HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – swamp man August 14, 2009

Track Listing

1. swamp man
2. XYZ
3. good bye
4. eyes
5. fly me to the other moon
6. pain
7. 7.2
8. hate
9. living
10. you

1. swamp man

Ahhh, swamp man the “opening” to the album.  It sounds like it’s being played on a record and this lone piano has a very somber sound to it.  Like something that could be heard in a horror film.  After a little bit, SASSY comes in with a small drum moment and more things get added onto the track and ends with HALCA or Yuusuke saying the title of the album.

2. XYZ

Released as a digital single before the album. It’s also the first track to feature new female singer, HALCA.  I have to say that the similarities to Maaki are disturbing and yet comforting because I actually like HALCA’s vocals in the track…The music is a bit harder hitting than previous songs (which is a good thing).  There’s this epic feeling to the song itself especially in the slower parts.  Yuusuke’s growling is pretty cool too and fits with HALCA’s strong singing.

3. good bye

The main promotional track for the album, good bye continues this strong hard rock sound.  Sadly the song features more of Yuusuke than HALCA.  Though it does have a pretty good bassline which I don’t exactly remembering any song from them to have a prominent one.  HALCA does have the chorus, but it doesn’t exactly sound like she’s too interested in the song.  Yuusuke on the other hand is like screaming the lyrics.  It might not be the most amazing way to do songs, but it does show the band still has energy for their songs.

4. eyes

HALCA luckily takes over the next track which is a bit slower and more reminescent to some of the songs from “San” and ”ROCK PIT” and it really does show off her vocals in a really good well.  I’m starting to think that she might be the best replacement for Maaki.  Yuusuke is pushed back to BKGD stuff and I don’t mind that at all.  Things pickup nicely in the chorus as it does get faster.  Alright, this is a pretty awesome track.

5. fly me to the other moon

Interesting to hear fly me to the other moon open up like a dance track.  Anyways, Yuusuke is singing again and actually singing and it’s kind of sounds mysterious, especially since the verses go back to the dance beats.  HALCA is singing in a higher register and solidified her as a good singer.  Even Maaki couldn’t do this very well.  As a HandMC track, this is very experimental of them and they nailed it.  Plus, I love Yuusuke’s yelling of the title and he says it right. 

6. pain

pain goes back to the hard hitting sounds from earlier on in the album and also bring Yuusuke and HALCA to sing together and oddly enough the harmonize pretty well.  The song sounds a little repetitive in sound in the verse but when it get further in the song gets way stronger and vocally better. 

7. 7.2

I was surely surprised to see that 7.2 opened up with an acoustic guitar.  It actually is present all of the song and Yuusuke is rapping in the song, so y’know this a pretty exciting song.  MEG and Kazuto (guitarists) should get a medal for the song as it’s so different and pretty good.  HALCA sings pretty fast in the chorus too….It isn’t new that females can sing fast, but I didn’t expect HALCA to deliver on this.

8. hate

For a song that’s called hate…I was expecting something a little bit like “XYZ”.  The song does feel a smidge lighter and HALCA once again gets really good at her vocal work with the group.  The song itself sounds like it would’ve fit rather well on “Gou on PROGRESSIVE”.  It might just be me.  Besides HALCA, the song is a harder sounding HandMC track and it might be my least favorite of the new tracks, but it’s still good.

9. living

I’m not sure why but living has a pretty sweet opening of pounding drums and loud guitar.  HALCA is doing a great job still, though Yuusuke is kind of bothersome with his screaming and growling that it kind of takes my mind out of focus.  It might be my least favorite song now…I can’t blame anyone but Yuusuke’s off the wall screaming this time around.  Though the guitar solo is shweeet.

10. you

Rounding off the album, you is a bit slower than the previous tracks and has a pretty strong sound to it.  Yuusuke is singing again and he sounds a lot better than he did in the last album.  HALCA finally has her second slip-up in the album and it’s the fact her high notes are particularly thin here.  She’s still in tune, but still…way thin.  Not too bad as a finisher.

Tracks Recommended

• fly me to the other moon
• XYZ
• eyes
• 7.2

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR went through some hard times before releasing the album.  I mean they did release “BEEEEEEST” which left a few people thinking why they’d do it, but then we learned that Maaki left the group to basically become a housewife.  Then SONY dropped them which basically said they were gonna break-up or move on and they moved on to SPICE records and got HALCA.  HALCA really showed that she can replace Maaki and build upon that because vocally, I prefer HALCA to Maaki.  swamp man does take risks and I loved that they did and they also did what they did best and that’s rock tracks.  I might like the direction they’re going and I like this album maybe a smidge more than “ROCK PIT”…..even though there were a few meh tracks, this album is great.

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – San July 28, 2009

Track Listing

1. Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~
2. Resistance
3. DIVE into YOURSELF (YOUR VOICE Version)
4. Koigokoro
5. Oxalis
6. Hummingbird
7. the moon illuminates
8. Yoake Mae
9. Sandome no Sakura
10. Hibana
11. Suiren
12. LAST WORD
13. a shape of love
14. Tadoritsuku Basho
15. Oxalis (MOVIE VERSION)

1. Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~

Just like the previous albums, we begin with the biggest track of the era.  This time we start with Enrai and just like the previous album openers, this is in your face.  I’m guessing anime tie-ins are what they do best because clearly it is mostly their best songs that comes from here.  Maaki does a pretty awesome job with the song too.

2. Resistance

Our first new track from the group, Resistance sounds a whole lot like something that would’ve been better off on “Gouon PROGRESSIVE” with it’s harder arrangement and edgier metal sound.  Maaki sounds a lot better, but the verses are funny just because Yuusuke is doing her typical growling behind Maaki’s vocals.  It does scream “PRIDE”, but it’s still good either way.

3. DIVE into YOURSELF (YOUR VOICE Version)

What I can gather about our new version of the first single is that on the single release, there was a form for a contest and the winner would have their vocals recorded in the song, hence the new version.  Besides the newish part, the song is still the same ole DIVE into YOURSELF.  The chorus is still just as boring.  The only part where I can really hear the winner is at the end of the 2nd verse…I could be wrong, someone wanna clear this up for me?

4. Koigokoro

Koigokoro comes in next, and takes a more experimental route with the whole ethereal verse and then come in with a rock sound back in the chorus.  The song though lacks a punch or something to really make it stand out.  I did like they were trying things out, but both Maaki sounded really boring here wile Yuusuke’s glorious part is before the guitar solo. 

5. Oxalis

Oxalisended off the era in a not so good way and well it still kind of feels sadly more boring on the album.  What’s good about it is that it’s a rock ballad and both Maaki and Yuusuke have parts to each other.  It’s just that it really drags for being a HandMC track, so that’s a bit disappointing.

6. Hummingbird

Hummingbird stretches back into their debut album for a bit since it’s a bit poppy, but continues the more softer sounds.  At least they did a better job this time around, since there’s hooks in the song and Yuusuke doesn’t sound as boring as he did in “Oxalis”.  I was happy the fans liked it enough to be featured on “BEEEEEEST”.  It was a pretty cool track from the group.

7. the moon illuminates

After two soft tracks, we get back into their more energetic songs starting with the moon illuminates.  I have to say, it’s got a lot of catchy hooks within the song and Yuusuke’s yelping returns and I’m happy to see that, but I’m noticing the song isn’t as hardcore as “Enrai” or “Ichirin no Hana”, but it’s not that big of a disappointment because it’s got its awesome moments.

8. Yoake Mae

We get darker with Yoake Mae and instantly was bored with Yuusuke’s singing (or the lack of).  It doesn’t exactly bring anything to the album besides being a filler track of course.  I’m not sure why I’m not connecting with it, but it just sounds like a poor version of “PRIDE”.

9. Sandome no Sakura

What’s up with the wannabe “PRIDE” tracks?  This even sounds moreso to their most well-known track which is unfortunate.  I think the biggest difference between the two is that there’s no strings and this track isn’t as emotionally driven.  Not even Yuusuke could’ve saved the track, how disappointing.

10. Hibana

So everyone basically was confused about this track as they wrongfully called it Hanabi when the kanji clearly put it as Hibana.  Compared with the last few tracks, this is a bit more fresh sounding and has a good dark undertone to make it last against a lot of the other tracks on the album.  It’s a little sad though, because I do feel that the track sounds a bit rushed on everything lol…Yuusuke’s growling is weird….but I can understand it XD

11. Suiren

Suiren starts off in a pretty odd way, kind of like something tribal.  After a bit the group comes in with the usual scremo-fest and then Maaki’s singing parts come in, so in other words the usual fare.  I can agree that it’s another new sound for them, but the chorus was just enough to make me bored again.  How bad can it get?

12. LAST WORD

LAST WORD does take things back into a harder sound (a little late now).  I actually kind of like this song since it’s a bit more easier to enjoy and not think of past songs.  It is a little slower than the other songs I really like, but it was handled pretty nicely, maybe not Yuusuke….but Maaki did a fine job with the song.

13. a shape of love

I’m oddly freaked out when a shape of love starts out with a synth line before turning into something that’s kind of different.  I actually like this track as well, it’s a bit pop-like, but it’s catchy as well…talk about strange right?  Good job with this track.

14. Tadoritsuku Basho

Almost at the end.  Tadoritsuku Basho ends off the album is such a nice way like it’s sister A-side “Oxalis”.  The song does sound good after “a shape of love”, and hearing the minor details made this a better listen for me.  I still think it’s a bit boring, but I can appreciate this song better than “Oxalis”.  I think it was put in a great spot.

15. Oxalis (MOVIE VERSION)

Being almost 30 seconds shorter, the movie version of Oxalis erases Yuusuke and left Maaki by herself with the rest of the band to move along with the track.  For being a Yuusuke-less track, it felt a lot more emptier as a track and the arrangement way too boring without him.  I guess they did screwed this song up even further.

Tracks Recommended

• a shape of love
• Hummingbird
• Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~
• the moon illuminates

Unlike “Gouon PROGRESSIVE’s” overall metal nature, San was quite the wrong direction they were going.  It was more alternative and half the songs came off as being carbon copies of “PRIDE” which is y’know their biggest song to this day.  There were a few good tracks, but most of them felt like HandMC in bored mode.  Srry, but can’t say I like this album much.

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – Tadoritsuku Basho/Oxalis June 29, 2009

Track Listing

1. Tadoritsuku Basho
2. Oxalis
3. Tadoritsuku Basho (MOVIE VERSION)
4. Tadoritsuku Basho (Less vocal track)

1. Tadoritsuku Basho

After the amazing “Enrai”, Tadoritsuku Basho went for a more pop like sound which is pretty interesting since Tadoritsuku Basho isn’t all about heavy sounds and hard rock sounds.  It’d definitely different from what they’ve previously been releasing and in this case, I’m not a big fan of the song because well, it’s quite boring actually xD.  Maaki tries to keep some emotion and Yuusuke’s rapping parts were covered by the music so it was pretty tough to follow. 

2. Oxalis

Same problem lies within Oxalis because this track is basically the same exact track.  I mean it is a different melody but the same emotion just pops off here.  It’s also a pop/rock ballad which kind of disappointed me.  Sadly, the song is quite worse actually because Yuusuke is singing in a bad way….oh well….

3. Tadoritsuku Basho (MOVIE VERSION)

So both songs were used in the same movie where Maaki was lead singer for a fictional band.  Weird that the A-side’s movie version is on this single while Oxalis’s appears on the upcoming album.  If you really think about it, Yuusuke isn’t even part of the song which I guess is good and the song sounds a bit more raw I guess?  Then after a while, I start to miss Yuusuke’s parts and the song sadly feels empty….hmmm

 

 

Honestly, this is HandMC’s worst single to date.  Both songs did nothing for me and they were both boring rock ballads.  The movie version made Tadoritsuku Basho sound even more boring than it already was.  I’m sorry but what the hell happened here.

 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~ May 8, 2009

Track Listing

1. Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~
2. Kaerimichi no Orenji
3. Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~ (Less Vocal Track)

1. Enrai ~Tooku ni Aru Akari~

Being another tie-in to the GUNDAM series, Enrai is just as good and memorable as “PRIDE” which is fortunate right from the start.  Maaki’s calm vocals beginning the song out before the band crashes in at full power.  I think everyone did a great job playing in the song and c’mon Maaki sung well for this track.  It’s another one of my favorite HandMC songs.

2. Kaerimichi no Orenji

The B-side of the single, Kaerimichi no Orenji is a lot more upbeat in its sound and it’s basically on the line of pop/rock.  It starts off with Yuusuke’s growling before Maaki comes in for the verses.  Now the chorus here is a bit weaker than the verses and bridge, but it’s returning the sound of previous pop/rock songs and this is a lot more cleaner than before.  I quite liked it overall.

 

 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR releases another good single.  Enrai is definitlly in the GUNDAM veins and is another awesome song from them.  Especially to make up for “DIVE into YOURSELF”.  Kaerimichi no Orenji does come off as the forgetful B-side in the crews discography and it’s understandable because they don’t do well on these kind of tracks, but I liked it.  Good single!

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – DIVE into YOURSELF March 30, 2009

Track Listing

1. DIVE into YOURSELF
2. Flying Music
3. Haitoku no Jounetsu ~Urgent Immoral Passion Mix~
4. DIVE into YOURSELF (Less Vocal Track)

1. DIVE into YOURSELF

Are we serious?  DIVE into YOURSELF is definitly a song that sounds pretty strange.  Yuusuke is actually singing again which isn’t surprising, but the song doesn’t seem to stack along with their past tracks.  I mean if majority of the chorus is a bunch of ~whoooooas~ it’s not exactly called a good track.  It’s better than “STYLE” for sure but still not that great.

2. Flying Music

Flying Music brings out a more harder rock sound from the band.  Already it’s way better than the A-side because it just rocks out right and has a great mood throughout.  Maaki shows a lot of free-spirited emotion and Yuusuke’s parts are well, but it doesn’t exactly fit well with Maaki’s echoey vocals.  Pretty great B-side from them.

3. Haitoku no Jounetsu ~Urgent Immoral Passion Mix~

Remember Haitoku no Jounetsu from their last album, “Gou on PROGRESSIVE”?  Yeah, well they decided to make a remix out of that track.  I think they fixed the issues that were plaguing the original track which is fortunate because everything just didn’t mesh right, but it seems that they added some needed parts and synths to make it sound more complete.  GREAT!

 

 

HandMC’s first single for the “San” era was alright, not the best they’ve released.  The main track was pretty empty on the lyrical side of things and probably was a bad idea to release as an A-side.  That being said, clearly the A-side should’ve gone to Flying Music as it was much more cohesive and fun to listen to.  The remix brought much needed support to the album track.  I’d get the single for the 2 latter songs though

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – Gou on PROGRESSIVE February 1, 2009

Track Listing

1. Ichirin no Hana
2. for Dear…
3. “Here I am”
4. Houseki no Namida
5. Mizutama RAMUNE
6. Haitoku no Jounetsu
7. tsumi
8. REAL WORLD
9. A PLACE TO GO
10. STYLE ~get glory in this hand~
11. Pearl Shadow
12. Kuro AGEHA Mau Oka
13. Hoshizora ni Furu Yuki
14. Garden of MY Heart

1. Ichirin no Hana

It was nice to start an album off with the most well-known song, Ichirin no Hana.  As a tie-in for the mega-popular Manga/Anime, Bleach.  HandMC really gave us a powerful song.  Maaki really sings good here and Yuusuke’s death growls with a powerful and fast arrangement, no wonder why it’s one of their bests!

2. for Dear…

Our first new track off the album, for Dear… sounds pretty much like a less crazy “Ichirin no Hana”.  Maaki sounds lively going with a consistent beat.  I have to say the drummer is having a fun time with this song for sure as there so many intricate hits here.  Yuusuke doesn’t come until the middle where he sings/growls his way through.  Even the guitar solo was awesome. 

3. “Here I am”

“Here I am” is definitly one hot mess of a song.  It’s also another fast track, but Maaki and Yuusuke just didn’t sound right with everything going on.  Everything was just off balance and the chorus was god terrible.  I think, I’ll press next now…

4. Houseki no Namida

It’s funny that already this album is a lot more metal-sounding.  This song does sound more together at least until the chorus when Maaki sounds so dead to the chorus.  Yuusuke’s really low growling didn’t help the song out one bit, another forgettable song.

5. Mizutama RAMUNE

If I’m correct, this is the closest to a more complex track we’ll get here.  The guitar plays some interesting rhythms and with Maaki singing along with it helps it out a lot.  Even Yuusuke’s yelling sounds right here.  I have to say this is as happy Mizutama RAMUNE gets.  Oh yea, Maaki’s higher register sucks IMO.

6. Haitoku no Jounetsu

I really like the tribal opening and then the guitar plays a cool riff.  Yuusuke talking bothers me, but Maaki comes in on time.  Once again the chorus sucks ass here.  Like she doesn’t add any emotion at all and is the song’s main downfall.  Still I have to praise the drummer for some awesome hit here.

7. tsumi

tsumi sounds really dark, I mean like almost nightmarish.  Maaki is filtered through the verses, but the music sometimes overpower her and Yuusuke actually is a lot more convincingly dark adding death screams everywhere.  Awesome song though.

8. REAL WORLD

Yuusuke actually starts the song with the chorus which was just terrible.  Luckily, things quickly become better with Maaki.  She actually has emotion here and is a lot better.  Sadly, I’m starting to get bored at how similar most of the tracks sound.  Yuusuke’s parts are bad on his part because he can’t really sing on right notes.  They become too flat and sound bad against the music

9. A PLACE TO GO

I finally hear some synths with A PLACE TO GO and seems a little less hard than the other tracks.  It’s still rock, but they went a little softer and I have to say this is a godsend on this album.  Maaki even sings the chorus in English which is very surprising and sounds good too, maybe a little weird considering, but it’s OK.  Yuusuke still shows flat notes, but he isn’t forcing it so it’s not a huge bother.  One of the album’s gems.

10. STYLE ~get glory in this hand~

The first single of the era, STYLE was another messy track and probably should’ve had a different track instead of this one.  I can see that they were trying to recreate the awesome “PRIDE”, but this one felt weird and emotionless.  I have to say, this was the worst A-side I’ve heard thus far.

11. Pearl Shadow

What a wild guitar opening.  Yuusuke = oh god no here.  Once again I found myself wondering, why this sounds like the other tracks on the album.  I think the main difference is how much Yuusuke got featured because he was in and out in the song so many times.  I love the verses though, what a cool rhythm!  Still not much of a good track.

12. Kuro AGEHA Mau Oka

Do I even have to say it?  Take the unoriginality and Yuusuke’s bad vocals and repeat again and you get this track.  There’s acoustic guitar added in to make a little difference between this and the last.  Maaki seems a little off as well here.  She’s covered by the music a lot of the times which is so bothersome…

13. Hoshizora ni Furu Yuki

Quite spacey as it starts and then the song goes down an odd path.  Yuusuke actually fully sings here, he sounds alright, but as you get used to it, he actually throws a wrench and goes back to his yelping.  Maaki actually gets pushed to just singing back up and the chorus while Yuusuke takes the verses.  It’s something refreshing and another good track.

14. Garden of MY Heart

Finally finishing the album is well quite nice actually.  It’s another less hard rock track and is quite happy and there’s synth again.  I found this song to be quite catchy and even though Yuusuke sounds bad here, everything else sounds right. 

Tracks Recommended

•  Ichirin no Hana
• A PLACE TO GO
• for Dear…
• tsumi
• Garden of MY Heart

I have to say this was worse than their debut album.  I think they were trying to go for a more metal sound, but it just came out wrong and tons of mistakes happened here.  I think Ichirin no Hana was the best song that I didn’t cringe at first listen.  They better make it a comeback for their 3rd album, “San”…..(just saying it, since I’ve heard it already). 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – Ichirin no Hana December 23, 2008

Track Listing

1. Ichirin no Hana
2. Warped Reflection
3. Ichirin no Hana ~Huge Hollow Mix~
4. Ichirin no Hana (Less Vocal Track)

1. Ichirin no Hana

Who knew that HandMC would return in top form in this track that’s has a major tie-in.  From the anime Bleach, this is surprisingly just as good as their debut, “PRIDE”.  We start wit h a guitar opening and then Maaki sings the chorus.  What got me was that Yuusuke had the most parts in the song singing the verses.  I noticed he’s doing the entire verse in under two breaths which is quite cool.  Everything just seemed to work here as everyone has a cool part and Yuusuke’s screaming was friggin awesome.

2. Warped Reflection

A surprising with the synth opening that leads to Yuusuke’s roaring and then into Maaki singing calmly which is pretty cool with the guitar riffs that were present.  It is a little boring to listen to, but it isn’t their worst song so far, so that’s good. 

3. Ichirin no Hana ~Huge Hollow Mix~

A remix?  Wow.  It seems to be a more danceable version of the A-side which is so very strange.  The track gets a gritty makeover and perhaps it’s a little too fast and destructive for my taste.  I mean the tempo is amazingly quick and the vocal snippets and the implementations done on it aren’t really good.  It does slow down quite a bit for a while, but by then you wanna press next.

 

 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR has found their next best track here.  Ichirin no Hana is an amazing rock track that deserves all the attention from its tie-in.  Warped Reflection was a little underwhelming to the A-side and isn’t what you call memorable.  The remix though, shouldn’t have existed, it’s so messy and just so wrong for a rock track. 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – STYLE ~get glory in this hand~ November 22, 2008

Track Listing

1. STYLE ~get glory in this hand~
2. energy

1. STYLE ~get glory in this hand~

There’s something wrong with the song here.  Maaki really sounds flat to me for some reason.  I’m not sure why, but it just bothers me.  The beat of the music is a little off as well because it’s like in a different rhythm pattern than usual.  Yuusuke doesn’t exactly appear either, being the supporting member, but not having much lines.  When he does come in, it’s all English and growly.  Not the best IMO.

2. energy

I didn’t expect energy to start off soft with a piano melody and some distant guitars.  Then the song goes dark as Yuusuke talks/sings for a little bit as it returns to the quiet stuff.  I thought the song would’ve actually had some energy like “PRIDE” or even “OVER”.  For being misnamed, this is a good track.  They can actually incorporate piano and get away with it. 

 

 

STYLE to me was definitly another crap A-side to me.  They just seem to lose it because Maaki’s flat singing as well as no major parts for Yuusuke.  It didn’t help the music was a little off as well.  energy though was clearly the better track for me, definitly one of their key songs.  STYLE is on “Gouon Progressive” but energy is on the fan-picked best-of which is super great.

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – G∞VER October 26, 2008

Track Listing

1. G∞VER
2. NOTICE
3. PRIDE
4. Naked
5. OVER
6. Days
7. SWEET ESCAPE
8. RUN☆RUN☆RUN
9. What for…
10. RAIN
11. With YOU

1. G∞VER

What an opening.  It’s starts with some synths and then Yuusuke growling.  I really would like to know how he does that with his voice.  Anyway it’s over 2 minutes of chaotic rock.  Also there’s quips from Yuusuke so it kind of fares sort of.  Then after all that it enters a synth zone before reentering the hardcore sounds from the start.  Interesting album opener.

2. NOTICE

Weird at how it went from crazy introduction to a soft rock song practically.  What the hell Yuusuke?  Put more life into the song seriously.  Anyway NOTICE is totally different from what the singles brought because Yuusuke is actually singing along.  Still, I wish he wasn’t so boring sounding. 

3. PRIDE

We enter their most memorable and powerful track, PRIDE.  I still think very highly of this song and I’m probably not the only one because c’mon it’s that epicly awesome.  I think the furious guitar riffs mixed with powerful strings was an awesome choice and to have Maaki fully sing it and Yuusuke doing his rapping skills really added a nice touch to the song.

4. Naked

Anyway, after the track, we get into Naked which I kind of found a little disappointing.  Perhaps it’s the messy instrumentation, but I really never connected to this track.  Just a very forgetful song.

5. OVER

A nice follow-up single after “PRIDE”.  They decided to keep the hard rock and take out the strings and we’re left with this pretty awesome track.  Yuusuke though kicks major ass in the song.  With his enthusiastic lyrics, it really sparked my interest ten-fold.

6. Days

I’m still unsure of what to really say about the song.  One thing I know that it’s totally different from all of the other singles.  The other thing is how strange this song is and how off it sounds to my ears.  Though I do love the guitar solo.  Definitly the most disappointing single for the era.

7. SWEET ESCAPE

ROFLMAO at Yuusuke’s vocals in the song.  Anyway, other than the bad vocals coming from Yuusuke the song is more or less the same I’ve already heard in the later singles of the era.  I guess it was more better though, so I guess I have to give credit where it’s needed but Yuusuke needs to tune up.

8. RUN☆RUN☆RUN

I’m still quite terrified of this uber poppy track.  I’m not exactly turned off, but I’m not too fond of it either.  I was finding myself bored with Maaki’s performance just because it was so boring.  So it’s kind of another forgetful track from me.

9. What for…

Darker rock track now?  Though interestingly we hear Maaki and Yuusuke start up the song together and truthfully they sound pretty awesome together in the verses, but the chorus was when things got strange of the ~ooooOOOOOooo~ yea….Other than that I really liked this songs elusiveness and pretty awesome vocals.

10. RAIN

See why can’t Yuusuke sound like this more often.  Sadly the song suffers from *the hellishly boring syndrome*  Like the song lacked any personality and falls into obscurity pretty quickly.  Probably the only saving grace is the final chorus where synthed strings play that was awesome….other than that…noooo.

11. With YOU

Finally finishing the album is this mysterious track.  It stands out far from the rest of the tracks being the rock ballad it is.  Being their first try at a song like this, I think it did well and ended the album on a good note.  The only track that doesn’t even feature Yuusuke as well which is a total surprise. 

Tracks Recommended

• OVER
• PRIDE
• With YOU
• What for…

HandMC’s debut album is pretty strong overall.  There were a few issues concerning the album other than the small tracklist.  Yuusuke has some problems singing, but his screams are to die for.  Maaki can sound boring, but she’s not too bad of a singer, I think she’s pretty good.  The rest of the band is great though! 

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – Remember October 12, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Remember
2. Hana Fubuki
3. PRIDE “LIVE MIX 2008″
4. Remember -instrumental-

1. Remember

Wow, I don’t think I’ve heard them being this great since “Ichirin no Hana”.  I mean the production does seem similar to “PRIDE” but Maaki gives her strongest performance and the song really has a somber sound.  Yuusuke sound deathly angry which is so awesome.  The music finally has suited with them very well and it’s definitly one of their best songs.

2. Hana Fubuki

I would have not expected a soft song being the B-side.  It’s definitly a first for more and it kind of sounds pretty nice.  I guess it does make a more statement saying goodbye than “Remember”.  Maaki though should not try for really high notes because they aren’t that good.  Yuusuke actually kinda sings or raps w/e.  A great soft track.

3. PRIDE “LIVE MIX 2008″

Kind of nice that they included their debut with the final Maaki track.  I have no idea where this was performed, but OMG does it still sound godly good.  Maaki sounds pretty strong with the furious riffs the boys are doing and Yuusuke doing his thing very well.  As I’m sitting here listening I’m thinking of the past songs that got them this far.

 

 

What a bittersweet single.  I mean everything is top notch good.  It’s sad that Maaki is leaving the group and I hope they do find a good singer, but she’ll never beat out the energy Maaki brought out within the group.  I wonder how Yuusuke’s actually taking the news.