GIRL NEXT DOOR – Be your wings/FRIENDSHIP/Wait for you August 4, 2009

Track Listing

1. Be your wings
2. FRIENDSHIP
3. Wait for you
4. Jounetsu no Daishou (Ferry Corsten Remix)
5. Be your wings (Instrumental)

1. Be your wings

GIRL NEXT DOOR finally got things right with Be your wings.  It does have a dark sounding arrangement, but containing the same GND that’s been going on for a long time.  I do enjoy the song  lot more than previous tracks and could be the 2nd best of the era “Infinity” topping this completely.  I’m still wondering why they’re making CHISA yell through these songs, especially since her collaboration with ravex was amazing.  Best part of the song is that bridge….LOVE IT!

2. FRIENDSHIP

I was wondering what the otwo A-sides were going to sound like and FRIENDSHIP from the starting chords in the main arrangement screamed “Guuzen no Kakuritsu”.  I’m not liking the chorus at all in this song and the song itself sounds a little rushed even for GND terms.  Maybe I’ll come to like it, but the song is a big mess right now.

3. Wait for you

Strangely enough, the 3rd A-side screams day after tomorrow and in a pretty good way.  Even though it has the typical sound, there’s a bit more interesting things and heavier beats here.  Being a bit more slower than the other two, this was an alright song, but I feel the dat nod is a bit much in the song and CHISA doesn’t really give that good of a performance.

4. Jounetsu no Daishou (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Oh wow, a Ferry Corsten remix?  I do love my Ferry songs so it isn’t surprising that I really enjoyed this remix.  Instead of those other remixes GND has put out this is more of a trance remix than the others.  Add a little ambient and we get this.  The heavy beats and smooth synths really filled out the track.  Even CHISA’s parts are sounding a whole lot better here.  I’m pretty sure people will bag it for its length, but seriously Ferry remixes are better longer (cept Ayu’s “Connected”) that’s one exception.

 

 

I wonder if this is the last single of the era….Anyways, out of the three singles, this one is in the middle.  I’ll admit that Be your wings is typical, but is a great song from them despite that.  FRIENDSHIP and Wait for you are alright, but there’s some glaring faults within each track being too similar to something…then again Ghas always been like that from their debut to now. 

GIRL NEXT DOOR – Infinity June 10, 2009

Track Listing

1. Infinity
2. If
3. Jounetsu no Daishou (Diamond Mirror SCP Version)
4. Seeds of dream (ice cream mix)
5. Infinity (Instrumental)

1. Infinity

Finally, they decided to go somewhere with their music.  Infinity does still have them in that stale rut, but the song is a lot more edgier and heavier which is what they needed.  There’s just a lot of synths throughout and the song is pretty catchy.  CHISA does go back to her yelling/singing which is unfortunate, especially after her ravex experience…I got to say this is just as good as “Shiawase no Jouken”….ok maybe not, but the only thing I hated was that chanting bridge….terrible idea IMO.

2. If

They haven’t had a ballad yet in this era, so they decide to finally release one and I was sorely disappointed.  I mean yeah it doesn’t have the typical nuances and there’s actual strings in the songs that made me happy.  CHISA’s vocals also calmed down a bit to make it more emotional.  Daisuke should’ve stuck with the piano and not have played the synths/keyboard…totally detracts from the song IMO.  Yuji too, should’ve stayed out of this one, even if his part was to make the song more epic.  Sad part is that this song is almost 7 minutes in length which means this song drags big time…What were they thinking?  At least there’s a cool guitar solo.

3. Jounetsu no Daishou (Diamond Mirror SCP Version)

Jounetsu no Daishou has another remix?  Jeeze, I thought we left those songs behind…Well, JnD’s remix is actually more along the lines of a real trance track, maybe eurobeat.  There’s just not a big difference with the overall sound of the original mix…So I guess it’s just a bit bland.

4. Seeds of dream (ice cream mix)

I’m starting to hate the fact that every single so far has to have one of these remixes.  Luckily, it isn’t as damn long as the last one which was about 8 minutes.  This is about 5 minutes.  It’s funny they took a song that was happy and lively and changed it around where it just sounded lifeless.  It’s hilarious to hear CHISA’s vocals get manipulated when she says ~seeds of dream~….Still not that good of a remix.

 

 

GND, is finally getting some sort of hint that they are getting pretty boring.  Infinity is quite a nice track to listen to and very energetic which is what I wanted.  If returned them to the ballad world and finally Yuji gets a damn solo which is a first….but the length kind of hurt the song’s overall listenthrough.  The remixes?  nah just pass them up.

GIRL NEXT DOOR – Seeds of dream April 14, 2009

Track Listing

1. Seeds of dream
2. Reasons for tears
3. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Oh My Gold Mix)
4. ESCAPE (ice cream remix)

1. Seeds of dream

Starting a new era fresh is all good and what not, but utilizing the same damn sounds is just poor and very unhealthy especially if GND is an anniversary group.  That being said, Seeds of dream is another “Drive away” which is terrible and the only thing that really stood out was the fact the synths were more important than the electric guitar.  So much for a new direction…CHISA is still sounding the same she has been through the first era.  Yelling and getting by barely…The breakdown in the middle was cool but shortlived…meh track.

2. Reason for tears

Luckily, Reason for tears is a darker tone which they haven’t shown much since “Guuzen no Kakuritsu” and to hear a new dark sounding track is great, but the chorus just destroyed any hope for the song.  It’s the same phrasing and mood as the other tracks.  I swear they are going to be stuck in rut for a long ass while if they dont change up their sound.

3. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Oh My Gold Mix)

Guuzen no Kakuritsu’s remix starts out just like the original with the piano line, luckily it’s a eurobeat remix which takes out the blandness of the original and for being a track longer than 6 minutes and I actually found this to be the fresh air the song needs and I enjoyed it a lot.  It sounds a lot like some of Ayu’s remixes, but this pretty good.  Best track.

4. ESCAPE (ice cream mix)

Jeeze, this remix is so long.  Almost 9 minutes of music is torturous and it shows because likewise to the past “ice cream remixes” it starts to slow and it rarely changes pace or interest.  I do like how they worked her vocals into the music this time, but givin the fact that it’s so long just kind of makes me wanna pass the track and forget about it.

 

 

GND’s first single for this era is surprisingly bland on all levels.  If they keep doing this to the fans, I’m sure they’ll forget about them altogether.  Seeds of dream is a little better at representing itself, but falls short because it is “Drive away pt. 2″.  Reason for tears had potential to be really good, but falls short with a very boring chorus line.  The remixes were ok, I liked Guuzen’s more than ESCAPE’s because it wasn’t horribly drawn out.  Iono…this direction is going to put them in a very bad state if they keep on this.

GIRL NEXT DOOR – GIRL NEXT DOOR December 22, 2008

Track Listing

1. Winter Game
2. Drive away
3. Power of love
4. Shiawase no Jouken
5. WINTER MIRAGE
6. Jounetsu no Daishou
7. Fine after rain
8. Breath
9. Day’s…
10. ESCAPE (Album Edit)
11. Winter Garden
12. Climber’s high
13. NEXT DOOR
14. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Album Edit)

1. Winter Game

We begin this album with the main promotional track for the album.  Definitly the most upbeat of songs of recent.  It’s got a pretty awesome beat and CHISA sounds alive singing along.  That might be a problem as it sounds like she’s yelling a little bit, still the song has a great dance flavor to it. 

2. Drive away

Awesome that “Winter Game” flowed into out next track and yet continues our upbeat sound.  Even though this was their second single, I did find it to be too similar to “Guuzen no Kakuritsu” except with more or CHISA singing/yelling.  I do like how she finishes the chorus with ~Drive away, dokomademo~ 

3. Power of love

Sitar usage?  That’s especially special.  The song though sounds a little bit messy in the verses, but CHISA sounds so much better than the previous tracks.  I’m starting to tell myself that I don’t like her higher register much.  I’m kind of forgetting about this song altogether.

4. Shiawase no Jouken

My favorite track off the era.  There’s such a good pulse and some great sounds coming from all over.  This definitly reminds me of some day after tomorrow music which is surprisingly good for me.  There’s so much synth present it’s quite something to listen to. 

5. WINTER MIRAGE

We finally get our first ballad with WINTER MIRAGE.  Now it is the 2nd of the wintery tracks, but I honestly don’t think it’s much wintery at all.  There’s some sounds that makes me take that statement back, but as far as it goes it’s just there.  CHISA once again sounds fine, but when she gets into the chorus, the song starts to drag for a bit.  It’s an ok track overall.

6. Jounetsu no Daishou

We energize back into the dance style with Jounetsu no Daishou.  I find it better on here because it came right after a ballad.  Still when your looking at the track itself, it seems to just rehash the beats of “Drive away” and “Guuzen no Kakuritsu” which isn’t the best thing to do a 3rd time in a row.  The synths do sound awesome I must say though.

7. Fine after rain

We start to get better when this song plays.  There’s a bit less synth involved and there’s more guitar presence.  Then again the synths get the better hooks in the song.  Then the chorus becomes IMO “Shiawase no Jouken” pt. 2 because of how similar the rhythms are and CHISA’s singing implementing this thought further.  It’s still a great song though and I might prefer one or the other more.

8. Breath

I’m surprised “Red Ribbon ~Unmei no Hito~ didn’t appear on the album because this was my least favorite track of the era.  It’s a ballad of course, but I just didn’t think it was that memorable.  CHISA sounds nice as usual, but it just didn’t work for me at the end of the day.  I did however liked the guitar solos.

9. Day’s…

We enter our first of two interludes of the album and Day’s…is a little weird.  It’s basically an acoustic/dance hybrid.  Though, the most intriguing fact is that the song is playing a little bit of  “ESCAPE’s” melody and then it stops and then grows back into the hybrid.  It’s one the nicest interludes I’ve heard in a while.

10. ESCAPE (Album Edit)

I guess, I didn’t notice ESCAPE starting until CHISA started singing.  There’s some changes made to the song which the most obvious is there is a minute cut off from the song which was good.  Even though the song is pretty much reminescent of like all of their previous songs, this wasn’t too bad. 

11. Winter Garden

Winter Garden is the closest thing to a Winter track as you get.  The song has a nice medium tempo to it, which makes it so much enjoyable.  The synths are quite cute as well.  The verses has such a cute piano line playing against the growls of the guitar and CHISA singing along. 

12. Climber’s high

I love how this song starts up and how much energy this song has.  The problem though is the familiarity to other songs on the album which is I know starting to bore me.  Now if it was by itself I would’ve enjoyed more, even though I do like this song alot right now.  I think it’s GND’s best track right now on the album.

13. NEXT DOOR

A beautiful string and piano combination fluorishes our last interlude and somehow it’s incorporating “Guuzen no Kakuritsu’s” melody into it which is definitly interesting at the least.  Then when you least expected a guitar wails and some aggressive beats lead into

14. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Album Edit)

Why they had to ditch the awesome opening is beyond me, but their debut track ends of the album in a good fashion.  It still is one of their more stronger tracks in sound and still is really good.  I like the piano line that finished each stanza of lyrics.  Pretty rad!

Tracks Recommended

• Climber’s high
• Shiawase no Jouken
• Drive away
• Fine after rain
• Winter Game

 I’m not sure why but this album is like one whole song strung along together.  Like the whole synth/piano/guitat shtick was overused too much on this album.  It made the songs sounds like each other and I think that is what made the album kind of bland at the end of it.  New tracks were OK, but it isn’t anything new we haven’t heard previous.  The album edits were uses to tie in the interlude and that was ok….Iono, it might take me a few more listens to get this album down.

GIRL NEXT DOOR – Jounetsu no Daishou/ESCAPE November 16, 2008

Track Listing

1. Jounetsu no Daishou
2. ESCAPE
3. Jounetsu no Daishou (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
4. Jounetsu no Daishou (ice cream mix)

1. Jounetsu no Daishou

I’m starting to notice how GND’s songs are starting to sound so much alike.  Jounetsu no Daishou is more or less like the previous A-sides.  CHISA as usual does sound good.  The music is still on the verge of crossing into trance and with the beat as it is, it really does sound like “Guuzen no Kakuritsu” and “Drive away”.  The thing that I think is a little different is the music is less exciting because it really doesn’t surprise me as much. 

2. ESCAPE

ESCAPE as our next A-side once again continues this dance phase.  The introduction does sound like it would’ve been a great ballad, but then the beats came in and then the song just kind of led into blandness.  I have no why they are doing the same thing through each single.  ESCAPE just wasn’t as good as I would’ve hoped it to be. 

3. Jounetsu no Daishou (Shinichi Osawa Remix)

Dang, it has an 8-bit sound to it at the beginning but the remix falls short because it sounds strange with the swooping synths and such.  CHISA’s vocals are also messed with a little bit, possibly a filter maybe?  Still, I’m kind of lost on this remix so it’s better to just pass it up.

4. Jounetsu no Daishou (ice cream mix)

Yep, another one of these remixes.  I actually like the music here even if it’s practically like the original but with more beats.  Then there’s a part where they keep repeating which I didn’t enjoy as much.  Maybe this is my least favorite of the ice cream remixes.

 

 

GND’s final single before their debut album, GIRL NEXT DOOR was a pretty shoddy one.  All of the tracks felt really weak and lacked difference to previous songs.  I hope their album isn’t all like this because it’s hastily getting old.  Both A-sides weren’t as good as I hoped it would and the remixes were worse…oh well.

GIRL NEXT DOOR – Drive away/Shiawase no Jouken October 8, 2008

Track Listing

1. Drive away
2. Shiawase no Jouken
3. Drive away (maximizor mix)
4. Drive away (ice cream mix)

1. Drive away

There’s something about Drive away that stands out for me.  It must be the happy synths or maybe it could be CHISA’s performance of the song that stuck on me.  Though you can really fully hear Suzuki’s presence just as much as when he was with day after tomorrow.  Truthfully, I’m glad to see his return because her plays the keyboard so well and makes it stand out.  As for the song, it’s very upbeat and it’s still carries the flame like “Guuzen no Kakuritsu” did.

2. Shiawase no Jouken

Why does this sound like something I’ve already heard before?  It’s still upbeat but with more guitar.  Though the song isn’t as strong as “Drive away” it still is a pretty good track with CHISA singing strong still.  The instrumental parts though sound pretty sweet as well.  I wish there was something that made it stood out from the other A-side.

3. Drive away (maximizor mix)

So the remixes pop up next and this one takes the free-feeling synths and gave it a more subdued trance feel.  So to be honest, I didn’t find this remix really exciting though I’m not surprised they would decide to do a mix in this king of style.  What came out in the end was a little on the bland side of remixes.

4. Drive away (ice cream mix)

Now this remix was very interesting.  Reminded me of “Guuzen no Kakuritsu” a lot, but what bothered me in this song was that the intro to the first verse was long winded for me.  1:20 but it repeats itself.   Then it just gets kind of messy putting repeated phrases and the like which took away from the experience.  This time the remixes failed the single.

 

 

GND’s latest single is more or less of the upbeat stuff we heard already in their debut which is nice, but they need to change up their styles just a little bit.  Drive away was such a happy track as well as Shiawase no Jouken, being this is a double A-Side it’s more than likely they will both be on the album.  The remixes though were nothing new and weren’t so uberly awesome.

GIRL NEXT DOOR – Guuzen no Kakuritsu September 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. Guuzen no Kakuritsu
2. Breath
3. Red Ribbon ~Unmei no Hito~
4. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (ice cream mix)
5. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (Instrumental)
6. Breath (Instrumental)

1. Guuzen no Kakuritsu

As I was told they were like day after tomorrow you know actually this song doesn’t sound so much like them.  I mean the startup is so wild.  Though I’ll agree when we get into the chorus.  I do love how this track is like them.  I mean the lead singer CHISA does not sound like misono in anyway, her vocals are a lot easier on the ears.  As for the music I thought the keyboard and guitar mix is still refreshing to hear.  I’m not surprised this song has already made them famous.  It’s that good.

2. Breath

Breath is more on the soft side for them and with CHISA fronting they don’t sound so meshed up like it did with dat’s.  There is some nice piano work and small thoughts of keyboards.  The bridge has her get vocally stronger as well with the synth.  I actually like the production to this track.  It might has well been an A-side as well.  Definitly a nice ballad.

3. Red Ribbon ~Unmei no Hito~

I found this to be another great track.  Now this is definitly reminescent to dat’s last songs.  A lot of piano and the guitar taking over the instrumental parts of the song.  Oddly the song reminds me too much of “Kimi to Aeta Kiseki” which is one of my favorite dat songs so I guess hearing this really made me happy.  Y’know all three songs are so good!

4. Guuzen no Kakuritsu (ice cream mix)

I don’t know why they needed this but I guess they needed to make it more summery and synth happy.  Like they took out the guitar and replaced it by these synths which to me sound like they’d fit with Nami Tamaki.  It’s not a bad remix but I just found that they really didn’t need to release a remix albeit good.

 

 

So GND’s debut is definitly a strong single.  All the songs are above average and being dubbed as dat 2, I think they are pretty good and carried the spirit the previous did.  I’m happy that one of the members is from dat or I wouldn’t have been making all the connections.  I can’t wait for the next single from them!