S/mileage – Tachiagirl

Track Listing

1. Tachiagirl
2. Smile Ondon (Limited A, B & Regular edition only)
3. Boogie Train ’11 (Limited C edition only)
4. S/mileage Singles Gekijou Moe Remix (Limited D edition only)
5. Tachiagirl (Instrumental)

1. Tachiagirl

Between the release of their last single, “Uchouten LOVE” and this one I have gotten used to hearing who’s who in this group which is bad timing since on of their best members Saki left prior to the release and then five members were added to the group (though as sub-members as strange as that sounds).  I must say after a while their last A-side kept given my headaches with the amount of damn synths blasting in my ears.  This one is much easier to take and is pretty darn cute and the chorus is super catchy for me!  Now I figured out that I dislike Yuuka vocals the most and love Kanon’s lines while poor Ayaka is in the middle.  OH? Are you asking about the sub-members?  They don’t do much in the song except various ~whoos!~ and ~whoa yeahs!!~.  Lame, but this is still a great A-side (not as good as “Short Cut”, but darn close!).

2. Smile Ondon

There are a few Ondo-styled songs in the H!P library already so Smile Ondon isn’t a surprise but coming from S/mileage it’s just had to happen!  Once again the sub-members get shafted for the song and do background crap while the three main ladies take over for the solo lines.  It’s bouncy little tune for sure and once again, I’m loving Kanon’s vocals for this tune the most.  As odd of a style Ondo is, this song is cute (maybe the cutest S/mileage song yet?)

3. Boogie Train ’11

Ahhh a cover of Miki Fujimoto’s big hit, but updated!  I mean who didn’t like the fun Mikitty song?  S/mileage’s version isn’t too far from the original and keeps the same energetic arrangement that made it awesome in the first place.  I will say that I was surprised that the key of the song was moved up to fit the ladies’ pitch (and make it more brighter perhaps?).  I’d say they did a good job updating, but Miki’s will forever be cherished more I think.

4. S/mileage Singles Gekijou Moe Remix

• Suki-chan
• Yumemiru 15sai
• Uchouten LOVE

Closing the single out is a medley of what I think is S/mileage’s biggest tunes.  I like the beginning of the song with the piano playing along the chorus of Suki-chan.  There’s just something strange going on after it starts and it definitely comes with knowing the it’s a remix and the members are all auto-tuned (of course Saki is here too).  The tune doesn’t last long before it breaks down and moves towards the Yumemiru 15sai section.  I have to say that between the three songs chosen, this one was the best section!  I have to say it sounds perfect and would’ve made better if it was full.  I just love hearing the members under the filter/auto-tune here (especially Saki and Kanon).  Then we move into the section that remixes Uchouten LOVE and thank god they took out the gritty and annoying synths!  It really let’s the lyrical melody take better shape IMO and the chorus (while still the most memorable thing) is quite catchy.  Overall it’s a good medley and all, but I think a couple more tunes would’ve been nice, but that’s just me nitpicking.

 

 

 

This single marks a lot of things for S/mileage.  A. It’s the first release without original member Saki Ogawa and she left a big chunk of missing vocal awesomeness IMO.  2. It’s the first for the five sub-members (even though they were nearly invisible in this release) which brings the question why even do this to them if they aren’t gonna get anywhere (well they do have that project they’re doing but still…it would be nice to hear them sing rather than yell one-liners) 3. It’s also the first and only single for sub-member Fuyuka Kosuga who left because of severe anemia (though she’s involved in the Hello! Project Mobekimasu single oddly enough).  Last, but not least, the 4th thing is that it’s the first and only single with this sub-member crap since we figure who made the group’s cut.

Anywho!  To the single itself, Tachiagirl is pretty cutesy for the group and they haven’t really had one this era that’s originally their own so awesome for getting one out with the third A-side of the era.  Smile Ondon was even cuter for them and that was pretty well done too (then again they’ve been doing well for themselves B-sides-wise at least.  The cover of Mikitty’s hit was an interesting take that’s for sure and the remix medley was a nice treat for the fans.  I wish we had a little more of the sub-members but what can ya do?