACATION
3. Hello, my world

1. Fighting Growing Diary

Besides the rather odd title (she’s known for this anyways) Fighting Growing Diary actually seemed like it toned down the cutesy vocals but managed to keep that bubbly anime pop feel to her style.  I mean the lyrics are a bit wacky and non-sensical sometimes but this song is kind of a step up from previous A-sides for sure ^_^

2. WONDER SUMMER VACATION

The first B-side on the single, WONDER SUMMER VACATION sounds a bit more idol-pop which is a nice change of sound and Natsuko’s vocals are a bit more suited here which is pretty nice.  It’s a pretty bright song and definitely a lot more fitting for her.

3. Hello, my world

A first for Natsuko, we get another B-side in Hello, my world which also has an idol-like style for it but there’s a bit more of a beat to me whereas
WONDER SUMMER VACATION” is a bit lighter.  I think the song is also better because it’s catchy and the chorus is easily hummable to me.  Definitely my favorite track off the single.

 

 

I have to say that it has been quite a while since I liked a Natsuko single and Fighting Growing Diary is a pretty impressive single.  All three songs all trumped over her last single, “Lovely Girls Anthem” by a huge leap.  I have to say though that both WONDER SUMMER VACATION and Hello, my world were shockingly the better songs since Natsuko’s vocals got let up on the squeaky cute but kept that idol-style.  Fighting Growing Diary is good too but it’s a bit odd lyrically so it’s kind of taking time to get used to.