Buono! – Take It Easy! August 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Take It Easy!
2. Kirai Suki Daikirai
3. Take It Easy! (Instrumental)
4. Kirai Suki Daikirai (Instrumental)

1. Take It Easy!

Buono! has steadily been getting better with their releases especially the last three.  However, Buono! kind of slipped with this release.  It doesn’t sound Buono! at all which is unusual.  I know them as the girls with gritty guitars, catchy lyrics and arrangements, and cutesy vocals from the girls.  This time around that’s all different.  Take It Easy! has a strange acoustic vibe with banjo also in there.  I guess it’s a nice sounding summer tune, but this is probably one of my least favorite A-sides from them.

2. Kirai Suki Daikirai

This is what I mean.  Kirai Suki Daikirai has the edgier sound that the girls are well-known for and I love it.  Though the melody reminds me of “My Sharona” in the most strange way.  The thing that threw me off from the single was that the transition to the chorus was pretty bad and quite awkward with the tempo change.  I think Momoko is also on the right page, vocal-wise since she sounded pretty good with Airi and Miyabi. 

 

 

After the awesome “MY BOY”, Buono! had to take a few steps down for this single.  I just think Tsunku slipped up with this single as neither songs really had the Buono! spark (maybe the B-side).  I don’t know but I didn’t enjoy this single much.

Buono! – Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! August 9, 2009

Track Listing

1. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
2. Minna Daisuki
3. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! (Instrumental)
4. Minna Daisuki (Instrumental)

1. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

I guess after their 1st album, Buono! continued on with Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! which is a bit more of a mix of their idol statuses and rock and synth mixed in a blender together.  I still find the fact harmonica is in the song a bit strange, especially when Tsunku is behind the ropes and all.  The ladies as usual sound the same as they’ve been.  Miyabi and Airi once again are the better vocalists while Momoko continues to be the fail of the group and only coming off as the uberly cute one…someone give her vocal lessons plz!

2. Minna Daisuki

As for the only B-side that made it into this era’s album, Minna Daisuki strips away the rock side of Buono! and left something that should’ve never really happened.  It’s a bit more of a mid-tempo pop track and the girls turned up the cute to the point that all the members are really bad.  Definitely not the right way the girls should be going.

 

 

Buono! began their 2nd era with a pretty meh single.  Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! isn’t like their last single which was their best at the time…it’s nice they stretched their sound out a bit to feature a harmonica solo, that was pretty cool.  Minna Daisuki though, was just horrible all-around and I rather not listen to it again…

Buono! – MY BOY April 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. MY BOY
2. Warp!
3. MY BOY (Instrumental)
4. Warp! (Instrumental)

1. MY BOY

Well, Buono! surely knows how to get the songs right this time around.  Once again there’s a lot of guitars and it sounds amazing with the songs mood and the PV also did the song justice for sure.  Miyabi, Momoko, and Airi all sound great here and the synth line after the chorus is pretty nifty.  Sad it doesn’t carry the power of “Rottara Rottara” but this is definitly a great song.

2. Warp!

Just like the name implies, the song is futuristic in arrangement, but it kind of is like the upbeat version of “Gachinko de Ikou” which doesn’t surprise me much since that song was awesome.  Warp! is more of like H!P infused more girliness into the track.  Once again the girls give a pretty cool performance, but I wished they took it more of a serious drive with this one.

 

 

Buono! kicks off their 3rd era with a pretty good single.  MY BOY right now stands at the top of my favorites list with it’s raw serious side and the song’s mysterious mood.  Warp!, is alright….a little too H!P-coated but it’s good for a B-side.  Maybe, they’ll do another space-themed song to replace this LOL.

Buono! – Café Buono! March 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Café Buono!
2. Nakamushi Shounen
3. Renai♥Rider
4. Honto no Jibun
5. Baketsu no Mizu
6. Garakuta no Yume
7. Internet Cupid
8. Last Forever
9. Kokoro no Tamago
10. Hoshi no Hitsujitachi
11. Rock no Kamisama
12. Kimi ga Ireba

1.  Café Buono!

Right from the start Buono! doesn’t lay back one second.  This track begins with a catchy guitar riff and when the girls enter the track it seems everything just sounds right and the trio don’t sound like crap which is a plus if you ask me.  I kind of get sidetracked when they do the idol quips, but good song otherwise.

2. Nakamushi Shounen

The pounding sound of Nakamushi Shounen pops up next and actually reminds me of their later track “Rottara Rottara”, but without the catchiness of the title being the main focus of the song.  The drumming can get annoying after a while, but once again I feel right with this track.

3. Renai♥Rider

The 2nd and final single of the era, I just remember how epic this song sounds against the album this early.  I’m pretty sure there’s a reason why I love this song, maybe it’s the lively guitar or the girls excitement and otherwise powerful vocals.  I still love the acoustic solo part with whoever singing, which is probably all 3 girls.  Great track though.

4. Honto no Jibun

The trio’s debut single pops up next.  I still have problems with Momoko’s singing because honestly it’s trash and c’mon she’s done better especially with the last two tracks.  Everyone else is doing fine, but then this rock phase is kind of dragging the album down a little bit, but the pop influences kind of keep it afloat despite the problems.

5. Baketsu no Mizu

I should’ve shut my mouth.  Baketsu no Mizu is freakilty bubblegum pop to the highest degree.  The goodhearted fun feelings is just so cute in my opinion and that’s what the album sort of needed to broaden the field of different styles and Baketsu no Mizu is a good representation of the track.  (even though it’s a little childish for me).

6. Garukata no Yume

Garakuta no Yume is more along the lines of what I would normally expect a H!P group would release.  It’s poppy, still cute, but there’s a sliver of seriousness driving the track along.  The song is just a little boring though, but musically, I think it’s one of the best.  Strange as it seems.

7. Internet Cupid

Who knew Tsunku was actually interested in J-tek.  H!P’s first dive into this genre began with Internet Cupid.  Buono! under vocoder and doing J-tek is just strange and probably given the wrong timing to begin such a trek with it.  The girls are heavily under it and Momoko just sounds horrible under it.  It’s a good try, but maybe get Nakata to lead something like this because he has a knack for it. 8-bit though works though.

8. Last Forever

Last Forever though was actually one of the better tracks off the album.  It was full of that H!P cuteness that has plagued some of the songs and the girls aren’t terrible.  The progressive rock sound they took for the song just worked a lot for me and is just represented them pretty well. 

9. Kokoro no Tamago

Honestly, I would’ve chose “Janakya Mottainai!” over this B-side because this track as much as I like it, doesn’t really sound right on the album.  The harder rock sound of the other B-side would’ve worked more IMO.  Now, Kokoro no Tamago is a nice pop track.  I just love the ~Hop, Step, Jump~ part it just made me giggle (in a manly way, of course).  Alright track.

10. Hoshi no Hitsujitachi

Why do songs that include “Hoshi” turn out to be good tracks on any album?  Hoshi no Hitsujitachi is a lot more laidback than a good portion of the tracks and all the girls show the same feeling which made the song so nice and perfect to listen to.  Amazing song.

11. Rock no Kamisama

At first, I thought the song was misleading with the synthy opening, but switches quickly to a rock song.  Basically Buono! was created for these good rock tracks because once again I ended up loving this song for sure.  I still dislike the idol pop-ins, but they weren’t as annoying in other tracks.  Catchy track though.

12. Kimi ga Ireba

Our final track gives us another ballad track which doesn’t surprise me.  Though the girls seem to have trouble keeping themselves together because of the lack of vocal ability really injured the tracks longevity.  That being said, it isn’t as memorable as “Hoshi no Hitsujitachi” but for being the album’s final track it’s alright.

Tracks Recommended

•  Hoshi no Hitsujitachi
• Nakamushi Shounen
• Renai♥Rider
• Rock no Kamisama
• Internet Cupid

Ok, now I can make assumptions and comments.  I have to agree with the majority that says their debut is better than “Buono!2″  I kind of liked the fact there was more variety on this album and even though some of the new tracks were vocally meh.  I can’t deny that there was more interest with this album.

Buono! – Buono!2 February 8, 2009

Track Listing

1. Early Bird
2. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
3. KiraKira
4. Shoushitsuten -Vanishing Point-
5. Rottara Rottara
6. co・no・mi・chi
7. Minna Daisuki
8. I NEED YOU
9. Gachinko de Ikou!
10. You’re My Friend
11. OVER THE RAINBOW
12. Goal

1. Early Bird

Oh, hell no…why did they had to start the album with such a giddy track.  I guess it does seem cute but damn he synths are ear piercing and just hurts my ears.  The girls doesn’t seem really interested in this song, so they tend to sound really boring unless it calls up for one of the kawaii girly moments, y’know the squeals xD. 

2. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

I’m already sensing that the singles are gonna sound different from the new tracks because they seem to have a rock flair to them.  Anyway, we begin with the A-side that started the era off in the first place.  One things for sure, Momoko can not have solo lines anymore.  She’s so ugh to me….even worse than Koharu…and that’s saying something.  Miyabi and Airi sounds OK, nothing spectacular, but whatever.  The chorus just reminds me of MilkyWay’s “Sansan GOGO”….The harmonica solo….ever weirder….

3. KiraKira

Well, I was wrong…KiraKira has a rock sound to it and sounds quite bouncy in the verses.  You hear a low synth plaing in the background as well which added some interest, until the boring-like chorus happened.  I mean they could’ve done something more explosive here.  Wasted opportunity if you ask me.

4. Shoushitsuten -Vanishing Point-

I was surprised at our next track because it does sound different for the girls.  Inclusion of the acoustic guitar and piano was a smart idea and Momoko doesn’t sound like crap here which is OMG thankful.  It’s a little on the slow side, but otherwise a really strong new track before the league of old tracks.

5. Rottara Rottara

I’ll admit, this was my first Buono! song I ever heard and I was hooked because of a certain someone….*cough* Jin *cough*.  I mean it has such a hook to it and such fun to it.  I just love every moment lies one of the ~Rottara Rottara~ moments and the girls doing their girly stuff throughout.  The chorus even made them sound more mature, even though Momoko is failing here.  Awesome party song!

6. co・no・mi・chi

At least the B-side wasn’t included.  At some points this is more harder than “Rottara Rottara” and sometimes it seems to be like their past stuff.  Once again, I think they could’ve made the chorus more louder and profound than what we got.  Other than that, this was alright, but not my favorite here.

7. Minna Daisuki

The only representative of a B-side on the album, Minna Daisuki was not my first choice to see appear here.  It’s obviously drenched in girly cuteness and all the girls don’t sound good IMO.  The lack of a rock element somehow affected this and knowing this was on “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” I probably won’t like it then either.

8. I NEED YOU

I NEED YOU probably wins the track that stands out award.  For one it’s like the used an old style of rock here to go through the verses and made the worst translation ever into the chorus where things speed up way fast and it’s just loud and furious and then returns back to the smooth rock groove and repeat.  I’d stay away from this track it just doesn’t sound good at all!

9. Gachinko de Ikou!

The last A-side to appear here is another great track representing them.  The song has a pretty loud instrumental mostly in the drums where they are pounding.  I love the spacey first part of the lyrics and its lead into the rock portion, so cool.  All the girls sound good here as well, which like I said is rare xD.  The middle instrumental part though was uhhhhmazzing!

10. You’re My Friend

I kind of guessed this would’ve been a light-hearted rock song, I just didn’t think they’d get it right with such a corny ass title.  I actually enjoyed this track as it isn’t too much of anything just some softcore stuff then worked out for them.  Their high notes are a little on the shaky side, but other than that it was pretty nice.

11. OVER THE RAINBOW

We finally get a ballad from Buono!.  There’s something really nice and calming about hearing this.  They seem to sound really good in the English department as well pronouncing ~rainbow in the sky~ right.  The solo lines were good for Momoko and Airi, gorgeous singing voice and while Miyabi has a little trouble, it’s  not too much of one.  Nice!

12. Goal

We finally get through the album with Goal which wow.  The guitar lines and how the girls were going about singing it reminded me of like something misono would do.  The girls are in a lower tone and they sound amazing.  I think they should keep up singing songs like this.  I was expecting something like hard, but this was really cool.

Tracks Recommended

•  Rottara Rottara
• Gachinko de Ikou!
• Goal
• OVER THE RAINBOW
• Shoushitsuten -Vanishing Point-

I can’t make assumptions since I haven’t listened to “Cafe Buono!” yet, but this album surely sounds well-made from H!P.  Other than the fact that the early parts of the album were really bad stuff, the later half was just awesome one after another, minus I NEED YOU and Minna Daisuki, but from Rottara Rottara up, it was just awesome stuff.  Maybe, I’m being too lenient on looking at other acts of the H!P franchise, but one things for sure NO JE ON THIS BLOG~~!!!!

Buono! – Renai♥Rider February 4, 2009

Track Listing

1. Renai♥Rider
2. Janakya Mottainaii!
3. Renai♥Rider (Instrumental)
4. Janakya Mottainaii! (Instrumental)

1. Renai♥Rider

Unlike “Honto no Jibun”,  Renai♥Rider seems a little more rockier than before and there isn’t really any bad things to note here.  Maybe Momoko can sound a little less nasally, but the song has great energetic qualites and how they tackled the song was great.  There’s a great solo as well.  So much better than their debut.

2. Janakya Mottainaii!

What’s with the other H!P groups having better B-sides than their A-sides?  Janakya Mottainaii! reminds me of fellow MilkyWay’s “Sansan GOGO” as it has the same rock feeling and other similarities.  I also found it weird that the 2nd verse from both tracks on this single are both muffled.  I think it did its job right.

 

 

Buono! final single for the “Cafe Buono!” era was just downright amazing.  Both  songs were awesome rock tracks and was different at the time of its release for H!P.  I’m a little saddened that Janakya Mottainaii! wasn’t featured on the album, but I’ll live, I hope. 

 

Buono! – co・no・mi・chi January 19, 2009

Track Listing

1. co・no・mi・chi
2. Muteki no ∞Power
3. co・no・mi・chi (Instrumental)
4. Muteki no ∞Power (Instrumental)

1. co・no・mi・chi

I think I like this song a lot more without watching the weird PV that went with it.  It’s a little different from your normal H!P track because of its more rock elementation and catchy chorus.  Even the high notes sound pretty good given the situation.  Even though it’s not as memorable as “Rottara Rottara” was, but this is definitly close enough.

2. Muteki no ∞Power

Not much difference between this and the previous.  They still have a heacy rock instrumentation, but actually a lot more girlier, which for me is a pretty bad excuse for why this song is bad.  The vocals also take a hit, since they sounded a little lifeless and the chorus is a little too repetitive and Momoko fails in this track as well…Yeesh, typical H!P b-side…

 

 

I actually liked co・no・mi・chi but as a whole this single was a little on the bad side of things.  There wasn’t much effort put into the single.  I mean you can hear their lack of interest in both songs actually.  I’m sorry but this is the worst single of the “Buono!x2″ era.

Buono! – Honto no Jibun January 13, 2009

Track Listing

1. Honto no Jibun
2. Kokoro no Tamago
3. Honto no Jibun (Instrumental)
4. Kokoro no Tamago (Instrumental)

1. Honto no Jibun

I keep asking myself “What did I get myself into?”  Like the song is pretty much what H!P stands for, girly pop songs.  There’s one member I can’t really stand because she has this honky voice that’s overly strange, but when it’s covered by the other members it sounds quite good which it turns out to be Momoko singing….*neeeds lessons*  It’s alright for a debut A-side.

2. Kokoro no Tamago

Even more girly is the B-side of the single.  It seems to be a more basic one as well, not being terribly cutesy and stuff.  Even all the members sound pretty good and actually I quite prefer this over “Honto no Jibun” which isn’t exactly surprising since y’know, Momoko actually did well here.  The verses are definitly my favorite area over the song.  Great track.

 

 

Buono!’s debut single is one of the more typical releases of the H!P world.  Not being overly fantastic, but yet has a charm to it. I’ll admit though that the B-side is better, but still pretty average single debut