Up Up Girls – Next Stage/Ano Saka no Ue Made, May 5, 2013

Track Listing

1. Next Stage
2. Ano Saka no Ue Made,
3. Next Stage (Instrumental)
4. Ano Saka no Ue Made, (Instrumental)

1. Next Stage

After the last couple of strange singles, UUG returns a month later with Next Stage and it starts really nice with strings and some lines from the girls.  Then after that intro, the song jumps to a bouncier nature and it just has a lot better things going on than in “SAKURA DRIVE” or “Respectokyo”.  This is probably my favorite primary A-side yet!

2. Ano Saka no Ue Made,

The other A-side is actually got a lot going for it.  Most of it is a ballad though so it really sticks out in the ladies’ discography (plus it’s nice to see Akari lead once again).  Some of the arrangement though goes into this quick electro beat but then it calms down once again.  I have to say that I kind of liked the song a lot!

This is probably the group’s best single ever since they switched to T-PALETTE.  It’s actually kind of safe, but it’s done quite well!  Next Stage started off slowly, but picked up quickly and became quite sweet.  Ano Saka no Ue Made, is actually quite sentimental and they sounded much better here as well.  With another single on the way, I wonder if they’re gonna pull more single like they did in the first era.

Up Up Girls – SAKURA DRIVE/Dateline March 15, 2013

Track Listing

1. SAKURA DRIVE
2. Dateline
3. SAKURA DRIVE (Instrumental)
4. Dateline (Instrumental)

1. SAKURA DRIVE

Uhm, UUG is doing R&B now?  That’s a bit strange for me, but at least they’re singing the song unlike they were in “Respectokyo”.  The song is something new for the group that’s for sure and they’re stepping in new areas, but there’s like male vocals doing the rapping which kind of took me out of the song.  Even the girls later start rapping too which takes a LOT of time to get used to.  This is a pretty weird song for them, but at least it’s listenable.

2. Dateline

The other A-side is another song they’ve performed even before they switched labels like “Sutorera”.  I was kind of surprised with this song and was hoping it would’ve been on an album because it’s the group’s first ballad!  I’m not sure who leads the most of the song, but this is really pretty for an idol ballad.  Definitely was a bit more impressed with this song than “SAKURA DRIVE”.

It’s kind of sad that I haven’t really loved a song UUG has done since transferring to T-Palette, but I feel there might be one.  SAKURA DRIVE is nice, but the rapping kind of takes me out of the song when most of it comes off as a nice track and very unique for the group.  Dateline too is quite unique as well as being the group’s first ballad and it really caught my attention.  Maybe Dateline should’ve been the primary A-side (but going by what we know of UUG’s past it won’t matter, it’ll be on their next album) LOL.

Up Up Girls – Respectokyo/Sutorera! ~Straight Up!~ March 12, 2013

Track Listing

1. Respectokyo
2. Sutorera! ~Straight Up!~
3. Respectokyo (Instrumental)
4. Sutorera! ~Straight Up!~ (Instrumental)

1. Respectokyo

For the next UUG single, it seems like Respectokyo pulls us back to something like “Namen na” or “UPPER ROCK” with having much more of an electro sound than their normal idol pop/rcok song.  I kind of like the song because of the arrangement, but I’m not totally sold on the fact that there’s a lot of speak-singing going here which usually takes me out of the song.  I don’t know if it’s better than “Chopper☆Chopper”, but I guess it’s something right?

2. Sutorera! ~Straight Up!~

If you were looking for more something a bit poppy in style, Sutorera! might just be what you’re looking for because it’s definitely more comfortable of a song than “Respectokyo” is.  Though with that being said, the song isn’t totally original and doesn’t bring much to the table if anything.  I do like the xylophone melody being tacked on giving that cute factor…but damn…stop it with the repping up up up up up so much!!!

As their second single under T-Palette, I don’t know if this single was better than their last single or not.  Respectokyo is OK, but the speaking of lyrics just doesn’t work here this time around.  Sutorera! is a bit average, slightly cute…eh.  Yeah this single wasn’t too memorable for me and there’s another single this week?  Jeeze….

Up Up Girls – First Album (Kakko Kari) February 26, 2013

Track Listing

1. overture (Kakko Kari)
2. Ichiban Girls!
3. Going my ↑
4. UPPER ROCK
5. Marvel Hero
6. Barebare I LOVE YOU
7. Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ
8. Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow
9. Namen na! Ashi Girls
10. Uppercut!
11. End Of The Season
12. Cyalume
13. Uppercut! (super combo Remix)
14. UPPER ROCK (ScreeeeeeaMix)
15. PandaBoY DJ Mix

1. overture (Kakko Kari)

Opening the album up is an introduction and yes it has been used in lives.  overture has a pretty awesome arrangement of guitars and the melody is BANGING.  However, the only things the girls do is repeat the group’s name over and over and introduce themselves.  It’s a pretty cool track though, but damn this would’ve been awesome as a full song with lyrics.

2. Ichiban Girls!

I’m surprised the group decided to put the secondary A-side from their 7th single (which was the last to represent the album).  I do think it does a good job making how energetic this album will be because it is a VERY frenetic song.  It’s so loud and wild and most of the time, the music does cover the girls.  This song is kind of grating though because it’s so loud and everything is just messy.  Yeah, not a big fan of this.

3. Going my ↑

At least with this song, there’s more of controlled chaos to be found here.  This is the group’s debut song and today it still sounds really refreshing on this album.  It’s fun and the vocals are great to hear especially since all the members have lines and such (with Akari and Minami getting the most, I suppose since they’re the most well-known members).  The energy is a lot more easier to take than “Ichiban Girls!”.

4. UPPER ROCK

On the other hand, we move for their first song to their most recent song with UPPER ROCK.  You know it’s bad when this is the song that basically solidified my love of the group!  I’m a big sucker for electro-idol songs and this was a jam and a half!  It was heavy, the girls sound great and the energy from them really excited me (plus when they perform this, it’s AMAZING).  This really is their most unique song to date and I really love it!  It’s just something I hope UUG will do more of in the future.

5. Marvel Hero

Unlike the electro goodness, Marvel Hero is synthy too, but it’s more poppy and techno sparkly which is cool in a way.  In a strange way this song has slightly grown on me, but the song is still kind of underwhelming than most of the A-sides here.  I kind of like the song though since it’s sparkly and just a lot of fun…

6. Barebare I LOVE YOU

Before “UPPER ROCK” came around, Barebare I LOVE YOU was hands down my favorite A-side from the group and it’s understandable because it’s kind of like “Maji Desu ka Ska!” in it’s groove and flow.  That opening line is like such an earworm for me and it’s all over the place in the song too.  I also love that Azusa got to lead the song because she really put her all in this one and it’s great.  This was a great song for them for sure!

7. Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ

As the group’s 4th A-side, Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ is a nice change of pace and slows the album slightly for this summery mid-tempo track.  I think for the group, this does a better job to show off the girls’ vocals, but I’m start to notice more that the group throws in the whole ~up up~ theme just a bit too much (I think most of the songs on the album do that >.>).  It’s not bad, but not very memorable either.

8. Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow

All I can think of when I listen to this song is how closely it reminds me of “Marvel Hero” because of it’s progressive synth idol pop sound.  Like I said in the single review, this song doesn’t have many solo lines (really Minami and Azusa have one while Akari has a big one in the second verse).  Yuudachi! also kind of fails alongside the previously mentioned track as it’s barely memorable to me and doesn’t have a strong chorus.  Oh well…

9. Namen na! Ashi Girls

Funny, of all the A-sides they’ve released, I barely remember Namen na!  Now going back and listening to the song now, I wonder why I didn’t like the song initially because this is kind of unique on the album with its mix of technopop and oriental themes…actually it could pass as a DDR song hahah.  It’s quirky and I really found myself loving this song or adding a more diverse track.

10. Uppercut!

Probably the group’s most recognizable song in lives, Uppercut! starts off slowly with some announcer and then becomes this dance track.  It’s got a bouncy arrangement and the chorus is nifty (and they kind of mentioned their first single in there too).  There isn’t any solo lines, but there are a lot of duo lines so that makes up for it.  Even though it’s a popular song amongst fans, I’m not the biggest fan of this track.

11. End Of The Season

The group’s 6th A-side comes next and I thought this song was another one of those odd dives into experimentation because there’s a lot of auto-tune present in this track.  It actually kind of sounds like it could be a Perfume song, but as I found out, it was produced by none other than RAM RIDER.  It’s an interesting song and the arrangement with including the steel drum is just strange but cool.  I’ve definitely grew to like it more nowadays and happy it’s on the album.

12. Cyalume

I’m surprised that only one B-side made the album lmfao!  Though to be fair, I’m happy it’s this song from “Mecha Kyun♡Summer ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ” that made the cut (even though “Rainbow” and “Beautiful Days!” are quite awesome too).  As the last original song on the album, this was a nice way to end it off because it’s so sparkly and cute!  Plus it’s another track that really lets the girls show off more of their vocal talent less so of their energy and dancing.  Good song for sure!

13. Uppercut! (super combo Remix)

Remixes?  Strange to be honest xD.  Well, I can’t argue too much because it’s something new on the album.  There’s some dubstep in the song but it’s not at Skrillex levels of atrociousness.  It does make the song slightly more danceable, but it’s still kind of forgetful (minus the bell dinging) hahahaha.

14. UPPER ROCK (ScreeeeeeaMix)

The other remix is for UPPER ROCK and I was wondering why it would have a remix when its original version might as well have been one hahah.  It has a lot of neat tricks up its sleeves and I loved the various buildups and strong electro arrangement.  There’s also some dubstep thrown in and a little ethereal stuff so it’s a very well thought out remix that makes it even more danceable.  So I quite liked this.

15. PandaBoY DJ Mix

The final track on the album is a medley done by PandaBoY who produced quite a number of songs for the group.  There’s a lot of songs to be found here and they all have different new quirks and arrangement changes so I found that to be good.  There’s I think 5 songs represented here not all of them I recognize because of all the new melodies and I haven’t really memorized the vocal melodies/lyrics except for “Going my ↑” and “Barebare I LOVE YOU”.  For a 14 minute medley, this was pretty cool!

Tracks Recommended

• UPPER ROCK
• Barebare I LOVE YOU
• Cyalume
• Namen na! Ashi Girls
• Going my ↑

Song of Avoidance

• Ichiban Girls!

Finally, UUG released their first album and I’m a little disappointed there was no new track lol.  Though most of the songs on the album were rather forgetful, but when they hit their good stride, it’s epic.  My only wish is that the group stop repping their group name in 90% of the songs…it’s just starting to wear thin for me.  Still, this album is good and since they’ve switched labels they can only go up.

Up Up Girls – Chopper☆Chopper/Survival Girls December 12, 2012

Track Listing

1. Chopper☆Chopper
2. Survival Girls
3. Chopper☆Chopper (Instrumental)
4. Survival Girls (Instrumental)

1. Chopper☆Chopper

It’s kind of hard to tell what Chopper☆Chopper was really about because this song is kind of like “Uppercut!” but with a lot more synths present.  It’s feisty and the lyrics are sung pretty fast by the members which is quite something to hear.  I like it, it’s still not up with the bests like “UPPER ROCK” and “Barebare I LOVE YOU”, but it’s better than others so this kind of lies in the middle for me.

2. Survival Girls

Though for enjoying “UPPER ROCK” so much, they seem to have tried it again with Survival Girls which has this clock theme because there’s ticking going on in the beginning of the song.  It was pretty good right up until the chorus where the repetition began and I kind of got annoyed by it all.  Though the verses are really nice to hear by the ladies.  Still that chorus was icky!

 

 

As their final single of the year (thank god!) and their first single under the indies label, T-Palette, Chopper☆Chopper/Survival Girls in an average single.  I liked the primary A-side’s energetic arrangement and the girls sounded like they were having fun with this song…Survival Girls though is kind of annoying to listen to so it didn’t really get high marks from that.  I am curious as to how they’ll do next year! ^_^

Up Up Girls – UPPER ROCK/Ichiban Girls! November 20, 2012

Track Listing

1. UPPER ROCK
2. Ichiban Girls!
3. UPPER ROCK (instrumental)
4. Ichiban Girls! (instrumental)

1. UPPER ROCK

UUG seems to never stop releasing!  UPPER ROCK though is probably their most valiant effort yet (or at least since “Barebare I LOVE YOU” was out).  The song is pretty unique in the group’s discography since it has so much electro-goodness strewn throughout the song.  The girls do find themselves being covered by the arrangement since it’s so loud.  Totally different and loving the energy of the song though so it really stands out…Great song for them!

2. Ichiban Girls!

With the B-side we get our normal does of UUG since Ichiban Girls! is more of a rock song that’s a lot like “Going my ↑” and “Namen na! Ashi Girls” in style.  I will say that it’s a fast-paced song and the energy is also there but it’s so much like the other songs that it’s a bit disapppointing.  Not the worst song they’ve done, but it’s far from being one of their better ones.

 

 

As their final single before transferring to T-Palette (of course another single is closely approaching) UPPER ROCK/Ichiban Girls! is sort of a good way to go out with a bang on their label (whatever it was…).  UPPER ROCK is epic and really stands out as their electro song and is catchy as hell.  Ichiban Girls! though is kind of run-of-the-mill from them so it didn’t stand out…let’s hope T-Palette changes things up for UUG ^_^

Up Up Girls – End Of The Season October 16, 2012

Track Listing

1. End Of The Season
2. Beautiful Days!
3. End Of The Season (Instrumental)
4. Beautiful Days! (Instrumental)

1. End Of The Season

I’m not entirely sure what to think of End Of The Season because unlike their last single, the song takes more of a cutesy pop route and it does remind me of “Cyalume” and “Rainbow” with the abundance of synths.  Though the steel drums and auto-tune usage threw me off.  I like that one of these kind of songs are an A-side finally and I kind of enjoyed it, even if I had to get used to the nuances of it all.

2. Beautiful Days!

The B-side kind of runs in the same veins as “End Of The Season” with the sparkly gloss and heavily synthed arrangement.  I still wonder why I have to hear auto-tune in the song, but it’s not as easily evident like in the A-side so that’s a very good thing.  It’s definitely the better song off the single though.

 

 

Only one more single until UUG moves to T-Palette!  End Of The Season is actually a pretty good step up after the last couple of singles.  Both songs are synthy tracks that just sound glorious all over for the girls.  The auto-tune isn’t as bad as some other groups that abuse it, but I’m pretty happy with this for sure!

Up Up Girls – Namen na! Ashi Girls/Marvel Hero

Track Listing

1. Namen na! Ashi Girls
2. Marvel Hero
3. Namen na! Ashi Girls (Instrumental)
4. Marvel Hero (Instrumental)

1. Namen na! Ashi Girls

So UUG has seem to kind of went down the cute route for their next single.  This is pretty fast for them and I kind of like the synth/anison pop style they took for Namen na!  It’s pretty standard otherwise for an idol group to release which is pretty bizarre but at the same time kind of fun to listen to.  Not the best that they’ve released but it’s a good UUG song.

2. Marvel Hero

It does make sense since the cover portrays them as various superheroes from said franchise.  That being said, the song has more of a solid beat to it and is slightly slower than the previous track but it doesn’t really give me that superhero feel (like Berryz’ “Be Genki” did.  I’m not exactly the biggest fan of this song to be honest, but I guess it suits them.

 

 

Unfortunately, Namen na! Ashi Girls/Marvel Hero is probably my least favorite track for the group yet.  It’s not a terrible single,but there’s not a lot going for it when compared to their previous singles.  Namen na! is pretty fun and makes for a good performance live, but Marvel Hero is just kind of bland…

Up Up Girls – Mecha Kyun♡Summer (‘▽`)ノ August 30, 2012

Track Listing

1. Mecha Kyun♡Summer (‘▽`)ノ
2. Cyalume
3. Mecha Kyun♡Summer (‘▽`)ノ (instrumental)
4. Cyalume (instrumental)

1. Mecha Kyun♡Summer (‘▽`)ノ

As it’s the group’s summer theme, Mecha Kyun♡Summer (‘▽`)ノ is kind of typical for me and doesn’t seem to really catch my attention very well.  I like that all the girls get their time to shine in the song and the bright atmosphere of the tune is really sweet, but there’s something that doesn’t feel remotely strong about the song.  Then again after all the summer songs I’ve heard…it’s starting to drag me down lol.  I found it funny they kept saying ~up up~ as a little shoulder bump of this is who we are in the song.  Not bad, but they’ve done better.

2. Cyalume

For the B-side, Cyalume is actually a lot better than the A-side IMO.  I mean it’s strange they made it about the stuff that makes the lightsticks at concerts/events glow.  I like the synths that are basically carrying the song and once again solos for the girls make me happy!  It’s funny that I find this even better than their last single altogether.  Definitely a much stronger song. 

 

 

UUG…they just won’t slow down (and as of this review they have another single on the horizon PLUS they performed 5-6 new songs, hoping an album is soon).  Mecha Kyun♡Summer (‘▽`)ノ is probably my least favorite A-side yet because it doesn’t really stand out to me and kind of runs on the typical summer theme.  Cyalume however won me over so quickly that it’s easily becoming the group’s best B-side yet!  Here’s hoping the next single will bring it back!!!

Up Up Girls – Uppercut!/Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow August 3, 2012

Track Listing

1. Uppercut!
2. Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow
3. Uppercut! (instrumental)
4. Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow (instrumental)

1. Uppercut!

Uppercut! is an interesting song to be honest since it kind of deserts their pop/rock sound for a bit more of a typical idol-pop tune this time around and it’s sort of cute.  Sadly, the song doesn’t have anything in the notion of solo lines for any of the seven girls which might make this a little disappointing (especially after “Barebare I LOVE YOU”).  It still has a lot of energy and joyous moments, but this is probably my least favorite of the A-sides.

2. Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow

It’s pretty cool that the group made the second track also an A-side and this is pretty much what I was wanting from the group.  It does remind me of “Rainbow” with the prominance of synths in the arrangement but keeping the upbeat tempo going.  There’s not a lot of solos in the song but Azusa and Minami get a quick line and Akari gets a long bit in the second verse.  It’s a pretty good track overall.

 

 

They just keep shoving releases out there (surprisingly fast for an indies group).  Their third single isn’t as good as the previous two singles but I do like their consistency with releasing fun and upbeat songs.  I was surprised to see that Uppercut! would be their first unison song (as in all the members sing the entire time) and it was alright…but maybe a little too early for that?  At least we got Yuudachi! Through the Rainbow with some solos and a likeness to “Rainbow” but this was an alright single, nothing overly amazing.